AFTER?a winter of dreadful weather which meant that the vast majority of the opening day’s games last weekend were moved to later in the season, there is a full programme of fixtures across the county on Saturday as the LWC Drinks Cornwall Cricket League gets into full flow.

The Post area clubs have all been busy preparing for the new season the best they can despite the conditions, as they look to make 2018 a summer to remember.

Werrington

WERRINGTON Cricket Club head into the new season with a sense of optimism as they look to win back the ECB Cornwall Premier League title for the first time since 2015.

Cornwall batsman Paul Smith replaces Adam Hodgson as first team skipper and has signed Australian bowling all-rounder Jono Baldock, who plays for Surfers Paradise in the Gold Coast First Grade competition, as their overseas player as they look to improve on last year’s fourth-placed finish.

County all-rounder James Turpin has returned to newly-promoted Wadebridge but the rest of an impressive squad remains unchanged, although they are boosted by the news that opening bowler Sam Hockin should be available most weeks while teenager Dan Barnard could be given an extended run in the side as first change bowler after impressing in the second team over the last couple of seasons.

After a couple of friendlies were cancelled, they warmed up for their league opener at Falmouth on Saturday (1pm) with a dominant display at West of England Premier League Somerset Division side Minehead before the rain set in.

Smith is confident with the options at his disposal and is particularly looking forward to pairing Baldock with Cornwall opening bowler Tom Dinnis, who on Sunday played for the Somerset Academy against Dorset.

He said: “I’m hoping that Jono will work well with Dinno. Dinno is a bit shorter and will skid it through while Jono is a bit taller and can hit the deck and can get more bounce. We’re putting a massive focus on getting early wickets this year, so those two hopefully can work together with their different statures to make my life easier with their natural height differences.

“On Saturday we’ll get to Falmouth nice and early and have a chat before the warm-up about what we want to do and make sure we’re on the same page. We want to start the season well!”

The second team, who only retained their County One status due to Ludgvan and St Minver being kicked out of the league, will again rely on the experience of captain Mark Hodgson and some exciting youngsters to navigate their way out of trouble, and hope that the first team have a consistent side every week.

A couple of promising youngsters are set to leave the club but Hodgson is confident that they can do better, starting with the visits of Rosudgeon and Launceston in the next ten days

He said: “There’s no midweek cricket anymore so we need to make sure that we train better than we did last year but I’m sure we can survive.

“We’ve got about nine bowlers so I’m always confident that we can bowl teams out for less than 200 but we need to bat better than we did last year.

“The league won’t be as good and there are about eight teams that could go down but we need to make sure we get off to a decent start and enjoy ourselves, as that will give us confidence for the rest of the season.”

The third and fourth teams, who are again being led by Richard Stanbury and Nick Wills respectively, will look to consolidate in Division Three and Five East while trying to bring through the youngsters.

Callington

WHILE Werrington will have their eyes on Cornwall Cricket’s top prize, down the A388 at Callington, expectations will be much lower.

Callington were given an unexpected place in the Premier Division back in February after Helston pulled out of the league.

The Moores Park outfit finished fourth in County Division One in 2017 but third-placed Ludgvan’s demotion means they were next in line to go up.

Crucially they have strengthened over the winter with the signings of former Somerset second-teamer Gavin Armstrong, Kiwi Ben Millar, who now lives in the local area after playing for Menheniot-Looe a few years ago and Luckett’s destructive all-rounder Andrew Brenton. There will be no overseas player.

One big loss for captain Aidan Libby will be left-arm quick bowler Jim Shorten, who’s retired from first team cricket to bring on the youngsters in Division Two East. Spencer Ham again captains the thirds in Division Six East as he tries to create an environment for juniors to thrive in adult cricket.

Callington start their Premier League campaign at home to Penzance (1pm) while the seconds go to St Minver (1pm) on Saturday before entertaining Luckett on Sunday (1pm). The thirds have a bye.

Launceston

DESPITE winning promotion last summer, skipper Robert Mutch hopes the Lawhitton-based club can push for a top four finish in what should be a wide-open County Division One after the introduction of four teams from Division Two and the expulsion of Ludgvan and St Minver.

