St Stephen v Menheniot Looe 2nd's

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May 2024

Cornwall Cricket League Division 4 East

St Stephen 79 all out in 35.2 overs

Menheniot Looe 80-3 off 16 overs

St Stephen is an attractive village around 7 miles north west of St Austell. A dry day wasn't to be missed. There were still cricket fixtures being postponed for sodden pitches this weekend. Thankfully, it was game on at The Recreation Ground. I learned this was the visitors first opportunity for a playable game since the season started, and goodness me, how they seemed to enjoy it.

Weather

Sunshine and cloud. Bit of a chilly breeze when the sun disappeared.

 

Attendance

Couple of dozen punters, some sat in cars or around the pavilion.

Bring Your Own Chair Necessity?

For me, it's a yes. There is a bench beside the sight screen at the top of the field which offers a good view. The club also put around a dozen chairs out around the pavilion area. I found another bench at the bottom end of the pitch, but with the slope of the playing area, this particular vantage point wasn't too good. 

The joy of the St Stephen ground is getting a spot at the top end, nearest the village, for that you'd be best to bring along a chair. The backdrop of the sweeping countryside beyond the square is wonderful. You can always park your car in the spacious areas surrounding the action, but best beware of those big hits that could come your way.

Facilities

Smart looking modern pavilion offering refreshments and toilet facilities, digital scoreboard, large free car park behind the entrance to the ground. If you bring children, there are plenty of adjacent playground attractions in clear view of the field. Should the pavilion refreshments not fulfil your needs there is a grocery shop just across the road.

Location

Pretty simple really, take the Newquay posted turning after just leaving St Austell on the road towards Truro. The Newquay road goes straight through St Stephen. At the first crossroads in the village, turn right, the Recreation Ground, which hosts St Stephen CC comes into view on your right.

Match

With the home side at 13 for 5 Menheniot Looe were in dreamland. No disrespect, it must be said some very rash strokes were played & the decision making appeared decidedly haphazard. 

At one stage it appeared the entire game would be over before the first drinks break. To their credit the tail certainly wagged for St Stephen. They dug in and accumulated runs on a strict risk assessment basis. It was hard going but at least they gave the visitors some kind of a total to tackle. It little troubled Menheniot Looe, whom strolled through the remaining remnants of the encounter.

  

Liskeard v St Austell 3rds

Saturday 4th May 2024

Cornwall Cricket League Division 3 East

Liskeard (batted first) 98 all out off 29.4 overs

St Austell 99-3 from 41.1 overs

Cornwall was the wettest region in Europe last winter, it then decided to hang on throughout early spring. I passed the Liskeard ground at Lux Park around 3 weeks ago, it was in no condition to be prepared for the new season, in fact, like most of South East Cornwall, it resembled bog land.

What an achievement from the Liskeard ground staff to present such a superb cricket square and outfield for todays game. Excellent effort.

I was looking forward to seeing Liskeard in action, they had a tremendous record of big hitting scoring rates, they'd romped triumphantly through Division 4 last season.

Weather

Sunshine for the most part with the odd passing cloud. Reasonably mild, still needed a jumper or top though. Such a relief from the awfully wet weather that ruined the official opening of the season.

Attendance

We got above a dozen at one stage, mainly in the changing room/sports bar area. A few took a walk around the pitch from time to time.

Bring Your Own Chair Necessity?

Not really warm enough to sit around too long at the moment. Once things hot up a bit then yes, you will need a chair. There are only two wooden plank benches at the ground. One beside the Football Ground fence, the other set back under the trees on the opposite side of the field.

Facilities

There is a Sports Bar in the adjoining Lux Park complex. A few spectators had liquid refreshments. Not sure about food, snacks etc. There is an old school scoreboard just beside the entrance. Nice to find plentiful free car parking behind the ground courtesy of the large Lux Park Activity & Sport Centre. Most of it, out of reach of those incoming bonnet-denting Big 6's.

Location

The cricket field is directly adjacent to Liskeard Athletic football ground. Go through the town centre, past the Fire Station & Luxstowe Vets, after going straight ahead at the mini roundabout take the Launceston turn on the left, go past the Football Ground and take the next left turn, turn left again and follow the road a short while, take yet another left into the Sports Centre car parking area. The cricket ground is behind the Rugby pitch & to the left far corner of the Football Ground.

Match

Liskeard started so well but a rash loss of wickets but a block on the run rate. It got worse and a long tail had little hope of containing some excellent St Austell bowling. The visitors had a classy blend of impressive youngsters and capable older heads. Not often you see such fine bowling and fielding from a 'thirds' selection. St Austell steadily climbed to victory for the loss of just 3 wickets in the 42nd over.

Back for the 2024 Season

Pleased to announce that 'Bring Your Own Chair' will be back for what should be a cracking Cornwall Cricket Season.

That means travels, photos & reports from a host of new grounds for this site.

The ball is already spinning, I managed to find a dry Saturday to pop along to Liskeard CC for their encounter with St Austell 3rds. I'm hoping to have the full visit report up before the end of the weekend. 

Tintagel v Menheniot & Looe

Saturday 9th September

Cornwall Cricket League Division Two East

Tintagel (batted first) 229 all out after 44 overs

Menheniot & Looe 191 all out off 41.3 overs

This weekend presented the last league fixtures of a thoroughly entertaining Cornwall League Cricket season.

I packed the chair and headed off to the mystical lands of King Arthur & Co. 

