THE 113th annual meeting of the Cornwall County Cricket Club has been held Truro. The officers, including captain Matt Robins, were all re-elected unopposed.

In presenting the committee report on the 2015 season club chairman Michael Williams reflected on the notable success in winning the Unicorns KO Trophy for the first time.

Northumberland were beaten by seven wickets at Wormsley in late August. In the Championship, Cornwall led the table for half the season, after winning the opening two games. Disappointing defeats at Oxfordshire and Wales however saw a fourth place finish.

Christian Purchase won the Canynge Capel Cup for the outstanding player. Professional Brad Wadlan was the leading run scorer with 560 runs and took 46 championship wickets. Purchase and Matt Rowe also passed the 500-run mark. Centuries were hit by Purchase, Wadlan, Rowe (two in successive games) and Tom Sharp in the Trophy semi-final. Wadlan took five wickets in an innings on five occasions.

Antony Angove, Scott Harvey, Rowe and Wadlan were capped during the season. Five players, Wadlan, James Turpin, Tim Wyatt, Jordan Thomas and Kieran Rodd made county debuts. In all 19 players played in the championship and seven others featured in the Trophy.

In his financial report Treasurer Keith Hore reported that "success had come at a cost", with the added expenditure of the cup run, that included two visits to Hertfordshire for the semi-final. That contributed to a £6,000 loss on the season. He thanked the sponsors Conway Bailey Transport and accountants Lang Bennetts for their support, which were greatly appreciated.

The President, Col Ronnie Potts, presented the Arthur Lugg Cup for outstanding services to Geoff Husband, who has managed Cornwall Over 50s for the last 28 years.

Still keeping wicket in the Cornwall League for Gunnislake at the age of 80, Geoff played ten championship games in 1972 & 1973.

The Caerhays Cup, for the highest partnership of the season, was won by Tom Hughes and Matt Rowe for their stand of 126 against Devon. The Donald Cocks Cup for fielding went to Matt Rowe.

The Canynge Capel Colts Cup was won by Jordan Thomas and the Ron Tither Memorial Cup for Under 21 bowling was won by Lewis Goldsworthy.

Team Manager Godfrey Furse was made a Life Member of the Club following over 30 years of service. He made 109 Championship appearances between 1985 and 2001, plus 17 one-day appearances. He was county captain from 1994 to 1998. He has been team manager since 2002 and masterminded the Championship success of 2012 and the 2015 KO Trophy victory - Cornwall's only titles since joining the MCCA in 1904.

Elections: President - Col R W Potts TD, JP, DL; Chairman – JM Williams, FRICS, DL; Hon. Secretary - Mrs Anita George MBE, JP; Hon Treasurer – RK Hore JP; Captain – ML Robins; Team Sec / Manager - GR Furse; Under 21's Manager – S Hooper. Over 50’s Manager - GE Husband. Women’s County Manager – S Nicholls.

In the Unicorns Knock Out Trophy Cornwall start their defence away to Devon on Sunday, April 24. An away game at North Perrott, against Dorset, is sandwiched by fixtures against Berkshire at Truro and Oxfordshire at Werrington.

 

In the Championship there are home games against Oxfordshire, Dorset and Berkshire at St Austell, Truro and Grampound Road respectively. The away games are at familiar venues with trips to Corsham, Bridgnorth and Sidmouth.

In a first both the Trophy Final and four-day Championship Final are scheduled for a festival week at Wormsley, Buckinghamshire at the end of August. The championship final starts on August Bank Holiday Sunday.

It has been decided by MCCA not to continue with the T20 competition, which was piloted in 2015. The decision was taken after counties were surveyed at the end of the season. A lack of further funding for the competition was a key factor.

Unicorns KO Trophy (Group 1); Sun April 24: Devon (at Instow); Sun May 1: Berkshire (at Truro); Sun, May 8: Dorset (at North Perrott); Sun, May 22: Oxfordshire (at Werrington). Unicorns Counties Championship (Western Division): June 5-7): Oxfordshire (at St Austell); June 19-21 Wiltshire (at Corsham); July 3-5: Shropshire (at Bridgnorth); July 17-19: Dorset (atTruro); July 31-Aug 2: Berkshire (at Grampound Rd); August 14-16: Devon (at Sidmouth).