Devon Cricket Board - Cornwood not about to surrender yet

Cornwood not about to surrender yet

CORNWOOD haven’t given up all hopes of playing Premier cricket again next season even though Plymouth sent them deeper into relegation danger.
The Corns were bowled out for 114 at Mount Wise with Plymouth’s Sam Stein taking four for nine from 10 lively overs.
Plymouth had their problem knocking off the runs – they were six for four in reply after four overs – but Ben Stein and Rob Bennett got them over the line in the end.
Plymouth are looking a good bet for second place behind champs elect Sidmouth as they are 29 points clear of Bovey Tracey in third.
Cornwood are now 26 points adrift in the second drop spot and weren’t helped by results elsewhere going against them.
Torquay and Heathcoat both won to move further up the table, but you won’t catch Cornwood throwing in the towel.
“Win two or three of our last four games and anything is possible,” said Cornwood’ Matt Butterworth.
“We have finished with most of the clubs near the top now apart from Bovey, so our target isn’t unrealistic.
“Torquay in two weeks time is a massive game for us and if we lose that we probably are in trouble.
“North Devon and Exeter have been inconsistent and Bovey lost to Heathcoat this Saturday, so they can be beaten.
“We fought all the way against Plymouth and they were relieved to get a result.
“If we show the same fight – and I am confident we will – there is a chance we will be playing Premier cricket again next year.”
Plymouth captain Matt Hooper acknowledged Cornwood had made life hard and it the win had to be ground out.
“It was a hard-fought victory,” said Hooper.
“We bowled and fielded very well, but made it difficult for ourselves being sox for four with the bat.
“Luckily, we bat a long way down and Ben Stein and Rob Bennett batted well to take us over the line.
“All in all another victory and we are hoping to finish the season well.”
Jackson Thompson top scored for Cornwood with 32, before he was third out on 52 hooking Sam Stein.
Rob Bennett and Gionne Koopman had already accounted for Ben Warren and Mark Horwell before Stein was wheeled into the attack as a change bowler.
Cornwood found Stein unplayable at times as he took four wickets for nine runs in 10 overs.
“Sam is a decent bowler anyway, but on a green top with some juice in it he was almost impossible to get away,” said Cornwood’s Butterworth.
Cornwood subsided to 64 for five then 85 for six before Hooper (3-14) got into the lower order.
Jason Hall’s 25 was the only thing that got Cornwood into three figures.
There was enough juice left in the pitch to make life tough for Plymouth’s early batters.
Butterworth (3-41) took three of the first four Plymouth wickets to fall, but Ben Stein (39) shut up shop until he found a willing running mate in Bennett (30).
Despite interference from Byron Langley (3-21), the stand of 68 between Bennett and Stein got Plymouth within 16 runs of victory.
Hooper (13no) and Hal Kerton (3no) wiped of the last few needed.

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