CRICKET: Wet weather ruins opening weekend of Cornwall's cricket season

They made the trek west to St Just to take on the holders in the opening group game. However rain started falling just before the start. Play was possible on the adjoining third eleven ground and there was expectation that play could get underway on the main pitch.

The weather deteriorated however and the game was called off without a ball bowled. Both sides took six points each. In the other west group game Redruth beat local rivals Camborne by 24 runs. After lengthy delays play ended just after eight o’clock in a match that was reduced to 22 overs.

Falmouth are in action on both Saturday and Monday this weekend. Penzance are the visitors to the Hine Downing Oval on Saturday, starting at 1pm.

They had a bye last weekend so this game marks their return to the top flight. Then on Bank Holiday Monday, Falmouth make the trip to Trewirgie to take on Redruth.

The return of St Gluvias to the higher tier proved to be a damp squib on Saturday. After a delayed start just two overs were played before the rain had the final say at Kernick Road.

The Saints were five without loss against Menheniot Looe. On Saturday they travel to the Towans to take on Hayle. There is no scheduled League programme on Monday.

St Gluvias pair Richard Kellow and Jon Udy watch on as the rain continues to fall. Picture: CORNISHPHOTOS

In the same division, although the weather had the final say, Helston got off to a good start after making the long trek to Launceston.

They declared when rain stopped play after 32 overs of their innings with 232 for two on the board. Launceston were unable to start their innings however and the game was abandoned.

Helston gave a debut to Plymouth University student Andy Smith. He was signed as cover for Ross Leathley who misses the start of the season due to a finger injury which has required stitches.

Smith made an impressive start hitting 110 not out, with three sixes and 17 fours. He shared an opening stand of 172 with skipper Dan Jenkin, who made 88 off 70 balls including two sixes and 13 fours.

Ian Searle trapped him lbw and also removed Mark Jenkin for 19. The wickets came at a cost however as he conceded 85 runs in just seven overs. Helston are at home to Gorran on Saturday with the action commencing at Beacon Park at 1.30pm.

Stithians return to Division Two saw a wasted trip to Roskear, against Camborne seconds.. Rain started in the Camborne area around 12.30pm and with no real let up the game was called off in mid afternoon. Stithians will hope for better fortunes at home to Gulval on Saturday (1.30pm).

There was some play at the Hine Downing Oval in the Falmouth seconds against newly promoted Praze game. After a delayed start the Praze innings got underway eventually but only for 5.4 overs.

The visitors were 12 without loss when the game was abandoned. Harry Roberts and Sam O’Nyons opened the bowling for Falmouth. They were keen to go on but Praze settled for the abandonment. On Saturday Falmouth seconds are at Troon.

The Constantine versus Perranarworthal game was an early casualty on Saturday with no play possible at Boulder Parc. Constantine are at newly promoted Goldsithney this week and Perran take on the other promoted side, Mount Ambrose at Tredrea. The Mount got off to a good start on Saturday beating Barripper by eight wickets.

Wendron got off to a winning start in Division Three with a six wicket home win over Leedstown, in a game reduced to 44 overs due to rain. Leedstown got to 126 before losing their third wicket.

Paul Glanville made 47, skipper Luke Stuckey 49 and Liam Smitheram 28. Wendron’s new recruit from Troon, Shane Richards, turned the game however taking six for 27 from 9.3 overs. Ryan Whitbread took two for 28.

Sam Care made 29 for Wendron before being dismissed at 49. Antony Harris, 41, and skipper Tim Kitchen, 51, added 83 for the second wicket to take the home side to the brink of victory. Stuckey, two for 29, removed them both but victory came at the beginning of the thirtieth over. Wendron are at Barripper this weekend.

Mullion’s season got off to a disappointing start with a 104 run home defeat against Redruth seconds at Garro Lane. Opener Tom Stevens held the Redruth innings together as he made 71 including a six and ten fours. He was sixth out at 155.

Young newcomer Ollie Paull made 28 in a fifth wicket stand of 49. The Reds were all out in the 38th over for 186. The wickets were shared with three each for Charlie Hearn and Jonty Wheatley while Michael Cockings and Ryan Tonkin picked up two each.

The Mullion reply was a sorry tale with only opener Wheatley getting double figures. He made 36 before being seventh out. The home side were all out for 82 in the 27th over. Ellis Whiteford took three for 21. Mullion are at Leedstown this weekend.

Porthleven’s opener against Penzance seconds in Division Four was put back 24 hours due to the food festival in the village. It proved a recipe for success as Port recorded an excellent 15 run win on Sunday, against good opposition. They scored 252 for nine in their 48 overs.

The innings was built on a second wicket stand of 135 between Ronnie Williams and Tom Excel. Williams hit two sixes and 11 fours in his 78 while Excel’s 65 came of just 45 balls with three sixes and nine fours. Daren Parish then chipped in with 31.

There was a late flurry of wickets as new recruit from Gulval, Dave Gibson, picked up six for 32. Penzance lost their first four wickets for 43 but Jonny Whittaker kept them in the game.

He hammered five sixes and 12 fours but was run out by Brad Bury on 96. It was a turning point as the last three wickets followed for the addition of just 14 runs.

Earlier Jack Nicholas made 55 in a sixth wicket stand of 104. Neil Bartlett, three for 33, and Bury, three for 49, were in amongst the wickets. Porthleven travel to St Buryan on Saturday.

St Gluvias seconds got half a game in at Perranporth. They were dismissed for 112 with Richard Bannister making 31 and Simon Winnan 21 not out. Helston seconds are at Kernick Roadon Saturday.

Runs were at a premium at Beacon Park as Helston seconds stepped up to a new division. They lost to St Buryan by 37 runs. St Buryan made 111 all out of which 50 were extras, including 43 wides. Lewis Jeffery, three for 4, and Matthew Crapp, three for 18, kept the brakes on.

Helston were 74 all out in reply with Matthew Lee’s 12 sharing the top score by a batsman in the match. Tom Redfern took four for 15.

Dave Retallack bowls for Helston seconds. Picture: PHIL RUBERRY

In Division Five Falmouth thirds got in a 35 over game at Channel Four and defeated Mullion seconds by 91 runs. Tom Page made 82 before being third out at 152. Ashley Robinson hit 35 in a second wicket stand of 86.

Falmouth ended on 209-6. Mullion never threatened and were undone by a superb spell from Alex Stuthridge. He had remarkable figures of 6-4-3-4. They closed on 118 for seven. Falmouth make the trip to the Roseland on Saturday to face Gerrans, who were nine wicket winners at Redruth last weekend.

Perranarworthal seconds got off to a winning start at home to Rosudgeon seconds, who were restricted to 80-7 in 30 overs. James Adams took three for 14 from eight overs. Philip Hingston only conceded seven runs from six overs. He then made 44 not out to steer his side to an eight wicket win with seventeen overs to spare.

St Gluvias thirds had nine players and four injured so regrettably had to concede to Crofty Holman seconds.

In Division six Beacon thirds also conceded, to Mawnan. Perranarworthal thirds only played 2.5 overs at St Stephen before an abandonment. Falmouth fourths game at Veryan was also a victim to the weather.

Wendron seconds were on the wrong side of a bit of history when Hayle thirds beat them in their first ever game in the league.

In a 25 over match at Leedstown, the home side made 162-3 declared with Tristan Hearle making 78 not out and Lee Bennet 54 not out. Wendron ended on 127 for six.

Sam Collins took two for 32. Jordan Oaken-Matthews was 39 not out and Tom Orchard made 28.