FALMOUTH 191-8 WERRINGTON 150-9 Falmouth gave an improved performance at Trescobeas on Saturday.

They made all the running against the strong Werrington outfit and narrowly missed out on a first League win of the season.

In the end the visitors were hanging on with their last pair at the crease.

They survived for eight overs to gain the draw and Falmouth had to settle for 14, albeit very useful, points.

Falmouth are in eighth spot, but have extended the gap to 21 points over bottom side Penzance. Falmouth’s top order got their side off to a promising start as Adrian Noott and Jon Udy both scored 32. They added 81 for the first wicket before Noott was caught off Darren Johns.

Udy followed immediately afterwards, lbw to Johns. Antony Angove made 11 before being trapped lbw to Ben Smeeth with the score at 100.

Lewis Jenkins (28) and Duncan Ayres (21) then put on 42 before both fell to Ben Smeeth. Despite the loss of Will Mewburn for two the lower order made some useful runs with Matthew Stephens making 19 and George Popperwell 24.

Falmouth had 191 on the board at tea and something to protect. Ben Smeeth took three for 38 and Alex Smeeth, bowling spin, and Johns two wickets apiece.

After losing Ben Smeeth cheaply Alex Smeeth made 39 to get the visitors to 74 for two after last week’s centurion Mark Horwell had gone for 14, caught behind off Jeff Carvelly. Just as against St Just the previous week the usually reliable middle order collapsed as five wickets fell for 29 runs to put the home team well in charge at 103 for seven. Will Mewburn did much of the damage getting rid of Alex Smeeth, Adam Hodgson and Sam Hockin. That became 127-9 in the 47th over when Udy accounted for Tom Lyle and Angove knocked over Nick Ward for 20.

However Werrington’s last pair of Darren Johns and Ian Worsnip held on for the draw to frustrate the home side, and managed another batting bonus point for good measure. Will Mewburn took three for 25 from eleven overs with Duncan Ayres bowling well taking two for 28 from 13 overs. Angove, Carvelly, Tom Retallack and Udy took a wicket each.

Elsewhere on Saturday Paul took over at the top with a 40-run win at St Austell. Callington dropped their first points of the season when Grampound Road held on for a draw at New Road.

St Just took closer order at the top of the table with a 57-run win at home to Newquay. Truro were 76-run winners over Penzance at Boscawen Park.

On Saturday Falmouth have the opportunity to put clear water between themselves and the bottom club when they travel to St Clare to take on Penzance.