Callington v St Austell

Saturday 3rd June 2023

Cornwall League Premier Division

St Austell (Batted First) 294-6 off 50 Overs

Callington 271-9 off 50 Overs

Weather: 

Scorchio! Non stop sunshine, its nice, for a while, then it gets too much, especially at a ground with next to no shade. I'll soon be moaning when the Siberian front moves in (wind & rain, not Mr Putin).

Attendance: 

Most the day there were around 20 people watching the cricket yet the parking areas were rammed with cars and vans, unfortunately there were a lot of vehicles blocked in behind the pavilion as people simply drove up around 2.30pm and went in the bar. The reason was the FA Cup Final on TV in the Clubhouse. It was packed with people who simply wanted to watch the football. Can't blame Callington CC, the bar revenue would be welcomed, pity the vehicle owners didn't think about anyone who needed to exit the ground before the Final ended. When it did there was a mass exodus.

Bring Your Own Chair Necessity?

Definitely bring one. There are two benches towards the side of the Pavilion and a few picnic tables on the patio but that's pretty much it seating wise, unless you count a small length of well worn plank seating behind the trail of discarded plastic sheeting. The best spot to plonk your chair is at the foot of the slope down near the Scoreboard at the B&M Superstore End.

General Facilities:

You can enter the ground either from the B&M / Cornwall Council car park (yes there is a charge, 3 quid for 3 hours) in the town centre or down the lane from Liskeard Road near the Car Sales establishment. There is no vehicle entry at the lane option, walk up option only, however there is plenty of free side of the road parking just nearby. 

My first impression upon entering reflected upon the sheer size of the Moores Park field of play. Walking the perimeter you quickly detect the sloping factors of the pitch, the Pavilion end is certainly at the high end and will doubtless assist bowling down the hill towards the B&M end.

The ground is very much in the centre of Callington so you don't get the stunning vistas that some Cornwall Grounds offer, there is a nice view of Kit Hill though (which is a lovely place for a walk). 

Callington have a big Pavilion with a generous impressive bar area and good clean toilets. It was interesting to see the Players eating their sausage rolls and nibbles at the tea interval amidst the boisterous environment of the beer fueled TV football fans.

The Match:

St Austell bat well and bat deep. There wasn't any rush or hazardous stroke play within the context of their innings but when the bad ball came they certainly put it away. 

A critical factor in this run drenched encounter was the Callington fielding, no disrespect intended, there were far too many crucial dropped catches and the general extras total was way too high. Considering how close Callington came to getting the massive total St Austell set, those associated mistakes cost them dearly.

Callington CC is well worth a visit (even better if the Cup Final isn't on the TV). They also have the bonus of a fancy modern Spar shop & some top rated takeaways on their doorstep for that after the match treat. Enjoyed my day there.