This fixture was arranged through the Cricket Conference. Reed had more than enough players to field two XIs that day and had mixed-up the sides to blend experience with youth. Whatever the criteria was to match clubs for strength, something must have been lost in communication.

Already one short on the day of the match, Reed suffered one late drop-out before the rendezvous and the replacement called-in at the last moment failed to arrive! So, we saw on the pitch the third Ward brother in the shape of the left-handed Kallum from the U11 side.

Enfield on the other hand were well endowed with talent. Although they had some younger players, they were a balanced all-round side. The pitch was rock-hard and batting conditions were perfect. Enfield elected to take first innings which in itself was in two parts. The first 23 overs belonged to their opening pair of the 19 year old Jim (son of Mike) Gatting and the teen-aged Plumb. They were both “retired” when the score was 160 for 0 once Gatting, who is built on the same lines as his father, had reached a superbly well-hit century and his partner was on 57. There had been classy boundaries galore with opening bowlers Rupert Martin and Karl Ward and their replacements Clive Collins and Peter Baker taking the brunt of the punishment. However, the second part of the innings was played-out in more normal fashion. Enfield’s next pair were not quite so dominant and with Lewis Jordan (1 for 16 from 4 overs) claiming a wicket and a run out occurring, only 80 runs were scored during the next 19 overs. Fergus Martin also impressed by bowling 4 overs for 17 runs and the youngsters generally were not over-awed as Reed clawed back some of the initiative. Rupert Martin returned to the attack too and was much improved and bolstered when deep gully, Roger Bowcock, clung on to a stunning overhead catch.

Although the match ended all in a rush with a “hat-trick” followed by the last wicket all in 2 overs, Reed had actually put-up great resistance to achieve the score they did. In fact whilst the first wicket pair of Baker and Bowcock were together the required run rate was being surpassed. Bowcock showed-off his offside shots backwards of point and Baker produced an innings filled with powerful drives and pulls. His chanceless 50 had included 10 fours and 1 five by the time he was caught in the 13th over. Bowcock continued for a while soon to be replaced at the wicket by Karl Ward and newcomer Steve Lovegrove who earlier had looked very comfortable behind the wicket. The score mounted and as wickets tumbled, Rupert Martin and Keiran Ward came together. Whatever Enfield tried then these two could not be parted for several overs and the score reached 170 for 4, well on-track to reach the target. Then Keiran was eventually bowled for 29, followed quickly by the “hat-trick” and the final (9th) wicket, leaving Rupert stranded on 42 not out. Both Keiran and Rupert had batted very well in this game and had each demonstrated maturity and common sense. But for a full team, less gifted opposition and a bit of luck, Reed’s response could have been more successful.