4XI Captain Julian Faull is now into his 2nd year as the leader of an ever improving team. His reports give us an look into his team's experiences.
2011 Season
Looking back at the season from a purely statistical perspective it would appear to have been disappointing in that we won just four matches out of 18 compared with seven out of 16 in 2010.
In our defence, I would say that we never fielded the same side two matches in succession and neither did we field a team on a Saturday that had been selected on a Tuesday. In fact I’ve decided not to bother with teams sheets, but just maintain a visitors’ book instead!
Although the 4th XI play to win as intently as the other three sides, part of its role is as a development team. I feel that it is fulfilling its remit in that respect as over the past two seasons several young cricketers who gained league experience in the 4ths have gone on to play regularly at a higher level. These include Jack Coleman, Harvey Jones, Tom Sobey and Will Thomas.
Chris Pearn provided the batting highlight for the second year running when he hit 209 against Goldsithney, beating his record score of 201 that he made in 2010. Once again he dominated our batting scoring 602 runs at an average of 46.
Jack Coleman and Tom Sobey made valuable contributions and helped win one match with a partnership that belied their relative inexperience. It’s fair to say that when they moved up we struggled for runs.
Overall the batting as a unit lacked consistency and probably made the difference between finishing bottom and a mid-table position.
When we fielded our strongest side our bowling had variety and strength in depth. The star performer was the inimitable Kevin Bray who took 22 wickets at 12 and he’ll tell you that he deserved at least a dozen more. Chris Pearn finished with 16, Paddy Mankee 15 and David James 14.
Looking ahead to next season there should be four or possibly five 12 and 13-year-olds available that augers well for the club’s future.
Although we didn’t win as many matches as we would have liked, playing for the 4ths is nothing but eventful and entertaining. If you ever need cheering up just ask Kevin Bray about carrot cake and Perran-ar-Worthal!!
Finally, a massive thank you to Debbee Frost for preparing the teas. They were fantastic and several visiting teams commented on how good they were.
Julian
Praze II 149-8
Redruth IV 100 all out
Redruth’s recent run of defeats continued in this County VII (West) match at Clijah.
Praze skipper Andrew James won the toss and elected to bat. His decision certainly appeared vindicated as, in partnership with son Ben, he took the visitors to 48 without loss after ten overs.
Redruth achieved the breakthrough when Peter Bolland took a smart slip catch off Paddy Mankee to remove Ben James for ten. Toby Pimlott joined Andrew James and at drinks Praze were comfortably placed at 70-1.
However, Redruth have had a habit this season of clawing things back in the second half of opponents’ innings and this match was no exception. The experienced pair of Kevin Bray and David James kept things tight and picked up wickets to keep Praze in check.
It was probably some big hitting from Matt Pitt, who hit three fours and a six in his 24, that took the game away from Redruth. He was eventually dismissed when Chris Pearn held a skier on the midwicket boundary off the bowling of Bolland.
James finished with 3-35 and Bray 3-36 with Mankee and Bolland taking a wicket apiece.
Redruth’s reply began badly when Derek Kevern was caught behind for one. Tony Laing and Pearn repaired the early damage before Laing got trapped in front with the score on 25.
Pearn played in his usual aggressive fashion, hitting four fours and three sixes in his 37, before being bowled with the score on 53. James, who has been struggling for runs since his return to Redruth, was bowled by leg-spinner Ben James for one and at 60-4 Praze were in command.
Bolland, unsurprisingly, found batting easier than anyone else, but unfortunately no-one was able to keep him company for very long. Two run outs did not help Redruth’s cause and the match ended when Bolland was bowled for 32 in the 32nd over.
Redruth picked up six points.
Although 150 to win at Clijah is not a big ask, our batting has not really fired this season and run scoring has proved to be a bit of a struggle.
Our bowling was once again tidy and both the ground fielding and the catching were good. I felt that it was a good effort to restrict Praze to 149 but was aware that we would have to bat better as a unit than we had done on some previous occasions if we were to chase down 150.
Unfortunately, once Chris was out no-one was able to give Peter any support and nine single figure scores really tell their own story.
I would like to thank Peter for playing - it was much appreciated and hopefully he didn’t ache too much the next day!
Praze had two young spin bowlers who bowled 17 overs and took 2-36 between them and hopefully in one or two years we might have two or possibly three spinners of a similar age who will do as good a job for us.
Julian
Camborne IV 95 all out
Redruth IV 96-3
It was a long time coming, but Redruth got back to winning ways in this local derby at Clijah.
Redruth captain Julian Faull won the toss and inserted the visitors. Camborne openers Chris Smith and David Wells gave their side a solid foundation before the former was caught and bowled by David James for ten.
Wells was playing in Chris Pearn-like mode and threatened to take the game away from Redruth. Fortunately for the home side, he played a rash shot and was bowled by Kevin Bray for 43.
After his dismissal the pattern of the innings changed completely with James and Bray applying a stranglehold that saw them bowl their 20 overs for just 37 runs and take six wickets between them.
Chris Pearn, who took some early punishment from Wells, picked up two wickets, as did Faull in an interesting solitary over.
Redruth’s reply began inauspiciously when emergency opener Greg Eden was caught and bowled by Wells without scoring. Pearn joined Tony Laing and it was the former who took the game away from Camborne with a familiar display of big hitting. He took 18 off one over from young Cory Douglas and hit six fours and a six in his 40 before being bowled by Matt Weston.
