Before writing this review, I re-read the last one I had written, when I was captain in 2011. That year, we had a basically consistent squad containing half-a-dozen adult players that were all experienced, long-standing members of the club who had played at a good standard and continued to produce match-winning performances and six or seven teen-aged colts who had showed great potential and memorably contributed outstanding innings or bowling spells. Between 10 different batsmen, we accumulated 1 century and 15 fifties and the team aggregated 2560 runs, three of the bowlers took 51 wickets between them and significantly we also fulfilled 19 League fixtures that season.
What a difference in 2014. In all we completed just 8 matches. Five were in Division 12 East of the Herts League (with another abandoned after 2 overs), then we played three further “friendly” matches to round-off the season. There was only one fifty, Reece Fitzgerald’s masterly 81 in our victory over Wheathampstead on a damp pitch at Kimpton, and one century, Kieran Willoughby’s well-earned 100 not out versus Hitchin in a high-scoring draw. It was Kieran’s maiden ton and it followed his first-ever fifty, (for the Third XI), only one month previously. Apart from these two young players, Peter Baker, (94), and Lloyd Bowman, (78), had the next highest aggregates and no one else surpassed 45, although Freddy Stuart scored 42 not out in his only innings.
Joe Graves claimed 9 wickets in the three League matches he played, 3 in each, with a best of 3 for 14. Owen Hughes pipped him with 10 wickets in the 5 games he played, although Joe averaged 5.3 runs per wicket and Owen, 9.1.
Unsurprisingly with young players restricted in the number of overs they are allowed to bowl, there is usually insufficient time for them to collect 5 wickets in an innings, but Owen Hughes did manage to take 4 for 17 against Stevenage, Jack Childs, 4 for 40 against Hitchin and the not so young Steve Hughes surprised himself by winkling-out 4 for 44 in our friendly at Mayfield CC. Bill Mansfield, who chose to come out of retirement to play with his young son Ollie, (and later the even younger Benji), showed that he remembered how to play as he batted aggressively and better each time, held 6 athletic outfield catches and bowled a good line and length taking 3 for 18 at Old Elizabethans.
Helped by 3 concessions by opposition teams and the 2 actual victories in played matches, we achieved 6th position in the Division accruing 181 points. What counted against us was the fact that we had had to concede 2 matches ourselves because of lack of playing numbers throughout the Club in the first few weeks of the campaign. If we had actually played them we would not have forfeited 20 points and possibly would have notched-up a few more bonus points and consequently could have been in contention for a promotion spot.
Earlier, I referred to the playing strength on the Fourth XI in 2011. It is no coincidence that 4 “first choice” adult players and 5 of the then regular colts from that side played for the Thirds or Seconds most weeks in 2014. For a variety of reasons seven of the 2011 side either have stopped playing or managed to turn-out only once this year; one being the elected team captain, John Kershaw, who had to depart overseas for work during the summer but returned before the season ended. It is indicative throughout not only Reed CC, but also the entire Herts League that clubs are failing to field full Teams. For example, one club who ran four Teams for many years prior to 2014, immediately withdrew their Thirds and Fourths within a week of the season starting, and by the final week had even conceded First and Second XI matches. Other Teams in the lower Divisions suffered similarly. Generally, clubs are struggling. It is why we at Reed are conscious to maintain the Colts structure that has been so successful for us, and if we can attract parents to return to active participation to play alongside their sons and daughters we will continue to compete at the four levels in the League. The Fourth XI must not be left behind. I congratulate James Heslam and the First XI for comfortably achieving the Runners-up place in the newly-created Championship Division and their progress to the Quarter-Finals of the National Village Cup; I congratulate Marcus Martin and the Second XI who for two consecutive seasons have been promoted as Champions of Division 7 in 2013 and Division 6 in 2014; I congratulate Maseeh Naeem and the Third XI who concluded their season in the upper bracket of Division 8 which means they will be competing at a higher level in 2015 after the proposed re-structuring of the League. All this means there is a widening gap between the standards the Thirds and the Fourths will be playing at.
Once again this year, we have seen some developing young players such as Matt Yates, Ollie Mansfield and Zac Conley emerge into Open-Age cricket with the Fourths and the Sunday Team, and individually they can take some credit from their performances. And as with younger colts, for example Toby Emes, Pamela Chicken, Pippa Wisdom and Ed Kershaw, who are being introduced to weekend cricket, I look forward to witness them progress. In addition to those already mentioned, we have not yet seen the best of Sam Rice and Ben Moody either and next season we will also be relying on Graham Stuart, Josh Conley, Rhodri Hughes and Chris West, who all now probably qualify as “stalwarts”, to produce the goods.
Without the off-field support, we would not be able to function either, so my thanks go to groundsman, Richard Robertson for all his hard-work and skill in preparing the excellent pitches at the Freman College Oval and to his “apprentice”, Peter Wholley as well as to wise sage, Clive Collins. My thanks go to Tina Hughes, Laura Childs, Bethan Smith and Nicki Stuart for providing excellent teas. Finally, I thank colts players’ parents for their support, encouragement and transportation duties. Let us hope that in 2015 Reed will be able to boast a Fourth XI comprising improving colts and young players, returning parents, and a few veterans aged between 20 and 65, that will have a fuller fixture list with better and more satisfactory performances and results that see us achieve success and possible promotion in an effort to catch-up the Third XI.
Peter G. Baker,
(Acting Captain),
October 2014.
