Reed won the toss and batted first in this crucial Saracens Herts Division 8 match as tabletopping Reed took on 4th placed North Enfield. Ian Fulk and Paul Watts had few problems as they put on 120 before Fulk fell for 78. Chris Shorrock and John Heslam kept the board ticking in company with Watts before Peter Baker arrived at the crease to score a rapid 35* in company with Watts who achieved 53* enabling Reed to declare early at 221-3 after 47 overs. Jim Allsopp and Andrew Emms each took a quick wicket as North Enfield set slowly about chasing a game they badly needed to win. However despite Reeds generous declaration they seemed more intent on not losing rather than winning. As drizzle fell and the ball became difficult to control Conway 57 and Watts 42 at last made some effort at acceleration. However when both were dismissed leaving North Enfield 140-6 it became a question of whether Reed could force the win or not. Sharp catches by Chris Shorrock and skipper Heslam opened the door for Reed and the return to the attack of Jim Allsopp proved decisive as he clean bowled the last two batsmen. Allsopp 3-32 Jason Archer 3-43 and Andrew Emms 2-40 were Reeds top bowlers in a vital 49 run win.

Reed II were left cursing the weather as their 100 percent was ended by a downpour as they faced Northampton Exiles II. Chasing only 61 to win the players were forced from the field by what seemed likely to be yet another fleeting shower when Reed were 30-1 from only 7.5 overs. However this time the wind dropped, the clouds consolidated and extended downpour turned the laying surface into a quagmire forcing the match to be abandoned with Reed needing only 31 to win with 54 overs remaining. Earlier Reed had done the hard work dismissing Northampton Exiles for only 60 in their 38 overs. Extras at 17 were the highest score as the mean Reed bowling attack well supported by tight fielding prevented the visitors from establishing any impetus with only opener Schwartz 12 getting in double figures. Jim Allsopps 2-10 in 7 overs and Richard Johnson with 1-13 in 10 overs set the standard. The innings was rapped up by Jason Archer 4-14 in 12 overs and Richard Robertson 3-16 in 9 overs. For Reed Alan Ward 15 not out and Ian Fulk 11 not out provided a solid start before the weather intervened and left Reed frustrated though still top of their league.

Reed II also remain top of their league division despite being held to a home draw by Old Haberdashers. The visitors won the toss and put Reed into bat on a good batting track and the hosts batsman were rarely I trouble and rattled up a total which put them in command of this match. Paul Watts 26 and Ian Fulk put on 77 for the first wicket and Fulk carried on a personal 77. As Reeds total grew and the Old Haberdashers bowlers toiled in the sun, Chris Shorrock 38 not out Alan Ward 26 made useful contributions as Reed declared 2 overs early with a score of 224-5 from 51 overs. Reed's bowling has been in dominant form recently but after a solid start they proved less penetrative than in recent weeks. Jim Allsopp provided a good opening spell winning success as Haberdashers were serious about their play at 102-4 it was anyone’s game and Friend was making a solo effort for an OH victory with some aggressive shots. Richard Robertson was his usual self but up the hill it was a different story. Emms then Allsopp were called for second spells but went for 57 in 5 overs between them as Friend moved to his century, Jason Archer recalled into the attack had Friend caught while Robertson in a marathon 18 over spell took 5-39. Archer took 2 more wickets to give Reed 6 balls at the final pair to secure the win. However it was not to be as the visitors ended on 195-9, 30 short of Reeds total.

Reed II completed a good day for the club by strengthening their promotion push with a 64 run victory against Redbourn II. Winning the toss and batting against their bogey team Reed struggled to dominate and Cridland in particular proved difficult to get away. Ian Fulk scored a steady 36 but the rest of the Reed top order failed to sparkle as they limped to 90-5. However Reed stuck to their task and Richard Johnson’s 43 led a recovery. Ben Bowles 17 Jason Archer 23 and in particular with a fiercely struck 33 eventually saw Reed to maximum batting points at 201-9. For Redbourn, skipper Cridland starred with 19 overs 5 for 29. Reeds bowlers struck early when Johnson bowled Dobson and apart from contributions by Smith 28 and Bassill 24 they were always struggling against tight Reed bowling and fine fielding. Excellent catches from Bowles Ward and Wilson aided by 2 stumpings from keeper Steve Dunn saw Redbourn slump to 87-8. Porter 22 and Hall 26 staged a late fightback of sorts but the Reed bowlers saw their team home to a 64 run win. Richard Johnson 3-54 Graham Wilson 2-16 Ian Roberts 2-16 Jason Archer 2-27 did the damage as Reed consolidated their position at the top of the league table.