James finally found a little form with the bat contributing 19 - including three fours and a six - to a partnership of 23 with Laing. When James was dismissed with the score on 89 Redruth were, barring a dramatic collapse, home and dry. Laing, who anchored the innings, finished on nine not out as Redruth passed their target in the 22nd over.
Redruth took a maximum 20 points.
I must admit that I was having doubts as to whether we would win again this season, as we have been close in recent matches but fate seemed to be against us.
When Camborne’s first wicket fell I did remind everyone that sides had got good starts against us previously, but that in most cases we had always fought back really well to contain them to fairly modest totals.
Once we dismissed David Wells our bowlers gave nothing away and were backed up by both the ground fielding and the catching.
I would like to claim credit for some inspired bowling changes, but have to confess that they were forced upon me by ECB guidelines and by my inability to count to ten. Whatever the reason on this occasion they worked, as did the field placings although some of these were also down to the input from senior players.
David suggested that I brought myself on earlier than I was eventually forced to bowl, but not having turned my arm over since the beginning of June I was somewhat reluctant. However, a couple out of six landed somewhere in the right place and I suspect that the batsmen dismissed were bemused by the total lack of pace!
On a serious note, I would like to say that it was a great all-round team performance and that everyone played their part. I feel that a particular mention should go to Danny, Ciaran and, parochially, Alasdair who were all outstanding in the field.
Hopefully, we can finish the season off on a high note and achieve a respectable finish in the table.
Julian
Redruth IV 116-7
St Gluvias III 117-6
Although defeated, Redruth gave promotion hopefuls St Gluvias a real contest in this County VII (West) match at Clijah.
On one of the best afternoons for cricket so far this season, Redruth captain Julian Faull won the toss and elected to bat.
St Gluvias achieved an early breakthrough when Tony Laing was caught off a leading edge. Chris Pearn joined Joe McElhinney, who had come out of retirement to ensure that Redruth fielded 11 players. Pearn was more sedate than usual against some remarkably accurate bowling from former Redruth player Brian Bawden.
Pearn had made 20, including a six and two fours, before the veteran Bawden bowled him with the score on 24. McElhinney was next to go, unluckily playing on, and when David James was caught off the bowling of Bawden Redruth were in trouble at 33-4 in the 15th over.
Once Bawden had bowled right through, finishing with 2-14 off ten overs, seven of which were maidens, Redruth’s batsmen found life somewhat easier against the change bowlers.
Dean Hicks and Derek Kevern added 33 for the fifth wicket before Kevern picked the wrong ball to try and attack and was bowled for 11. Hicks punished the bad ball and was watchful in defence and Redruth’s chances of posting a defendable total grew the longer he was at the crease.
Hicks had reached 38, including seven fours, when he chased a wide one and was caught with the score on 87.
Faull joined Conner Bray and this pair saw the total past 100 before Bray was caught and bowled for nine. Faull finished unbeaten on 15.
McElhinney and Conner Bray opened the bowling for Redruth and made sure that St Gluvias did not get away to a flier. McElhinney achieved the breakthrough with the score on 23 when Faull caught Jack Willey at mid on.
The experienced Phil Julian together with Kevin Quintrell then consolidated before McElhinney bowled Julian with the score on 43. At drinks St Gluvias were 50-2 and the match was evenly poised.
Pearn had replaced Conner Bray and he achieved the next breakthrough when he had Rob Lilley caught by Dean Hicks. Quintrell and Jack Hesketh took the score to 70 before Pearn bowled the latter. When Hicks caught Quintrell off James two runs later the momentum appeared to have swung in Redruth’s favour.
Father and son Colin and Sam Kruse added 19 with some frenetic running between the wickets before James bowled the elder Kruse to make St Gluvias 91-6 in the 30th over.
Sam Kruse retired hurt in James’ next over and his replacement at the crease, Sam Duckham, swung the match back in the visitors’ favour hitting his first two balls to the boundary.
A tense finish ensued, but Barry Raiker hit a four and then a two off successive balls in the penultimate over to take St Gluvias to a nervy victory with eight balls remaining.
McElhinney, Pearn and James each finished with two wickets.
Redruth took five points.
Although we lost to promotion hopefuls for the second match in succession, this was, in my opinion, one of our best team performances of the season, if not the best.
We have lost three of our last four matches by narrow margins and I don’t consider that our position in the table is a fair reflection of our ability. We have proved in these last two games that when we play at our best we are a match for anyone in this division.
Although it is a cliché, it does appear true that winning sides have things go for them and the opposite also appears to be true. Certainly with a little more luck, e.g. chances going to hand, we would have won this match.
Once again, there were some very close lbw shouts that our bowlers felt should have been given. I certainly wasn’t in a position to judge from my fielding position, but I know that the guys concerned don’t appeal without justification.
It’s also the consensus that we are too lenient on wides when umpiring compared with some other teams. Unfortunately, calling wides is judgemental and open to interpretation. It might be an idea that the League should introduce a law for the lower leagues that anything pitching outside leg stump is called wide so that there is a consistent approach. The downside would be some lengthy matches!