It’s been an extremely quiet winter with no incomings or outgoings although the South African will be able to call upon bowler Brandon Forsyth who’s around for the season after living in Bristol for the last few years and Gavin Wallis, who missed the start of last season.

Despite never experiencing second-tier cricket in Cornwall, Mutch is expecting his charges to rise to the challenge and hopes that the seconds can get themselves up into Division Three East after finishing third last year.

He said: “The aim is to get a top four spot. Over the last couple of seasons we’ve built a good morale in the team as well as self-belief which was lacking when I first got here. We’ll play each game as it comes and see where it takes us but we’ve played a season together already so I know who I count on in different situations.

“However there will always be chances for players to come in if they perform in the seconds. I like the look of Caleb Forsyth and Will Harvey and they could get a chance, but for the future of the club we need to get the seconds promoted.”

That task once again falls upon the shoulders of Matthew Bloomfield, although the absence of batsmen Jonny Hake and Frode Edgley could prove crucial while Paul Bunn has the difficult task of keeping the thirds up in a competitive Division Five East.

Title favourites Troon are the visitors to Lawhitton on Saturday (1pm) while the thirds welcome Tideford on the bottom pitch. The seconds have an awkward trip to Bugle (1.30pm).

Bude

AFTER a double promotion two summers ago, last year was a much more sedate season at Crooklets.

The first team eased to a comfortable sixth in Division Two East under Mark MacManus after a slow start, while the seconds just survived in a season-long battle against the drop and began the season with a convincing 65-run victory over their Menheniot-Looe counterparts last weekend.

MacManus is once again in charge and is expecting further improvement, starting with Saturday’s visit of Boconnoc (1pm).

He said: “We’re pretty much looking for more of the same although I’d be really disappointed not to finish at least in the top half and we’d like to get in the top four if we can.

“We’ve made a couple of new signings. Matthew Whitehouse has come down from Lincoln to live and looks quite handy while we’re also hoping to sign a young bowler from Werrington this week as well.

“We’ve got lots of bowlers now but the overs being moved back to 45 is a big disadvantage to us as last year a lot of the teams we played against didn’t have much of a fifth bowler and we did. The season is short enough as it is so to miss out on more overs is pretty annoying as one of the attractions of being promoted was to be able to play 50-over cricket.

“We have lost Gordon Wint which a big loss to us as he’s still one of the best batsmen in the club. But he’s decided to captain the seconds. But it’s a big gain for them and they should do much better this year. Gordon’s brought in Christopher Parkes to bat while bowler Chris Carter has changed jobs and is able to play on Saturdays now.”

Luckett

FOR the first time in over a decade, Luckett will begin life without Andrew Brenton and skipper Ryan Brown is refusing to set any targets.

The Chapel Field club finished a steady fourth in Brown’s first year in charge and admits that he wants to provide a fun environment and ensure that the club get 22 players out, starting with the visit of Ladock (1pm) on Saturday, which is followed by a trip to local rivals Callington seconds on Sunday (1pm).

He said: “The objective as always is to win as many games as possible but also for the two teams to get sides out each week.

“Obviously the loss of Brents is going to be massive, especially his batting, but last year he offered to take a step back from bowling to help with the development of the younger players and it’s now up to them to step up.

“The seconds have also got Ashley Small back which is massive for them while Paul Rowe, who used to play for us years ago, is keen to get back playing, so I’m confident we’ll be alright for teams each week.

“For the firsts we’ve signed Matt Shapland who hasn’t played for a few years but from the training sessions we’ve done he looks like he’ll bring some pace with the new ball and the rest of the team is unchanged.”

After a couple of tough seasons in Division Three, Ian Roberts’ second team started their campaign back in Division Four with a six-wicket victory over Pencarrow on Saturday thanks to Richard Seeley’s unbeaten 69.

Holsworthy

THE Stanhope Park outfit romped to the Division Four title last summer without losing a game, but skipper Ryan Walter admits he’d happily settle for mid-table as they prepare for their first ever season in the fourth-tier.

The main news at the club is that the town’s new sports pavilion has opened, meaning the club at last have an excellent facility to showcase.

Everyone from last year is keen to play and enjoy a new league while all-rounder Leo McDonnell and batsman Jason Head are available again, meaning Walter has a big squad fighting for just 11 spots.

