Reed visited St. Margaretsbury last Saturday and promenaded another strong side. Baz Curtis won the toss and had no hesitation to bat even though the wicket looked a tad green. Reed lost both openers quickly and only had 18 on the board. Richard Johnson and the effective Stuart Smith got Reed back on track with some attacking strokes. With a short boundary on one side and a quick outfield runs came at a lively pace. Johnson was bowled for an excellent 39 by the consistent Bentley. Marcus Martin joined Smith and with some much better running than in recent games continue to pile on the runs.The score had reached 156 when Smith fell for 58. He was Bentley’s 3rd wicket in a marathon spell of 23 overs. A fine effort in the heat. When Martin was bowled for 40, Reed were 175-5 with 13 overs left. It was obvious that Reed would need as many overs as possible to get a result, but would also need to post a challenging total for the home side. Roddi Liebenberg and Will Clarke set about this task with aplomb. With some good running and some attacking shots they motored along. The pair put on 65 in 9 overs. Clarke hitting well down the ground and over the top of the infield and Liebenberg timing the ball nicely and also hitting the innings only 6. Curtis decided to declare with 240-5 on the board. This gave the home side 51 over to get 241.Reed knew early wickets would put St. Margaretsbury on the back foot, equally a good start from the batting side might make the declaration generous. Despite Will Clarke removing Pedder for 14, Reed were not bowling [...]

Reed's 2nd XI got their first win of the league season in an amazing game held at The Green. Skipper Baz Curtis won the toss and decided to bat first despite the damp wicket. This looked a bad decision when both openers were back in the pavilion with the score on just 13. Richard Johnson joined inform Mark King and looked to steady the ship and things started to look a bit more positive until Johnson went for 13 with the score on 45. King continued to dominate punishing anything lose. He was dismissed for 44 including 8x 4s. At 69-5 a win let alone a target to bowl out look out of the question and when 2 more wickets feel quickly it looked like Reed might be frozen out of the points all together. At 89-7 Sean Tidey came to the crease to join older brother Jack. Both showed great patience and slow began to settle in. They finally saw off Murphy who had taken 6 of the 7 wickets to fall. Sandridge's second string attack were much more to Reed's liking. Both batsman began to find the boundary regularly and as the visitors got cold and colder the young pair took full advantage. Both reached their 50s and by now Reed looked like they might have a decent total to bowl at. The pair put on 40 in their first 10 overs together and 61 in the second 10. Reed were on the brink off maximum batting points. Sean became more aggressive and hit the only six of the match straight over the bowlers head. Sean could sense a declaration coming and tried his best to reach his maiden league ton, but was [...]

Reed were trying to put two disappointing draws behind them as they travelled to Rickmansworth II. Skipper Baz Curtis again won the toss and had no hesitation to bat on a wicket that look white and full of runs. Within 2 hours he was proved right, but unfortunately for 3 out of top 4 it had no runs in it for them at all. Curtis himself being the first duck of the day quickly followed by William Heslam and Richard Johnson. At 9-3 and 57-5 it looked like a terror track thanks to a fine opening spell from the home sides skipper. Andy Milner taking 4-28 from 9 over at one stage. Fergus Martin and old brother Marcus tried to steady the ship and managed to see some shine of the new ball, but both feel to good catches when looking set.This brought together a mixture of youth and experience. William Clarke was the experience and Sean Tidey was the youth. Tidey had been in this situation before this season and again managed to repeat his heroics. Both to a shine to Rickmansworth second string and started to find the boundary at regular intervals. Tidey soon outscored his seniour partner and the first to his 50 with 6x 4s and 2 big sixes in that 50. It wasn’t all big hitting and some excellent running kept the board ticking over. Tidey finally went for an excellent 86 when a ton looked their for the taking. The pair had put on 153 for the 6th wicket. It was now just a matter of how many overs Reed wanted to give the home side. Clarke was now in full flow and decided it was time to try [...]