Reed consolidated their position at the top of the Division 8 with another emphatic win. Sandridge elected to bat having won the toss but were soon ruing that decision as Andrew Emms made the most of a wicket of uneven bounce. Aided by some smart catching Emms took 4-12 in 10 overs as Sandridge slumped to 18-5. Allsopp and Robertson kept up the pressure and skipper Heslam held 3 sharp catches. At 39-8 Sandridge looked unlikely to take the match to tea but Perrin 17 and Cropp 22 gave the total some minor respectability before Archer 2-24 and Ian Roberts 2-16 closed out the innings. Reed were never troubled when batting. Ian Fulk led the charge to the winning total and once he fell Paul Watts 22* and Chris Shorrock 18* saw Reed home to another 30 point haul. Reed II remain unbeaten this year 20 points clear at the top of the table.

Weakened by call ups to the 1st XI, Reed IIs were concerned that their batting may prove below par, and when Paul 'The Rock' Watts went for a duck in the first over concern mounted. However all the Reed batsmen rallied to the cause to eventually post the sides best total to date, 235 for 8 declared. Alan Ward led the attack with a magnificant innings of 89 and ably supported by Peter Baker 28, John Heslam 25 and Andrew Emms 24. Even after a minor collapse in the 180s the tail wagged with Jim Allsopp 19 and Ian Roberts 19 not out totally demorallising the Southgate bowling. Wazeam swung the ball throughout his 26 overs, 4 for 82 but Gary Flack took fearful punishment returning 3-136. Reed took an early wicket but Thorp 68 and Burns 38 gave Southgate a firm foundation to chase an unlikely win. At 137 for 2 the visitors were in with a good chance especailly as occasiona steady drizzle turned the ball into a soggy, slippery mess. However the introduction of Richard Robertson into the Reed attack saw the match transformed. Well supported by smart catches from Ward and Heslam, Reed fought back. Two sharp stumpings from evergreen Steve Dunn added to the pressure and Southgate slumped to 178 all out, with Robertson returning 6-26 from 8.4 overs. Reed's 30 point haul sees them stay well clear at the top of Herts League Division 8.

Hurricane Jim Allsopp Blows Away Windies Reed II's continued their relentless march toward the Division 8 title on Saurday with a 55 run defeat of closest rivals St Albans West Indians. A weakened Reed side missing skipper John Heslam and four other regulars lost the toss and were asked to bat in Caribean like conditions in North Herts. Reed got off to an inauspicious start with high scoring opener Ian Fulk caught behind in the second over of the day for a duck. He was quickly followed back to the pavillion by fellow opener Baker (15) and Ward (5) to leave the home side reeling on 30-3. A period of consoldation was required and captain for the day Bridge (21) and left hander Shorrock (20) edged Reed up to 61 off 26 overs before a mistimed cover drive saw the former joining the rest of the top order back in the hutch. The visitors started to turn the screw and another mini collapse followed with Reed crawling to 81-6. The order of the day was to bat out the remaining overs and edge towards the first batting points still some 60 runs off. Emms and Reed colt "Marvellous" Marcus Martin followed the instructions to the letter both playing patient innings and both dispatching the bad balls to the boundary. Emms eventually fell to a snorter of a delivery on seventeen, but that only inspired youngster Martin who frustrated the bowlers and built an eventual match winning innings of 40 not out. Farming the strike like a player many years his senior he, along with Reeds wagging tail pushed the score along to a credible 165 all out in 51 overs. Daya and Stapleton proving the [...]

Reed 2nd XI got off to a fine start to the Herts League Division 8 season with a 23 run win over newly promoted Totteridge II. Put into bat on a damp wicket Reed built a solid total of 199 for 9 from their 53 overs. Ian Fulk (45) and Paul Watts 920) built a solid foundation readily built upon by newcomer Matt Stevens (38) and Skipper John Heslam (28). In reply Totteridge were in trouble at 39-3, but after being badly dropped off a gentle skier Ali opened up playing some superb shots all round the ground. However the introduction of the experienced Richard Robertson into the Reed attack saw him removed LBW for 53. Totteridge collapsed to 127 for 7, but then a good stand of 45 between Presorias (24) and Hirst (37) put them back in the game. Reed however stuck to their task and eventually secured the win with 9 balls to spare.

Reed II completed a good day for the club as they secured promotion from Division Eight with a victory against 3rd placed Wormley. Wormley won the toss and chose to bat and at 89-0 after 30 overs looked set for a good total. However, once Reed made the breakthrough the game changed dramatically. Robertson bowled Cooke for 27 and next ball sent back Wormley skipper Spinks LBW for a duck. Reed bowlers had in the main failed to force a breakthrough but Robertson proved the inspired exception. In a marathon 17 spell on a hot afternoon he took 7-35 as Wormley slumped to 154 all out. In reply Reed got off to a shaky start losing Ian Fulk for a duck. However Peter Baker and Alan Ward saw Reed to 83 before Baker went for 38. Ward steered Reed closer to victory before Ben Bowles played well to finish on 35 not out and in company with Marcus Martin steered Reed to a comfortable win. Reeds 11th win in 16 league matches sees them now 52 points clear at the top of the table, and they need only 39 points from the last 3 matches to guarantee finishing as league champions.