Walter said: “We know that we need to get into teams early as that’s our strength and make sure we don’t let them back into the game. We know we can’t just rely on George Wilcox and Jack Greening to open the bowling, so we need everyone to step up when called upon, but it’s a challenge everyone is looking forward to.

“Towards the back end of the season the fielding was pretty average and we need to improve on it. Better players don’t give you three or four chances, so the fielding will be key. But it’s going to be exciting playing against different teams and different players. But from the people I’ve spoken to they think we should stay up so we need to do what we do best and play good, basic cricket and find ways to win.”

South Petherwin

SOUTH Petherwin first team skipper Jacob Masters admits that his side are looking forward to being back in Division Three East after a couple of tough years in the league above.

Petherwin won just once last summer, but are looking forward to playing against clubs more their own size, while the second team should be competitive in Division Six.

Masters said: “The aim is to finish in the top half and it’ll be nice to win games regularly again after punching well above our wait in Division Two for the years we were in it, hence the recent struggles.

“There aren’t many clubs of our size in that league but I believe that this is the standard of our team.

“Last year’s squad is still fairly similar and I’m hoping to keep everyone as the guys at the club are a real laugh and we all enjoy it.

“We’re awaiting a couple of transfer forms to be signed at the minute and we’ve also got Adrian Clements back from Lewdown.

“If anyone isn’t getting a game at their current clubs then we’d like to hear from them but it should be a much better season for everyone.”

Tintagel

ALTHOUGH promotion is the target at Butts Field this summer, new club captain Ryan Pooley is playing it cool.

The North Cornwall club welcome promoted Holsworthy on Saturday (1pm) and have been boosted by a couple of impressive signings and an overseas player.

Former Wadebridge and St Minver opening bowler Ross Keast, who last season was opening the bowling for Lanhydrock in County Division One, has signed to do the same job with Australian overseas fast bowler Josh Andrewartha, while the experienced Matt Gilbert should score plenty of runs in the top order.

Pooley said: “Ross will most likely open the bowling and add some firepower in the middle order while Matt will bat in the top three and hopefully rack the runs up.

“It’s obvious that we’ve got a pretty good side this year but I’m not focusing on promotion at the moment. We just want to focus on the next game and making sure we start the season well.”

One key loss for Pooley will be that of all-rounder Geoff Uglow who hasn’t committed to the whole season while Shaun Keeble is likely to only a play few games as well.

The seconds should be boosted by the first team’s bigger squad and should do well in Division Five under the guidance of wicketkeeper Chris Lovegrove.

Delabole

NEW season, same old problems for Delabole captain Glen Burrell as he looks to ensure they survive again in Division Four.

A remarkable late run of form ensured they soared to mid-table but with just one team and football and rugby commitments in the way, he’s expecting it to be tough.

He said: “I never go into a season expecting too much, we just look to get 11 players on the pitch which with cricket starting earlier and football finishing later, it is a struggle.

“Hopefully we can carry on our form from the end of last season and we have Aaron Vercoe playing for us after several years but we’ve lost Steve Crooks and his son Regan as Steve’s gone out to work in Dubai.

“I’d like to be in mid-table but it’ll be a struggle. We have seven core players then as many as 10 to 12 players who’ll play occasionally, so we’ll have to take it week by week.

“Three players are out ‘til the end of May with football and rugby while our football team have Saturday fixtures right throughout May even though we asked them to be played in midweek so it’s going to be interesting, but I’m sure it’ll all work out in the end.

“We’ve still got three or four players who are promising and it’d be nice if they can come on and allow me and Adrian (Pooley) to slide down the order a bit so they can get more game time.”

Milton Abbot

THE Baxter Park outfit will compete in the Division Four East for the first time in their history on Saturday when they head to Pencarrow (1pm).

Milton Abbot have a core of excellent lower league players with both bat and ball, and provided they get a consistent side together should more than hold their own.

Gunnislake

DESPITE an ageing squad, Gunnislake always seem to use their experience and know-how to win games of cricket.

They will need all of that in Division Five East this summer.

However if the hard-hitting Sam Boundy continues to fire and the bowling of Paul Lees and Sylvan Pook comes off, they should avoid the dreaded drop.