HELSTON are back in the top flight of Cornish cricket. They got the win they needed against a lack lustre Penzance at Beacon Parc on Sunday to take their place amongst the elite next season, with the prospect of entertaining the likes of Truro, St Just and Falmouth again.

They went into the game knowing that a win would be enough, whatever the outcome of Hayle's home game with Camborne. Any doubts were over by teatime as Helston demolished the St Clare side by nine wickets in quick time.

Hayle's game didn't finish due to, seemingly, the annual end of season County Division 1 bad light problems. Helston ended runners up 11 points behind Camborne with a 13-point cushion over Hayle. Significantly it is more than the extra 11 points awarded recently, on appeal, after it was ruled that Justin Stephens had illegally played in the corresponding game at Penzance in June.

Skipper Steve Pollard, who fittingly had been at the crease to hit the winning run, was understandably well pleased with the outcome.

" I said we'd be back in three years," he remarked. He was referring to the club's relegation in the 2001 season and having persevered with a mainly young side he has got his reward. With fortunes off the pitch also looking up, with the major pavilion extension and improvements set to continue throughout the winter, all augurs well for the 2005 season.

On one of the warmest days of the season spectators were short changed on Sunday with the action over by five o'clock. Penzance had started reasonably well despite losing the early wicket of Peter Edwards who was bowled by Dominic Bostock for three with the score at eight.

Richard Angove and Tony Riggall took the total to 44 in the 17th over and it appeared that the visitors might get a reasonable total. Things changed though when Riggall was bowled by David Pascoe for 24 having hit four fours off 44 balls.

Gavin Edwards was bowled for a duck by Jonny Ludlam then Craig Nicholls was run out for 0. Bradley Bury came on to bowl Liam Devine and when Angove was caught by Ludlam off Pascoe five wickets had fallen for six runs to make it 50-6.

No-one was able to reach double figures as Bury bowled a tight spell. He picked up the wickets of Treve Laity and Andrew Lavender to end with 3-18 from 7.2 overs. Pascoe was even more miserly. He bowled ten overs for just nine runs and took three wickets. Penzance limped to 73 all out in the 36th over.

Helston batted before tea and wasted no time. Wayne Vincent and Chris Martin both hit sixes and four fours apiece as the result soon became a foregone conclusion. When in sight of victory Martin danced down the track, aiming to put Laity into the rugby field, only for Peter Edwards to whip off the bails. Martin's 33 came off 36 balls.

Vincent was on 36 made off 44 balls when Pollard pulled Laity for the winning boundary. Only 14.2 overs had been needed and there was plenty of time to start the celebrations to cap a memorable season that, after a number of lows, had ended on a high note.