On a positive note, it was good to see us bat out our overs as at one stage it looked as though we might have been rolled over for not very many. Our total, although modest, turned out to be a good one and made for a competitive and enjoyable, despite the result, game of cricket. If we could have found ten to 15 more runs it might have made a difference.
As I told the guys afterwards, everyone from one to 11 should be proud of their efforts. If we continue to play like this I’m sure that we’ll have a good end to the season.
From a captain’s perspective it is really helpful to be able to sound out experienced guys like Dean Hicks, David James and Tony Laing. Their input proves invaluable.
Redruth IV 159-9
Chacewater II 160-8
Redruth were a little unfortunate not to have pulled off what would have been an upset against league leaders Chacewater in this County VII (West) match at Clijah.
Home skipper Julian Faull won the toss and elected to bat. The home side’s openers, Tony Laing and Tom Sobey, made a solid start against accurate bowling. The score had reached 27 in the 12th over when Chacewater captain Tom Armstrong took a fine low catch off Adam Lockwood to dismiss Sobey for 19.
This brought Chris Pearn to the crease and his partnership with Laing put Redruth in a good position. At drinks they were 84-1 and a total of 200 was a distinct possibility.
Laing was caught for 11 trying to up the pace with the score on 109, but from Chacewater’s point of view the crucial wicket fell seven runs later when Pearn was caught and bowled by David Cooper for 72 that included six sixes and six fours.
Not surprisingly, Chacewater’s bowling tightened up after Pearn’s dismissal and Redruth didn’t really gain momentum again, scoring just 43 runs in their last 16 overs.
Chacewater’s openers Tom and Tim Armstrong took the score to 14 before Pearn bowled the latter. In the next over Conner Bray dismissed Simon Reed in similar fashion and when Pearn bowled Cooper with the score on 16 Redruth were definitely in with a shout.
Tom Armstrong and Lockwood mounted a mini recovery before Pearn took a spectacular catch off his own bowling to dismiss Lockwood with the score on 45. Conner Bray got rid of Harry Poole and Pearn picked up his fourth wicket bowling Alex Reed and at 58-6 Chacewater were up against it.
During the relative carnage at the other end, Tom Armstrong mixed watchful defence with punishment of anything loose. He had a little luck, with three difficult chances being spilled, and Redruth thought that there were one or two very close lbw shouts. After Steve Richards became Pearn’s fifth wicket - caught by Dean Hicks - Armstrong and Michael Berridge steadied the innings. They added 55 for the eighth wicket before David James bowled Berridge.
The match was still evenly poised, but Tom Armstrong in partnership with Dan Kaczmarek saw his side to a nervy victory. Armstrong finished unbeaten on 118 that included five sixes and 15 fours.
Redruth picked up seven points.
Although we were beaten I think it’s fair to say that we gave Chacewater a fright and if one or two things had gone our way we could have pulled off a shock result.
No doubt critics look at us and claim that we are a one-man side, but on this occasion we were beaten by one man, Chacewater captain Tom Armstrong. We didn’t help ourselves by dropping him on three occasions, but they were difficult chances and as we always point out in the fourth team no-one drops catches on purpose. There are certainly no recriminations from anyone.
In addition, there were close lbw shouts. However, lbw is a matter of opinion. Our bowlers thought that he was out, the batsman and, more importantly, the umpires disagreed and that really is that.
Despite losing, several of our side commented that it was a good game of cricket and more enjoyable to play in than a match where one side or the other is rolled over.
We probably should have scored more than we did, but Chacewater have one of the best attacks in the league and scoring opportunities were limited.
On the batting front Chris again played a major innings and threatened to take the game away from Chacewater who were struggling to contain him. Tony Laing provided him with good support and once again did his job as opener. Tom Sobey batted nicely and not many players in this league will take a catch as good as the one that dismissed him. Deano was looking good until he unfortunately played on.
On the bowling front Chris finally picked up some well-deserved wickets, having bowled without a great deal of luck up to now. Tom Sobey continues to keep tidily and is displaying maturity and responsibility in all aspects of his game, which he should be congratulated on.
Once again thanks to Joel Hambly for scoring. He does a super job for someone of his age.
Julian
Redruth IV 299-7
Goldsithney II 155 all out
Redruth’s Chris Pearn broke his own record for the club’s highest individual score when he smashed 209 in this County VII (West) match at Clijah.
He came in with score 15-3 in the ninth over and dominated a fourth wicket partnership of 208 with Tony Laing - his share being 174. He cleared the boundary on 17 occasions and also hit 21 fours in his record-breaking knock. He was finally dismissed in the penultimate over when visiting captain Steve Nicholson had him caught.
Goldsithney had won the toss and inserted the home side. Redruth lost Tom Sobey in the first over and Connor Bray went shortly after with the score on 13. When David James was caught behind off an inside edge it looked as though Nicholson’s decision had proved to be a correct one.
However, Pearn’s arrival swung the match dramatically and decisively in Redruth’s favour as he peppered the boundary almost at will. Laing, who had been struggling for runs this season, proved to be the perfect foil providing solid support and picking up runs at a somewhat more sedate pace. He had made 27, including three fours, before he was bowled attempting a ‘Dilshan’.
Greg Eden also provided good support for Pearn in a partnership of 55 for the sixth wicket. Although not always finding the middle of the bat, he hit four boundaries in his 19 and helped Pearn take Redruth towards 300.
