WERRINGTON skipper Nick Lawson admits they need to ‘stop losing wickets in clusters’ after they fell to a disappointing 35-run to visiting Helston in the ECB Cornwall Premier League on Saturday.

Although Lawson was reduced to watching after suffering an eye injury during their Hawkey Cup clash with Callington on Tuesday night, stand-in Mark Gribble won the toss and chose to field.

That decision paid off handsomely as with the second legal ball, visiting skipper Dan Jenkin top-edged a pull to Gribble behind the stumps off Dan Barnard.

Billy Taylor soon feathered a catch through for Barnard’s second, and when Sam Hockin castled Somerset’s Lewis Goldsworthy for four, the hosts were on top (19-3).

The players went off for nearly half an hour after six overs due to the rain, and once play resumed Hockin (2-39) soon bowled Steve Jenkin.

But from there it was Helston’s Australian debutant Jayden Mitchell that changed the course of the game.

Mark Jenkin struck 16 off just six balls, but it was Mitchell’s partnership of 94 with Sunny Osmont that proved decisive.

While Osmont made 38 from 51 deliveries, Mitchell smashed the bowling to all parts with the exception of Ben Smeeth (1-23 off 9) as he made 95 from just 62 balls with six fours and nine sixes before falling to Barnard (3-46).

Werrington fought back well late on with Adam Hodgson taking 3-48 as Helston were all-out for 229.

The DLS calculations meant Werrington needed 226 from their 46 overs, and although John Moon (7) went early, a fine partnership of 95 between Sam Hockin and Adam Hodgson looked to be guiding the visitors home.

Hockin struck nine boundaries in his 54-ball 50, but clipped Mitchell to mid-wicket.

Thulina Dilshan soon offered a return catch to Lewis Goldsworthy and when Hodgson (34) edged Aussie Harry Saunders behind it was 110-4.

Seamer Ryan Tonkin was then re-introduced to the attack and his three-wicket burst, including Mark Gribble for 25, left the hosts at 147-7.

Tom Lyle offered a catch straight back to Saunders (2-31) and although Dan Barnard made an enterprising 26 not out from 15 balls, Mark Taskis and Jordan Duke both fell to Steve Jenkin to give the Blues an impressive victory.

Lawson said: “It was very disappointing in the end, but credit to Helston and their Aussie who batted superbly, he was the difference between the two teams.

“We got off to a superb start with the ball, but after the rain break we didn’t get it quite right and they raced away.

“As I said, Mitchell batted brilliantly and anything slightly off he hit to or over the boundary as shown by his nine sixes.

“If we’d have got him out a bit earlier it’d probably have been different, but that said chasing 226 was certainly gettable.

“With the bat we did really well to get to 103-1, but the collapse has been the story of our season.

“We were 37-5 at Grampound and lost wickets in clusters at Callington as well. It’s something we’ve got to rectify as soon as possible as little moments like that are costing us.

“When a team is bowling well we’ve got to stunt it if we’re to stay in the division.”

Werrington, who dropped to the foot of the table following Grampound Road’s victory at St Just, welcome Truro on Saturday (1pm).