Having had the first two league games cancelled due to the weather, the Thirds finally managed to get a game in at Freman College. This was thanks to the immense effort put in by Richard Robertson in preparing the pitch and outfield.
Reed were still missing some key players especially in the batting department, Fulk, Barlow, Bowles, Baker and Garrott were either unavailable or had been promoted. However the eleven that did take the field did a splendid job.
Winning the toss the Reed captain Maseeh Naeem, had no hesitation in asking the visitors to bat on what was a very damp wicket. The Reed opening bowlers Louis Fitzgerald (6-2-1-9) and Kallum Ward (5-0-0-9) bowled tightly and economically and although Fitzgerald made a breakthrough, it was not a quick bowlers wicket. The first change bowlers really did the damage, Ian Roberts, bowled in tandem with young Reece Fitzgerald, and in their 21 overs took 5 wickets for a miserly 31 runs. Roberts finishing with figures of 10-3-3-11 and Fitzgerald 11-3-2-20. Jack Caine (4-2-2-6) and Naeem (2.2-1-2-5) finished off the Hoddesdon tail to leave the visitors on 62 all out after 38.2 overs. Hoddesdon opener Costigam was the only batsman to get into double figures scoring 27 of the visitor’s runs.
With a stand in opening pair of Steve Lovegrove and Julian Fynn the Reed reply got off to a positive start and the runs came quickly. However the pitch was still causing problems, Lovegrove was out caught on 12 attempting to clear the infield, quickly followed by Fynn, bowled with one that stayed low. Reed then had a bit of a wobble, from being comfortable at 36 for two, it was suddenly 44 for 4 and Hoddesdon spirits were up. However a sensible approach by John Kershaw (15 n.o) and the aggressive stroke play of Kallum Ward (20 n.o.) saw Reed home in 14 overs.
