Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League report and summary scores — Saturday, August 10

WERRINGTON’s hopes of defending their ECB Cornwall Premier League title are all but over after being thrashed by eight wickets at home to leaders Penzance on Saturday.

On a day where nine matches involving Post area clubs were cancelled due to the poor weather on Friday night and Saturday morning, the Werrington groundstaff and volunteers put in a remarkable effort to even get the game started at 1.45pm as a 42-over game, considering matches at Bude, Launceston and South Petherwin were amongst the nine not to see any play.

Penzance arrived in North Cornwall 27 points clear at the top with five games to go meaning any hopes of a fifth Werrington league title in eight years was dependent on a win.

After winning a crucial toss, former Essex and Derbyshire star Greg Smith had no hesitation in choosing to field and it worked a treat as Werrington — Adam Hodgson apart — struggled badly.

Adam Jenkin was caught and bowled off Glyn Furnival’s first delivery for a golden duck before Hodgson (30) and Jono Baldock (2) took the score to 20-1.

Baldock was bowled for just two by ex-Leicestershire all-rounder Tom Wells (3-31) before the same man took the catch at second-slip to dismiss the in-form Matt Robins for a second golden duck of the day.

Hodgson and the returning Paul Smith added 19 for the fourth wicket before Smith who had made a quick 15 was unlucky to see his straight drive brilliantly caught and bowled by Wells.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals including Hodgson for a well-played 30 at 65-6.

Tom Dinnis, back after injury, added 15 down the order but Werrington were dismissed for just 98 in 29.3 overs.

The visitors got off to an even worse start as Sam Hockin had Scott Harvey (0) brilliantly caught one-handed by a diving Hodgson cover before Dinnis clean bowled Jack Paull for a duck.

At 5-2, it suddenly got interesting but Wells, who has scored well over a 1,000 runs this term, had other ideas, plundering 64 not out off just 48 balls as he and Ryan Edwards (22no) put the visitors 29 points clear of Redruth who moved ahead of Werrington following their seven-wicket win at home to Wadebridge.

Callington’s batting woes continued again at Grampound Road as they fell to a six-wicket defeat.

The third-bottom hosts went into the fixture just eight points clear of Callington, who themselves were only 14 clear off bottom side Falmouth, who had a date at St Just.

Grampound won the toss and chose to field and it paid off handsomely as Callington fell to 31-4, two of which were run-outs.

The in-form Nick Parker (22) and Alex Robinson (46) steadied the ship with a stand of 39 before Parker was caught behind off Lewis Sanders.

From there, wickets continued to fall including Robinson at 115-8.

James Boundy made a brisk 21 to get them up to 146.

‘The Road’ have struggled themselves this term and when they fell to 59-3 it looked as if Callington could potentially force a victory.

But Sri Lankan star Ravindra Karunarathna showed his class with an unbeaten 78 off 87 balls in stands of 46 and 42 with Tom Orpe (15) and Sean Hooper (8no).

Yannick Leonard (2-28) and Adam Snowdon (2-42) shared four wickets.

In County Division One, Werrington seconds are now six points from safety after winning a dramatic low-scoring thriller at high-flying Beacon.

Rain at Tolcarne Road meant the game was reduced to 40 overs but Werrington’s bowlers flew out of the traps as Danny Warne (4-13) and spinners Nick Ward (3-7) and Mark Hodgson (2-15) dismissed Beacon for just 83.

Beacon aren’t third for nothing and bowled brilliantly themselves. But John Moon (34) and Hodgson (20) did just about enough before a late collapse to move them to within touching distance of Ludgvan who were left frustrated by their cancellation at Launceston, who themselves are looking over their shoulder, 18 points clear.

Werrington host Launceston and Ludgvan on successive Saturdays (August 24 and 31) meaning their destiny is in their hands, which is a far cry from their position less than three weeks ago.

In Division Two East, there were important wins for Luckett and St Minver in the congested battle to stay up.

Although Luckett still had a bit of distance to the bottom two, they took a giant step towards safety with a crushing eight-wicket win at Tideford in a 35-over game.

Andrew Hoskin (5-10) and Mark Southcott (2-14) scythed through the hosts who could only make 67.

Luke Brenton then thrashed 35 as the winning runs came in the 14th over.

