WERRINGTON contrived to lose from a promising position as St Just moved up to sixth with a 12-run success at Cape Road.

Werrington headed to the far west of the county targeting a crucial victory after picking up zero at Penzance the week before, and Sam Hockin yorked Rhys Brownfield with the first ball of the match.

Ellis May (25) and the experienced Neil Curnow (32) got in before falling to Adam Hodgson (2-17 off 10) and Mark Taskis (3-26 off 10) respectively (76-3), but player/coach Justin Stephens and Sri Lankan pro Chamikara Edirisinghe (41) continued to dig in as they added 80, combining patience with some big sixes.

Stephens (39) went first when he swept Dan Barnard to Ben Jenkin on the boundary and from there the visitors fought back as they slipped to 174-9.

But Logan Curnow made 17 off 18 and last man Joe Clifton-Griffith struck two of his three balls for six as they ended on 192-9.

Knowing St Just’s strong spin attack, Werrington looked to attack early but found themselves 51-3 in the ninth over as Ben Stevens (2-36) took John Moon (23 off 21) and pro Thulina Dilshan (2).

Adam Hodgson and Mark Gribble put on 80 as they reached 131-3 with 84 balls remaining.

Hodgson (50 off 104) departed when he slapped a Clifton-Griffith short ball to Stephens at mid-on, and the left-arm spinner soon accounted for Ben Jenkin.

Werrington needed 37 from 48, but when Gribble (44 off 95) skied the brilliant Edirisinghe (3-7 off 10) and skipper Lawson did likewise off Gareth May (1-29), the hosts were on top.

Edirisinghe proved too good for the tail as Werrington fell to 163-9, and although Ben Smeeth (10no) and Jordan Duke (12no) stayed in, they couldn’t get the ball away as they closed on 180-9.