After his rampage against Royston in the Keatley Cup Final four days earlier 19 year old Reed bowler Jim Allsopp collected his second six wicket haul in a week on Saturday. Allsopp recorded a spell of 7 overs 5 maidens 6 for 10 as Reed II totally destroyed Bayford and Hertford II recording a mammoth win by 235 runs. Winning the toss and batting first on a scorching hot day, Ian Fulk and Peter Baker steered Reed to 86 before Baker fell for 31. Alan Ward joined Fulk and the pair took the score to 160 before Fulk fell caught for a fine 80. The Reed middle order kept the runs ticking on lead yet again by the in form Ward who was 84 not out when skipper Heslam declared with Reed having accumulated 277-5 off 45 overs. After Tea it was the Allsopp and Emms show as Bayford failed to establish any sort of reply. Allsopp clean bowled 4 off his 6 victims and was only prevented from returning an even better analysis by the ECB directive that under 19’s can only bowl a maximum of 7 consecutive overs. Andrew Emms 3-26 and Jason Archer 1-1 completed the rout as Reed II’s collected another 30 points to keep them 22 points clear at the top of the league.

An absorbing game of cricket played on a scorching hot afternoon saw Reed II emerge victorious after being on the back foot and starring defeat in the face for most of the afternoon. Having won the toss and chosen to bat Reed seemed to be settling down to achieve a comfortable total at 39-1. But tight County Hall bowling aided by a helpful wicket saw them crumble to 87-8. Number 10 Jim Allsopp took the attack to the bowlers striking a rapid 21 before Reed slumped to 109 all out. Reed however have been bowling well all season and did not consider a win beyond them but with County Hall 32-0 after 11 overs defeat was looming. Despite County Halls good start, Jim Allsopp recorded 1-1 in his opening 7 over spell and the match was transformed with the introduction of Jason Archer into Reeds attack. Archer bowled a tremendous spell of 14 overs to claim 6-26 and see County Hall crash to 80-9 with 5 of Archers wickets being bowled. Ian Roberts 2-6 kept up the pressure and Jim Allsopp rapped up the final wicket for Reed to return 2-5 in 8.2 overs. Reed hard won 30 points kept them 19 points clear at the top of the table.

Reed II who have been at the top of Saracens Herts League Division 8 since the start of the season secured the league championship with an easy win over a poor Hatfield Hyde II XI. The match proved totally one sided and anti climactic after Hatfield Hyde II won the toss and chose to bat. Opener Nobbs rode his luck for 33, but only two other Hyde batsman made double figures as they struggled againth the Reed pace bowling. Jim Allsopp enjoyed no luck despite beating the bat regularly, but Andrew Emms (3-22) and Richard Johnson (2-30) broke the back of the Hatfield innings. 52-1 became 57-4 and 87-6 as wickets fell regularly. Jason Archer (3-15) and Richard Robertson wrapped up the long Hatfield tail with four wickets falling in 4 balls with the score on 97. Chasing 98 to win proved a formality with the Hatfield bowling proving as ineffective as the batting. Paul Watts fell for 22 giving the visitors their only point, but Ian Fulk 58 not out saw Reed comfortably home with Reed reaching the required total in less than 20 overs and the game disappointley early soon after 5pm.

Reed won the toss and chose to bat on what proved to be a lively wicket. After the early loss of Baker, Alan Ward took the attack to the Hoddesdon bowlers striking 12 fours in a fine innings of 59 before he departed caught with the score on 85. Skipper John Heslam addopted a similar policy and in a powerful innings of 62 he registered 11 fours. Paul Watts contributed a steady 28, but after his departure only Bowles, 18 provided serious support to Heslam. Reed passed the 200 mark to register maximum batting points and Jason Archer, 12 provided a cameo innings seeing Reed to 218 all out. After a wayard start the Reed bowlers got back in the groove once again and supported by solid fielding on a difficult outfield, Jason Archer and Richard Robertson soon had Hoddesdon under pressure. From 71-5, Hoddedon staged something of a recovery led by Curtis 57, but with Archer again proving a match winner with 5-52, Hoddesdon slumped to 159 all out. Jim Allsop, 2-31 returned to clean up the tail, Reed's 6th win in 8 league matches sees them remain unbeaten and still well clear at the top of their league table.

Reed II won a vital toss and managed to force an important win at the expense of Ickleford and beat the threatening weather at the same time. Having called correctly, skipper Heslam put Ickleford in to bat as cloudy skies threatened and occasional drizzle hung in the air. The Reed bowlers gave little away and Ickleford found runs hard to come by. Jim Allsopp's seven overs saw hit take 1-10 and Ian Roberts' 13 overs (2-15) contained the home side for whom Chamberlain 15 proved the only one to make double figures. From 47-two in 22 overs Ickleford collapsed dramatically to 60 all out as Jason Archer (3-9), Chris Shorrock (2-1) and Richard Robertson (1-19) were well supported by excellent Reed catching and fielding. With 63 overs to make 61 to win it was now Reed against the weather. Drizzle commenced as Peter Baker took the attack urgently to Ickleford's bowlers. Baker's powerful stroke-play produced rapid runs, but at 44-0 the players left the field as steady rain fell. A short respite and brief sunny period enabled play to recommence and Baker moved to 47 before being caught in the deep with Reed needing seven to win, Watts and skipper Heslam saw Reed to their target just before the rain returned, and Reed now top their table with three wins from three matches, 20 points clear of second side Hoddesdon, who like most others in Hertfordshire, saw their matches wiped out by the weather.

Winning the toss and batting Reed got off to a steady start, but never dominated against a tight Monken Hadley bowling attack. Paul Wats 17, Ian Fulk 42, John Heslam 14 and newcomer Chris Shorrock 25 all made useful contributions without going on to a major score. At 140-5 with only 15 overs remaining Reed looked as if they might struggle to secure maximum batting bonus points at 200, but Richard Robertson 31 and Alan Ward 23 not out scored at a healthy rate and saw Reed to 204-6 in their allotted 53 overs. Newly promoted Monken Hadley soon discovered life in the higher division was no easier with the bat. Hadley started their reply well enough despite Andrew Emms enjoying little luck as he constantly beat the bat. At 60-1, Hadley were well on course, but the introduction of Robertson, after a shoddy first over, saw Reed make the necessary break through. After Hawkins went for 31 no ther Monken Hadey batsman exceeded 20 and Reed tightened their grip on the game. Andrew Emms 3-21 and Richard Robertson 3-31 broke the back of the innings and Jason Archer 4-18 come on to wrap up the tail. Reed won comfortably by 90 runs with 10overs to spare and sit undefeated at the top of the Division 8 table with a maximum 60 point from 2 games.