Gunnislake lost their final match of the season to a Bude side who just missed out on promotion. Finishing in eighth place the team can look back wistfully on six cancelled matches, of which four were against the teams that finished in the bottom four. Had things gone to form it would have meant a record of played 22, won 11 lost 11. Nevertheless comfortable survival a year after promotion is something that some Premier League football teams would bite your hand off for!
Gunnislake won the toss and chose to bat, but calamity struck in the first over with a run-out sending Adam Emmerson back to the pavilion. Simon Beare seemed in good form, striking his first 32 runs in boundaries, with many classic drives between mid-off and the covers. Phil Skerritt lent valuable support and with a good run rate things were looking good, but three quick wickets put Bude firmly on top. David Emmerson, in a rare break from the Navy, hit a brisk 21 and had some support from Gunnislake captain Mark Everett. But when Emmerson was out with the score on 100 the innings petered out, with the last four wickets falling for 17 runs. A familiar pattern left Gunnislake just short of a third batting point and only 30.1 overs of the available 40 used. Paul Gliddon returned the best bowling figures for Bude, with 3 wickets at the cost of 25 runs. Three catches and two run outs were also testimony to a well organised fielding performance.
Once again an uphill task faced Gunnislake with the ball. The bowlers stuck manfully to their task on the hottest day of the year, and life was never easy for the Bude batsmen. There were quite a few play and misses, but when luck was needed there was none. Lee Roberts, Simon Beare, Mark Everett and Jake Roberts all worked up a sweat, with Roberts managing to remove Michael J Taylor in the fourteenth over caught by Adam Emmerson in the covers, for 24. Jake Beare bowled Jack Miles in his first over, and was unlucky to miss a second when a catch was dropped. Two overs later amends were made as Lee Houghton was run out. At 87 for 3 there was a glimmer of hope for Gunnislake. Sylvan Pook, playing his last game for Gunnislake, came on for three overs at the end, but was unable to deliver a fairy tale ending. Gordon Wint (24 not out) and Mike Ellis (17 not out) saw the visitors safely home. The seven wicket victory arrived in the first ball of the 31st over, to exactly mirror the length Gunnislake innings, but crucially with all those wickets in hand. Bude claimed maximum 20 points from the game while Gunnislake had to make do with a meagre three.
And so the last game of the season will be remembered for Sylvan Pook’s final game as he retires from cricket and focuses on his bowls career. 231 career wickets recorded include a best of 4-16 against a South Petherwin side, and a top score of 88 not out for the Callington IV team. Meanwhile his son plays on, representing St Austell II. Looking to next season Gunnislake will be looking to continue the gradual transition from the old guard to younger players. Strengthening the batting will also be a priority; if James Pook is reading this, you know where we are!
Gunnislake 117 (S Beare 34, P Skerritt 21, D Emmerson 21; P Gliddon 3-25, M Taylor 2-19), Bude II 120-3 (G Wint 24no, MJ Taylor 23). Bude II (20 points) beat Gunnislake (3) by 7 wickets