Reed’s 2nd XI got another 30 points over the weekend. Reed lost the toss and were not surprised to find themselves asked to field. Reed’s opening attack knew that a good line and length on the flat track would be vital and duly delivered. Peter Tidey and Kallum Ward conceded just 63 runs between them in the 31 overs they bowled. Tidey bowled a marathon spell of 21 over taking 3-36. Ward came back to remove the stubborn last pair and finished with 3-27. They were well supported by Mitchell Cooper who took 2-28 and Jason Archer 2-19.Reed had looked in total control through out their time in the field. Preston had collapsed to 48-5 and then 81-8, but as so often happens those last 2 wickets are hard to get. Harrington for Preston supplied some resistance for the visitors with a very patient 27. He and Connah, the Preston number 10 put on 37 for the 9th wicket before Ward had him caught by Cooper at midwicket. Connah continued playing his shots and had moved to an excellent 33 before being yorked by Ward. This left Preston 138 all out.Reed’s reply didn’t start too well with skipper Baz Curtis playing on for 2 and Fergus Martin lbw for 3. At 11-2 it seemed 138 might be a challenge. In form Richard Johnson has other ideas. He and William Heslam put on 53 for the 3rd wicket before Heslam was caught for 11. Karl Ward then joined Johnson. Ward smashed the newly taken new ball to all part in a very quick 26 before going for one shot too many and being bowled for 26. It was now 94-4, but still looked like a comfortable [...]

Reed’s 2nd XI were looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing display the week before. On a gorgeous day that couldn’t have been more different from the rain the week before, skipper Baz Curtis lost the toss and was asked to failed by the Potters Bar III XI captain. It looked a good decision by the visitors as they raced to 30. Wicketkeeper Sean Tidey was in cracking form and looked to have made the break through when he took a fine leg side stumping chance only to have the appeal turned down. He was soon in action again, but this time their was no doubt. He dived in front of first slip to a ball that wouldn’t have carried and took a fine one handed catch off the bowling of Mitchell Cooper. Cooper then struck again, this time finding the edge of the visiting skipper bat who was well held by Curtis at slip.Not to be outdone by his nephew, Uncle Pete Tidey removed Titans for 11 help by a fine catch from Roddi Liebenberg at mid weekend. He then held a sharp caught and bowled chance to leave the visitors realing. Kumar came into bat and decided that the best place for the ball was anywhere the other side of the boundary. Reed held their nerve and Tidey took the last of his 3 wickets bowling him for 35. Tidey bowling in unison with Jason Archer made runs hard to come by and the run rate slowed to a crawl. Archer not to be outdone by his fellow bowlers also took picked up 3 wickets. Cooper came back to replace the flagging Archer to pick up his 3rd wickets and [...]

Reed had another unhappy league outing this time against Old Cholmeleians. This was a game that the 2nd XI need to pick up some good point, but the failed to deliver. Baz Curtis again won the toss and elected to field first hoping a slightly damp wicket would help his bowlers. Reed got off to a lacklustre start and gave the visiting openers plenty for balls to hit. This they did and took full advantage. Peter Tidey replace Chris Peckett at the McMeekin House end and got the breakthrough that was needed. He then had Whitbrow stumped with some excellent glove work from Sean Tidey.From here on in the came went one way then the other. Tidey ripped through the Old Cholmeleians top order taking another 3 wickets. The visitors going from 60-0 to 75-5. Suddenly the Reed bowlers were getting the ball to do all sorts of the pitch and getting some swing as well. Then came the rain. A short break was followed by three more balls being bowled, then another shower saw the players off for 50 minutes. Chris Peckett struck shortly after the game restarted and Reed looked in total control. O’Brien and Schlogram had other ideas and took advantage of a more placid wicket. A mixture of good stroke play and running saw them move the score an to a total that looked like it could be a real challenge. Peckett managed to get one past Schlogram’s defences and he was out for 39. Tidey picked up his 6th wicket again thanks to some fine glove work from the younger Tidey. O’Brien was the last man to be out held well in the deep by Matt Bowles and giving Peckett [...]

Reed’s 2nd XI fell to their first defeat of the season in a disappointing fashion. Skipper Baz Curtis won the toss and decided to bat on an unknown wicket with rain in the air. This didn’t look a bad decision as Reed moved to 20-0 after the first 4 overs despite Gibberd extracting some very steep bounce from the wicket. The rain came and the players went in and what looked like a short shower turned into an hour and twenty minute delay. Once the innings resumed Curtis and Smith had moved the score to 25 before Smith got a top edge and was caught at a short fine leg. Curtis had survived two chances before he went for 22 gloving a brute of a ball to gully. Then came an awful collapse. 40-2 soon became 67-7. The only player to make double figures was Ed Garrott who looked in good form before being caught behind for 17.William Clarke on debut of the 2nd XI and in form Sean Tidey began to put the innings back together. Clarke played some fine shorts through the covers and off his legs. Both managed to finally see off the opening attack and took a liking to the second string attack. They had put on 67 and looked solid before Clarke drove slightly in the air and was well caught low down in the covers. Old Chameleians catching we exceptional with hardly a chance going down. With still 8 overs left a half decent target looked possible. Tidey continued to put the bad and good ball away including a lovely straight six in to the pavilion sightscreen. Unfortunately the 9th wicket fell quickly and Reed limped into the points [...]

