On Sunday, Reed travelled to Graveley in the Hertfordshire league looking to resurrect their promotion hopes.

In tough windy conditions, and on a green wicket Reed won the toss and unsurprisingly put Graveley into bat. Some good early bowling from Matt Graham and Rupert Martin restricted Graveley early on. Martin then took two wickets in two balls to leave Gravely struggling on 35-2. However a big hitting innings from opener Braley (92) allowed Graveley’s scoring to increase, despite Archer bowling Baynes for 5. Braley continued to score runs including some massive sixes, whilst being well supported by Cartwright. All rounder Marcus Martin eventually bowled Braley before he reached his century, and followed it up by removing the dangerous Cartwright for 29. Archer then bowled Bird for his second wicket in a good spell, with Graveley finishing their 40 overs on 204-7, with Wright being run out on the last ball. Reed were also helped by some superb wicket keeping from 12 year old Sean Tidey.

Chasing a high total, Reed got off to a bad start when promising young batsman Fergus Martin went with the score on 0. This brought his brother Marcus to the crease, he and Matt Bowles then put on 64 for the 2nd wicket before Cartwright snared the wicket of Bowles for 12. Martin was then paired with 15 year old Ed Garrott, both of whom looked in fine form. However when Martin went for a superb 53, reed again looked in some trouble at 72-3.

Michael Robertson then batted well for 20, before he too was bowled in the tough conditions, and when Graham went soon after Reed looked in real trouble at 110-5. Father and son combination Ed and Paul Garrott then took up the mantle, and with some sensible and classy batting set about rescuing the Reed innings. The pair put on 73 for the next wicket, when Paul Garrott was bowled for 21 with Reed nearing their total. Ed Garrott remained unfazed, and saw Reed home maturely and brilliantly, coming of age with a stylish and controlled innings. Man of the Match Garrott finished on 76 Not Out, with Rupert Martin hitting the winning runs with a well judged cut shot to leave Reed on 206-7.

Reed’s victory was made all the more impressive by the youthfulness of the team. The average age of the side was just 21, even with senior pro’s such as Archer playing.