FALMOUTH bounced back from the disappointing performance against St Just the previous week to give the champions a run for their money at Trescobeas on Saturday.

They got to within 82 runs of victory, with seven wickets still intact, but a familiar batting collapse scuppered their chances of causing an upset.

In the end the winning margin was a comfortable 52 runs, with seven overs to spare.

At least Falmouth picked up seven bonus points to maintain the nine point cushion above bottom club Redruth, with eight games to play.

It’s all set up for what could be a crucial clash at Trewirgie on Saturday between the bottom two clubs.

After electing to bat Werrington lost Nick Lawson, bowled by Glyn Furnival, with 16 on the board. Nick Ward was then caught and bowled for 13 by first change bowler George Popperwell at 52.

The prize wicket of Alex Smeeth went to Popperwell with the county all rounder scoring 35. His brother Ben made 40, but when Antony Angove bowled him, at 117-4, Falmouth were making good progress.

It got even better as Paul Smith fell for 13, Adam Hodgson for 18, Sam Hockin for one and Tony Goodin for ten.

However Ben Jenkin, who scored 23, and Tom Lyle, with 20 runs, added a valuable 42 for the ninth wicket to get the total to 195. Both were run out in the final over of the innings.

Popperwell took three for 41 and Angove two for 42 with one each for Furnival and Liam Hoban. In a tight spell Arup Revandkar took one for 25 from 16 overs.

After losing Stefan Churcher, without scoring, Falmouth recovered well to 114-3. Adrian Noott made 17 in a second wicket stand of 65 with Revandkar.

Angove was bowled by Ian Worsnip for six, but Kieran Rodda saw the hundred up for only three down.

Crucially Revandkar was dismissed by Worsnip for 74, having hit a six and nine fours.

The end came quickly as last six wickets fell for just 12 runs to the Smeeth brothers, bowling in tandem.

Ben took three for ten and Alex three for 47. The exception was Craig Mouatt, who was run out for seven.

Elsewhere on Saturday St Just took a big step to the title when they beat third placed Truro by just six runs at Cape Road, having recovered from 75-5 to make 166.