Makeshift Mullion makes hay

Mullion 1s took on their ex-Premier League rivals St Buryan at Fortress Garro Lane on a hot day with a depleted team, then produced one of their best performances of the season winning by a massive margin 198 runs.

With skipper Jim Pearson laid low by a mystery virus, former skipper Kevin Bosustow took charge of The Gulls and went one better than Jim, winning the toss and batting. Trevor Lee and Phil Wheatley got Mullion off to a flying start, 50 in 10 overs. Then, with the total on 72 until 'Shreds' Wheatley top-edged a full toss into his mouth, and toppled back into his wicket.

He left the field bloodied and out hit wicket for 32 and with a nasty gash that left Mullion a player down and the casualty department at Treliske a patient up. Skipper Kevin Bosustow joined Trevor Lee, Lee holed out to mid wicket for 42 to leave the Gulls at 79 for 2.

Johnny Gibbons joined his captain at the crease and with a longer than average tail the Mullion pair were cautious in their stroke play as they rebuilt the innings. Gibbons played some lovely shots on his way to 41 until he mistimed a pull and departed, having put on 80 with the skipper to leave the home side at 159 for 3 with 12 overs left.

Mark Johnson (14) came in at No. 5 for one of his first knocks of the year and promptly hit his first ball for four, skipper Bosustow started to open up with the overs getting down and hit two sixes and seven fours, before he was stumped going for another maximum to leave the home side at 209 for 4 with five overs left. Mark Johnson holed out for an excellent 25 and Mike Cocking was bowled first ball by Stedman who had by now taken five Mullion scalps. Then Chubby Matthews took a liking to Stedman's bowling and smashed him for 24 in an over to end unbeaten on 40 with Stedman ending up with figures of 5-82 as Mullion totaled an imposing 256-6.

The Buryan reply started brightly enough as Wynter looked in good form, but the nagging bowling of the shaven-headed swing-king Jeff Charlston soon accounted for his opening partner. St Buryan progressed to 30 for 1 until Jeff bowled another inswinger to demolish the stumps for a second time.

Chubby Matthews replaced young Mark Johnson after an excellent opening spell and with his eyes fixed firmly on the Cockspur Rum man of the match award ran in like a man56 possessed to skittle out Wynter for 40 and the St Buryan middle order taking 4 for 10. Jeff Charlston also demolished the stumps twice more to end up with 4 for 33 from his 12-over spell. The last two batsmen fell to Johnny Gibbons who rapped the game up in five balls taking 2 for 0, to leave Mullion the victors by the massive margin of 198 runs, 20 points in the bag and a step nearer to promotion.

Cockspur Rum Man of the Match: Tony Matthews (40* and 4 for 10)

Mullion 1s† 256-6 in 48 ov (K Bosustow 57, T Lee 42, T Matthews 40*; J Steadman 5-82); St Buryan 58ao in 24.5 ov (D Wynter 40; Matthews 4-10, J Charleston 4-33). Mullion 1s won by 198 runs.

With regular skipper Mark "Facilities" Johnson away sunning himself on holiday in France, it was left to Ian "Buddha" Laity to adopt the mantle for Mullion 2s. He lost the toss hastily and rearranged the batting order as opener Joe Stuteley had been delayed in holiday traffic - the curse of Cornwall.

On a warm, sticky afternoon with a nice hard pitch offering help to the bowlers, Simon Meridew and Mark Jennings began confidently pushing the score along to 37 after 11 overs before Mercer trapped Meridew leg before (it looked plumb from the pavilion). Stuteley had arrived but his appearance at the wicket was short-lived, he miscued a drive and was caught.

Bruce Jordan with a judicious selection of edges survived a nervous couple of overs. However having eventually discovered the middle of the bat, he and Jennings set about their task with relish, adding 40 for the third wicket before Jennings picked out Rawson in the deep and was dismayed to see him hang on to the chance.

New transfer Mark Laity (Buddha's brother) briefly sojourned to the wicket - only to depart 10 runs later after striking a lusty single. This brought his brother, Captain Bud to the crease with the score now 94 for 4. With Mercer in the middle of an extremely tidy bowling spell (at one point bowling six consecutive maidens) caution was the key - and the stage was set for Captainn Bud to play a captain's innings. Sadly Buddha was not performing on the same stage, and in spite of striking two boundaries, he soon found himself treading the already well -trodden path back to the pavilion having scored 10 runs. 127 for 5

Phil Harding then joined Jordan at the middle and a big total looked on the cards before Jordan finally succumbed to the bowling of Barbary and holed out to deep long off for 69. Sadly the scorebook doesn't record the actual total at this point as the scorer had rushed off to put his pads on.

Finally, Mullion were 181 all out after 47 overs.

Captain Bud's tea interval pep talk was well received with the judges awarding a commendable 5.8 for artistic content, but whether anybody actually took any notice of it was debatable. But in fact it had been taken on board.

Unfortunately for the home side, they were to be on the receiving end of what was arguably Mullion's best bowling and fielding performance of the season. Only Rawson managed to reach double figures as Harding (a magnificent spell of 12 overs, 7 maidens 4 for 10), Fowles (7.5 overs, 1 maiden, 5 for 14) and Cap's Bud himself (1 for 18) claimed the honours. Aided by some superb fielding (especially by Rae who rounded off his afternoon by taking the catch of the season to dismiss Nicholas) as Mawnan were all out for 47.

Overall this was a tremendous team performance by a Mullion side currently brimming with confidence, and although the difficult away games at St Ives and Newquay at the end of the season will present a far greater test, the side will be keenly anticipating next week's clash with St Erme.

Meanwhile somewhere in a farflung corner of Europe, a plaintive cry of "utilsez les facilities" rang out as a boules tournament reached a critical stage.

Mullion 2s 181ao in 47 ov (B Jordan 69, M Jennings 23; W Barbary 5-45); Mawnan 2s† 47ao in 20 ov (D Fowles 5-14, P Harding 4-10). Mullion 2s won by 134 runs.