Paddy Mankee and Kevin Bray opened Redruth’s bowling and it was the ever-reliable Bray who got the breakthrough bowling Adam Hopkins. Mankee dismissed Jack Gilbert in similar fashion and when Bray bowled Bryan Palmer Redruth were totally in charge.
Wickets continued to fall steadily with only Nicholson (30) and Jack Ralph (19) making any telling contributions. Goldsithney collapsed to 95-9 when Tom Sleeman joined Danny Charman. The latter played an entertaining, if somewhat agricultural, innings that proved frustrating for Redruth as the last-wicket pair added 60. Charman hit ten fours in his 43 before Pearn caught him off Simon Mankee’s first ball.
Conner Bray took 4-51, Kevin Bray finished with 2-22 off ten and David James took 2-31 in his spell.
Redruth took a maximum 20 points.
I think that it was Tony Laing who said he didn’t think he’d see Chris play another innings like the one against Constantine last season when he scored 201. I didn’t see that one, as I was away, but this was the most destructive display of hitting that I have seen in a lengthy, if decidedly modest, cricketing career.
Chris was only batting at five due to unusual circumstances. Dean Hicks was called up to the 2nds shortly before play and Chris went home to collect his son, Danny, and encountered every set of traffic lights between Clijah and Illogan on red!
At 15-3 and with, it is accurate to say, a fairly long tail I thought that we might struggle to post a defendable total. My fears had evaporated by drinks when we were 150-2 with Chris and Tony Laing adding 129 between overs ten and 20.
Although Chris took centre stage, it was nice to see both Tony Laing and Greg Eden make invaluable contributions. Tony’s form has been a little rusty this season and if he had gone early Chris might not have the opportunity to play the innings he did.
As I have mentioned before, Greg is the archetypal team man and although not all of his scoring strokes were out of the coaching manual they were effective run-scoring shots.
Bowling wise, the side has gone from struggling to find an attack to now being almost spoilt for choice. Conner Bray has added variety to the attack and is a wicket taker, with dad Kevin and David James giving very little away as their combined figures of 4-53 off 20 overs in this match will testify.
Thank to Joel Hambly for scoring. He does a great job and it’s one less thing for me to have to organise.
Finally, although balls kept flying into the surrounding flora for most of our innings we didn’t lose one! For this we must thank Kevin Bray and his helpers who I imagine saw parts surrounding Clijah that were virgin territory for them.
Julian
Praze II 129-7
Redruth IV 120 all out
A dramatic batting collapse saw Redruth lose their last eight wickets for 23 runs in this County VII (West) match at Praze.
At 97-2 in the 24th over, and with Tom Sobey and David James well set, Redruth looked firm favourites for what would have been a morale-boosting win. The dismissal of James triggered a clatter of wickets that saw Praze clinch a narrow victory.
Earlier on Redruth skipper Julian Faull won the toss and, in the conditions, had an easy decision to make in inserting the home side. Father and son Andrew and Ben James gave Praze a fairly steady start although Chris Pearn was unlucky when Andrew James was dropped.
However, this did not prove costly, as shortly after Paddy Mankee bowled him to achieve an important breakthrough. Pearn was again bowling well without a great deal of luck, but did pick up the wicket of Toby Pimlott off an inside edge. Pearn bowled his ten overs straight off and his figures of 1-30 were not a true reflection of his performance.
Redruth’s bowling and fielding were of a good quality and, although Ben James and Dan Eathorne were batting well, the visitors were controlling the game.
Conner Bray replaced Mankee after his opening spell, with David James taking over from Pearn. James, on his return to the club, bowled in typically miserly fashion and finished with 2-22 in his ten overs. Bray troubled all the batsmen and unluckily took just the one wicket at a cost of 28.
Paddy Mankee found his form again and took 2-11 off his seven overs. Young leg spinner Ben Axon was the other successful bowler.
Redruth lost Tony Laing in the second over of their reply, but Sobey and Pearn maintained a scoring rate of four an over during their partnership. Pearn had hit two big sixes and a four in his 22 before he skied Toby Pimlott to long off where Dave Fletcher held a well-judged catch.
David James joined Sobey and while these two were at the crease it looked as though Redruth would achieve a comfortable win. The turning point came when Praze’s two spinners Eathorne and Ben James bowled in tandem. David James, who had cleared the boundary twice in his 17, was caught by Pimlott off county leg-spinner Ben James and his dismissal precipitated the collapse.
Redruth were possibly slight favourites while Sobey remained, but unfortunately his shot selection was faulty for the first time when he was stumped by Sam James off Eathorne. His 47 included three sixes and four fours and, other than his final shot, it was a mature and well-judged innings.
Ben James and Eathorne worked their way through the lower order with James finishing with 4-20 off ten and Eathorne 3-25 off nine. Redruth’s innings ended when Pimlott caught Kevin Bray off his own bowling.
Redruth took six points from the match.
If you were a neutral observer this was a great game of cricket to watch, but from a purely parochial point of view the latter part of the afternoon was particularly frustrating.
Our bowling and fielding performance was back to the high standards that were apparent last season and the team spirit was once again of the highest calibre. Restricting Praze to 129 on a ground where the straight boundaries are particularly short was a great effort and at tea I was quietly confident that we would be able to chase down the target.
My confidence grew while Tom Sobey and Chris Pearn and then Tom and David James were at the crease, but David’s dismissal proved to be the turning point.
