Reed played Hertingfordbury for the first time and came away defeat. Reed lost the toss and were put into bat by the home side on a slow, damp wicket. Reed lost opener James Heslam with the score on 2, but Chris Shorrock and Paul Watts mended some of the damage with a solid partnership of 24. Shorrock was bowled by Bracken for 12 and this brought in Richard Jerome. He and Watts put on 50 before Watts got a leading edge and was caught and bowled for a fine 19. Jerome now joined by Baz Curtis started to open his shoulders. He smashed 6, 4s in his 65, but to show how lush the outfield was, he also ran 8, 2s and a 3. Curtis was bowled with 2 balls to go for 25 and need declared on 158-5. Reed needed early wickets, but it was until the home side had nerly reached 50 that Jason Archer struck with the help of a fine catch by Curtis. Ian Roberts had conceded just 13 runs from his 8 overs, but the Reed attack has no answer to Palmer for smashed the ball to all parts in his 96 not out. Richard Jerome and Neil Haslam both took a wicket each, but it was never going to be enough as Hertingfordbury reached their target with a comfortable 5 overs to spare. Both sides could meet again in the National Village Cup if they both win their respected games in next weeks second round.

Reed 1st XI v Ampthill - League - 31/7/04 - Home

Reed 1st XI v Berkhampstead - League - 29/5/04 - Home

Reed plundered a healthy 20 point bounty on Saturday after tying a nail biting finale with Bishop's Stortford away in Saracens Hertfordshire League Division 2. Freshly demoted from Division 1, the Bishop's Stortford heavyweights took on the Division 3 champions in a needle match which saw both sides playing in a highly competitive spirit throughout. Winning the toss and electing to bat first on what seemed a batsman friendly wicket, Reed got off to a dream start forging a 57 run partnership between Tom Fulk (17) and James Heslam (52) without losing a wicket. However, when Bishop's Stortford removed their opening bowlers G. Gillard (7-2-21-0) and M.Dodshon (11-0-40-0), who bowled tightly without and luck, C.Thomas (7-0-18-2) managed to make a double breakthrough as he firstly had Tom Fulk caught behind, and soon bowled Chris Jackson around the legs for an unusual duck. Combined with James Heslam being stumped off Lindop, in a gross stroke of personal and team misfortune, Bishop's Stortford mounted the bowling pressure and had Reed reeling for a short period. Their youthful fielders paid dividends as they saved runs in the field. Simon Lindop eventually returned impressive figures of 14.3-6-19-5. Reed's run rate ground slowly to a halt as Reed tried to re-consolidate, but their late burst for runs was too late. Baz Curtis (18), Will Clarke (23) and Richard Jerome (20) all made starts but mounting run pressure forced them to make rash shot-selections in a bid for final runs. Reed's tail failed to muster many, and they were eventually bowled out for a meagre 144 off 51.3 overs, leaving their hosts an extra over to reach the required total. Reed's reply began with vigour as Will Clarke (9-2-32-1) and Michael [...]

Reed 1st XI v Broxbourne - League - 17/7/04 - Home

Reed 1st XI v Dunstable II - League - 4/9/04 - Home

Reed 1st XI v Eversholt - League - 7/8/04 - Home

The Saracens Hertfordshire League season began full pace on Saturday following the recent dismal weather which washed out 2 fixtures. However, it was Reed who were left the ground disappointed as they were narrowly beaten by Flitwick by three wickets. Now placed 12th in Division 2, following their promotion and division victory last year and the year before, the North Hertfordshire team will face an increasingly tough level of opposition in games to come this season, but are still confident of performing healthily. Despite winning the toss and electing to bat, Reed's batting proved fragile as opener James Heslam (12) and Tom Fulk (2) were dismissed early on. The middle order failed to add any weight to the scoreline, until Chris Jackson (106*) came to the helm and carved out a chance-less and gritty maiden Division 2 century for 2004 to bring about some respectibility. Combined with his brother and captain, Simon Jackson (29*), they managed to drag the score to 177 for 6 off the allotted 53 overs thanks to some electric running between the wickets and cheeky singles. The pick of the Flitwick bowlers was certainly their opener D. Dunlop (16-7-36-3), who nagging fast bowling proved difficult to score off. With warm weather drying the pitch throughout the afternoon, Flitwick set about chasing. William Clarke (9-3-21-1) struck early removing their opener for a duck, but it was his opening bowling partner Michael Berks (15.5-3-53-3) who was Reed's bowling star, as he tirelessly battled to counterbalance the absence of veteran Peter Tidey from the attack due to holiday. Reed were unlucky not to be awarded a close run out decision, which would have left the visitors reeling on 13-3, but instead M.Barnes battled on [...]