Second bottom St Minver made it a hat-trick of league victories with a six-wicket victory over Grampound Road, who are now just four points clear of the drop zone.

With two, possibly three teams going down, depending on whether whether an East or West side join St Austell in going down from Division One, Grampound won the toss and chose to bat and got off to a disastrous start as Ross Keast (3-38) struck twice in the first over of the match.

However, ‘the Road’ recovered to make 204-7, mainly thanks to 64 from Oscar Thomas-Donald and 48 from Martin Roberts.

Knowing they could ill-afford any slip-ups, St Minver eased to their target with 4.2 overs to spare.

Although opener Ben Hawken went for nought, Antony Ash and Will Durrant then put on 124 for the second wicket before Ash was bowled for 68.

Durrant went soon after for a patient 54, but Steve Hawke (26no) and South African Allistair Cottle (36) added 52 for the fourth wicket to kill off any hopes of an away success.

Bude’s home clash with Roche fell foul of the weather, leaving them 28 points clear of St Minver with four games to go.

It’s all to play for in the race for survival in Division Three East on a day where Launceston the big winners without even stepping foot on the field.

Their clash at bottom side Roche was called off, but Bude seconds’ game at promotion-chasing St Blazey was on, although it was 43 overs per side.

The hosts made 237-2 with Daniel Kendall making an unbeaten 111.

Any hopes of an away win were all but extinguished when they fell to 31-3 after 17 overs. But knowing every batting bonus point is crucial, skipper Gordon Wint (68no) and Matt Whitefield (33no) knuckled down to guide them to 168-3 and earn four of them.

St Neot’s crushing defeat at home to St Austell saw them earn just two points meaning just 13 points separate the bottom four with at least two facing relegation.

Elsewhere in the division, South Petherwin’s good form continued as they thrashed ten-man Callington seconds by 133 runs in a 36-over contest.

Nick Gerry’s excellent season continued with 61 as Petherwin made 195-5 at Moores Park. Useful support was received by Adrian Warne (33) and Adrian Clements (40no) while Chris Davies claimed 3-23 for the hosts.

Although Callington had ten, their side was full of quality players but they were rolled over for just 62.

Cornwall Over 50s captain Paul Clements led the way with 4-12 while teenagers Caleb Forsyth (3-34) and Ollie Peterson (2-2) shared the other five wickets.

Tintagel dispatched a weakened Boconnoc with ease at Deer Park as they moved above Callington into sixth.

Ryan Pooley was the main orchestrator with 4-30 as the hosts mustered just 127. Matt Pethick (2-32) and Jason Seldon (2-38) also contributed strongly.

Leo McDonnell (52no) and Ben Lane (51) then saw the visitors to a comfortable success.

Leaders Holsworthy saw their potentially awkward trip to Newquay seconds fall foul to the weather.

The top four were all scheduled to face each other in the fifth tier but leaders Werrington thirds’ trip to Buckland Monachorum was called off due to overnight rain.

That result, coupled with Bugle’s victory at Saltash St Stephens means that with two games to spare, just eight points separate all four sides.

Bugle, four points off the top have a strong advantage in that they have a game in-hand against Lanhydrock seconds, but with just two games to go, it’s all to play for.

At the other end, Luckett’s hopes of finishing fourth bottom were dented as Grampound Road thirds leapfrogged them with a 10-run victory at Chapel Field.

Some powerful late order hitting from skipper Mark Blake (50no) saw ‘the Road’ total 193-6 with veterans Steve Brown (3-54) and Alan Skeet (2-48) sharing five.

Luckett’s response was based around 74 from opener Patrick Thompson but a failure for someone to provide meaningful support meant they ended ten short.

Delabole’s trip to Lanhydrock was called off.

There was no action involving Post area clubs in Division Five East. Milton Abbot’s home game with Wadebridge thirds was already rearranged for August 31 while South Petherwin seconds’ home date with their Menheniot-Looe counterparts fell foul of the weather.

St Minver require just two points from their final two games to clinch the Division Six East title after thrashing Gunnislake by eight wickets.

Spinner Nigel Hocking took the remarkable figures of 6-3 off ten overs as Gunnislake were bowled out for just 32. Rob Hawken was also on the money with 3-3 off 5.2.

Although ‘Gunny’ at least got a bowling point, Minver got home in just the sixth over with Matt Gilbert (10no) and Luke Osborne (12no) the not out batsmen.

