Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League preview - Saturday, August 28
With the weather set fair, teams at both ends of their respective divisions will be looking for points to ensure they achieve their goals as the 2021 Cornwall Cricket League season reaches it’s third to last weekend.
In the Premier, Werrington and Callington have no real chance of winning the league or going down as it stands, although Werrington will want to guarantee a 19th successive season in the top-flight once and for all when they welcome all but relegated Grampound Road.
The Road have won just twice all season, but a lack of bonus points means they are more than 50 points behind with 60 to play for.
Werrington have hardly played in recent weeks due to the poor weather and last week’s COVID cancellation at Camborne due to issues in the home camp, but skipper Nick Lawson names the same side that was due to travel to Roskear.
Werrington v Grampound Road – Adam Hodgson, Taylor Gerry, John Moon, Mark Gribble, Ben Smeeth, Ben Jenkin, Tom Lyle, Nick Lawson (capt, wkt), Dan Barnard, Jason Seldon, Ian Worsnip.
Callington make the trip down to St Austell looking for a first win since July 24.
Poor batting plus rain means they are firmly in mid-table, and travel to Wheal Eliza to tackle a side who surprisingly lost at Grampound Road before shocking St Just last Saturday by three wickets.
Wicket-keeper Rhys Davies and Cornwall batsman Kian Burns are both out, replaced by Ollie Allsop and Ryan Brown, with both men set to bat in the middle order. Skipper Joe White will keep wicket.
Callington at St Austell – Dan Davis, Luke Brenton, Nick Parker, Ryan Brown, Ollie Allsop, Aidan Libby, Sam Pengelly, Joe White (capt, wkt), Rob Mutch, Ben Alford, Harry Sawyers.
In County Division One, Werrington seconds make their longest trip of the season to Paul who are looking a solid bet for a top-four finish.
Skipper Rob Dymond is missing Hugh Tomkinson and Mark Hodgson, but is able to name the rest of the nine that played against Falmouth last Saturday. Third team captain Dan Jenkin and bowler Freddie Ward come in.
Werrington are firmly in mid-table, meaning they can enjoy the rest of the season.
Werrington 2 at Paul – Ian Searle, Dan Howgill, Simon Bishop, Adam Jenkin, Nick Ward, Toby Ward, Rob Dymond (capt, wkt), Jordan Duke, Dan Jenkin, Nick Oldaker, Freddie Ward.
Lanhydrock make the trip to Newquay looking to ensure the hosts don’t leapfrog them in the table.
The Bodmin-based club are missing several players and give a first team debut to promising youngster Jacca Cavendish.
Lanhydrock at Newquay – Simon Benney, Jake Carter, Will Wagstaffe (wkt), Ben Attfield (capt), Jacca Cavendish, Jamie Eldridge, Ryan Butler, Fergus Baker, Jasper Heaver, Ruben Turner, Dave Attfield.
The rest of the games see leaders Hayle head up to St Erme, second-placed Helston visit relegated Gorran, Beacon host winless St Austell seconds and Falmouth entertain Redruth seconds.
In Division Two East, leaders Callington seconds are missing batsmen Ryan Brown and Peter Tancock plus left-arm seamer Jim Shorten for their derby date with in-form Menheniot-Looe at Moores Park.
Brown is in the first team while Tancock and Shorten are unavailable.
Their absences mean call-ups from the thirds for Sam Hunt and James Brenton, while usual third teamers Tom Neville and Dave Bolland are also recalled.
Menheniot are missing all-rounders Steve Kidd and Matt James as they look to build on two comfortable wins over St Blazey and St Minver.
Callington 2 v Menheniot-Looe – Alex Robinson, Liam Hunn, Chris Simpson, James Brenton, Toby May (capt), Sam Hunt (wkt), Tom Neville, Alex Mortimore, Richard Brown, Dave Bolland, Martin Hunn.
Menheniot-Looe at Callington 2 – Luke Ripley, Hugh Rogers, Mike Maiden, Ben Allsop, Marc Wright (capt), Mark Rundle, Justin Kidd (wkt), Ross Ripley, Giles Francis, Dylan Rundle, Stuart Nye.
Tideford head to promotion-chasing Wadebridge seconds knowing a defeat and a win for fourth bottom Tintagel at fellow strugglers St Minver could mean they are all but relegated.
They travel without all-rounders Mike Burnett and Nick Pooley while batsman Jamie King is once again out.
Exciting teenager Jake Bennett is called up alongside his dad Chris as Tideford plot a massive shock.
