"The Lord's" strip will not be used after trucks used to cart building materials in winter for the training nets left behind deep ruts on the outfield still showing ugly scars.
Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall skittled the visitors for 112 in 36.1 overs.
No 4 Zane Hinton top scored with 23 while No 8 James Taylor was the only other batsman looking like carrying on with an unbeaten 21.
Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags allrounder Carl Cachopa took 4-13 off 12 overs, including nine maidens.
Ben Jackett claimed 2-33 off seven, including a maiden.
"We bowled in the right areas and if you do that consistently you can get the best of teams out," Smith said, adding Cachopa did what he does best.
Cornwall opening batsman Jayden Waters, back from the family business in Picton, showed he hadn't lost his touch from last summer with an unbeaten 53, including seven boundaries and three sixes.
No 3 Michael Taiaroa, back from Ireland, was unbeaten on 42.
CD rep Ben Wheeler claimed 1-14 off five overs, including a maiden, for the villagers but it wasn't enough to stop Cornwall eclipsing the target with 116-1 in 21.3 overs for an outright win.
Havelock skipper Todd Astill said: "We don't have too much to say because we just didn't score enough runs."
It didn't help when top-order batsman Wheeler was run out going for the second run in a misunderstanding.
CD squad member Jeet Raval was also "unlucky", chopping the ball on to his pad before it went on to hit the stumps.
"We do want them to perform for us but they can't do it every time," Astill said.
While the bowling was good, he felt the boundary wasn't big enough to defend.
"The Cornwall boys were hitting them down wind. Even though it was low scoring we bowled them too many full balls," Astill lamented.
Havelock host Complete Flooring Napier Technical Old Boys this Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day Friday at Anderson Park, where the blocks have been ready for a fortnight although the rain is forecast.
NOBM v CHB
The Station Napier Old Boys' Marist started the defence of their title with a 72-run defeat at the hands of Ruahine Motors Central Hawke's Bay at Nelson Park, Napier.
With five overs deducted from both innings because of half-hour rain stoppage, CHB racked up 232-7 in 55 overs.
CD rep Ben Smith, at No 3, scored 75 runs while English import Paul Hindmarsh contributed 50.
Skipper/opener Scott Schaw scored 33 and No 7 James Mackie added 31.
Paceman Mike Kitson took 4-26 from 10 overs, including two maidens while right-arm quick Andrew Mathieson was wicket-less but frugal.
In the run chase, NOBM were all out for 160 in 55 overs.
No 8 Mathieson top scored with 35 while No 7 Tom Forslike backed him up with 25.
Hindmarsh reinforced his all-round ability with 5-54 from 17 overs, including four maidens, while Angus Schaw and Henry Hunter were miserly in claiming two scalps each.
"It was another good batting performance so we could bowl and field well," said Scott Schaw, lauding Hindmarsh and Smith.
"We left it a bit late but we got the job done," he said after a few balls left in the match.
Marist coach Tony Pothan said despite the loss, his team fought hard to the end with the help of some senior players.
"The guys showed a bit of bottle and took it to 55 overs to show some guts and determination," Pothan said.
CHB host Cornwall at the picturesque and revamped Ongaonga Domain this Friday.
NTOB v Taradale
Tech captain George Diack fancied his troops' chances of an outright win but Taradale's CD skipper Kieran Noema-Barnett and Black Cap Doug Bracewell had other ideas.
The game at Nelson Park ended in a winning draw for the visitors after Tech batsmen hung in for a rain-reduced 55 overs an innings.
After losing the toss, Dale padded up to amass 198-8 in 56 overs.
Captain Toby Doyle led by example, scoring 55 as an opener while No 7 Ajaz Patel added 36 runs.
Bay rep Liam Rukuwai and Jurgen Andersen were frugal in claiming two wickets each but it was lanky newcomer Turangi Fraser who stole the show with 3-38 from seven overs, including a maiden.
Tech, in their run chase, were 152-8 in 55 overs when they shook hands.
Opener Indika Senarathne scored 53 runs while No 4 Bronson Meehan was 50 not out.
Noema-Barnett showed the impact of the CD camp, taking 3-33 from 13 overs, including three maidens, while Bracewell took 1-23 from 11 overs, including two maidens.
Patel, who has moved down here from Auckland, claimed 2-34 from 17 overs, including six maidens, off his left-arm off spin.
Doyle said Dale's CD pair made life difficult for the Tech top order.
"The pitch did a little bit for the bowlers. There was a bit of grass, too, so with the new ball they did a bit."
Diack said Tech's batting wasn't strong but Meehan carried them through for a stalemate.
"I thought we might get there [for an outright win] but Dougie and Kieran's first-class performance made it a little bit harder.
"Having them there is great for premier club cricket but it does make it a bit difficult."
Taradale return to Nelson Park No 3 this Friday to face NOBM.
The senior men's representative teams form the CD region will compete in the one-day Chapple Cup round of matches at Nelson Park on Saturday, Sunday and Labour Day Monday.
