By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

LEFT-arm spinner Matt Petherbridge twirled away for a five-wicket haul in Plymouth’s 79-run win over Plympton in Premier West.

Plymouth were always likely to come out on top against a side that would have been a division below them in a non-Covid season – and were not going to lose after posting 273 for nine.

Plympton may well have been beaten, but will take plenty of comfort from the performances of youngsters Elliot Hamilton, Ben Privett and Jonty Walliker, all of whom mastered the Plymouth bowling.

James Degg (58) and Joe Hagan-Burt (24) got Plymouth up to 90 for two with some help from Rob Bennett (27) then skipper Jon Varcoe got on with it.

Varcoe made 78 in even time and while he was going at one end Hal Kerton (25) and Richard Goldsby-West (22no) got on with it at the other.

Walliker (0-33) was cheap but wicketless for Plympton; Privett (4-47) was the leading wicket taker.

Hamilton (40) and Privett (63) gave Plympton a 110-run start, but once they were separated Petherbridge (5-39) started to spin the other out as six wickets went for 15 runs scored. Only Walliker (25) made much progress as Kerton (2-19) and Varcoe (2-10) got rid of the rest.

Winning captain Varcoe said as team performances go it was close to ideal.

“Everyone contributed to the team performance,” said Varcoe.

“It was good to see James Degg and Joey Hagan-Burt get us off to a fast start and the middle order chipping in with runs.

“I was impressed by the young Plympton openers, but once we got them out our spinners controlled the rest of the game.”

Justin Wubbeling, the Plympton captain, said the plus points from the game outweighed the negatives.

“Despite losing, I couldn't help but feel positive about the club’s future as our youngsters stood out and showed just how good they are,” said Wubbeling.

“Plymouth started off well and carried that momentum into the middle overs. 

Varcoe was looking set to get a ton and Plymouth were looking like they were going to cruise past 300. 

“I think the boys did extremely well to bring the game back and restrict them to 273. 

Jonty and Ben were the pick of our bowlers playing a key part at restricting Plymouth. Matthew Draper is also up there with the two of them.”

Wubbeling felt 274 to win was a tall order but not an impossible one and while Hamilton and Privett were going along he harboured hopes of a win.

They made it look easy from the side but after the loss of Ben the rest of us made it look rather hard,” said Wubbeling.

“After a West Indies-like collapse left us at 125 for six it was always going to be an massive up hill from there.”

AARON Richards and Ben Beaumont both hit half-centuries to steer Cornwood to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Paignton.

Paignton’s total of 193 for nine always looked modest and it so it turned out with Cornwood knocking-off the runs with more than six of their 45 overs to spare.

Ryan Rickard (23) and Richards (60no) gave the Corns a 64-run start, then Beaumont (joined Richards in a match-winning stand of 121 for the second wicket.

By the time Beaumont was bowled by Archie Farkins the target was nine to win and it was game over.

Jackson Thompson (2no) was in at the end when Farkins flung down a wide that went for four to settle the match.

Paignton found runs far harder to come by and were glad of an anchorman knock from former skipper Richard Ashworth for holding things together.

Ashworth went in at 10 for one after opener Farkins went cheaply to Adam Goodliffe (2-35) and was involved in stands worth 118 before he was sixth out for a grafted 54.

Thompson (3-29) kept the lid on the middle order, until a late surge between Cole Harford (37) and namesake Cole McFarland (25) upped the Paignton scoring rate.

George Benton, the Paignton captain, felt his side underperformed, although there were some mitigating circumstances.

“Cornwood showed how well they play at their home ground,” said Benton.

“It is a difficult place to get a result and we didn't help ourselves. 

“Cornwood bowled very well and didn't give many freebies. Batting they were patient and dug in, but we showed glimpses of what we can do.

“Admittedly we were a few players short, but I still backed the team to get a result. 

“Plenty to work on and plenty to take from the game; we'll be back to full strength for Plymouth.