ANDREW Gale did not know whether to laugh or cry at the end of the second day against Somerset at Taunton, an LV= County Championship match which Yorkshire could yet lose despite posting 438.

The White Rose captain was frustrated with his side's bowling display as Somerset were allowed to close on 309-4 from 75 overs, a deficit of 129 in good batting conditions.

They were helped along by a quartet of half-centuries from Marcus Trescothick, Tom Abell, James Hildreth and Tom Cooper, the latter two sharing a stand of 129 inside 23 overs for the fourth wicket.

But all of this came on a day which started in the best possible way with the news that Jason Gillespie was staying at Headingley after missing out on the England coaching job.

Gale said: "It's positive for me. I was expecting the worst really. I was expecting Diz (Gillespie) to go – but it's worked out well for us because I think he would have done well for England.

"It's disappointing for him because I know he would probably have liked to take that job. But he's still young as a coach and is still learning.

"It's good news for Yorkshire because we love him to pieces. He's an outstanding coach and England's loss is our gain. I think they've missed a trick there – but time will tell."

Yorkshire had enjoyed a positive morning as they advanced from 345-8 overnight to claim five batting bonus points thanks in the main to Tim Bresnan's 100 not out off 136 balls, his fourth career century and first since 2007.

The all-rounder shared 92 inside 19 overs for the ninth wicket with Steve Patterson, who made 42 before the visiting bowlers toiled.

Somerset's fourth-wicket pair Hildreth and Cooper did most of the damage with 82 off 61 balls and 55 not out respectively.

They united after tea to advance from 165-3, leading Gale to admit: "We didn't really bowl like champions."