A few of us, myself included, played unwise shots but it has to be said that the Praze spinners bowled really well as their joint figures of 19-6-45-7 testify.
Unfortunately some players are struggling for runs at present and we have a fairly long tail with some of us batting perhaps a couple of places too high in the order. Hopefully David James will strengthen our batting, as well as providing another bowling option.
On the plus side, looking to the future, Paddy Mankee bowled really well and Tom Sobey kept neatly and was probably slightly unlucky not to reach a maiden half century.
Another positive is that although results are not going our way at present everyone appears to be enjoying playing cricket. Certainly every player is giving 100% and contributing to the team ethos despite any personal struggles with bat or ball.
Finally, it was really pleasing when one of the Praze players commented on how fair our umpiring had been. I’m sure most people would prefer not to have to umpire, but it reflects well on the club when opponents praise players’ decision making.
Julian
Redruth IV 42 all out
St Gluvias III 46-3
Redruth’s batting failed for the second match in succession as they went down to a heavy defeat against the league leaders in this County VII (West) match at Truro School.
Redruth captain Julian Faull won the toss and elected to bat - in hindsight probably the wrong decision.
Redruth were soon in trouble with openers Derek Kevern and Tom Sobey were dismissed in the same over with single figures still on the board. St Gluvias achieved more success when Ryan Cooper was dismissed with the score on 12 and Redruth faced an uphill struggle to post a defendable total.
Tony Laing and Simon Mankee mounted a mini recovery taking the score to 29 before the former fell lbw. Mankee was run out shortly afterwards and from that point wickets fell regularly and the innings ended in the 23rd over.
St Gluvias were not really under any pressure and at 33-0 must have thought that a ten-wicket win was on the cards. However, Cooper, in his first appearance for the 4th XI in two years, took two well-deserved wickets and the ever-reliable Kevin Bray chipped in with one to deny the home side maximum points.
Redruth took just two points from the match.
I don’t really know what to say other than this was personally one of the most dispiriting days during my tenure as captain.
Evidently our batting failed again and we seem to have entered a spell where everyone is struggling to score runs. There is an adage that class is permanent and form is temporary and hopefully our lack of batting form will also prove to be of limited duration. Surely someone has to make a big score soon!
It was improbable that we would defend 42, but our bowling and fielding were good and we didn’t roll over. We certainly made it harder for St Gluvias to reach their target than some teams might have done.
A major plus was the bowling of Ryan Cooper after a lengthy absence from the game. He was unfortunate not to have ended up with even more impressive figures.
We now have a weekend off - I’m off to Dorset where Alasdair is playing for Cornwall U11s - which might not be a bad thing. Let’s hope that we can re-group and take our form from the Perran and Beacon games into our match against Praze.
Julian
Troon III 188-6
Redruth IV 72
The final ten overs of the Troon innings saw the momentum swing decisively in the home side’s favour in this County VII (West) match at Helston School.
After 30 overs Troon were 103-4 and, on a small ground, the match appeared evenly poised. Redruth’s fielding in the last ten overs became somewhat ragged and Troon took full advantage. Redruth’s bowlers really deserved better support.
Troon skipper Andrew Vincent played the anchor role and made a deserved unbeaten century. Chris Pearn and Kevin Bray had a couple of very close lbw shouts and an inside edge off Conor Bray came perilously close to hitting leg stump. Otherwise Vincent played sensibly and effectively defending the good balls and punishing the loose ones. The value to his side was reflected in his score of 102 out of 188.
Conor Bray was the pick of the Redruth attack taking 1-11 off eight overs, but unfortunately could not complete his spell as he was unwell. Paddy Mankee and Kevin Bray picked up two wickets apiece and once again Pearn was unlucky to finish with just a single victim.
Troon’s opening bowler Adam Trewhella then effectively ended the match as a contest when he destroyed the Redruth top order. He began the rout when he bowled Tom Sobey and then dismissed Pearn in similar fashion with his next ball. The hat-trick was avoided, but Trewhella picked up two more wickets in his next over.
When he dismissed Jack Coleman Redruth were in disarray at 18-5, a position from which they never looked likely to recover. Jason Jackson launched a brief counter attack, but had it not been for a last-wicket partnership of 26 between Conor and Kevin Bray Redruth’s reply would have been embarrassing.
Redruth picked up four points.
This was a particularly disappointing result after winning two of our three previous matches.
However, we let ourselves down in the last ten overs of Troon’s innings when some basic disciplines in the field were not applied. Perhaps the sunshine - a rare commodity this season - had something to do with it.
We bowled well on the whole, but unfortunately couldn’t remove Andrew Vincent and his knock was, in my opinion, a crucial innings.
Even so, chasing 189 to win was not insurmountable as the straight boundaries were not particularly long and some of our batsmen had been in good nick. However, no-one got in which meant that we could never build a partnership, apart from Conor and Kevin when the game was lost.
On a positive note Conor bowled an excellent spell and, if he is regularly available for the 4ths, will strengthen our attack and provide more variety. Chris bowled without luck once again, but I’m sure it wont be long before he picks up a hatful of wickets in an innings.
There is really very little to say about the batting. Troon bowled tidily on a pitch of indifferent bounce, but, without being overly critical, we should have made a better effort of chasing.
