Cornwall Cricket League preview - Saturday, September 11

THE final weekend of the regular Cornwall Cricket League season takes place tomorrow with just a few issues to sort out across the divisions.

In the Premier, Penzance have easily defended their crown without losing a game, while Grampound Road are well adrift at the bottom, and already contemplating a first season in the second-tier next summer for the first time in over a decade.

In County One, Hayle require a maximum of 15 points from their final game at home to Newquay to secure promotion. If they do slip up, then Helston will pip them if they, as expected, ease to victory at home to relegated St Austell seconds.

Gorran will join St Austell seconds in Division Two East next season.

Their relegations mean both teams going down are from the east section, meaning three are likely to go down from the east divisions to counteract it.

Callington seconds won the top-of-the-table clash with visiting Wadebridge seconds last Saturday, meaning they need three points from their final day trip to neighbours Tideford, who are set to go down.

Tintagel need just three points to finish fourth bottom and ensure survival. Tideford will be joined by St Minver and Launceston in Division Three with those to set to meet at Launceston to see who finishes bottom.

In Division Three East, Callington thirds require seven points from their final day clash at home to Roche seconds who are safe, to win the league.

If they don’t get them, then South Petherwin will pinch the title, although they face a tricky test at Newquay seconds.

St Austell thirds and Bude seconds are guaranteed to finish in the bottom two, with Launceston seconds set to join them in Division Four due to the first team being relegated.

Luckett are already champions of Division Four, while a Lanhydrock seconds win will see them pip Wadebridge thirds to the runners-up spot.

With Delabole pulling out, it remains to be seen how many teams will go down, although Duloe are adrift of the rest with South Petherwin seconds just above them.

In Divisions 5 & 6, there’s unlikely to be relegations. Liskeard and Pencarrow were the top two in Division Five with Holsworthy seconds taking the Division Six crown.

As for Saturday, there’s plenty of local interest at Moores Park as Callington host Werrington in the Premier League (12.30pm).

After failing to win in their opening six games, Werrington have since won five and could finish above Cally if the hosts fail to pick up eight points.

Werrington arrive after back-to-back home wins over Grampound Road and St Austell, while Callington haven’t won since the end of July.

However, Cally are able to welcome back in-form batsman Nick Parker and opening bowler Sam Pengelly, while Ryan Brown, who has been scoring runs for fun in the second team, will bat in the middle order.

Werrington make just one change. Batsman Mark Gribble is at a wedding, but all-rounder Adam Hodgson is back to open the batting and bolster the spin department.

Callington –

Aidan Libby, Luke Brenton, Dan Davis, Nick Parker, Rhys Davies (wkt), Ryan Brown, Ollie Allsop, Joe White (capt), Sam Pengelly, Rob Mutch, Harry Sawyers.

Werrington –

Adam Hodgson, Taylor Gerry, John Moon, Ben Smeeth, Nick Lawson (capt, wkt), Tom Lyle, Ben Jenkin, Dan Barnard, Jordan Duke, Jason Seldon, Ian Worsnip.

The other games see champions Penzance visit fifth-placed Camborne, runners-up Truro visit St Austell. The winners of St Just versus Redruth will take third.

Callington and Werrington will hope that Grampound can shock Wadebridge and Truro win at St Austell.

If all results go in Werrington’s favour they could finish as high as sixth.

In County One, Werrington seconds host fellow mid-table side St Erme (12.30pm) looking to ensure the likes of Newquay, Lanhydrock and Redruth twos don’t overtake them.

Although St Erme are in good form, Werrington will be desperate to bounce back after last Saturday’s seven-run loss at previously winless St Austell seconds.

Skipper Rob Dymond is at a wedding, Nick Oldaker is doing the Great North Run and Toby Ward is back at school.

In Dymond’s absence, Adam Jenkin will skipper with the experienced Rob May and Mark Hodgson coming in as well as seamer Cameron Wakefield.

Werrington 2 v St Erme -

Dan Howgill, James Adams, Ian Searle, Hugh Tomkinson, Adam Jenkin, Rob May, Mark Hodgson, Simon Bishop (wkt), Nick Ward, Dan Jenkin, Cameron Wakefield.

Lanhydrock’s season has ended in disappointment as Gorran have conceded their clash on Saturday.

In Division Two East, Callington travel with a full-strength side to Tideford looking for the three points for the title.

Club legends Peter Tancock and Jim Shorten are back, while teenage seamer Ben Alford, who has been in the first team, slots in to bolster a very strong pace bowling line-up.

Third-bottom Tideford are missing all-rounder Mike Burnett and Nick Pooley, but name a similar side to the one that won by seven wickets at Tintagel last Saturday.

