Devon Cricket Board - Views from the camps on Plymouth's win over Cornwood

Views from the camps on Plymouth's win over Cornwood

WINNING captain Matt Hooper said beating Cornwood was tougher than it might have been as his side still aren’t firing on all cylinders all the time.

And with title rivals Sidmouth coming up this Saturday, this is no time to sit back and bask in the warmth of a derby win over what Hooper described as a ‘good side’.

“We bowled and fielded ok, but there are definite areas of improvement,” said Hooper.

“We are getting into good positions then taking our foot of the gas and not maintaining pressure on teams.

“Dave Burke bowled brilliantly and this team is lucky to have such a good bowler. “Rob Bennett is starting to threaten that outside edge again and bowled really well at the start.”

If anything worries Hooper it is the batting which, not for the first time this season, was baled out by Steve Luffman.

“We batted ok, but the guys need to take responsibility to get the team over the line,” said Hooper.

“Steve Luffman takes that responsibility and did it brilliantly against Cornwood.

“I thought Ben Stein batted well at the top of the order and I feel better than I have done for a long time with the bat.”

Looking ahead to Sidmouth, who beat Exeter, Hooper said: “It will be a good test how good we really are.

“We have had a great record against Sidmouth in recent seasons. We have also had some real nail biters against them too and I am sure this one will be no different.”

The view from the Cornwood camp remains positive, even though they have dropped into the bottom two.

“Despite having known areas to work on, there were encouraging signs coming from this match,” said skipper Jason Hall.

“The team should draw confidence having played the top three sides in the first five matches.

“We now know the standard needed to push on and gain the points needed to start climbing the table.”

Hall said seeing Jackson Thompson make some runs was a plus point after a quiet start to the season.

“Jackson top scored with 30 and looked like he was starting to find his routine, before being given out to an lbw decision that left a few heads being scratched,” said Hall.

Another decision that left Cornwood puzzled was a reprieve for Plymouth opener Ben Stein in the second over, which proved costly in a low-scoring game.

“The over was called, despite the ball clearly still being in play, as the batsmen were indecisive about taking a second run,” said Hall.

“The ball was thrown in quickly to our keeper Mark Horwell and the bails were off with Stein yards out of his crease.

“Stein was on his way back to the pavilion when the umpires consulted and reversed the decision, which could have had a significant impact on the game.”

Hall said defending 150 was never going to be easy and praised the bowlers for making Plymouth’s task tough until Hooper and Luffman got together.

“Adam Goodliffe bowled his nine-over spell, which only cost 12 runs and at the other end Elliot Staddon picked up four wickets in his spell,” said Hall.

Plymouth faltered at 90 for five and at that stage 151 looked a long way off.

“After another wicket fell at 103, there became a real chance of sneaking victory.”

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