IN the Bond Timber County Division 1 title race Truro still holds the pole position with a nine-point advantage over Falmouth ahead of the penultimate games this weekend.

Truro’s game at Grampound Road was interrupted three times by rain after a delayed start. The ‘Road’ were bowled out for 91 with Adam Price producing excellent figures of 9-6-7-3. Charlie Kent (28) top scored as Truro lost six wickets getting the DLS target of 80.

Truro entertains Penzance seconds on Saturday while Falmouth host third-placed Paul. The Penwith club were in the title race themselves a week ago but Saturday’s defeat at Mullion now sees them 20 points off the pace.

Falmouth kept themselves in the hunt with a 46-run home win over Beacon in a 47-over game after a delayed start. Marco van Biljon with 110 set up the 226-8 after the early shock of losing Harry Roberts for a single and John Richardson at 33-2.

James Tomlinson made 29 but when Antony Angove was caught and bowled by former Falmouth teammate Jordan Thomas, for nought, the home side were 91-4. The innings was rescued by Van Biljon and Stefan Churcher (34) who 96 for the fifth wicket.

Darren Proctor, in his 500th first-team game for Beacon, picked up three late wickets. Cousins Jordan and Jack Thomas made fifties for the visitors in a third-wicket stand of 114 but the innings was kept in control by the six Falmouth bowlers.

Van Biljon completed an excellent game to take 3-33 from ten overs with opening partner Ben Meek picking up 2-32. The innings ended at 180-7. For the second week running Paul’s batters were short of runs as they were dismissed for 124 at Mullion in 34 overs chasing a target of 199.

Having lost their first five wickets for 66 Joss Hearn wrapped the game up taking 4-17. Matthew Walker and Ryan Pascoe took two wickets each to remove the top order. Mullions 198-9 was a team effort with five passing the 20 mark.

They were 87-5 but Jonty Wheatley (39) and Matthew Turner (38) with Matthew Davies (23) posted a creditable total. Mullion are in a congested mid-table with only seven points covering five clubs between fourth and eighth.

Standings after 20 /22 games: Truro 300 pts, Falmouth 291, Paul 280, Beacon 234, St Erme 234, Mullion 231, Penzance II 230, Newquay 227, Grampound Road 201, Roche 174, Redruth II 163, Lanhydrock 112

In the Premier League, all of a sudden Helston have a nervous weekend ahead following a heavy defeat at Hayle that has dragged them into the relegation dogfight. Hayle still have it to do but have given themselves a lifeline.

Redruth are now only 20 points ahead with Helston 27 points to the good, with two games to play. To add to the mix out of form Helston visit Redruth on Saturday with both teams having lost six of their last seven games. Hayle go to  St Just, who they beat earlier in the season.

At the Towans on Saturday Ross Leathley top scored with 26 and Mark Jenkin made 21 in the 84 all out in 40 overs. Matt Jacka took 5-14 for the home side who won by nine wickets with Sam Mycock unbeaten on 45. At the top Wadebridge have it in their own hands after winning at Penzance by 57 runs.

Standings after 16 /18 games: Wadebridge 262 pts, Penzance 245, St Austell 199, Werrington 189, St Just 184, Camborne 175, Callington 165, Helston 162, Redruth 155, Hayle 135.

In Division 2 Stithians boosted their survival hopes beating an understrength Veryan by 246 runs. Callum Martin (138) and  Nathan Kendall (79no) contributed to the 302-3 before Daniel Swindells took 7-14 to hasten the finish. With Truro seconds all but certain to finish bottom Stithians are seven points ahead of Mount Ambrose.

Adam Rowling took three wickets and made 96 not out in Helston seconds seven-wicket win over Ludgvan. Constantine won the Division Three title with a seven-wicket victory at Gulval with Charlie Campbell making 94.

They lead the table by 57 points with two to play. All the top four teams took maximum points. Perranarworthal won at Barripper by seven wickets to remain 20 points ahead of St Gluvias, who enjoyed a nine-wicket home win over Redruth thirds.

Falmouth seconds made the most of the modest boundaries at Gerrans to hit 258-9 with Rob Eccleston helping himself to a century before taking 4-9 in the 152-run win. It was more subdued at Underlane where Wendron had only eight Praze opponents and duly cruised to an eight-wicket success.

Mullion seconds made 199 at St Just but the home prevailed by five wickets. In Division 5 Falmouth Thirds are only four points behind second-placed St Day after defeating Mawnan by two wickets at Channel Four.