Reeds under 11 youngsters romped away with their Cambridgeshire League cricket title with a 100% record having won all eight of their 2004 league fixtures. However they were pushed all the way in the seasons final fixture against Royston on the heath on Friday evening. Both teams were missing several regulars due to the impact of the holiday season but an exciting and close fought encounter ensued.

Reed won the toss and chose to field and the young Royston side found runs very difficult to achieve off the bat. However, various of the Reed bowlers conspired to bowl a significant number of wides and no balls to keep the score ticking over. The notable exception was Alex West who bowled 2 maidens in his 3 overs 0 – 4. Royston lost 4 wickets but achieved a nett total of 255 in their 15 overs.

Reeds reply got off to a good start Ollie Townsend 9 and James Lane adding 16 for the first pairing but then the innings became becalmed at only a nett 222 after 9 overs. William Heslam 14 and George Garrott 8 played well to put on 32 as the fourth pair but when both were bowled in successive balls by Roystons Leary the match was back in the balance. Leary bowled an excellent spell of 3 overs 3 for 16. Reeds final pair of Kallum Ward and Alex West needed to add at least 13 in their 3 overs to clinch the win and at the start of the final over, bowled by Toby Fynn, needed a further 5. The first ball was struck for 4 by Ward and a further single saw Reed nose ahead, however in the tense atmosphere a needless run out followed and Royston nosed ahead again with a lead of 4 with 6 balls left. The Reed boys though maintained their cool and once again edged ahead but a further wicket would have given Royston the win. Royston needed to take a wicket from the final ball of the match but Kallum Ward smacked it to the boundary for 4 to give Reed a close fought win by an overall 6 runs.