Plymouth in promotion limbo-land after defeat by Tavistock

CORNWOOD brought down the curtain on a season that failed to live-up to their own expectations with a convincing 81-run win over visiting Exmouth.

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

PREMIER DIVISION

Having finished fourth in the 2023 Premier Division title race – Sandford won it by a distance – Cornwood were hoping to push for the top themselves this season.

But Cornwood were never higher than third in the table after the first month of the season. Five defeats in seven starts either side of halfway ruled out any title prospects and the Wood went on to finish fourth… again!

Elliott Staddon, the Cornwood captain, believes he has the nucleus of a squad to push for the title as younger players in the group develop.

Said Staddon: “I will certainly hope to strengthen again for next season, but don’t believe much is needed.

“With a good, settled side again next season we can continue to improve and build our younger players.”

There was an end-of-season approach to the batting task as far as Cornwood were concerned with club and county opener Ben Privett being held back to number ten!

Josiah Caunter got a rare chance to open the batting and his patient 28, plus 27 for James Richardson, helped Cornwood to 111 for three.

Nav Fernando (32), Matt Butterworth (26) and Privett (39) took the final total to 239 all out. Privett and Jack Ormsby (13no) put on 41 for the final wicket.

Lawrence Greenway (3-49) and Fin Marks (3-31) were Exmouth’s most fruitful bowlers… just. Dan Pyle’s two for 28 from 10 overs was actually three for 12 from seven with the new ball before he was brought back at the end.

Exmouth shuffled their order rather than go for the full dismantling often popular on final day of the season. They got as far as 158 before running out of batters.

Opener James Horler made 55 – he was fifth out on 77 – and there were a brace of 24s down the order for Billy Reed and skipper Fin Marks.

Eight bowlers got a trundle from Staddon. Left-armer Lee Baker took four for 50 and Chris Parker, a very occasional bowler, mopped up at the with three for 25.