NEWQUAY first XI hosted table-topping Falmouth last Saturday at the Sports Centre, writes Sam Millatt.

Newquay were bowled out for 101, with Perran Burley taking four wickets. In reply, Rob Burton took all three wickets to fall in a tight fielding display but Falmouth coasted home by seven wickets.

In Division Three East, Newquay Seconds looked to build on the win against Launceston, heading to Wheal Eliza to take on a tough St Austell side and triumphed by 44 runs.

Batting first, Newquay made 213, anchored by a fantastic 109 from club youth coach Tom Rhodes.

The next highest score was a fluent 45 from in-form Rhys Morgans. St Austell were then bowled out for 169. young Alfie Rhodes taking four wickets to complete a good day for the family!

On Saturday, the seconds host Tideford.

In Division Five East, the high-flying third XI hosted strugglers Tintagel at the Sports Centre on Saturday.

Tintagel were bowled out for 78, with Obi Shams taking 3-3. Naz Ismail and Ed Mosley took two wickets each, in a ruthless bowling display.

The reply was equally swift, as Reuben Bartley (41) and hard-hitting Alfie Bishop (32) made light work of the chase to seal a 10-wicket win.

On Saturday, the thirds make the long trip to Holsworthy.

In Division Six Central, on paper, it looked like the strongest fourth XI for some time that made the trip down to Falmouth, hoping to keep their winning streak alive, writes Nick Smith.

Although the weather was sunny and warm, the wicket was surprisingly grassy; no surprise then that when Falmouth won the toss, they elected to bowl first.

This decision looked to have paid off as Nick Smith fell early, followed by Chris Bick, Mark Headland and Evan Sefton, all unable to reach double figures, leaving Newquay at 52-4.

Mike Jelbert, back after injury, eventually found a batting partner in Lyal Schumann and the two started to put some runs on the board, before Jelbert was caught behind for 26.

Schumann's counter-attacking innings ended as he was run out by a direct hit for a vital 38, but John Tinson and Charlie Bishop continued the late-order flourish, scoring 19 and 25 respectively – runs that would prove crucial in the final analysis. The innings closed on 153-8 after 40 overs. 

Newquay’s bowling attack got off to the perfect start with debutant Chris Bick taking a wicket in his first over.

Ably supported by Theo Bilkey at the other end, Bick ran through Falmouth’s top order, taking four out of their top five in his opening spell, reducing them to 21-4.

However, Falmouth’s Will Jenkin counter-attacked in turn, putting the pressure back onto Newquay. Just as in the previous game, it was crucial to keep taking wickets in order to defend a modest total, and for a while the match looked like it was slipping away.

However, Newquay kept chipping away, with first Charlie Bishop taking two middle-order wickets to get into Falmouth’s tail, and then Tom Holwill bowling an important, economical spell that allowed Chris to complete his five-wicket haul.

With Falmouth only needing six runs to win, Bilkey trapped their captain lbw and then ended the game with his next ball, clean bowling Falmouth’s number 11 for a six-run victory. 

On Sunday, the first XI beat Lanhydrock to move only eight points behind the top four in the division.After a tough pill to swallow on the Saturday, the first XI had the chance to rectify their wrongs on Sunday against a weak Lanhydrock team.

Captain Joe Crane won the toss and chose to bat at the SCG. 

A quick opening partnership of 72 from just nine overs got Newquay off to a flyer before Grant Stone fell for a well-made 40 from just 28 balls.

Lanhydrock got a foothold back in the game with the quick wickets of Harding, Peter-Budge and Howarth for just 30 runs between them.

Tommy Rodda and Callan Jenkin came to the crease and scored a well-needed 20 and 21 respectively, both contributing to 50 partnerships with captain Crane before he departed with a form-bumping 57.

Newquay creeped to a score of 227-9 with cameos from the ever-improving Nick Slack and Bracken Headland, as well as 59 extras from the visitors. 

Peter-Budge and Howarth weren’t as economical with the ball this week but were still too good for the Lanhydrock openers.

The dismissal of Attfield with a plumb LBW sent the visitors spiralling and they lost four wickets for 29 runs.

Crane was outstanding with the ball, keeping the run rate down with Rodda and taking three important wickets between them.

Debutant Harry Willmott showed a sign of things to come, taking 1-14 off his six overs, and Grant Stone looked to be finding his rhythm, picking up two wickets.

Despite a top knock from Tom Trethewey, Lanhydrock came to the end of their 50 overs with a score of 185-9 – still 42 runs short. 

There is training as usual tonight.