Reed Cricket Club has been gearing-up in anticipation for the new season with both Adults’ and Colts’ sections practicing indoors since January. Putting-out 4 teams in the Saracens Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League on Saturdays, two Sunday teams and fulfilling fixtures for Colts playing in the Cambridgeshire Young Cricketers Association Leagues at Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15 age groups there will be more than 150 matches to be played by September. It’s a busy time for Fixtures’ Secretary and Colts Liaison Officer, Peter Wholley, who said, “Cricket clubs must find young players and inspire them to develop their full potential and Reed CC welcomes any young boys or girls to join the Colts’ section. Reed is an ECB Focus Club with Clubmark accreditation with a dozen ECB qualified coaches to supervise practices.” Newly-elected Fourth XI Captain, Lloyd Bowman added “As the Colts progress to senior teams at weekends, they benefit from more competitive matches, playing alongside and against adults and more experienced players and developing their skills.” He is looking forward to the challenges of leadership and is impressed by the talent and preparation by the players and has high hopes of promotion.
Now recognised by the ECB as a Premier League in its own right, the Hertfordshire League has re-structured this year and matches have two different playing formats. Divisions now have 10 teams with each team playing the others in Home and Away fixtures. Additionally, there will be fielding restrictions and limits on the amount of overs bowlers are allowed to deliver. Marcus Martin has been the captain of Reed’s Second XI for two years and in both seasons has guided them to promotion as divisional winners so that they now sit healthily within the new Division 5B. Asked about the new match format, he commented, “This will see us playing to the same league rules as the 1st XI and hopefully will allow us to develop the younger players looking to step-up into First team cricket. The transition to Championship Cricket should be so much easier, particularly for talented teenagers such as Rob Lankester, Jack Caine and Reece Fitzgerald. Also, with the added incentive for the winning team to be promoted two divisions, 2015 promises to be an exciting one.”
The team spirit generated by success permeates throughout the club and none more so than in the 3rd XI who have steadily progressed in their 8-year history by successive promotions to the new Division 8B. They are likely to encounter some stiff competition this time because in the re-structuring process, they will be matched against some teams who were playing two divisions higher last year. With a new captain in Mike Robertson, the Thirds will be a mixture of experienced players and the older colts with the most ability and potential.
Away from Herts League fixtures, Marcus Baker skippers the Sunday Team that normally plays traditional “friendly” matches against many neighbouring village and wandering clubs. Marcus said. “These may be listed as ‘friendlies’ but on the field, they will be as competitive as any league match when opponents face each other. The team’s strength is probably that of a mixture of our Saturday 3rd and 4th Teams but we encounter the odd former first-class cricketer or top-flight performer out to enjoy a Sunday friendly on a superb pitch with fantastic facilities in a picturesque setting rounded-off with wonderful teas provided by Club Life Member, Rosemary Collins.”
James Heslam, who begins his sixth year as Club Captain, has not only successfully led the 1st XI from the old Division 2 to the Championship Division of the new Herts League but also memorably captained the team that won the National Village Cup at Lord’s in 2012. That team included 10 homegrown former colts which partly demonstrates the strength of the structure and coaching standards at Reed. Runners-up in the League last season, James has every confidence that Reed can go one better this year. One exciting new signing is spinner Phil Lill, a 24 year-old New Zealander from the Cornwall leagues who has moved into the area and who will compliment the wicket-taking off-spin of Tom Greaves. Both Greaves and pace bowler, Jack Tidey won recognition by being selected for Herts Under 25s last year. Most of Reed’s 1st XI players are in their early twenties so still have time to reach their full potential but even now they are a talented and competitive group that take every opportunity to dominate opponents. Reed has again entered the National Village Cup and will compete in the Herts 20/20 Cup that made its introduction last year. The Mid-Week Team will again play in the Keatley and Isobel Hospice evening cup competitions.
