GRAMPOUND Road left Truro's Boscawen Park with a smile on their faces on Saturday evening after completing a worthy 60-run win over their neighbours. On the day the home team could have no complaints, after their batting failed to click for the second week running.

They remain in second spot, with Camborne losing at Werrington on Saturday. Truro are 24 points behind leaders St Just having played a game more. They visit Cape Road next Saturday and need a win to keep in touch at the top at the mid-way point of the season.

It was the hottest match day of the season to date, albeit with a strong southerly breeze blowing up the river. The home team were without skipper Tom Sharp still nursing an ankle injury. Grampound Road were put in and had an early setback losing Adam Brenton in the sixth over to Chris Phillips.

Alex Tunnadine took the catch at slip. Martin Pearce was joined by Martin Roberts and the pair got their heads down to build what was effectively a match winning partnership. Over 26 overs they added a valuable 90 runs before Roberts fell to Tunnadine in the 32nd over with the score at 112.

Julian Bose looked to have misjudged a skier at mid on, in the wind, only to brilliantly hold the catch one-handed. Kris Harris fell immediately to Andrew Libby. The young spinner wheeled away in a long spell from the river end to take 2 for 46 from 17 overs. Pearce, trying to paddle Kris Subramanian, was lbw for 53 that included 6 fours off 127 balls.

Three wickets had fallen for seven runs but Peter Davey and Chris Hunkin ensured that the momentum of the innings wasn't lost. Hunkin made 25 before being caught by Gerd Buitendach of Libby. Dave Wilton was caught behind off Subramanian for 2 but Davey moved onto make 25 before being stumped by Marrion off Tunnadine.

The innings closed at 196-8 off 55 overs. Tunnadine took 3 for 32 and Subramanian 2 for 31.

Truro's reply got off to a slow start. Skipper Marrion opened with new recruit from Helston Chris Martin. Chris Hunkin, downwind, bowled well and got great support from left armer Johnny Wills at the other end, as only 14 came off the first ten overs. Wills got Martin to edge to Davey at slip at 20-1.

Hunkin tore into county colleague Tunnadine and got his man for a single with Dave Wilton holding the catch behind. Adam Barber looked in good nick finding the boundary gloriously, on three occasions but fell to Martin Pearce for 18 after Pearce had got rid of Marrion for 26. Truro were 61 for 4 in the 22nd over and in some trouble. Jon Kent and Bose looked to be turning the game around adding 50 to leave 86 required of 15 overs with 6 wickets remaining and the game in the balance.

Full report in this week's issue.