WERRINGTON made it four wins in five games to all but guarantee safety with a 29-run success at bottom side Truro on Saturday.

The Tron had seen off Callington, Grampound Road and Helston in recent weeks to avoid talk of a relegation battle, and after their latest success can start to plan for another summer at the top-tier of Cornish cricket.

Werrington were without opening batsmen John Moon and Sam Hockin, while Mark Taskis remains out for the season, but were able to welcome back Ben Smeeth and Hugh Tomkinson who both faced the new ball.

Werrington chose to bat but lost Tomkinson early as he edged Indian pro Akhilesh Sahani to slip.

It was 32-2 when Adam Hodgson was bowled by Scott Kellow, but that brought out Thulina Dilshan, with the Sri Lankan getting several early boundaries away.

Smeeth found some form with the bat, driving through the covers and down the ground, and they put on 70 before Dilshan was caught off Rob Harrison for 44.

Smeeth departed 10 runs later one short of his first half century of the summer when he was bowled by left-arm spinner Adam Price, but the innings was taken on by vice-captain Mark Gribble and Ben Jenkin (28).

Both found it tough initially and although both got in, Gribble making 53, Truro kept at it and restricted the village outfit to 207-9.

Early wickets were key and Dan Barnard (3-15 off 8) provided three, as Truro fell to 52-4. Fifteen-year-old Billy Uglow was given the new ball and had opener Dan Phillips caught at second-slip by Dilshan.

Wickets continued to fall with the next three taken by Hodgson (3-30), and when Dilshan (2-37) had Sahani caught in the covers by Gribble, it was 123-8.

But Harrison and Freddie Bose (20no) had other ideas and although they were always slightly behind, put on 54.

But Harrison (42) eventually went when he skied Dilshan’s leg-spin to captain Nick Lawson, and the game over with seven balls to spare when last man Billy Channell toed a catch to Tomkinson off Smeeth.

Reflecting on the afternoon, Lawson said: “That’s three wins on the spin and four wins in five so we’re in a bit of a purple patch.

“After the last couple of weeks where Dilly was the star, it was really pleasing to see a really good team performance with Benny, Dil, Gribby and Benny Jenks all contributing with the bat and then the bowlers doing likewise including three each for Barny and Hodgy.

“Those results mean now we’re only three points off the top four and although we’ve got some hard games coming up, it means there’s no pressure on us now and we can enjoy it with a smile on our face.”

He continued: “We felt 207 was a bit under par. The wicket wasn’t quite as good as it looked although the outfield was rapid, and they bowled very well towards the back end as after 35 overs we were looking for around 240.

“But we knew if we could get some early wickets they’d find it tough with the position they are in fighting for their lives, and the way we bowled was superb and ensured another good victory.”

Penzance, who have a 19-point lead at the top of the table from Wadebridge, are Saturday’s visitors to Ladycross (1pm).