ON the opening day of the Jolly's Drinks ECB Cornwall Premier League there was little cheer for either Truro or Grampound Road who both went down to defeats, writes Michael Weeks.

Truro lost by 19 runs at home to Falmouth. The visitors got off to a great start as Larry Martin (55) and Stefan Churcher (43) added 117 for the first wicket. Truro got back into the game with Richard Lewis, Andrew Fairman and Tom Sharp all getting a couple of wickets to take maximum bowing points as the "Fal" were dismissed for 209 off the penultimate ball of the 50 overs.

Truro lost Neil Stoddard for nine and newcomer Chris Martin for 11. Sharp found some early season form with 63 and Julian Bose hit 55 but at 144 for 8 the writing was on the wall. Sean Turner, in a telling spell, wrapped up the tail to take 5 for 44 as the end came on 190 with an over to spare. Truro are at Newquay on Saturday Falmouth 209 (L Martin 55, S Churcher 43, extras 32, A Noott 22; T Sharp 2-22, A Fairman 2-38, R Lewis 2-48), Truro 190 (T Sharp 63, J Bose 55; S Turner 5-44, D Ayres 2-31). Falmouth (20 points) beat Truro (nine) by 19 runs.

Grampound Road had a day to forget at new boys Paul, as they went down to an 83-run defeat. Chris Hunkin took two early wickets but Justin Stephens' 75 backed up by a 75-run stand over the last 10 overs from Kelvin Snell and Neil Pengelly got the home team up to a very useful 242-7.

Hunkin took 3-53 and South African Ryan Van Wyk 2 for 61 on his debut.

Then disaster as Martin Roberts and Van Wyk were bowled in successive balls in Snell's first over. Kriss Harris fell in his next to make it 5-3.

Young opener Jake Preston looked good in making 19 before being caught behind. Hunkin played a skipper's innings to end on 102 not out with a six and 16 fours, but it was in a lost cause on a day that six "Road" batsmen failed to score. Improvement will be looked for at Werrington on Saturday.

Paul 247-7 (J Stephens 75, N Pengelly 44, A Snell 42, K Snell 42; C Hunkin 3-53, R Van Wyk 2-61), Grampound Road 159 (C Hunkin 102no, J Preston 19; K Snell 3-10, D Twigg 2-25, N Pengelly 2-31, M Connell 2-40). Paul (20 points) beat Grampound Road (six) by 83 runs.

In division II East Grampound Road seconds got off to a great start defeating neighbours Truro seconds by 110 runs after amassing 310-8. Pete Emery hit 81 on his return to the club.

Grampound Road 310-8 (P Emery 81, Alex Pearce 70, John Martin 32, Jeremy Martin 23no, K Wilcock 22; S Hopkins 4-62, R Brabyn 2-78), Truro 200-9 (Mark Thomas 43no, S Cockett 41, R Pascoe 31, S Hopkins 24; A Lund 3-19). Grampound Road (19 points) beat Truro (nine) by 110 runs.

Perranporth, after relegation and a return to the western section, got off to a winning start at Mawnan in Division III.

Mawnan 184 (D Griffiths 84, G Griffiths 30; R Miller 4-58), Perranporth 185-4 (C Ruddy 84, M Blackman 48) Perranporth (20 points) beat Mawnan (six) by six wickets.

Truro thirds had a day to forget at Mount Hawke & Porthtowan being dismissed for only 36.

Mount Hawke & Porthtowan 189-9 (J Mann 77, M Bunt 23; M Lewis 3-47, N Lewis 3-45, S Heayn 2-59), Truro 36 (extras 10; S Cloke 3-3, J Mann 2-7, C Madeley 2-7). Mount Hawke/Porthtowan (19 points) beat Truro (four) by 153 runs Chacewater began life in division IV with an encouraging 70 run home win over Rosudgeon seconds.

Chacewater 225 (Tom Armstrong 68, A Widdison 42; N Richards 4-56, J Leek 2-52), Rosudgeon 155 (C Calfe 44, J Leek 34; N Hill 5-32, S Richards 2-11). Chacewater (20 points) beat Rosudgeon (eight) by 70 runs.