It was welcome to the big time for Templepatrick last Saturday and although their game against Muckamore ended in a four wickets (DLS) defeat, captain Ross Bryans was happy enough with how their first game in the Premier League went. But he knows even tougher challengers lie ahead.

“It went a lot better than a lot of us or a lot of other people outside the club expected,” he said. “We know we will be turning up every time expecting a tough game and we will always be underdogs but coming away from the game I thought we were hard done by not to have to won it.

“Because it was our first game a bit of inexperience showed. It didn’t help that our pre-season friendlies were all washed out, we had no outdoor training in the last couple of weeks, so this was the first time we had been outdoors.

“We gave away probably 20-25 runs in the field which would have helped us at the end and then waiting for 2 1/2 hours to see if we would get on again. We were sitting at 82-2 at 17 overs with two pros in the middle and we were in a very good place. So, disappointing we didn’t get over the line.

“Muckamore have more Premier League experience than we do but the rain interruption and bad luck with our temporary pro getting run out, along with inexperience and nerves in our first Premier League game probably cost us.

“But we have come away happy with how it went and we know we can compete. We just hope we can do a job this year and get a few wins. We are just trying to show what we are about.”

The temporary pro was Neil Brand, the former North Down professional, who was brought from England because registered overseas player Sandun Weerakkody is still waiting on his visa in Sri Lanka.

“It’s a case of as soon as he gets his visa he will be booking his flights for the next day,” said Bryans. “But last Wednesday, we knew he wasn’t getting it tomorrow and if he did he would struggle to make it for Saturday, so we got offered Neil – we have a few connections in England – and thankfully he accepted and was a great addition. He fitted in really well. Unfortunately, he is not available to play this Saturday but we will try and get him for Woodvale on Monday. Meantime, all we can do is wait for Sandun to arrive.”

The other ‘pro’ was 19-year-old Charles Swart, an Irish passport holder from Johannesburg, but the star of the day for Templepatrick was another teenager, Jack Smyth who top scored, with Brand, with 30.

“Jack is our up and coming young gun,” said his skipper. “He only 16, hopefully will be in Ireland Under-17s this season. It was his first time opening the batting and I just said to him, ‘do you fancy opening’ and he said ‘yes’ and he showed what he was worth. He didn’t look out of place so hopefully that gives him great confidence. And it was great for his dad as well, who was watching him.

“He goes to Ballyclare High, as does our opening bowler, Evan Carlisle, who is only 17. He’s a nice left-hander and has put on a yard or two of pace, and it was great for him that he got his first Premier League wicket.”

The challenge goes up a gear on Saturday, as Bryans appreciates, when All-Ireland T20 champions Lisburn have the honour of playing in the first ever Premier League game at The Cloughan.

“We know it will be tougher again,” he says. “But John Busby, our leading wicket-taker of the last few seasons, and wicket-keeper Patrick Tice, who is a very good bat, are both available after missing last week’s game. Hopefully we put on a decent display and the Lisburn lads enjoy it as well. The ground is looking as good as it has ever been at the start of May, so credit to Arthur (Bowron) and Sam Reynolds who have put a lot of work in.

“I believe it’s the first time Templepatrick have ever played Lisburn Firsts and I can promise we will give it a go and hopefully it will be a great experience.”