HELSTON’S title hopes received a boost with an important 71 run home win over St Minver, who have shown they are capable of beating anyone on the day this season, writes Michael Weeks.

They lead the table by a useful 27 points from Callington, with Hayle a further ten points behind after the top three all won last weekend.

Helston will be looking to maintain their advantage on Saturday when strugglers Launceston visit Beacon Parc.

After electing to bat, Helston lost skipper Dan Jenkin for eight when he was caught off Rob Hawken, with only ten on the board.

Ross Leathley, 27, and Mark Jenkin, 33, then combined well and got the total to 73 before three wickets fell for 14 runs.

Jenkin was stumped off Jonathan Centeni, having hit five boundaries, and Leathley soon followed for 27, when former Gloucestershire bowler Tom Shrewsbury had him caught.

Shrewsbury then had Chris Martin leg before for eight and at 87-4 the home camp had some concerns.

Tommy Sturgess made 28 off 26 balls, but the visitors kept themselves in the game when Josh Wingfield bowled him and followed up by knocking over Gavin Tregenza for seven.

Ben Rule made an important 43 not out off 59 balls however and with support from Steve Jenkin, Werner Potgieter and Tom Retallack, the home side batted out the full 50 overs and only dropped the one batting bonus point.

Centeni took three for 33 with two each for Shrewsbury and Wingfield.

After Ryan Pooley made 20, Sturgess got the all important wicket of Cebo Tshiki for two, with Retallack holding the catch.

Opener Ben Hawken made 22 but Sturgess and Potgieter reduced the visitors to 59-6.

Wingfield hit a defiant 38 before being eighth out at 126 and Dan Jenkin took the last two wickets, in his first over, for no further addition to the total.

Potgieter took four for 30 and Sturgess three for 19 with the innings only lasted 30 overs.