WERRINGTON skipper Nick Lawson admitted Saturday’s defeat at Redruth was ‘disappointing’ as the Reds earned a 32-run success at The Timbabuild Park in the ECB Cornwall Premier League.

After winning the toss, Toby Whiteford (21 off 15) gave the hosts a quick start before edging Dan Barnard (1-12 off 7) through to Sam Hockin at second-slip.

Hockin yorked Jack Hale for 12 and although youngster Toby Stoddard and Sri Lankan pro Dulash Udayanga (21) took the score to 103, the latter went lbw to the in-form Jordan Duke.

That became 135-6 as Adam Hodgson (3-34) went to work, but the Reds fought back via Stoddard and Ellis Whiteford (28no) as they put on 68.

Stoddard eventually holed out for 90 as late wickets fell in a total of 217-9. Mark Taskis took 2-19 from three overs.

Werrington faced a four-pronged spin attack of the highest quality, but openers Sam Hockin and John Moon put on 68 before Moon (14 off 55) was stumped.

Hockin (37 off 47) went one run later when he top-edged a sweep to mid-wicket, and although Adam Hodgson drove to backward-point for 19, Werrington were in pole position at 142-3 with Sri Lankan Thulina Dilshan set on 50 alongside Ben Jenkin (19).

But once Dilshan was bowled on the sweep by Piran Kent, Redruth recovered.

Lawson added 13 before being caught at mid-off, and following a series of attacking shots which failed to pay off against a clever home attack, they were dismissed for 185 with 40 balls to spare, which included 5-51 for off-spinner Udayanga.

Lawson felt it was one that got away as they battle it out for survival with four other sides.

He told the Post: “It was a bit disappointing on the whole as for much of the game we were good.

“With the ball we took it session by session and did well, and we thought anything around 225/230 was chaseable, so to keep them to 217 we were happy.

“With the bat we looked on course at 142-3 with Dilly set, but we then fell away which has been the story of our season when batting second.

“We were probably guilty of trying to force the issue a bit too much, myself included, with quite a few dismissals being caught trying to go over the top.

“They set good fields, asked us to attack and it worked, so fair play to them.”

Werrington start a crucial run of games with bottom side Grampound Road the visitors on Saturday (1pm) before successive trips to high-flying Helston and fellow strugglers Truro.

Lawson continued: “It’s a big game for both of us on Saturday and they’ll fancy their chances just like we do.

“They’ve played some decent cricket and have a few match-winners, so we’ll need to be at our best.”

Werrington were recognised on Saturday by the Cornwall Cricket League by winning the 2024 Lenny Lobb Fair Play Trophy, marked weekly by Premier League umpires, an award not lost on Lawson.

He said: “Over the last few years I’ve tried to instil a mentality where we play hard on the field, but at the same time there’s a way of going about it where we don’t cross the line and we respect the game, the umpires and our opponents, so it’s great to be recognised and we’ll keep it going.”