Bring Your Own Chair: Wadebridge v Penzance

Saturday 24th June 2023

Cornwall Cricket League Premier Division

Wadebridge (Batted First) 242-7 off 50 Overs

Penzance 212 All Out from 46.0 Overs

1pm Start

Gridlocked traffic on the A30 through Bodmin encroached into the town centre and my planned route to Wadebridge. Hold up circumstances unknown, unsure if it was a crash or just tourist traffic but it meant trying to remember a crafty detour through the Bodmin back roads. Fortunately I came out on the right side of the town for a clear run to Wadebridge.

Weather: Hot and sunny yet again. Some people are beginning to get a little tired of it, we all forget what a horrible cold incessantly wet winter we had. There was the benefit a light gentle breeze cascading through sections of North Cornwall today but it was random in placement. This was very much evident on todays field of play. In parts it was sweltering, across the pitch a cooling path of air brought players and spectators welcome relief.

Attendance: Around 60 at the start rising to the 100 mark mid afternoon.

Bring Your Own Chair Necessity? Not entirely necessary here.

There are both benches and picnic tables around the Pavilion area extending towards the Scoreboard, even a few beside the Sight Screen at the town end of the ground.

The club also put a range of chairs in front of the Pavilion. On a nice dry day you can also get a great view casually sat amongst the trees on the grass banking for the Camel Estuary, which runs beside the Pavilion side of the ground.

I left my chair in the hot sun by the boundary for this cooler shaded area a couple of times during the proceedings.

General Facilities: Looks very much like Pavilion Development work is in progress. A large area of freshly laid foundations reside behind partitioning directly adjacent to the existing section of the quaint charming building. There is a small bar area, a welcoming waft of warm pasties (unless my imagination was playing tricks on me again) and clean functional toilet facilities.

Outside the Pavilion a bit of a beer garden area entices you, with those picnic tables I mentioned earlier nestling below shading umbrellas. Looks like there was the makings of a barbecue for later too. All very nice.

Also have to say, there is a nicely designed large digital scoreboard here. If you want the score in the comfort of the external Pavilion area they've even got a mini digital scoreboard panel on the wall beside the Union Jack flagpole.

Like a few Premier Division grounds these days there is a live stream of the match available, I believe todays clash was available on You Tube.

Last but not least its a first class playing surface here and certainly not as undulating as most pitches I've witnessed this season. You get the vibe this is a good ground as soon as you enter the gate. Speaking of which, car parking is available both sides of the track heading to the Pavilion.

I got my vehicle in one of the last spaces. If it's full the hard standing Council car park directly in front of the ground entrance is available and it's free all day on a Saturday & Sunday.

Location: The ground is called Egloshayle Park, its the jewel in the crown of Egloshayle Playing Fields which dates back to the mid 1940's.

Nowadays it's a great area for locals and tourists to chill out with both tennis and bowling facilities as well as playground activities for younger children. You can easily take the short walk from the ground along the footpath of the Camel Estuary to the charismatic little centre of Wadebridge with a whole host of interesting shops and hospitality establishments. The famous Cornwall Showground is on the edge of town.

The Match: Mid table Wadebridge gallantly got the better of a classy Penzance side who had taken a full maximum of points before todays encounter. An impressive result for the hosts. Personally, granted, it was a fine achievement but entertainment wise I struggled to get into the game at times. Obviously the hot weather plays a part in that, in turn, what looked a hard dead-track pitch didn't help, especially with long periods of seam bowling attaining limited periods of interest. Just my personal opinion. Some very good batting cameos though and some solid decent fielding.