Mark Robinson reflected on a disappointing defeat to Gloucestershire at the Seat Unique Stadium.
Bears valiantly tried to defend their 148 run total on an absorbing third day, but they were left to rue the wickets that fell late on the second day which left them on 58 for five and with a lead of just 77.
“We gave it a go,” said Robinson when asked how he reflects on today’s proceedings. “We needed to break that partnership (Chris Dent and Graeme van Buuren) a little bit sooner, but we couldn’t and we probably didn’t have the rub of the green at times.
“I’m lucky enough to have been in this game for a long time and had some success and some disappointments and momentum always plays a part in things and we lost Mohammed Siraj the day before the game. You have sessions like last night which you can’t recover from and when that happens you need a lot to go your way. We were up against it, but we fought hard and took it deep.
“It’s mirrored the season in a sense as we’ve had teams on the ropes and not been able to get that killer punch on them and allowed them to get back into the game. We showed fight today and that’s all you can do. You haven’t got a divine right to win, but you’ve got the divine right to fight and battle. We’ve got a game to go, we look to beat Hampshire and hope results go our way.”
The equation on the Bears front is simple – win and hope results go their way. Somerset – who are currently just nine points ahead of the Bears – are in the driving seat ahead of their final days play over Northamptonshire, knowing victory will mathematically keep them safe.
Bears will therefore be looking for a strong victory over second placed Hampshire, with a defeat coming from either Kent (Somerset at home) or Yorkshire (Gloucestershire at home).
“Hampshire a good team with a very good seam attack and we’re a little bit light at the moment,” Robinson added. “There’s not a lot between all the teams and sometimes it’s how you roll. There’s certainly things we can do a lot better and we’ve got to improve those. At the moment there’s a week to go and we’ll deal with that after next week.
“We need a lot to go our way next week. Nicks to carry, decisions our way, results elsewhere, so we’re realistic to what’s needed, but equally we plan to win and prepare to win. It’s all we can do. You have to keep believing and doing the right things.”