Tideford at Wadebridge 2 –
Dan Robotham, Joe Milligan, Anton Luiten, Jake Bennett, Russ Cole, David Lockett (capt), Gregor Norster, Paddy Harper (wkt), Lee Norster, Chris Anderson, Chris Bennett.
Tintagel make the short trip down to St Minver knowing that a win means they are all but safe, and make the hosts’ task nigh on impossible.
Skipper Ryan Pooley is able to recall opener Geoff Uglow, while bowlers Simon Fry, Jordan Blanchard and Keith Lawrence all return.
St Minver have the likes of Neil Meneer and Mark Turner back, while Jack Cartwright makes a first team debut.
St Minver v Tintagel – Ben Hawken (capt, wkt), Archie Edwards, Antony Ash, Jonny Centini, Rob Hawken, Steve Hawke, Karl Daly, Neil Meneer, Jack Cartwright, Ben Lamb, Mark Turner.
Tintagel at St Minver – Geoff Uglow, Adrian Pooley, Jordan Burnard, Ryan Pooley (capt, wkt), Jonathan Labuschagne, Gyles Reynolds, Jordan Blanchard, Matt Pethick, Simon Fry, Oli Sandercock, Keith Lawrence.
Bude still have an outside chance of promotion as they head to local rivals Holsworthy who are aiming for a fourth straight win.
The visitors travel over the border boosted by the return of skipper Warren Rumble from paternity leave, while Chris Parkes, Wayne Adams and Charlie Gliddon are also back.
Andrew De Rosa and Shaun Whitefield are both away as are Andrew and David Woodward who made their debuts in last week’s six-wicket win over Wadebridge.
Holsworthy make just one change as opening bowler Ryan Bridgeman is back. Dan Smith drops out.
Holsworthy v Bude –Jack May, Aiden Gerry, Matt Shepherd, Sam Stacey, Jack Greening, Ryan Walter (capt), Brendon Harris, Fraser Priest (wkt), Rob Mitchell, Ryan Bridgeman, Graham Wild.
Bude at Holsworthy – Warren Rumble (capt), Matt Hookway, Wayne Adams, Mark McManus, Tom Hall, Matt Williams, Matt Mansbridge, Sam Hockin, Chris Parkes, Charlie Gliddon, Jack Horwell.
Launceston are nearly relegated ahead of their trip down to Grampound Road seconds.
Skipper Matt Bloomfield names the same side for the third successive week as they look to put in a better showing than last weekend’s nine-wicket defeat to St Blazey where they were bowled out for just 57.
Launceston at Grampound Road 2 – Dan Tilley (wkt), James Setterington, Tommy Davey, Mark Thomas, James Dawe, Isaac Staig, Jacob Staig, David Cox, Matt Bloomfield (capt), Ethan Green, Shane Davey.
In Division Three East, leaders Callington thirds travel down to Bugle with plenty of players missing while South Petherwin and Boconnoc will hope to keep the pressure on.
Petherwin should make it 15 games unbeaten when they go to Bude seconds, while Boconnoc entertain near neighbours St Neot at Deer Park.
The other games see Werrington thirds v Ladock, Launceston seconds against their Newquay counterparts and the local derby between Roche seconds and bottom side St Austell thirds.
Luckett will win the Division Four East title if they are victorious at nearest challengers Lanhydrock seconds.
Wadebridge thirds are 25 points behind Lanhydrock meaning they will probably need to win all three and hope Lanhydrock lose two to steal second spot.
Wadebridge are at home to their Grampound Road counterparts with the other games being Menheniot-Looe twos v St Blazey twos and Milton Abbot versus Duloe. South Petherwin seconds have been awarded 20 points after Buckland Monachorum conceded.
It’s the final day of the Division Five East season with Liskeard going into the final day knowing a win will see them be champions. They sit seven points ahead of Pencarrow while a defeat for both could open the door for St Stephen to sneak in and claim one of the promotion spots.
Liskeard are away at Tintagel seconds while Pencarrow are away at St Neot seconds and St Stephen welcome St Minver twos.
The other games are Foxhole v Werrington fourths and Tideford twos v Newquay thirds.
Holsworthy have won the Division Six title as Menheniot-Looe thirds have conceded their clash, while the other fixtures see Launceston thirds hope to keep the pressure on second-placed Boconnoc seconds with a win at strugglers Gunnislake. Boconnoc head over to Saltash St Stephens seconds.