RCC Quiz on 8th June
Please see the attached poster advertising the first of this summer’s Quizzes. It is on next Friday the 8th June. Contact Matt Bowles or Sam Greaves to book.
Potted by Potten!
To fill the newly-created void caused by the earlier-than-expected exit from the Village Cup, this Cricket Conference fixture was arranged for the Green between Reed's "Friendly" side and Potten End. Potten End is a club advancing up the divisions in the Herts League having entered a couple of years ago in a standard too low for them and now having to win promotion each season to achieve their proper level. It is why their batsmen and bowlers feature strongly in the League's record books as they easily wipe aside their opponents every year. That said, 213 for 5, was a reasonably challenging total for them to chase on Sunday - or so we thought! Richard Barlow had reached a steady fifty before retiring and Will Heslam was just short of his ground after scoring 22. But starring with the bat was Mike Robertson who bludgeoned his way to 101 then also retired. Bill Mansfield had fun hitting 14 not out towards the end of the innings. Despite an array of bowling talent on show, Reed were unable to take a wicket although there were 4 or 5 spillages and a couple of unsuccessful, but very adjacent, LBW appeals. Potten's openers, James Pickard (75) and Will Hill (94) could not be parted and were both undefeated as they reached the target within 34 overs aided by 47 sundries. Report submitted by PGB.
Listen to your Groundsman!
On a warm and sunny afternoon at the Freman Oval, Reed 3s won the toss and skipper Paul Garrott decided to have first use of the pitch, a decision he was left to rue. Garrott and P. Baker opened the innings and both found runs hard to come by, with the ball not really coming onto the bat. Baker went cheaply, Mike Robertson (20) started in aggressive fashion but fell in similar vain. Rhodri Hughes (18) was playing nicely too, but wickets were falling steadily. When Garrott (28) went with the score on 92, Reed were in a spot of bother! Owen Hughes batted really nicely, and with maturity for his (30 not out) but nobody else could stay with him and he was left stranded at the end. Reed had been bowled out for 139 in 42.4 overs. Hitchin 3s reply started in ominous fashion! Owen Hughes and Matt Giblin opening the attack for Reed, produced the odd good delivery, but with pace on the ball, and the wicket now completely dry, the ball was starting to find the boundary oh too often, although Hughes did nip one back, to remove the impressive C. Dudley for 35. Zac Conley then replaced Giblin, and soon after took a brilliant return catch. He followed that up by having Muscat caught by Kieran McKinna around the corner for 32. Hitchin never lost another wicket and reached their target of 140 for the loss of 3 wickets in just 19.4 overs. Report submitted by Paul Garrott.
Reed steamroller Ampthill on Greaves’s return
The self-styled ‘Saviour’ (a.k.a. Tom Greaves) returned from his honeymoon to mastermind Reed’s thumping of Ampthill. Having been put in, Ed Wharton showed commendable restraint as well as controlled belligerence in compiling a well worked half-century. On his dismissal, James Heslam took over the anchor role gradually accelerating as the overs ticked by to amass a match-winning 83. They were supported by some useful cameos from Rob Lankester (22), Tom Greaves (18), Stuart Smith (22) and Karl Ward (17*). A score of 244-8 seemed above par on a wicket and outfield affected by the overnight rain and indeed it proved so as Ampthill were blown away by Reed’s sharpshooting attack. At first Beds’ opener, Nick Barden, blitzed 37 mostly in boundaries, but when he was snaffled by Stuart Smith off Ed Wharton (2-38), the rot set in. Toby Fynn had already continued his prolific wicket taking start to the season with 2-19, which was followed by Jack Tidey (3-16) and Tom Greaves (2-18). It was left to Karl Ward to complete the rout by ending an obdurate final wicket partnership in his first over as Ampthill were skittled out for 99 in 25 overs, thanks to some accurate bowling supported by another fine catching display, including 3 for keeper Sean Tidey and 2 for James Heslam. More a fine team effort then, rather than divine inspiration, as Reed moved up to 3rd in the Championship. Report submitted by Peter Wholley.
Headlines; Week Ending 27th May
COLTS: The Under 13s lost by 29 runs to Saffron Walden “A” last week. Walden made 109 for 7, wickets to Will McIntosh (2 for 16), Sam Osborne (2 for 18), Adam Gardner (1 for 23) and run-outs achieved by Sam Osborne and Ross Gardner. But Reed scored only 80 for 5 in their 20 overs in reply, Charlie Walters made 20 and Sam and Ross scored 14 each. The Under 11s beat the Thriplow’s Under 13 Girls on Tuesday. Reed scored 77 for 4 leaving them with a net score of 257. Thriplow Girls also lost 4 wickets but scored only 55 which meant their net score was 235. Reed won by 22 runs. Wickets fell to Adam Gardner, 1 for 0, Jacob Vincent, 2 for 2, and Edward Cook, 1 for 0. There was an excellent anchoring partnership between Adam Gardner and Tom Green with Adam hitting the only boundaries of the match to reach 21. SATURDAY, LEAGUE: The Firsts knocked Ampthill all out for 99 after first scoring 244 for 8. James Heslam top-scored with 83 and Ed Wharton passed 50, then wickets fell to Jack Tidey (3) and Ed Wharton, Toby Fynn and Tom Greaves (2 each). At the Green, Reed Seconds could not complete the “double” as Ampthill’s Seconds were all-out for 210 but could muster only 177 in reply. Julien Fynn had taken 3 wickets and Mitchell Cooper, George Garrott and Rupert Martin 2 apiece but whilst Phil Frenay scored 50 and Matt Sampson 34, there was not enough impetus to challenge the target. Over at Freman Oval, the Thirds were shot-out for 139 (Owen Hughes, 30 not out, Paul Garrott, 28 and Mike Robertson, 20), and Hitchin got [...]
