St. Margaretsbury win by 1 wicket It was a David and Goliath fixture, as Herts Division 3 Reed faced full strength and 2nd placed Premier league St. Margaretsbury "the equivalent of an Arsenal v. Cambridge United football clash" in the National Village Cup semi finals on Sunday. However, despite their sporting supremacy, St. Margaretsbury almost left with egg on their faces as they narrowly scraped an embarrassing 1 wicket victory on the final ball of the game, thanks to a nail-biting 24 carat performance by the local lads. Winning the toss, St.Margaretsbury elected to bowl on a damp pitch offering considerable seam movement. Yet the conditions and technically superior bowling failed to faze Baz Curtis (22) and James Heslam (24), whose magnificent timing, seeing Reed to a solid 41 run start. Chris Jackson followed up Curtis' role as he grafted a patient 27 with Richard Jerome (42), and wicket-keeper Stuart Smith, fresh from a useful League knock on Saturday, smashed an imperious 33, including a blistering hooked 4 and 6. Left armed spinner, M.Fisher (8-0-37-4), was clearly the pick of the St. Margaretsbury bowlers. Following a temporary shower, Reed registered a challenging 165 for 8 wickets in their 40 overs. Reed&Mac226;s reply shocked St. Margaretsbury as William Clarke (9-4-16-1) was taken for a mere 15 runs in his opening 7 overs, and Michael Berks' (9-3-40-1) made an early breakthrough by frustrating B.Wallis (5) into playing a rash stroke to mid-on. Despite being smashed for 10 in his first over by N.J.Anstead (21), Peter Tidey (9-0-60-3) came up trumps in conjunction with Smith who took a sharp catch and stumping opportunity to remove their highest run-scorer, T.Quirk (37). Clarke finished off his final two overs at [...]

Reed continued their fine start to the season when they beat South Loughton at the green on Sunday. Batting first, reed scored 244 for 5, aided by two fine knocks by Richard Jerome (106) and Stuart Smith (70). South Loughton were never in the chase and finished some 70 runs short of Reeds total (174-6).

Another extraordinary match took place on Sunday at Reed, as they entertained wandering side Saracens, which consisted of 6 Division 4 Holtwhites Trinibis League players. The game ended in an unlikely low scoring tie. Batting first, Reed began solidly reaching 47-1, as William Clarke (15) and Roger Bowcock (21) managed to successfully manage Australian opener Morgan (12-3-25-3) early on, who bowled with good pace and venom. But it was the father and son A and M Bigby combination which made the real inroads as they took 5 wickets between them. Struggling, following a middle order collapse of 67-6, 1XI opener Tom Fulk (47) and Tim Martin (15) managed to steady the ship. With some late runs by 2XI League bowler Jason Archer (17) at number 10, Reed limped to what appeared to be an uncompetitive 157 all out off 46 overs on a batting friendly wicket. However, Archer (18-6-43-1) got off to a dream start as he bowled his first 8 over spell for 8 runs, and some excellent bowling from u17 Cambridgeshire fast bowler Rupert Martin (8-3-25-0) ensured that Saracens began very slowly indeed. Yet without a breakthrough, the total was always attainable. Skipper, Clarke (10-2-34-2), brought himself on and managed to force the breakthrough as he bowled D.Owen third ball. Yet this brought P.Micallett (68) to the middle, who in conjunction with Peter Morley (43*), pushed the score to 20 short of the total, with ease. Yet Reed always felt that they had a chance to drawing the game if the could snatch a couple of wickets. It eventually came, when Clarke brought himself back on up the hill. Micallett, attempting a hook stroke after the field had been pulled in saving one, [...]

President's Day 2002 - Report

Reed Transition team chalked up another victory beating Over by 8 wickets,their colts once again performing with bat and ball.Batting first Over were all out for 55 in the 21st over.Wickets evenly shared Karl Ward 3-5,Marcus Martin 2-13,Marcus Baker 2-12,David Johnson 2-18. Reed then knocked the runs off in less than eight overs Karl Ward 27 not our ,ably supported by Richard Prankard 10 and Matt Bowles 13 not out.

