AIDEN Gerry took 6-40 as the Trees earned a crucial victory in their quest for survival with a 26-run success over neighbours Bude at Stanhope Park.

The Seasiders were going well at 110-3 with stand-in opener David Sillifant (45) and Australian overseas Brett Hunter (41) set, but the former’s wild slog to get out started the slide as Gerry took six of the final seven wickets to fall.

Earlier, Holsworthy ground out a competitive 200-9 from their 45 overs with opener Jack Greening making 73, while Hunter, although bowling at half pace, took 4-35 from his allocation.

Bude travelled without five first-choice players, while the Trees were close to full strength, but it was the away side that started well as Aiden Gerry and Brendan Harris departed cheaply.

Gerry edged Hunter through to Matthew Mansbridge at first slip who took a stunning catch low to his right, while Mansbridge (2-61) trapped Harris lbw for nought.

But Greening and Matt Shepherd countered as they took advantage of some average bowling to turn the tide.

Shepherd made his way to 34, but just as he looked set, was bowled by Sillifant aiming a pull into the leg-side.

Like Greening, Aussie Noah Pigdon (19) and Rory Piper (12) found it tough to score against Mark Whitefield (1-30) and Andrew De Rosa (1-20), and with Hunter returning to work his way through the middle and lower order, including Greening for a stoic 73 which included seven fours and a six, Bude were in the box seat.

But Guy Beagley’s enterprising 25 not out from as many balls saw them reach maximum batting points at 200-9 from their 45 overs.

Bude were missing three of their usual top four meaning Sillifant and Richard Dymond went out to face Greening and Shepherd.

Greening bowled Dymond (9) with a nip-backer before the big wicket of Warren Rumble fell when he offered a simple catch to Rob Mitchell at mid-on for nought.

Chris Parkes fell to Graham Wild and at 41-3 in the 16th over, the hosts were well on top.

Hunter then provided the impetus the innings required, as although he and Sillifant survived simple chances from wicketkeeper Chris Pomeroy off Wild, they had taken the score to 110-3 in the 27th over before Sillifant’s moment of madness.

Pigdon had Jack Miles caught by Shepherd at short cover, which is where Greening caught Hunter in Gerry’s next over (116-6) for an excellent 41 from just 47 balls.

Andrew De Rosa (11) and the returning James Turner (24) dug in, but once both men departed, again to Gerry, the game was all but up.

Gerry continued on his merry way and although the last-wicket pairing of Mansbridge and Whitefield hung around to give themselves an outside chance, Gerry spun one through Mansbridge (14) to earn the Trees a precious 20 points in their survival bid and give Bude a fourth straight defeat in completed matches.

The Seasiders have dropped to within 24 points of second bottom Holsworthy who remain eight ahead of St Minver who picked up 20 points at home to basement side St Austell Thirds.

But with Werrington Seconds just one ahead of St Minver before their meeting this Saturday, it’s all to play for.