I would again reiterate that the team spirit could not be faulted, but would add that it would be nice - and a luxury at 4th team level - to have something resembling a settled side.
Julian
Redruth IV 174 all out
Beacon III 85 all out
This was a tremendous all-round performance by Redruth, who completely outplayed Beacon at Clijah.
Beacon skipper Adrian Smith won the toss and inserted the home side. His decision appeared vindicated when Derek Kevern was dismissed in the third over with the score on 12.
Redruth then prospered through a partnership of 77 between Tom Sobey and Chris Pearn. Pearn regularly found the boundary hitting six fours and three sixes in his knock of 50 before being caught behind.
Harvey Jones, joined Sobey, but was run out when he misjudged a second. Sobey, who had batted patiently and sensibly chose the wrong ball to try and force and was out for 31.
Skipper Julian Faull, who had promoted himself up the order, was involved in a mix-up with Tony Laing that saw the latter run out. Redruth had slumped from 89-1 to 106-5.
Faull redeemed himself in partnership with Greg Eden with this pair taking the score to 146. They picked up runs comfortably without taking risks before Eden was bowled for 21.
The innings ended in the 38th over when Kevin Bray was caught. Faull was left unbeaten on 34, including five fours.
Redruth got off to an almost perfect start in the field when a Pearn loosener was cut straight to Simon Mankee at point. Things got even better for the home side when Pearn bowled the prolific David James without scoring.
Paddy Mankee took a nonchalant one-handed caught and bowled to dismiss Andrew Heather and Beacon were in deep trouble at 7-3 in the fifth over.
Smith in partnership with Robbie Condie mounted a mini recovery taking the score to 36 before Bray trapped Condie lbw. Faull had Smith dropped before Bray bowled the Beacon skipper.
Faull chipped in with the wickets of Jack and Sean MacNamee caught by Kevern and Laing respectively. Bray won another lbw decision, this time against Tegan Smith, and Faull dismissed Hannah MacNamee in similar fashion.
Beacon’s innings ended when Laing showed safe hands again catching Lewis Smith off the bowling of Bray.
Bray, in his first substantial bowl of the season, picked up 4-32. Faull finished with 3-30, Pearn 2-8 and Paddy Mankee 1-14.
Redruth took 19 points from the match.
This was a great all-round performance with everyone from one to 11 playing their part.
Tom Sobey played another mature innings and his partnership with Chris Pearn gave us momentum.
My decision to bat at the heady heights of number six paid off on this occasion, although Tony Laing might disagree after our mix up led to him being run out. However, at the risk of being accused of being a self publicist, it was probably my partnership of 40 with Greg Eden that put us into a match-winning position.
It was pleasing to see Greg score some runs, as he personifies a team player. Danny Pearn scored his first run in senior cricket and I’m sure that he’ll remind Chris of the scoring shot.
I was confident that we had scored enough and our bowlers and fielders justified my confidence.
Paddy and Chris bowled really tight opening spells that put Beacon way behind the rate and saw their top three dismissed. Kevin Bray bowled steadily, as always, and I managed to put a few in the right place.
On a parochial note, I hit Tegan Smith for 16 in her only over, but she took a modicum of revenge when she flat batted me for six over square leg. I’m not sure which of us was more surprised.
I would reiterate that this was a great team performance in all senses with those that might not have scored runs or taken wickets making their contribution in the field. I would add that it is a pleasure to lead such a pleasant and supportive bunch of blokes.
Once again thanks are due to Joel Hambly for scoring.
Julian
Redruth IV 112 all out
Chacewater II 115-0
A youthful Redruth side was outplayed at a wintry Chiverton by a Chacewater side that is probably one of the promotion favourites. However, the statistics do not tell the whole story.
Chacewater captain Tom Armstrong won the toss and inserted the visitors. Redruth lost Jack Coleman in the second over, bowled by a shooter. His opening partner, Tom Sobey, was dismissed in a similar fashion - this time by a grubber.
Chris Pearn, playing against his former club, peppered the boundary hitting six fours and one six in his 37 before edging a lifter to the ‘keeper.
Skipper Julian Faull contributed a breezy 18, including four boundaries, and Callum Rogers with ten not out was the only other Redruth batsman to reach double figures. Redruth were dismissed in the 29th over.
Redruth needed an early breakthrough, but although the bat was beaten fairly regularly nothing took the edge.
Redruth’s young bowlers, Rogers, Paddy Mankee and Ben Dawson, all bowled tidily as their combined figures of 17.2 overs for 55 will testify.
Chacewater’s opening pair of father and son Tom and Tim Armstrong reached their target in the 27th over.
Redruth took just two points from the match.
It is said that there are lies, damned lies and statistics and this match supported that premise.
Looking at the scores it suggests that Chacewater cruised to victory without alarm, but that wasn’t the case. Even Chacewater skipper Tom Armstrong conceded that we deserved to take wickets. It might be a cliché, but I’m sure that we’ll bowl a lot worse and pick up a hatful of wickets.
On a positive note, our side included six U15s and one U17s in contrast with our opponents whose side comprised ten adults, one of whom was even older than me!
The conditions certainly didn’t help and defied the premise that cricket is a summer sport. If I let you know that I wore four layers in the field and six while umpiring it should give an indication of how cold it was.
In our ‘debrief’ - a posh term for some waffle from me - I said that this was just one of those days and that we would play worse and win.
