Pooley's heroics leave Bude with work to do

RYAN Pooley proved the difference maker as Tintagel pushed Bude closer to the drop on Saturday at Crooklets.

The all-rounder, who struck a rapid century and took four wickets in the reverse fixture, made 96 in the visitors’ 250-9 before later taking two catches and 3-9 with his off-spin as the Seasiders were rolled out for just 112.

A much-changed Bude were able to give first appearances of the season to wicketkeeper Mark McManus and James Turner, the latter only fit enough to bat after knee surgery.

Stand-in skipper Matthew Mansbridge chose to field, and on a difficult pitch against the new ball, worked well in tandem alongside the returning Richard Dymond (0-23). Both were unlucky at times, that was until visiting skipper Matt Jolliffe (11) toed a low full-toss from Mansbridge to Tom Wigley at short cover.

They both bowled unchanged and Mansbridge (2-39) got another when he bowled Australian Leo Agacy for 28 (54-2).

However, Pooley came to the wicket and alongside the stubborn Jordan Burnard went on to compile the match-winning partnership of 88.

Burnard was happy to be patient and wait for the right ball, while Pooley dispatched anything short or overpitched to, or over the boundary.

The home side’s fielding was becoming particularly ragged, but they did get a breakthrough in the 31st over when Burnard (34 off 70) holed out to Matt Williams at deep square-leg in Derek Piper’s first over.

Andrew De Rosa (2-61) soon dismissed Adrian Pooley and Gyles Reynolds, but the runs kept coming as they reached 250-9 helped by Jack Minehan’s quickfire 27.

Pooley, who made 96 from 65 balls with 11 fours and four sixes, eventually was taken at long-on by Piper off Williams (4-57) who had three stumpings taken off his final over.

Bude’s batting line-up then struggled from the outset.

A Minehan beauty saw off Wigley who edged through to stand-in keeper Jolliffe, before McManus’ return saw him trapped lbw next ball.

Turner (18) thrashed four boundaries in quick time before edging Owen Barnes through to a diving Pooley at slip, and Pooley was again the catcher to dismiss Matt Whitefield for four soon after.

Barnes (2-44) produced a snorter to take the glove of David Sillifant - and at 35-5 it was all but game over.

Pooley dropped Williams off Minehan (3-37) and Williams took advantage with a series of boundaries as he found support from Dymond (12). They added 53 in good time, but Pooley’s first ball saw him spin one onto Dymond’s off stump.

De Rosa holed out soon after to Barnes at mid-on, followed by Williams (42 off 39) shortly after who Pooley did in the flight.

Piper picked out Barnes at square-leg off Agacy, and although last man Chris Carter (11no) struck a four and a six, Mansbridge was run-out backing up to sum up Bude’s day.

With just four matches remaining, the Seasiders have a 20-point deficit to make up on Menheniot-Looe who they welcome on August 22, starting with a home clash with mid-table Lanhydrock on Saturday.

The Knights, on the other hand, are sixth following promotion and with three of the bottom half sides still to play, will hope to go higher, the first of which is against visiting Werrington Seconds (1pm).