Grampound Road, playing on a Saturday for the first time in a month, went down to a five wicket defeat at the new look Trescobeas ground at Falmouth.

Though the margin of victory, with almost 12 overs to spare proved to be comprehensive, at one stage the game looked in the balance. Needing 143 Falmouth lost three wickets within six balls to see 77 for 2 become 77-5.

The home team's saviour was latest recruit New Zealander Brayden Hill. The 17 year old, who is part of an exchange scheme that will see a young Cornish player head for the southern hemisphere at the end of the season, played a superb innings. He hit a six and six fours in his unbeaten 54 off 61 balls. He dominated an unbroken stand of 67 for the sixth wicket with Rob Eccleston who supported with 10 not out.

Falmouth's innings had got off to a dramatic start when young Chris Roberts, son of Martin, had Sean Hooper lbw in the second over. Stefan Churcher and Larry Martin looked to be steering the home team towards victory, adding 60 for the second wicket. Churcher then fell to the Roberts father/son combination when he skied to backward square.

Martin, having hit five boundaries, then gave Martin Roberts a return catch when eight runs short of a half century. Adrian Noott was run out, having been sent back in a mix up with Antony Angove and Angove was himself run out two balls later after he failed to beat Neil Rowse's arm.

Four wickets had fallen for 15 runs in a dramatic turnaround but Hill and Eccleston ensured no further alarms.

Full report in this week's issue.