Liskeard’s game at Launceston thirds was called off as was Werrington fourths’ game with Menheniot-Looe thirds.

Tintagel picked up 20 points as Boconnoc failed to make the trip to Butts Field.

Summary scores

ECB Cornwall Premier League

Grampound Road — Callington 146 (A Robinson 46, N Parker 22, J Boundy 21; R Karunarathna 3-29, L Sanders 2-22), 

Grampound Road 147-4 (R Karunarathna 78no; Y Leonard 2-28, A Snowdon 2-42). 

Grampound Road (20 points) beat Callington (four) by six wickets.  

Werrington — Werrington 98 (A Hodgson 30; T Wells 3-31, G Furnival 3-31, D Blignaut 2-16), Penzance 99-2 (T Wells 64no, R Edwards 22no). Penzance (19 points) beat Werrington (one) by eight wickets in a match reduced to 42 overs. (D/L Method — Target 99 in 40 overs). 

County Division One

Beacon — Beacon 83  (R Trembath 24; D Warne 4-13, N Ward 3-7, M Hodgson 2-15), Werrington 84-9 (J Moon 34, M Hodgson 20; G Mankee 4-12, D Batchelor 3-26, B James 2-24). Werrington (17 points) beat Beacon (six) by one wicket in a match reduced to 40 overs.

Launceston — Launceston v Ludgvan. Match cancelled; six points each.

Division Two East

Bude — Bude v Roche. Match cancelled; six points each.

St Minver — Grampound Road 204-7 (O Thomas-Donald 64, M Roberts 48, D Ghamarian 24; R Keast 3-38, W Durrant 2-41), St Minver 207-4 (A Ash 68, W Durrant 54, A Cottle 36, S Hawke 26no; T Blake 2-45, C Cooke 2-50). St Minver (18 points) beat Grampound Road (seven) by six wickets.

Tideford — Tideford 67 (A Hoskin 5-10, M Southcott 2-14), Luckett 68-2 (L Brenton 35); Luckett (20 points) beat Tideford (two) by eight wickets in a match reduced to 34 overs.

Division Three East

Boconnoc — Boconnoc 127 (J Thurston 25no, J Sleep 24; R Pooley 4-30, M Pethick 2-32, J Seldon 2-38), Tintagel 128-3 (L McDonnell 52no, B Lane 51). Tintagel (20 points) beat Boconnoc (four) by seven wickets.

Callington — South Petherwin 195-5 (N Gerry 61, A Clements 40no, Adrian Warne 33; C Davies 3-23), Callington 62 (P Clements 4-12, C Forsyth 3-34, O Peterson 2-2). South Petherwin (19 points) beat Callington (three) by 133 runs in a match reduced to 36 overs.

Newquay — Newquay v Holsworthy. Match cancelled; six points each.

Roche — Roche v Launceston. Match cancelled; six points each.

St Blazey — St Blazey 237-2 (D Kendall 111no, Adam Thomas 74 (158 partnership), Bude 168-3 (G Wint 68no, Matt Whitefield 32no, extras 48; Andy Thomas 2-22). St Blazey (16 points) beat Bude (five) by 69 runs.

Division Four East

Buckland — Buckland Monachorum v Werrington. Match cancelled; six points each.

Lanhydrock — Lanhydrock  v Delabole. Match cancelled; six points each.

Luckett — Grampound Road 193-6 (M Blake 50no, S Manhire 40, J Scatesveale 28, O Morcom 27, S Dunstan 24; S Brown 3-54, A Skeet 2-48), Luckett 183-7 (P Thompson 74; J Scatesveale 5-27). Grampound Road (17 points) beat Luckett (seven) by 10 runs.

Division Five East

South Petherwin — South Petherwin v Menheniot-Looe. Match cancelled; six points each.

Division Six East

Gunnislake — Gunnislake 32 (N Hocking 10-8-3-6, R Hawken 5.2-4-3-3), St Minver 36-2. St Minver (19 points) beat Gunnislake (one) by eight wickets.

Launceston — Launceston  v Liskeard. Match cancelled; six points each.

Tintagel — Tintagel (20 points) beat Boconnoc (nil). Boconnoc conceded.

Werrington — Werrington  v Menheniot-Looe. Match cancelled; six points each.