Callington 2 at Tideford –

Richard Brown, Alex Robinson (wkt), Chris Simpson, Peter Tancock, Liam Hunn, Toby May (capt), Alex Mortimore, Chris Davies, Jim Shorten, Ben Alford, Martin Hunn.

Tideford v Callington –

Dan Robotham, Joe Milligan, Anton Luiten, Russ Cole, David Lockett (capt), Paddy Harper (wkt), Gregor Norster, Ollie Bennett, Chris Bennett, Chris Anderson.

Tintagel head to fourth-placed Roche needing three points to guarantee safety.

Joe Parsons makes his seasonal debut in place of Jordan Blanchard while opener Jordan Burnard returns in place of Aaron Richards.

Wicket-keeper Tom Harris also slots in for seamer Alex Gibbons.

Tintagel at Roche –

Geoff Uglow, Jordan Burnard, Tom Parsons, Ryan Pooley, Jonathan Labuschagne, Adrian Pooley, Gyles Reynolds, Joe Parsons, Simon Fry, Tom Harris (wkt), Keith Lawrence.

If Callington somehow don’t pick up three points then Wadebridge could win still win the title at home to their Grampound Road counterparts.

However if Grampound win, then Bude will finish second if they better Wadebridge’s efforts by two points at home to St Blazey.

Bude skipper Warren Rumble is able to call upon all-rounder Darren Webber for the first time since his move from Werrington. He and bowler Ryan Chalkley play instead of opening bowler Shaun Whitefield and Jack Horwell who are both unavailable.

Bude v St Blazey –

Warren Rumble (capt), Matt Hookway, Wayne Adams, Tom Hall, Mark McManus (wkt), Sam Hockin, Matt Mansbridge, Matt Williams, Darren Webber, Andrew De Rosa, Ryan Chalkley.

Two mid-table sides clash at Fourgates with Holsworthy travelling to Menheniot-Looe. Menheniot are strong at home but Holsworthy have won four of their last five including a one-wicket victory over high-flying Roche last Saturday.

Holsworthy are at full strength besides Rob Mitchell, while Menheniot make four changes from last weekend’s win over Launceston.

Hugh Rogers is resting ahead of Cornwall Over 60s Vase final next week, while his Cornwall team-mate Stuart Nye is away.

Bowler Giles Francis is on holiday while skipper Marc Wright comes into the middle-order instead of usual second team captain Kyran Watts.

The other three to come in are all-rounder Matt James and experienced duo Peter Doyle and Mark Rundle.

Holsworthy at Menheniot-Looe –

Jack May, Aiden Gerry, Matt Shepherd, Jack Greening, Sam Stacey, Ryan Walter (capt), Dan Smith, Brendon Harris, Fraser Priest (wkt), Ryan Bridgeman, Graham Wild.

Menheniot-Looe v Holsworthy –

Luke Ripley, Ross Ripley, Mike Maiden, Steve Kidd, Matt James, Marc Wright (capt), Tom Rogers, Justin Kidd (wkt), Mark Rundle, Dylan Rundle.

The bottom two – Launceston and St Minver are both relegated – and meet on the final day at Lawhitton in a bid to avoid the wooden spoon.

From last weekend, Launceston are missing batsmen James Settterington, Phil Spry and James Dawe as well as all-rounder Isaac Staig.

In their place come Kevin Worth, Mark Thomas and Lewis Matthews to boost the middle-order, and David Sillifant.

St Minver are able to call upon all-rounders Neil Meneer and Sam Hocking with opening bowlers Mark Turnr and Ben Lamb out.

Launceston v St Minver –

Dan Tilley (wkt), Tommy Davey, Mark Thomas, Darren Jenkin, Kevin Worth, Lewis Matthews, David Sillifant, David Cox, Matt Bloomfield (capt), Ethan Green, Shane Davey.

St Minver at Launceston –

Ben Hawken (capt, wkt), Archie Edwards, Antony Ash, Jonny Centini, Will Durrant, Rob Hawken, Steve Hawke, Andrew Barrett, Sam Hocking, Neil Meneer, Charlie Edwards.

Division Three East fixtures (1pm): Callington 3 v Roche 2, Ladock v Bugle, Newquay 2 v South Petherwin, St Austell 3 v Launceston 2, St Neot v Bude 2, Werrington 3 v Boconnoc.

Division Four East fixtures (1pm): Buckland Monachorum v Milton Abbot, Grampound Road 3 v Luckett, Wadebridge 3 v Saltash St Stephens, South Petherwin 2 v Menheniot-Looe 2, St Blazey 2 v Lanhydrock 2.

Division Six East fixtures (1pm): Holsworthy 2 v Boconnoc 2, Launceston 3 v Gunnislake.