WERRINGTON’S hopes of a first ECB Cornwall Premier League crown since 2018 are over following a two-wicket defeat at mid-table Camborne on Saturday.

While a title charge wasn’t expected this summer, the villagers had put themselves in a decent position, but a fourth away defeat of the season means they will now battle it out for third with neighbours Callington following Cally’s remarkable collapse at St Austell where they slipped from 89-0 to 100 all out to lose by 138 runs.

Werrington named a full-strength side at Warrior Park, but on a spin-friendly pitch struggled from the start, particularly after losing veteran Ben Smeeth to the second ball of the game as he edged Dinuka Dilshan through to Liam Weeks.

The division’s highest scorer Mark Gribble had a rare failure for seven as he edged Craig Johnson to slip which was the same way Sri Lankan pro Thulina Dilshan went, again Aussie Josh Fontana taking the catch.

John Moon made 16 from 62 balls before falling to Jacob Macdonald’s left-arm spin, while county captain Paul Smith made 11 before edging Dan Stephens’ off-spin through to Weeks.

At 48-5 in the 22nd over, Werrington needed a partnership which they got through director of cricket Adam Hodgson and Billy Uglow.

Hodgson, batting at six for the first time all summer having opened until the previous week’s victory over St Austell, ground out 29 from 71 balls while Cornwall Under 16s player Uglow struck 41 from 65 as they took the score to 122 in the 43rd over.

Uglow top-edged a slog sweep off Alfie Macdonald and from there the visitors mustered just another 30 as Stephens (3-31) and Macdonald (3-26) shared the last five.

Hodgson was undone by a beauty from Macdonald that turned sharply to rearrange his stumps with 125 on the board before Barnard and Sam Hockin fell in successive balls to Stephens, Barnard swinging to leg and Hockin lbw playing forward.

Skipper Nick Lawson (9) was the last man out having added 19 with last man Mark Taskis (7no) as he was given out lbw on the sweep to Macdonald.

With the pitch conducive to spin, the visitors bowled just one over of pace, that the penultimate over from Hockin.

Off-spinners Taskis and Smeeth took the new ball but saw openers Josh Fontana and Matt Hewitt add 51 before Hodgson (2-26) induced an edge to dismiss the latter.

The off-spinner soon had Dilshan caught at slip by Smith for nought, and when Somerset youngster Oscar Coleman went for nine to Dilshan via a catch to Taskis, it was game on at 82-3.

Fontana, who made 42 from 70 balls, put on a further 21 with Macdonald before being trapped lbw by Smith, but the hosts were seemingly cruising to victory at 122-4 with Macdonald going well on 35.

However, once he was taken at point by Dilshan off Taskis (1-32), Werrington applied the squeeze superbly.

The dangerous Weeks holed out off Smith (2-23), but despite the visitors giving away nothing, a lack of scoreboard pressure meant Stephens and Jacob Macdonald could grind out a stand of 20 to move them to within five of victory.

Back came Werrington again as Dilshan (2-49) dismissed Stephens and Hockin’s sole over saw him bowl Macdonald, but the home side held on.