CHAMPIONS St Blazey showed their battling qualities once more as they ended Wadebridge Seconds’ unbeaten start to go back to the top of the table.

After finding themselves 21-3, Blazey were indebted to 68 from South African overseas Henro Bouwer and 43 from Lewis Todd to reach a competitive 212-9. Andrew Thomas (28) and Riley Carne (10no) made a priceless 41 stand towards the end as seamers Ollie Bate (2-43) and Charlie Hawken (3-34) shared five wickets.

Wadebridge then found Blazey’s four-pronged spin attack too tough to handle.

The big three of Sam Richards, Tom McLachlan and Ryan Pooley were all out with just 26 on the board, two of which to the brilliant Nithin Gowda (2-13 off 9), and although they regrouped in spells, they lost wickets in clusters to be dismissed for 180 despite 49 not out from wicketkeeper Tom Wilson and 25 from number 10 Hawken. Bouwer claimed 4-39 to round off a fine all-round performance.

Lanhydrock dropped to fifth as St Austell Seconds bounced back from their derby defeat to Blazey to win by 68 runs.

Saints openers Archie Connolly (41) and James Carter (38) added 74, but from there on nobody made more than Matt Ellison’s 26 in their 181 all out as both Christian James and Sam Remedios had identical figures of 3-27 from seven overs.

Lanhydrock skipper Jamie Eldridge sent out the returning Amir Khan and the hard-hitting Remedios to open, but although Khan made 30, they slipped from 28-0 to 71-8.

Number 10 Ryan Butler smashed 31 from just 23 balls, however they were dismissed for just 113 as man-of-the-match Carter claimed 5-29 to go alongside braces for skipper Tom Rosevear (2-36) and son Ben (2-24).

Elsewhere in the division there were victories for Tintagel, Callington Seconds and Menheniot-Looe.