WERRINGTON moved up to second in the ECB Cornwall Premier League on Saturday with a convincing eight-wicket success at St Austell.

Trips to Wheal Eliza have often proved tricky, but a superb bowling display from the North Cornwall outfit – led by seamers Dan Barnard and Sam Hockin – ensured they needed 162.

John Moon made a breezy 16, but forties from Adam Hodgson, Mark Gribble and Thulina Dilshan ensured 20 points headed back to Ladycross.

St Austell skipper Alex Bone chose to bat and although Rowen Taplin got to 13 quickly, he edged Barnard behind to Nick Lawson.

Dan Jarman nicked off to Paul Smith at first slip off Sam Hockin (2-36) who then dismissed Connor Cooke in his next over as the hosts slipped to 29-3. And when Sri Lankan pro Nadeera Balasooriya top edged an attempted hit down the ground off Barnard (2-21) and was caught by Dilshan for nine at backward-point, Werrington were in dreamland.

Curtis Dalby and Alex Bone then patiently rebuilt the innings with a stand of 50, which ended when Dalby (36) went lbw to Mark Taskis (2-23 off 9).

Bone added 32 with Gianluca Longo who was run-out by John Moon at mid-wicket, and when Bone was caught behind off Taskis, it was 145-7.

Ben Smeeth (2-30) returned to take out Gary Bone and Tom Rosevear, before the end came in the 48th over when Adam Hodgson had Liam Watson caught at mid-off by Dilshan.

Although Werrington had some moments of fortune in the chase, bar Moon falling to Gary Bone, they were able to ensure that no other wickets fell to their two best bowlers in Bone and Balasooriya.

Second team skipper Tom Rosevear bowled Hodgson via an inside edge for 41 which included eight fours, but that allowed Dilshan to find some touch with 40 not out from just 55 balls.

Gribble was happy to occupy one end for his 48 from 85 deliveries, but was still able to strike two fours and three sixes.

Lawson admitted it was a fine performance from his side.

He said: “St Austell are a side who we’ve struggled against away from home in recent years, and losing the toss at a ground which is notoriously tough to chase at wasn’t ideal.

“But we bowled and fielded really, really well throughout and to restrict them to 160-odd was a superb effort.

“Then with the chase I was really impressed with the top four and the risk-free cricket we did to win the game, still with nearly 12 overs remaining.”

Werrington host surprise package Camborne (1pm) on Saturday with the visitors having won twice since promotion.

Lawson continued: “We know a bit about Camborne having played them a bit in recent years, and they’re clearly a decent outfit to be third.

“I don’t know much about their overseas, but if we can make it back-to-back wins, it’ll put us in good stead for the rest of the season.”

Werrington had several players back across the club at the weekend which resulted in a full-house of victories.

Lawson concluded: “We’re going to have plenty of selection headaches over the next few weeks.

“On Saturday nine people unfortunately were without a game, but it goes to show that when our availability as a club is good, that we’ll be really competitive in our respective divisions.”