The 2nd XI ended their league campaign with a resounding win of Old Albanian II. Old Albanian needed to win to have any chance of avoiding relegation and started well by winning the toss and deciding to field. The wicket look good to bat on and Reed took full advantage. Reed reverted to a more senior opening partnership with Baz Curtis being joined by Ed Blissett. The pair started solidly enough if not spectacularly. They had only reach 23 from the first 10 over thanks to some tight bowling from Hasan and Burman. Both produced some very good balls that beat the bat.Both batsman began to get the pace of the wicket and picked up the pace. If the first 10 overs were slow the next 10 overs were more like it. 48 coming from those. Blissett striking the bad ball well and Curtis beginning to find the boundary on regular occasions. Curtis went to his 50 with his second six of the innings. It looked like the pair would put on 100 for the first wicket, but Blissett was out caught for a fine 30, with the score on 92. Old Albanian struck again quickly afterwards and left Reed 106-2.Richard Johnson then joined Curtis and took full advantage of the good start. Johnson playing the spin well and moving his feet played in his usual elegant manor. A mixture of good running and boundaries kept the scoreboard moving along nicely. 117 runs were added in the next 20 overs. The score was on 188 when Curtis went for one big shot too many and was caught well on the boundary. He had scored 113 from 106, including 11 x4s and 4x 6s.Roddi Liebenberg joined [...]

Reed's 2nd XI travelled to North Enfield last Saturday for their last warm up match before the league campaign starts. Skipper Baz Curtis won the toss and decided to bat on what looked like a flat pitch. This didn't look like a good decision when after only 5 overs Reed found themselves 7-2, with both Curtis and Phil Freney back in the pavilion. Peter Baker and Richard Johnson looked to repair the damage. Baker was finding angles to the boundary seldom used, but it was effective and runs were coming at a good pace. Suddenly Johnson was bowled by Atkins for 19 and in his next over had Marcus Baker caught at slip. Baker Snr was caught behind in Atkins next over and suddenly from a decent position Reed were 71-5.Then came an excellent rear guide action from George Garrott and Steve Lovegrove. They put on 98 for the 6th wicket. Garrott score 11 boundaries in his 63 before he was caught. He played some glorious shots through the covers and it was a deserved 50. Their were still 10 overs left when Garrott departed and Lovegrove was determined that Reed would have a total to bowl at. He hit seven fours and two sixes on his way to 77 not out. With the help of Lewis Fitzgerald (7) and Julian Fynn (9), Lovegrove pushed the score to 239-9 after the allotted 45 overs.In reply North Enfield never looked in any trouble. Reed had one chance to remove Skipper Halley, but missed it and he went on to get 100 before retiring. Jason Archer broke the opening partnership when the score was on 81, but the pitch held no demons for the batsman. Lewis Fitzgerald [...]

Reed made light work of Northchurch II in their latest Saracens Herts League game. The visitors one the toss and decided to bat first. Despite Northchurch being bottom of the league Reed wanted to make sure they took guests seriously. Chris Peckett got the early breakthrough they had hoped for bowling Ledienere for a duck. Kallum Ward bowling down the hill again bowled well and was unlucky to go wicketless in his opening spell. A smart throw from Mark King saw off O’Dair for 20. It turned out he would be the top scorer for Northchurch. Peter Tidey replaced Ward and soon got in on the action. He bowled Flipler for 18 and with the help of a good catch from Ward, Whitworth for 10. Peckett would have picked up two more wickets, but both were no balls!At 61-5 Reed were well on top despite a lacklustre fielding display. Peckett picked up a well deserved 2nd wicket and finished with 2-36 from 12 overs. Tidey had now changed ends to allow Will Clarke to come down the hill. He struck early in his spell when Mark King held a catch in the deep. By now the visitors were 88-7. Tidey was on the brink of his first 5 wicket haul of the season, but Ward came back into the attack and put a stop to that. He removed the stubborn Debenham for 11 and Lindsay for a duck. It was left to Tidey to take the final wicket. Northchurch were 120 all out. Tidey ending with figures of 4-24 from 13.4 overs.Reed needed to make sure their were no hiccups chancing the low total. Baz Curtis and Matt Bowles got Reed off to the perfect [...]