HOLSWORTHY’S remain 23 points from safety following a three-wicket defeat at Callington Seconds on Saturday.

The Trees knew they needed a result to kick-start a stuttering campaign, and were without batsmen Aiden Gerry and Rory Piper as well as wicketkeeper Chris Pomeroy.

In came Sam Stacey, Brendan Harris and Wayne Pomeroy, the latter for his first appearance of the season.

With third bottom St Minver rained off at Bude, Holsworthy could have moved to within 10 points, but lost a crucial toss in a game reduced to 36 overs per side and were sent into bat.

Spencer Whatley (2-22) bowled a fine opening spell and after dismissing Guy Beagley (2) lbw, the teenager got the big wicket of Matt Shepherd who had recently departed Moores Park, when he edged through to Nick Parker for eight (40-2).

Jack Greening made the same move back as Shepherd and struck ten fours in his 53.

After he added 29 with Brendan Harris (13), he departed at 111-4 in the 26th over, caught and bowled by Oscar Crichton.

Holsworthy were well-placed and eventually reached 190-7 thanks to useful contributions from Noah Pigdon (27 off 43), Sam Stacey (21 off 20) and skipper Ryan Walter, the latter making 32 not out from just 18 balls. Fifty-nine came off the last seven overs despite Ryan Hodge (2-46 off 6) and Rich Brown (3-32 off 5) sharing five wickets.

Shepherd bowled Brown for just six, but Ben Allsop (62) and Parker (36) took the score to 74 before Graham Wild (2-35) struck twice in three balls.

However, Allsop (67) and Peter Tancock (35) put on a further 64, and although Pigdon (2-38) and Greening (2-24) struck twice, the Greens got the over the line helped by Ollie Bennett’s 14 not out.