Tintagel is more of a trinket town and camper zone than homely residence for knights on R & R these days. The main street, eateries & pubs were packed to the door, the place was heaving with tourists. Bit of a contrast to the serenity and sanity of the Cricket Club, I counted a dozen spectators enjoying the splendid action at the ground.

Menheniot were in a perilous position coming into this game at the wrong end of the table, they very much needed a win. It was never going to be easy at Butts Field, Tintagel had already secured top 6 status and still looked mighty competitive.

Weather: The heatwave continued. Slightly hazy cloud sporadically appeared before the blistering sun burned it off, it had vanished completely by the tea interval, 29 degree heat followed.

Attendance: Around a dozen (as mentioned earlier).

Bring Your Own Chair Necessity? Yes. Apart from some Pavilion furniture there are only a couple of single plank benches, one either side of the pitch.

Facilities: 

Attractive Pavilion with a bar area and clean toilets. One of those new type portable digital scoreboards was nearby. Looks like the club had suffered some sight screen problems, none at one end and the frame had lost most of its white sheeting opposite.

Location: On the far edge of town adjacent to the slightly rundown football field complex. Take a left turn near the modern church as you leave Tintagel centre on the road that heads for Boscastle. Its not that far before the Bossiney Coast Area car park. 

Tintagel is just a short distance inland from the glorious coastline near here, which includes the much publicised (rumoured) King Arthurs Castle.

Match: 

Tintagel compiled a respectable 229 which featured knocks of 79 not out from Captain Matt Joliffe, a half century from Ryan Pooley and 40 from opening bat Adrian Pooley. In response, Menheniot opener Peter Nance remained undefeated on 73 as the visitors battled to 191 all out.  

At the time of writing this report I remain unsure if the defeat resulted in relegation for Menheniot Looe. I hope not as I do enjoy popping in there from time to time, it's all the better if the Division 2 stuff is on the menu.

This was my last league fixture of the season, I have really enjoyed what has been on offer and may I kindly thank everyone who has acknowledged my reports, it is greatly appreciated.  

Duloe & Menheniot-Looe Bank Holiday Double Header

Not long left of the season now. 

Made the most of a dry August Bank Holiday to visit a couple of grounds amidst the finery of South East Cornwall.

Not exactly the grade Nasser & KP would be interested in but I was in the mood to take what was on offer, no problem whatsoever.

DULOE v ROCHE OLD BOYS 3rds

First up an early afternoon jaunt for a Division 5 East encounter at The Recreation Ground, Duloe:

Duloe batted first & walloped 252-8 off their allotted 40 overs

Roche Old Boys 3rds crumbled to 76 all out in 17.3 overs

Weather: Mainly dull and a little chilly, 4 layers on this afternoon.

Attendance: About half a dozen, seems most folk went to the Vintage Tractor Rally?

Bring Your Own Chair Necessity? Definitely.

Facilities: Nice looking ranch style wooden pavilion. Appropriate scoreboard. Also the attraction of a directly adjacent skate park for those who bring their own board, didn't see any old timers blitzing the curves this particular afternoon.

Location: Nestles off the main road between Liskeard & the seaside resort of Looe. Just around the bend from the stone circle sign in the direction of Looe.

Match: I know Roche are called 'Old Boys' but there were some rather young faces in the line up for this one. It's Division 5, it provides what it says on the tin. One cannot expect prime quality cricket. I was none the less just happy to see two eager sides purely doing their best. Duloe are top of the division and you can see why, that's a hell of a good total off 40 overs.

MENHENIOT LOOE 2nds v WADEBRIDGE 3rds

Next up was my main match of the day. A Division 4 East fixture between Menheniot Looe 2nds and bottom of the league Wadebridge 3rds. Proper grass roots stuff.

Menheniot Looe batted first & sped to 236-5 off the 40 overs

Wadebridge fell well short, 151-9 from 35.1 overs. Unfortunately one player couldn't bat due to injury.

Weather: Pretty much the same as at the Duloe ground (above).

Attendance: A good few in the pavilion & dotted around, not bad really, it wasn't first team 11's playing.

Bring Your Own Chair Necessity?: It would be beneficial regards getting the view that best suited you, however, there are 9 benches apportioned around the pitch and a few more on the pavilion patio, so you could get by without a chair. 

Facilities: Nice sizeable pavilion with a wall laden scoreboard attached. Its clearly visible from around the ground. There is a lovely charismatic older scoreboard on the ground no longer in use, splendidly adorned with a few surrounding benches and colourful foliage. I possibly drove in the wrong entrance to the ground, it's signposted on the gate before you reach the village from the A38 direction. It was accessible but there is plentiful better parking if you go through the village and take the lane towards the Primary School. You end up just behind the pavilion, importantly you're also out of reach of the big 6 hitters, still pumped up from watching the previous evenings 'Hundred Final' on the TV (a competition I personally have little time for).

Location: (See above, facilities) Menheniot is a few miles east of Liskeard, you can get to it off the A38, a couple of miles past the Railway Station, or, if it suits you better, off the Liskeard to Callington road, take the turn off at Merrymeet.

Match: I found this a good standard of cricket and I stayed longer than initially planned. Some fine batting from Menheniot, and Wadebridge do look rather smart in their classy kit with all the player names on the back. There was a good mix of knowledgeable older heads and aspiring youthful players amidst both sides which was pleasing to note. There was certainly some decent cricket to see.