After a sustained period of fine weather it was probably always going to be a rainy day that heralded the first day of the new cricket season.
Callington were celebrating their return to Premier League cricket with a home fixture against Falmouth, and although there were reports of heavy rain in West Cornwall, this game started in bright conditions. The game was always likely to be weather affected, the toss was crucial and Falmouth's Duncan Ayres was glad to have the chance to ask Callington to bat first, in this 50 over win/lose encounter.
Ayres himself got Luke Davies caught behind in the third over, but brother Dan and Jon Parsons added 34 against the all seam attack before Parsons was also snapped up by keeper Mark Burley, this time off the bowling of George Popperwell for 15. Cornwall's Dan Davis was looking in fine fettle, flexing his muscles with five fours and two sixes. So it was a surprise when he became Burley's third victim, again off Popperwell, after making 41. Andy Shorten was also looking comfortable before Ayres and Stafan Churcher combined to remove him for a dozen, but at 3.10 pm the rain arrived and the players were taken off after 25 overs were bowled and the score on 87-5.
Tea was taken early and at 5.15 pm umpires Stephens and Strout led the players back on with the game reduced to 36 overs a side. With Ayres reverting to all spin with Dave Neville and John Udy, Callington continued to ship water and with the rain falling again Udy dismissed Joe White who had made 16 to leave the home side all out for 116. That was at 5.44 pm and the rain continued to fall, making more play impossible and at 6.35 pm it was agreed to call it a day.