SWINDON skipper Andrew Staff says there are plenty of positives despite falling to a four-wicket defeat away at Rockhampton in their season opener.

Batting first, Swindon posted a respectable 251-9 off their 50 overs, with the home side gradually chasing that down and finishing on 252-6 with eight balls to spare.

“They are a good side. At the start of the season most people will probably say they are one of the favourites to win the league,” said Staff. “It was always going to be tough to go there on the opening day but we put a good total on the board and nearly held on.

“It was a close game. There are things that we’d like to improve on but for a first game away from home against a good side it was a decent effort.”

There was plenty of positive batting on show for Swindon, although they lacked the one big innings required that would have seen them post a more challenging total. Will Nichols top scored for the visitors with a fluent 61.

“It was a good total but maybe we could have had a couple more runs,” added Staff.

“Six or seven people got starts and Will batted really well. Maybe we just needed one to go on to a big score. For a first innings of the season 250 wasn’t a bad effort at all.”

Swindon could not quite get Rockhampton on the rack when they took to the field and although slow bowlers Tom Codling and Adam Tucker impressed, an unbeaten 69 from Matt Tyler and Will Tyler’s 68 got the home side over the line.

Staff added: “It was a very even game. They needed five an over and it swung one way then the other.

“No one could have called it right down to the last few overs but they were just about able to see off our attack in the end.”