I would take this opportunity to thank Alasdair for scoring. It’s one less thing to have to sort out.
Julian
Perran-ar-Worthal III 141-8
Redruth IV 143-4
Redruth won their first match of the season with this well-deserved success over Perran at a damp Clijah.
It was a match that bodes well for the club’s future as three U15s Jack Coleman, Tom Sobey and Ben Dawson played prominent roles.
After the start was delayed by persistent drizzle, Redruth captain Julian Faull won the toss and elected to bowl. This didn’t appear a great decision when the visitors were 29 without loss in the fifth over with openers David Humphries and Nigel Brenchley regularly finding the boundary.
Dawson achieved the breakthrough when he bowled Brenchley for nine, but Perran continued to score at five an over. Skipper Faull replaced Dawson at the end of the latter’s opening spell and must have doubted his decision making when his first over went for 17.
At drinks Perran were 99-1 and a score of well over 200 looked a distinct possibility.
However, the break worked in Redruth’s favour and shortly afterwards Faull had Humphries caught behind by Tony Laing.
The second half of Perran’s innings was a total contrast to the first. Their runs dried up and they lost wickets regularly. Redruth’s bowlers, backed up by some impressive fielding, gained a stranglehold and it appeared a different game. In the final 20 overs Perran scored 42 for the loss of seven wickets.
The pick of Redruth’s bowlers was young Dawson who finished with 4-44 in ten, including 3-10 in his last four. Faull took 2-34 off ten and Simon Mankee 2-9 off six.
Redruth’s openers, Coleman and Derek Kevern, made a positive start before Kevern was bowled by Richard Styles for 16 with the total on 22. Chris Pearn joined Coleman and hit one trademark boundary being superbly caught one-handed by Matt Dove on the line at long-on. At this point Redruth were 33-2 and Perran were probably favourites.
However, Coleman and Sobey both batted sensibly and maturely picking up ones and twos and punishing the bad balls. Their running was exemplary for two inexperienced cricketers at this level. They built a match-winning partnership of 78 before Sobey unluckily played on for 36, including six fours and a six.
Coleman reached a richly-deserved half century and fittingly hit the winning runs. He finished unbeaten on 57, an innings with eight boundaries.
Redruth won with more than nine overs to spare and took 19 points from the match.
I am writing these ‘jottings’ experiencing wildly contrasting emotions to the previous occasion that I sat at the computer to contribute to the website.
This was, I feel, a well-deserved and tremendously satisfying win, particularly as three young cricketers played starring roles.
It was probably a toss that I would have preferred to have lost and when Perran were 99-1 at drinks electing to bowl first did not look to have been a wise move. I certainly thought that we would be chasing more than 200 to win.
However, after the dismissal of Humphries it’s fair to say that as a unit we hardly bowled a bad ball and our fielding was top drawer.
It was great to see Ben Dawson picking up wickets and if he continues to bowl as well as he did in this match he’ll pick up loads more. It was nice to see Simon Mankee take a couple of wickets, as he has had a testing start to the season. I’ll let others comment on my spell, but perhaps my opening over lulled the batsmen into a false sense of security!!
Chasing 142 wasn’t going to be easy, as Perran have a tidy attack. I have to confess that when Chris Pearn went I thought that we might struggle to reach our target. However, no praise is too high for Jack and Tom. I don’t recall them giving a chance and they batted with impressive maturity.
A word for Danny Pearn who has an abundance of enthusiasm and always gives 100%.
Thanks also to Joel Hambly who scored for us. He did a great job and will be welcome back at any time.
Julian
Constantine II 235-8 Redruth IV 88
Redruth were totally outplayed by Constantine in this County Division VII (West) match at Clijah.
Constantine won the toss and skipper Richard Walters elected to bat. Redruth’s afternoon began fairly promisingly with Chris Pearn and Paddy Mankee dismissing the visiting openers.
Things started to go wrong when Redruth captain Julian Faull dropped Aaron Ducker off Greg Eden. Ducker took advantage of this let off to take part in a match-winning partnership with Walters.
Ducker and Walters mixed watchful defence with some fine attacking shots to put Constantine into a powerful position. Ducker was eventually bowled by Kevin Bray for 70 and Pearn dismissed Walters in similar fashion for a stylish 90.
Paddy Mankee was the outstanding bowler for Redruth, finishing with 3-26 off his ten overs. Pearn provided good support with 2-41 off ten.
Redruth’s reply got off to the worst possible start when Jack Coleman was lbw to Jason Penny in the first over. Simon Mankee went shortly after and this brought Pearn to the crease with memories of his double century against the same side last season.
Pearn had a major slice of luck early on when a top edge fell between a cluster of fielders. He made the most of his good fortune, batting in inimitable style peppering the boundary with three sixes and five fours. His innings ended when he was superbly caught at deep mid wicket. Unfortunately, after his departure the innings fell away and Constantine ran out easy winners.
Redruth took six points from the match.
I think that this is probably the most dispiriting summary that I have had to write in two seasons.
It was one of those afternoons when little seemed to go right and there were not too many positives to be found. I hasten to add that I take my share of responsibility, dropping a guy early on who went on to score 70.
