HELSTON’S Premier League ambitions still remain on track after winning by 110 runs at Beacon on Saturday, writes Michael Weeks.

With five games to play they lead the County Division One table by 20 points, although Callington kept the pressure on with an emphatic ten wicket home win over struggling East Cornwall rivals Menheniot Looe.

Helston do have a tough game in prospect at the weekend however making the short trip to third placed Hayle.

With Callington hosting second from bottom Launceston they cannot afford a slip up.

Despite winning at Tolcarne Road the leaders did not have it all their own way.

Faced with the big total of 291-7 the home side dug in to bat out the full 50 overs and only lost two wickets in doing so, meaning Helston dropped four bowling bonus points.

The visitors opted to bat in good conditions but had an early setback losing Gavin Tregenza for four as Dave Dowling picked up the wicket, with only six on the board.

Mark Jenkin joined his namesake Dan and added 57 for the second wicket before the latter was LBW to Dowling for 23.

Dan Thurgood swiftly removed the remaining Jenkin four runs later to leave the visitors on 67-3 and some work to do.

Chris Martin hit a six in his 16 before home skipper Darren Proctor got in on the act.

Tommy Sturgess upped the tempo hitting seven sixes in his 57 as he dominated a fifth wicket stand of 82 with Ben Rule before Proctor struck again to have him leg before.

Steve Jenkin joined Rule to add 58 for the sixth wicket and a 300 total looked on the cards.

Werner Potgieter’s recent good form with the bat continued, hitting two sixes in his 30 not out before Rule was dismissed by Thurgood near the end for an excellent 84, which included two sixes and eight fours off 87 balls.

Dowling, Thurgood and Proctor took two wickets each.

Steve Eddy, returning to his former club, would have enjoyed removing former teammate Rob Trembath for six, with Steve Jenkin holding the catch.

After James Gool was bowled by Tregenza for 41, with the score at 73, Larry Martin, who made 44 not out, and Proctor, 38 not out, put on an unbroken 108 as the seven man Helston attack toiled in vain.

With this being their fourth successive defeat, Beacon have dropped from fourth to tenth in the table and are now only 28 points from the drop zone.