After missing out on promotion by 2 points two years ago. This time we managed to go up thanks to a four-point margin over third-placed Pinner, even though we made it difficult for ourselves at the end of the season by taking it to the very last game. The 3rds had a good season overall gaining promotion, if the weather hadn’t intervened, we might have come top instead of Bamville. Everybody contributed throughout the season and had important impacts in certain games, which was nice to see. This season did come with its difficulties in the 3’s having poor availability, but this did give me opportunities to give three Under 15s their “adult” debuts, which they did well in these games. Sometimes we did have to call on older heads to come and help us out.
Unfortunately, we started the season with two rained off games to Letchworth and West Herts, with two strong teams available for these games, that we could have probably won as well. So, our first match started in our 3rd game of the season against Bamville, on a wet and cold day. That also nearly got called off. Bamville won the toss and elected to bat which seemed to be an odd decision on a wet pitch and outfield. We managed to bowl them out for 101, could have been a lot less if it wasn’t for two dropped catches. We managed to get 96-7 off 35 overs when the heavens opened, creating puddles on the pitch, though bamville still wanted to play with puddles on the pitch. We won on run rate thanks to a gritty 37 from Scott Nash and 33 from George Adam hitting the spinner for 3 sixes in a row.
We then went away to Northwood with an inexperienced team giving two Under 15s their debuts and a returning Jason Archer to the team. We did well to restrict them to 159-9 off 45 with some good bowling from Jason Archer take 4 wickets off 9 runs. We came up short with 121 all out, on another day we could have won the game, but Northwood knew their pitch and played to their strengths with it.
We returned to winning ways against pinner at home, posting 205-9 thanks to contributions of 40 from Rob Willoughby, a 60 from Mike Robertson and a 27 not out rom Joe graves putting on a good 40 run partnership at the end with Jason archer. Pinner looked in the game at 98-2 from 23 overs but some excellent bowling from Will Archer and Jason Archer turning the game in our favour and dismissing pinner for 133 all out.
We then went away to Holtwhites Trinibis, which had a flat pitch and short boundaries. We didn’t bowl our best in this game, bowling Holtwhites out for 274 in 44 overs. Will Archer and Joe graves did bowl well picking up 5 wickets between them. Being 30-3 earlier on in the chase, Reed did not look in a good position, however Rhodri Hughes and Rob Willoughby rebuilt the innings putting on 147 for the 4th wicket. Rob batting well for 74. Rhodri continued to put the pressure on Holtwhites with my brother joining me at the crease. Rhodri managed to get my first Reed century, which was a special moment, to finally fall for 118. Only needing 12 to win from 3 overs looked like reed were going to win, but my brother then decided to play out a maiden and we managed to fall 3 runs short in reply.
It was made in two back-to-back defeats when we lost at home to Old Haberdashers by 30 runs. Old H being bowled out for 196 thanks to Seghal’s 88 that looked a class above, but we missed a fifth bowler in this game that they took advantage of. Good bowling from my dad picking up 4 wickets in the innings, Anriduh bowled well as well. Reed fell short 165, Richard Barlow batted brilliantly for 69 but no one stuck around to support him. This left reed mid table after 7 games but were still close to the top teams picking up good points in the losses.
Then Reed went on a 7-game winning run. Starting at Rickmansworth when we restricted them to 143, thanks to the returning Aiden woodcock getting 3 wickets, but all bowlers bowling well. Good contributions from the bat in reply by Rob, Marcus Baker and Mike to win by 5 wickets.
We then had Harpenden at home with 10 players, but we didn’t let that deter us. Bowling out Harpenden for 111 thanks to good bowling from Greg, Steve Hughes and both archers. Good batting from Marcus Baker, Rob and Lloyd in a new role opening the batting, chasing the target down easily winning by 5 wickets.
We then beat Letchworth at Cokenach. Winning easily thanks to Aiden get 6-7 and restricting Letchworth to 119-9 off 45. Then unbeaten half-centuries from Richard Johnson and Rob Willoughby to win by 10 wickets.
We then went to West Herts travelling all the way to Buckinghamshire. With West Herts batting first and getting bowled out for 150, with Aiden and Joe Graves bowling well again manging only to take 1 wicket from his 9 overs only going for 12. Aiden and Steve Hughes picked up 3 wickets each with some good catches taken. Reed were in trouble at 31-5, but the skipper and Aiden rebuilt the innings with Rhodri getting lucky getting dropped 3 time on my way to 47. Joe came in and took on the West Herts bowlers with Aiden still support them finishing 39 not out and 27 not out.
We then travelled to a big game against table toppers Bamville. Reed were put into bat and posted 22-9 off, thanks from a fantastic 87 from Scott Nash deserved a century and Rhodri scoring 40. We bowled and fielded well taking some good catches, good bowling again from Aiden and Steve Hughes again. We were in command until Ramzan came in and started whacking it for 48 until Scott Nash caught him on the boundary. We became the walking wounded in the fielded with joe on one leg, my dad with a side strain and Richard Johnson going off from splitting his webbing dropping a catch. It got very close coming down to the last over, but we managed to win by 2 runs. It was fantastic win from the team.
We then beat Northwood in a close game. We bowled Northwood out at home for 93 thanks to 5-10 from Jason archer supported well by all the other bowlers. We were cruising at 36 without loss then turned into 44-6, but good batting from Owen, Lloyd, Aiden and Will took us home by 2 wickets. With a vital win.
We were then rained off against Pinner. We then beat Northwood at home, bowling them out for 177. Good bowling from all the bowlers and some good catching. We then chased it down 5 wickets down from 30’s by Lloyd and Richard Johnson and a 50 from Scott Nash.
We then went to Old Haberdashers where we watched it rain for an hour and half where the other team ordered pizza so thought the game was off but went out for 6 overs, we took 2 wickets for it to rain again and the game getting called off.
We then had Rickmansworth at home that decided to bowl first. We were going well at 122-3 to then be bowled out for 159 thanks to a 51 from Paul Garrott looked 20 to 30 runs short. Rickmansworth did bowl well. They won by 4 wickets thanks to a fifty from their skipper, if we had taken some tough catching chances, we might have won the game.
Taking to the last game with Reed needing to win to go up. Harpenden got 205-8 on a flat wicket; it was not our best bowling and fielding performance. But we chased it down with ease in 30 overs thanks to a 70 from Richard Johnson and 76 not out from Scott Nash and 40 not out by Marcus Baker to guarantee promotion which was the aim for the season.
Some good performances through the whole team with Rhodri top scoring with 284 runs at 28.4, Rob Willoughby 279 at 31, Scott Nash 277 at 39.57, Marcus Baker, 258 at 21.50 and Richard Johnson 205 at 51.25. Some good batting from the bowlers as well.
Some good bowling from Jason Archer 23 at 7.65, Will Archer 21 at average 20, Aiden, 17 wickets at 8.94, Owen with 13 wickets at 21.07 and Steve Hughes 12 wickets at 12.08 but good performances from all the bowlers.
The fielding throughout the season was excellent and everybody in the team made a key contribution in certain games for the 3’s to finish 2nd and gain promotion of one league division for next season.
Rhodri Hughes, Captain, RCC Third XI.
