Helston have retained their Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League Premier status with a game to spare.

Helston and St Just knew the winner of their clash at Cape Road last Saturday would be assured of survival. Helston lost the game by 60 runs but soon had the consolation that the seven bonus points they gained were enough to make them safe thanks to Camborne’s comprehensive defeat at Werrington by 99 runs.

St Just were dismissed for 189 with the wickets shared by the Helston attack. Lance Alberts, Brad Bury, Steve Jenkin and Gavin Tregenza picked up two each. After losing their first three wickets for 27 Helston were bowled out for 129 with five overs remaining.

Karl Leathley made 28 and Tregenza was ninth out for 30. In nine games since the end of June St Just has only lost once with three weather affected.

Penzance were crowned the County Champions on a balmy late summer evening at St Clare winning the title with a game to spare. They went into the penultimate day leading Callington by 13 points.

They dismissed visitors St Austell for 55 and won by eight wickets in just over two hours. They then had a wait of almost four hours to learn that Redruth had won by five wickets at Callington to seal a 26th County title for Penzance and the fourth in the last five campaigns.

Premier standings after 17 of 18 games: Penzance 259, Callington 230, Wadebridge 202, St Austell 195, Redruth 190, Werrington 186, Truro 184, St Just 184, Helston 168, Camborne 143.

In County Division One the title race is going right down to the wire. Beacon were 29 points behind Grampound Road at the halfway mark but have caught them thanks to 13 wins on the bounce. Going into the final day both teams are level on 332 points but crucially Beacon won the head-to-head 24-23 so have it in their hands with a trip to Falmouth.

The Road host Roche, with both games a repeat of Sunday’s rescheduled games from April. Mullion’s ten-run defeat at home to Falmouth on Saturday condemned them to the drop zone with Roche escaping with a game to spare.

Falmouth got off to a great start with openers Adrian Noot (73) and Antony Angove (43) batting soundly. The innings ended on 209 in the last over with Dylan Mitchell., Matthew Davies, Matthew Turner and Thomas Cockings taking two wickets each.

The Mullion innings started in a similar fashion with Michael Blanks making 43 and Joe Casley 79. Looking set for victory Mullion lost their last eight wickets for 37 runs with Antony Angove taking a superb 8-35. In a miserable second half to the season, Mullion have only won once since mid-June with seven defeats and three cancellations.

County 1 standings after 21 of 22 games: Beacon 332, Grampound Road 332, Hayle 288, Paul 261, St Erme 258. Falmouth 253, Newquay 238, Roche 225, Mullion 203, Wadebridge II 180, Camborne II 179, Penzance II 82.

In Division Two Constantine’s poor end-of-season continued with a third successive defeat after Mt Hawke & Porthtowan piled up 292-5. They have moved above Constantine to fourth in the table.

Stithians are assured the runners-up spot after being Redruth Seconds by seven wickets. Perranarworthal are ninth after winning at Hayle by 132 runs.

In division three Wendron lost their big top-of-the-table clash with Gulval by four wickets. Gulval now lead by three points ahead of the final games this weekend. St Gluvias are ending the season well and enjoyed back-to-back wins with a 58-run home win over third-placed Mount Ambrose with Mark and Richard Bannister sharing seven wickets