Every game now can influence who finishes as champions, and Tideford ensured the decision will go to wire by regaining the initiative with an excellent victory over Looe on Sunday. The match would be a real test of whether they had the resolve to consolidate their position and give themselves some breathing space as they played their game in hand against Lanhydrock. It was therefore unfortunate that the game itself was so one-sided that it seemed slightly embarrassing for the respective captains to collect match fees when the game was all over by tea.
For Lanhydrock, Rice began confidently with two lusty blows through mid-on for two fours in the first over, but followed this by shouldering arms to one that hit middle stump in the third. Wickets fell at regular intervals with some fine catches in the field, the top being 12 and the highest partnership being 11. Lanhydrock's innings ended in the 24th over with a poor total of 43. Sandie Bradbeer and Dave Lockett were the main bowlers, with Bradbeer enjoying his best spell of bowling this year, finishing with 30-6. It could have been even better had it not been for two dropped catches, neither of them particularly difficult. Lockett displayed excellent line and length and returned truly remarkable figures, conceding three runs from eight overs and picking up two wickets.
Tideford went straight back out and, apart from losing an early wicket, did not seem in any hurry to secure maximum bonus points. They eventually reached the target in the 18th over just in time for tea - and what a tea it was. The Lanhydrock ladies eclipsed their menfolk by producing the best tea of the season.
Scores - Lanhydrock 43 (R Sloggetty 12; S Bradbeer 12-2-30-6; D Lockett 8-5-3-2; D Bradbeer 3.3-1-6-2).
Tideford 44-1 (I Trundley 21; Extras 14; C Gill 7-2-11-1; G Stadler 4-0-9-0; D Rice 4-2-3-0; L Harvie 2-0-8-0; M Austin 1-0-7-0).
Tideford (20 pts) beat Lanhy-drock (one) by nine wickets.