However, as Kevin Bray pointed out it is 4th team cricket and we really should not get too intense over results. Although we would prefer to win each game, cricket at this level is equally about enjoyment and developing young cricketers. Regarding the former the team spirit held up in adverse circumstances.
One major positive was the bowling performance of Paddy Mankee. It might be a cliché, but his figures did not reflect how well he bowled. He makes batsmen play more often than not and his line and length are becoming more consistent. His batting is also developing and his future could be as a bowling all-rounder.
Jack Coleman bowled a couple of tidy overs and, in hindsight, I should have brought him on earlier. Harvey Jones kept wicket tidily and Danny Pearn and Luke Opie both gave 100% in the field.
Julian
Camborne IV 176-9. Redruth IV 130-9
Redruth’s opening match of the season, played in incredibly difficult conditions, saw them pick up seven points from this 46-run defeat.
Gale -force gusts blew across the Roskear ground and it made for far from ideal cricketing weather.
Camborne skipper Chris Smith won the toss and elected to bat. Redruth’s opening attack of Chris Pearn and 15-year-old Paddy Mankee bowled steadily, but Smith and Kyle Westlake added 64 for the first wicket before Kevin Thomas bowled Smith in the 16th over.
Thomas unluckily had Westlake dropped off successive deliveries, but eventually got his man, caught by Harvey Jones, for 47. He picked up his third wicket when he bowled Tresidder.
Will Thomas , who bowled a tidy spell, had Alan Smith lbw and David Carlisle caught by Jack Coleman, as Camborne went from 64-0 to 89-5. Thomas could have claimed a third wicket, that of Richard Ward, when Pearn dived full length behind square, grasped the ball in both hands but just lost control of it when he hit the ground.
Ward took advantage of this let off to build a partnership with Aidan Rees that took the score to 116 before he was bowled by Joe McElhinney. There followed what, in hindsight, was a decisive partnership between Rees and Dale Williams that added 41 for the seventh wicket.
Pearn achieved the breakthrough bowling Rees and there were a couple more wickets for McElhinney who caught and bowled Williams and had Chris Bawden caught by Pearn.
In reply, Redruth lost Ben Hitchens lbw for two in the first over and this saw Pearn join Coleman. Pearn batted in familiar fashion until he got a top edge and was caught by wicket-keeper Ward off Alan Smith for 21.
Redruth, like Camborne, suffered a mid-order collapse when they went from 46-1 at Pearn’s dismissal to 56-6, with Tim Barker taking a hat trick. He had Will Thomas lbw, Graham Jenkin caught behind and Simon Mankee stumped.
Throughout this young opener Coleman had accumulated steadily and rebuilt the innings in partnership with the experienced McElhinney. They took the score to 93 before Coleman edged to Ward for a well-made 29.
Kevin Thomas fell lbw to one that kept a little low and McElhinney was well caught by Westlake for 30. Redruth did manage to bat out the overs denying Camborne a fifth bowling point.
We certainly picked the wrong day for our opening match of the season. The wind was so strong that at one stage Graham Jenkin remarked that all it needed was tumbleweed blowing across the ground to give the illusion of being in a deserted Wild West setting.
Bowing against the gusts that blew from third man to mid off was, to put it mildly, hard work. Chris Pearn, Kevin Thomas and Joe McElhinney deserve the team’s gratitude. Fielding also wasn’t easy in the conditions.
The two young members of our attack, Paddy Mankee and Will Thomas, bowled 16 overs between them taking 2-56 - figures that definitely did not flatter them.
On the batting front great credit must go to Jack Coleman, who batted very maturely for his 29. He appears to possess an ideal temperament for an opening batsman having a sound technique and the ability to bat for long periods.
Thanks again to Greg Eden who scored for us after being ruled out of the match through injury. It is a luxury at this level to have a scorer and I greatly appreciate Greg’s team ethos.
Julian
2010 Season
As the 2010 season has, unfortunately, come to an end I considered it opportune to reflect on the 4th team’s year.
While it was pleasing. In one sense, to pick up 20 points against Perran-ar-Worthal in our last match, it was something of a hollow victory with our opponents conceding due to a lack of players. I imagine that everyone would agree that it would have been much more satisfying to have rounded off an enjoyable season with a win on the field.
Of the 14 matches actually played we won six and lost eight. Of those eight defeats I would contend that we were only totally outplayed in three, Helston (away), Gerrans (away) and Beacon (away). Apart from Helston, we beat all of the teams that finished above us.
Undoubtedly the season’s highlights were Chris Pearn’s double century against Constantine and his 190 versus Barripper.
However, part of the 4th team remit is to encourage young cricketers and, in my opinion, several have developed their game this season and this can only bode well for the future.
Will Thomas made more than 100 runs and took eight wickets, a massive improvement on 2009, and hopefully next season he will improve on those figures. Paddy Mankee took ten wickets at 21 apiece, probably not a true reflection on how well he bowled at times.
Jake Ireson flitted between the 3rd and 4th teams and didn’t let us down with the bat or in the field. However, he does need to practice the ‘Dilshan’ during the close season.
Harvey Jones and Jack Coleman didn’t play that many games. When they did appear they both batted maturely and Harvey kept wicket neatly.
Finally, I would like to extend my thanks to everyone that turned out for the 4th team this season - that’s 30 of you not including me. As I have said previously, there was a tremendous team spirit throughout and hopefully everyone enjoyed their cricket.
Julian