Reed entertained Bishop Stortford II’s at the Green on Saturday, desperate to get back to winning ways after a series of draws. With Bishop Stortford down towards the foot of the table, Reed knew that this game could be the one to reignite there season. Skipper Bernie Morss won the toss and elected to bat. Reed suffered an early blow when Phil Frenay was adjudged LBW for 7. However, Bishop Stortford probably regretted taking this wicket, as it united the in-form pair of Chris Jackson and James Heslam who set about amassing a second wicket partnership of 157. This week it was the turn of Heslam to be the aggressor, although he still took his time early in his innings. As the game moved on, so did Reed’s run rate with Heslam in particular reaching the boundary regularly with an array of pulls and drives. C Jackson, creamed some elegant drives through the covers and the pair looked totally at ease, as the Bishop Stortford bowlers struggled to unsettle the pair at all. Heslam was first to go for yet another magnificent century, leaving C Jackson to finish the innings and reach his ton. The wicket brought Richard Johnson (3) to the crease, who didn’t last long, chipping a shot to midwicket. Tom Greaves was next in, and although he struggled to find the boundary, much to his annoyance, some good running between the pair and some fine stroke play from C Jackson produced a partnership of 48 for the 4th wicket which ended when Greaves was bowled for 15. Marcus Martin (3) unselfishly gave his wicket away for the team, running a risky second and finishing inches from home. With his brother at the [...]

Reed’s 1st team 2009 campaign continued in week three with an away fixture at Ampthill.   Chris Degnan the Ampthill captain won the toss and elected to bat on what looked to be benign track, with the home side’s confidence high after to two good wins in the previous couple of league fixtures.  Despite this confidence the opening pair of Morral and Rupping struggled against the pace of Johnson and the accuracy of Wilson and in the third of over of the fixture Johnson struck, taking the wicket of Morrail caught Jackson for 6. More score board pressure was applied over the next few over, leading to the running out of Rupping, this being caused by good work from Heslam and again wicket keeper Jackson.   The run out brought Archer (48) to the wicket and with his batter partner Gould (17), put on 45 for the third wicket before Gould was caught of the bowling of Wilson.  Wilson great spell continued removing the middle order of Ampthill for 10 ten runs leaving the home side 97 for 7 and then finally 109 all out, Wilson finishing with figures of 21.3-9-49-6   support by Morss 2 for 25 and  Johnson 1 for 26.In spite of some great bowling from Degnan 2-26 and Sneath, Reed made steady progress to the required target despite losing an early wicket.  Not for the first time this season Heslam was the hero carry his bat 65 not out support by Fulk 20 not out, Reed completing the victory 30 over.    

Reed moved up to sixth place in Saracens League One after gaining eighteen points in an exciting draw with Hitchin at The Green on Saturday. Asked to bat first, Reed lost Baz Curtis for 5 with the score on only 12. Joe Curk blitzed 25 in quick time before giving a catch to the Hitchin Wicketkeeper Danny Fair. After loosing both Chris Jackson & Phil Frenay cheaply the home side were wobbling at 64 for 4. Captain James Heslam and Will Dobson then crafted a brilliant 106 fifth wicket partnership. With Heslam falling for 85 (his six successive fifty plus score for the club this season) and Dobson soon following for a patient 38 it was left to Simon Jackson (24 not out) & Richard Johnson (22 not out) to steer Reed to a respectable 228 for 6 in 52 overs. Moore & Hammond both with 2 for 39 the pick of the Hitchin bowlers.   Reed struck early in the Hitchin reply with Lee Johnson (11-1-49-2) & Pete Tidey (15-5-42-3) leaving Hitchin at 60 for 4. A quick 18 from Fair steadied the ship slightly but with Hitchin at 87 for 5 , Reed were well on top. Then Bowyer (61) & Maylin (56) made a 91 sixth wicket partnership before both fell to an excellent stumping from Simon Jackson off the spin of Dobson (7-2-22-2). Try as they might Reed couldn't take the last two wickets and Hitchin were left on 191 for 8 off their 48 overs.

Reed buried the ghost of their earlier loss during the season to Dunstable as they recorded their first win since early July on Saturday.  It also helped close a relegation gap in their first season in division 1 of the Herts League.Having won the toss, Reed elected to bat and Baz Curtis (14) got the hosts off to a flying start with a punishing opening over against R Blake (8-1-39-1), but it was the bowler who had the last laugh as Curtis off stump was struck in the fourth over leaving Reed 20-1.  James Heslam, Reed’s skipper, was well set and he dismissed a recent poor run with a well crafted 33 until he was unlucky to be trapped LBW by C Stearn (8-3-27-2).  With J Curk (10), Chris Jackson (14) and Will Dobson (0) all falling cheaply to Luke Cherry (10-0-31-3) and Steve Watts (15-6-30-2), Reed were left reeling on 78 for 5.But this brought Stuart Smith (46) to the crease who crafted hard with wicket keeper Simon Jackson (2) to comfortably hold their wicket and use some overs.  Smith’s innings was epitomised with a resilient defence mixed with some forceful attacking shots.  When Jackson was caught and bowled by Stearn, a collapse seemed possible, but William Clarke (20) hit his first two balls for 4 and together with Smith, forged a valuable 54 run partnership against a grinding spin combination of S Watts and S Cherry (9-2-19-0).When Clarke was eventually bowled off his pads, Smith continued to battle with the tail, and dragged the score to 157 all out off 50.4 overs after he finally capitulated being caught at cover.Reed’s reply began well as Andrew Young (6-0-28-2) immediately reduced the visitors to 19-2 [...]

