HOLSWORTHY first team skipper Ryan Walter admits his side are on a ‘learning curve’ as they continue to adapt to life in Division Two East.

The Stanhope Park outfit are playing at the highest level in their history this summer following promotion two years ago, and have competed well.

Their opening three games saw them face two of the division’s fancied sides in Wadebridge seconds and Roche while they saw off Menheniot-Looe in a thriller on April 24.

Last Saturday’s home game with leaders Grampound Road seconds was cancelled, as was the rest of the Cornwall Cricket League programme on Saturday.

Walter told the Post: “I’m reasonably pleased so far, albeit slightly disappointed with the Roche defeat where we failed to defend 260.

“We played Wadebridge first and they’re a really good side who didn’t give us much of a chance. We only scored 160 odd and we may have threatened them a bit more if we got 185/190. But that’s the sort of standard we’re going to face a lot this season, so it was a really good learning curve.

“In the second game against Menheniot-Looe we batted, bowled and fielded really well to get a really good win, but we need to improve our extras when we bowl. Against Roche we batted brilliantly to get 260 but the extras we conceded definitely cost us. We just need to improve the small details, as in this league it will win or lose you the game, and in that game it was definitely a big factor.

“Overall, we’ve batted reasonably well in stages and everyone’s got in on at least one occasion. Even our lower order have got double figures, which is encouraging, as over the last few years they’ve not been required that often. It’s great to know that they can contribute at this level.

“Everyone has been culpable of bowling too many wides, but we’ve bowled pretty well besides that. We all agree it has to improve, and it has, but we’ll keep working on it. Another thing we’ve noticed is the depth of the batting line-ups is that much more. In previous years we’ve been able to blow some teams away but this year we’ve had to be a bit more streetwise and come up with different plans.”

When you are a Devon club competing in the Cornwall League, player availability at times can be an issue, but so far it hasn’t.

Walter said: “Like everyone else, keeping a consistent side is a big factor. If we can keep the same nine or ten every weeks then we should be alright.”

Stanhope Park is a notoriously difficult place to go with them losing just a handful of games there in the last few years, and Walter knows it needs to remain that way.

He said: “We’ve talked about the importance of winning our home games, especially against the teams around us, and picking up as many points as possible in defeat. If we do that then we should comfortably stay up and a mid-table finish wouldn’t be unthinkable.”

The Trees pipped St Blazey to the Division Three title in 2019, and St Blazey make the long trip east without a win so far.

Walter said: “They’ve got Rory Dixon at the top who is a really good player for this level and their former skipper Andrew Thomas is a pretty tidy bowler, but we’ll focus on ourselves, be aware of their strengths and try to pick up another home win.”

Holsworthy have entered a second team into the Cornwall league this term, and have had a solid start, with a win and a loss plus Saturday’s washout at their Boconnoc counterparts.

Walter believes the club is on the up.

He said: “As a club at the moment we’re doing very well players wise with more than enough to choose from. Luckily the North Devon League on Sundays is now underway, and that enables us to give everybody in the club the game-time they need.

“The seconds have started well and have a really good mix of youth and experience which will hold them in good stead to hopefully push for promotion.”