Tipton St John Cricket Club travelled to Cornwall last weekend for their 26th tour.

Tipton St John Cricket Club travelled to Cornwall last weekend for their 26th tour.The Friday evening fixture was against Dave James' Xl. Dave is an Honorary Vice-President who, this year, used the resources of the younger elements of Camborne Cricket Club. Camborne batted first and, despite tight bowling from John Rodgers and David O'Higgins, the Cornish youngsters were very quickly demonstrating all the modern 20/20 type shots and finished their innings on 143. Prout top scored with 40no, with O'Higgins being Tipton's most successful bowler. Camborne's score was always going to be a struggle to reach and, eventually, Tipton's innings closed on 108. Rodgers top scored with 23 and David Birch and Jem Gillham set a new club record for a 20 over match of 50 runs for the seventh wicket.l Saturday's match was against Nancledra Hillbillies, who won the toss and elected to bat. Unfortunately, they came up against Mark Channon and David Birch at their parsimonious best, with Channon only conceding nine runs from his seven overs! A good team performance in the field saw the Hillbillies dismissed for 128. Wicketkeeper Dave Dawson had a particularly good game with only two byes against him, two sharp catches and a sharp stumping from the bowling of Phil Wright. Tipton's reply opened with Phil Tolley and Matt Williamson, a partnership that lasted until the seventh over when, with the score on 45, Williamson was bowled for 5. Justin Quick (10), like Williamson before him, and Nick Wright batting at four and who finished with 15no, played second fiddle to Tolley who powered his way to 86no including 12 boundaries. All the Hillbillies' bowlers tried their best (Douglas and Brown especially) but with Tolley in such form, the game was never going to last long and Tipton's target was reached in the 24th over.l Paul Williamson led the team for the Sunday fixture against Mount Ambrose. Tipton batted first, opening again with Phil Tolley but, this time, partnered by Nick Wright. What a difference a day makes. After his Saturday fireworks, Tolley was up against some seriously good bowling and departed for 6.Tipton batsmen came and went, all of them for single figures apart from Adam Gibbins (14no), Matt Williamson (32) and John Rodgers, who finished on 63no. Tipton thought their score of 152 might just be competitive, particularly as Gibbins bowled Hulme in the first over of Mount Ambrose's reply. David Birch had the next success when he took two wickets with consecutive balls - Trelore neatly caught by wicket keeper Dawson and Berryman taken by Quick with a one-handed catch above his head at square leg. Tipton really thought they were in with a chance when Mount Ambrose slipped to 89 for 8 but Johnson (55no) and Mitchell (20no) saw the home side overhaul Tipton's score with four overs to spare. Paul Williamson with four wickets was the pick of Tipton's bowlers but the champagne moment goes to Matt Williamson, who took a spectacular catch to dismiss Shah. A full length dive to his left, taking the ball in his outstretched left hand only inches from the ground - as good a piece of fielding as you will ever see from Tipton and a perfect memory to take away from the 2009 tour.