Saturday saw Reed 1XI begin their Division 1 campaign at Hitchin, following their promotion the previous season, with a loss at Hitchin by 4 wickets.The season saw the arrival and Herts League debuts of Australian batsman Joe Curk from Newcastle in New South Wales, left arm spinner Bernie Morss and fast bowler Lee Johnson.However, despite promising signs for their new Division 1 campaign, Reed were unable to muster the momentum to force an early season win.  Instead they took away a healthy 14 points.On a solid batting wicket, Reed skipper James Heslam elected to bat, but must have personally regretted his decision as be tickled an edge to the wicket keeper off D Moore (13-1-60-3) without scoring.  And then, with the score on 7, Chris Jackson was adjudged LDW off A Ranade (13-2-57-2). Reed looked to be struggling, but stalwart Baz Curtis (23) steadied the ship with some grinding cricket, and combined with Joe Curk (87), took the score to a more respectable 65 off only 12 overs.  But Hitchin continued to battle, and when Curtis chased a ball which he could have left, he left Ranade celebrating his second wicket, and the wicket keeper his second catch of the match.  Tom Fulk joined Curk who was beginning to get into his stride, but Fulk was deceived by I Bowyer’s (8-2-31-1) variation as he too found himself trapped in front of the stumps LBW.With the score on 101 for 4, Reed were conscious to use their overs wisely, but allow Curk free scoring reign.  Curk continued in fine form as he destroyed bad balls all around the wicket with sumptuous cover drives, thundering hooks and a solid defence.  Forcing 14 off one over from Bowyer, [...]

Saturday saw Reed lose by 5 wickets to Dunstable on a blustery afternoon at Dunstable.  Having lost the toss, Reed were put into bat, and the decision looked to backfire initially as Baz Curtis took their attack to the sword, slashing a quickfire 41 off only 28 balls, but L Cherry (7-0-40-1) had his revenge as he had Curtis caught at square leg with a hustling bouncer.With Reed on 60 for 1 wicket after only 10 overs, the signs looked good.  James Heslam (55) was also beginning to master some of the bowling, but he could not be supported by Phil Frenay (7), Joe Curk (10) and Richard Johnson (2), all victims of A Wilson (10-3-40-3).  The pressure had been reversed onto Reed who were on 91 for 4.  Simon Jackson (6) in his usual consistent middle order role was unable to add many runs, despite occupying the crease, as he was eventually unlucky to be given out LBW to S Cherry (11.3-2-24-4).  On 105 for 5, the prospect of increasing the total looked bleak, as the weather became even more challenging.  William Clarke (29) occupied some time with James Heslam as they advanced the score to 142 with some confident drive strokes and punishment of the poor deliveries.  But James Heslam mishit a stroke over midwicket to be caught on the boundary after passing his half century in what was a patient and responsible innings of aggression and deft touches.  Clarke continued to occupy the crease with the tail, but Andy Young (1) and Lee Johnson (6) could not muster a strong resistance, and they eventually fell to S Cherry and S Watts (22-2-60-2) who bowled consistently throughout the innings.  Reed were eventually dismissed [...]

Reed travelled to fellow promoted Berkhamsted on Saturday still in search for their first league victory.Reed captain James Heslam won the toss and decided to bat first on what appeared to be a pitch full of runs. Reed’s innings got off to a disastrous start when Baz Curtis was athletically caught at mid off without troubling the scorers. Curtis departure saw the in form Joe Curk arrive at the crease and with the help of James Heslam the pair put on 62 in 13 overs until James Heslam was adjudged LBW of the bowling of Janaway (3-76). Curk carried on with his expert batting performance and deservedly achieved his 3rd league half century of the season until shortly after he was caught behind for a sublime 60 which left Reed at 82 for 3 off 21 overs. A number of useful contributions from the middle order, Tom Fulk (30), Phil Frenay (17) and Simon Jackson (21) saw the score board tick over and a very useful 13 not out from Lee Johnson at the end saw Reed finish up on a very respectable 184 for 8 off their allotted 53 overs.Berkhamsted reply got off to a disastrous start due mainly to fantastic bowling from Reed’s opening pair off Andy Young (3-25) and Lee Johnson (2-18), the pair’s pace and accuracy was too much for the Berkhampsted batsman and left them reeling at 50 for 5 after 18 overs. After the initial demolition of the Berkhamsted top order Joe Curk and Pete Tidey (2-8) took over the mantle and carried on causing problems for the Berkhampsted batsman. Only Berkahampsted captain Herring with a quick fire 17 and Janaway with a hard hitting 23 not out offered [...]