Reeds Cricket Academy, came into fruition again this weekend as youngster Tom Fulk continued his blistering weekend form, cracking a chanceless 107, which followed his maiden league fifty on Saturday. Skipper Archer won the toss and elected to bat on another "Robbo's Road" of a wicket at Reed. His decision was well and truly rubber stamped by openers Fulk and veteran Roger Bocock, as the blend of youth and experience made light work of the North Mymms attack. The pair put on over a hundred for the first wicket until Bocock fell for a hard hiting 35. Fulk, joined by Ed Blissett then accelerated the run rate, scoring his second fifty of the game in around 20 balls, before being decieved by Ridge's slower ball. Blissett hung around and was left undefeated on 30 as Reed declared on 201-4. Mohammed 1-44 and Kieran Ward 1-15 - another Reed youngster guesting for the opposition- the pick of the North Mymms attack. Skipper Archer Reed's leading wicket taker this season held himself back, choosing to let more of Reeds colts grab the headlines. Pacemen Rupert Martin (1-26) and Karl Ward (3-16) repayed their skipper's confidence in spades producing an accurate probing spell of bowling which never allowed the NM's openers to gain a foothold. Archer (3-23) and Reed legend Clive Collins (1-24) then boke the back of the innings Archer removing dangerman Mohammed for 46. This allowed Archer to return to his youth policy, with Marcus Martin (2-9) and Ward returning to mop up the tail, dismissing North Mymms for just 96. Archer remarked "after another 60 point weekend in the league with both Is and IIs top of their leagues it was nice to let the [...]

Reed youngster Thomas Fulk continued his outstanding batting form on Sunday, with another fifty following on from his century the previous week. The Sunday side travelled down to the capital to face strong opponents North Enfield. Skipper Archer won the toss and chose to bowl first on a pitch which looked like it would suit his legion of seam bowlers. Allsopp and Archer bowled well getting plenty of movement and variable bounce off a pitch which offered a great deal of assistance to the opening quicks. The Enfield batsmen rode their luck with several close LBW appeals and more than the occasional edge which either failed to carry or sailed past the awaiting cordon of slips and close catchers. After 17 overs Watts (39) and Clark (18) had reached a less than fluent 50 stand, but the after the introduction of Collins and inparticular Haslam (4-22) the tide started slowly to turn in Reeds' favour. Collins the wily old veteran tied up one end restricting the scoring opportunities, whilst Haslam's inswing coupled with prodigious bounce soon had the N.E batsmen making the solitary journey from pavillion to crease and vice versa. The first change bowler's spells over, Allsopp (2-27) reurned to devastating effect coupled with fiery young Marcus Martin (4-11) they restricted the middle and lower order to very few scoring possibilities while taking wickets at regular intervals. After 41 overs of toil for the home side their innings closed on 114 all out. Watts, Clark and exras the only participants who reached double figures. A miserly target on an increasingly more difficult surface, Archer entrusted the first phase of the run chase to Bowcock (24) and Fulk (50*). Enfields bowlers proceded to charge in, [...]

In a high scoring match on Sunday Reed Seconds beat Newport by 6 wickets with 5 overs to spare.On a good batting track and with the outfield lightening fast but in places not easy to field on the young Reed team had their work cut out as Newport reached 230 for 8 in their 40 overs,Moult top scoring with 53. Wickets were shared with Marcus Baker 3-18 , Matt Bowles 2-43, William Heald 1-16, Karl Ward bowled tidily 0-21 from seven overs but pick of the bowlers was fast medium Rupert Martin with 2-24 from his eight overs. Reed needed a good start and lost Alan Ward for 13 with just 31 on the board. But they were soon up with asking rate as 17 year old Marcus Martin and 16 year old William Heald put on 97 for the second wicket before Martin was caught for 48. However Heald went on an all out attack aggressivley pulling and driving the Newport bowlers.He didnt look like getting out as he reached his maiden century for Reed ,finishing on 126 not out including 24 boundaries. At 199-4 he had been joined by Marcus Baker and although the light was fading neither batsmen had problems seeing the ball as they finished with a flourish of fours taking 16 off the 35 over to win the game.

Reed traveled to Thorley. After some great bowling from own stalwarts Clive Collins (4 for 22 from 8 overs) and Richard Robertson (2 for 2 off 6 overs) saw Reed bowl the opposition out for 124. Reed Captain Simon Jackson took the game to Thorley with the bat, cracking is 1st half century of the season, before being caught in the deep with Reed nearing their target. However Ed Blissett saw Reed through with a solid 32 and a 5 wicket victory.

On Sunday Reed II entertained Titanic from Hertford. Batting first Reed reached 193 for 7 in their alloted 40 overs.Opener Peter Baker scored 42 but Marcus Martin top scored with another good knock of 83 not out.Partnered by James Radmore 37 they put on 83 for the 5th wicket. In reply Titanic were 131 all out.Marcus Martin rounded off an excellent aftenoon as he took 2 for 11 in four overs, ran out two players and held a catch. David Johnson took the last 3 wickets finishing with 3 for 9, Paul Watts, Marcus Baker and James Radmore chipped with a wicket each.