What’s the Point?
For those of you who are interested in following the Reed CC teams in their various Divisions and keep a watch on the League Tables perhaps from afar (or even spectating “live”) you might find the Points scoring system confusing. I have reproduced below the methods for awarding points. Needless to state that it isn’t as straightforward as you might think because the system in the Premier and Championship Divisions (i.e., affecting our First XI), is different to the system used in Divisions 1 to 10B (affecting our Second and Third Teams). It is different again in the Regional Divisions, but as we are not running a Fourth XI this season, I have excluded that system. For our 1st XI Limited Overs Matches (50 overs per side): Points System Win: 25 points Tie: 13 points No result: 10 points, or bonus points gained, whichever is the greater. Cancelled: 10 points Bonus points awarded to the losing side or, in the event of a match without a result, to both sides. No bonus points will be awarded for a match ending as a Tie (a Tie being a match in which the scores are level, irrespective of the number of wickets lost by each side). Batting Bonus points: 1 point for reaching 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250 and 275 runs Bowling Bonus points: 1 point for taking 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 wickets (Full bowling bonus points will be gained if a side is all out, regardless of the number of wickets taken). By winning a full match, the victorious team receives 25 points only, (no Batting or Bowling Bonus Points). Only the losing team gets Bonus Points which means that a losing [...]
Willoughby Delivers With Maiden Ton
Having run through their previous opponents, visitors Shenley Village once again elected to bowl first, having won the toss. However, they found things harder going as Paul Garrott and Rob Willoughby made a spirited start. Garrott was looking in good early form making 16. Mike Robertson replaced him after he was bowled with the score on 43. Robertson set about things quickly exploiting the pace of the bowlers and the speed of the outfield. In no time he had multiple boundaries to his name. He raced to 32 before falling LBW. Meanwhile, Willoughby kept steady and at no point looked like being under pressure. Marcus J.E. Baker supported Willoughby as he delivered. It had been due for some time, but a drive through the covers gave Willoughby his maiden century. A day to remember! He would carry his bat taking Reed to a score of 255 for 4. Baker 45 and Zac Conley 28 not out, helping out. Early wickets to Toby Emes and Kieran McInna put the pressure on the visitors but in Elliot and Williams Reed faced two of the best batsman in the division. It took time and patience but Maseeh Naeem was able to dislodge Williams for 22. Steve Hughes started where he left off from last season with another fantastic spell, he was able to pick up two wickets with aid of magical catches by Garrott and his son Rhodri. Elliot was always a risk but when he fell for 89 it gave Reed the advantage and they were not going throw it away. Superb ground fielding in the deep stopped the boundaries and also brought around two run outs. As Reed saw off the last few wickets one fell [...]
Firsts cruise past Flitwick
The Firsts gained their first win of the season as they dominated the game from the moment Ed Wharton hammered 32 from 19 balls and Flitwick contributed a sizable number of their 45 wides. Solid contributions from the rest of the top order followed: William Heslam (40), Rob Lankester (44), James Heslam (41) and Richard Wharton (32), but extras (58) top scored as Reed amassed 267-7. With injury handicapping Harry Thurstance and Danny Muschamp, Flitwick struggled to 79-7 by the drinks break, well contained by the host’s seamers and some excellent catching. Indeed all six of Reed’s attack took wickets with Toby Fynn (10-2-31-3) and Karl Ward (10-2-29-2) the pick of the bowlers. The tail, however, proved more resilient, taking their total to 150 until they were spun out by Sean Tidey and Ed Garrott. Report submitted by Peter Wholley.
Headlines; Week Ending 20th May
Victories for the Firsts and Thirds but a 2 wicket defeat for the Seconds. On the Green, Reed accumulated 267 for 7 helped mostly by 58 assorted extras by Flitwick! Batting-wise, Reed's Will Heslam, James Heslam and Rob Lankester passed 40 whilst Ed and Rich Wharton reached the thirties. Flitwick were never in the hunt and thanks to Toby Fynn's 3 for 31 and Karl Ward and Sean Tidey taking 2 wickets each, the visitors were bowled-out for 150. Over at Northwood Town, Reed's Seconds managed only 163 for 8. Jack Caine, Matt Bowles and Rich Barlow made scores in the twenties but could not press-on. The hosts did not have it all their own way as Bowles with 3, and Matt Giblin and George Garrott (2 wickets each), helped by a Chris Jackson direct hit run-out, made Northwood Town battle it out to 164 for 8 before they passed Reed's total. The high-scoring ground at the Freman Oval saw Reed 3rd XI reach 256 for 4. Leading the celebrations was Rob Willoughby with a maiden ton of 115 not out. In support, MJE Baker scored 45, Mike Robertson 32 and Zac Conley, 28 not out. Shenley Village chased hard but fell 14 runs short for 242 all out. Steve Hughes and Baker took 2 wickets each. There was no fixture on Sunday. Expect Match Reports to follow. PGB
The “Niners” win by thirty-nine!
To see the joy on the faces of the Reed CC youngsters recording their first victory was very pleasing. If truth be known, the Reed Under 9s were more likely to be Under 8 or even Under 7, so after a couple of defeats a win was a real achievement. On a chilly evening, Reed's Under 9s made a net score of 286 whilst Letchworth Garden City scored 247 (net). In the batting, Oscar Brickles scored 8, Ethan Fox 5 and Josh Heslam 5. In the visitors' innings, there were two wickets for Josh Heslam which put Letchworth under pressure, then with superb fielding that saw run-outs by Oscar Brickles, Toby Cook and Ethan Fox Reed won by a comfortable 39 runs.