Reed 2’s hosted Eversholt 2’s on Saturday, looking to kick start their league season with a 1st win of the campaign.After winning the toss, Captain Jason Archer decided to bat in the overcast conditions. Brothers Ben and Matt Bowles opened the innings for Reed and went about the task of building a total in a typically cautious manner. Despite a few scares, particularly for Matt Bowles, the pair successfully negotiated the tricky conditions, and saw off the opening bowlers. The opening stance yielded 64 runs, before Matt Bowles was finally out, caught behind for a gritty 38. Reed then suffered a batting collapse, going from 64-1 to 78-6, with John Heslam and Chris Shorrock both failing to work the scorers, and Ed Garrott (5) and Karl Ward (9) also succumbing to good bowling, To add to the woes, Ben Bowles soon followed for 18.With a measly total on the cards, the job of salvaging the innings fell on the shoulders of Richard Robertson and Steve Lovegrove. The pair batted magnificently in first steadying the ship, and secondly building not only a respectable, but challenging total. Robertson was timing the ball perfectly, and made his way to a score of 43, and Lovegrove ‘nudged’ and ‘nurdled’ the ball around to great effect on his way to a score of 40. When the pair finally departed, Reed were in a far healthier position. Big hitters Andy Young and Jim Allsopp then added a few more valuable runs to the Reed total with some hefty blows to leave Reed on 183-9 off of their allotted 53 overs.Eversholt struggled early on in their innings whilst trying to reach Reed’s total. The pace of Andy Young was clearly unsettling the [...]

Reed extended their unbeaten league run again on Saturday by registering a third consecutive victory over Eversholt by 9 wickets. Reed lie top of League Division 2, 20 points clear, and showed clear signs of even more improved consistency, particularly in the bowling department, as they dismissed Eversholt of a mere 73 runs. It was marked notably thanks to 5 wickets from Andrew Emms in the space of 10 balls which included a hat-trick.Even though Reed lost the toss, and were asked to field, Eversholt could not have got off to a worse start, as Peter Tidey’s (13-6-22-1) probing and accurate spell of swing bowling pinned down the openers. In conjunction with an increasingly belligerent and accurate display by Graham Wilson (13-7-23-3) sharing the new ball, the pair dismissed the top four batsmen for 19 runs with Wilson making key breakthroughs at key points. With Eversholt struggling on 19-4 after 16 overs, T Wisson (28) and L Presswell (15) were patient and grafted hard against accurate bowling to drag the score to 56. However, when Wilson and Tidey both took a rest, William Clarke (5-0-12-1) took the key wicket of Presswell LBW to create an opening into the lower order.Andrew Emms (5-0-12-5) took full advantage of this as he continued to remove Wisson, Nicholes (0), Litchfield (9) and Macmillan (0) within the space of three balls, also thanks to a sharp stumping from Simon Jackson down the leg side. Morgan and Avis at number 10 and 11 failed to make any further runs as Emms in the following over removed Avis, again thanks to a sharp catch by Simon Jackson.Eversholt had crumpled to 73 all out after 35.5 overs, and it took Reed only 17.5 [...]

Reed surged to top of the table after their first two League games on Saturday as they chased down a strong total posted by newly promoted Cockfosters. Lucky to avoid the rain, which affected the majority of the county, Reed are now 22 points clear of 2nd place.Despite a weakened team, with Andy Young making good progress with his knee following surgery, and Tom Fulk unavailable due to European commitments, Reed mustered a respectable performance to snatch a full 30 point.Winning the toss, Reed elected to field on a very damp wicket that changed very little during the afternoon. However, despite an early breakthrough with the score on 3 by Graham Wilson (13-1-46-2), who managed to get good swing throughout, Cockfosters could have been struggling. But some solid and responsible batting from C Stead (46), S Penny (25) and M Fisher (66) recovered Cockfosters effort. The trio pushed the score along at a steady pace, until Chris Jackson (5-1-14-1) was introduced to the attack and bowled Stead, Graham Wilson bowled Penny with a classic outswinger and Peter Tidey’s (17-3-73-2) reintroduction down the hill also brought hope as he picked up two key wickets. However, B Wood (49) dug in to steady the Cockfosters boat. With Karl Ward (6-2-37-1) also picking up his first 1XI League wicket, Cockfosters declared after 50 overs with their total on 227 for 6.Despite some steady rain as the teams convened for tea, Reed came out batting responsibly to chase the total down. Baz Curtis (57) scored his maiden league fifty of the season. His measured and responsible innings marked a fine beginning to his season. Together with James Heslam (93*), who again is experiencing a solid beginning to the season, [...]

Reed 1st XI hosted a pre-season local derby on Saturday against Buntingford, and began their preparations for the National Village Cup match the following day, and the imminent beginning to the League season well as they strangled Buntingford to an 87 run victory in a 45 over aside match.On a glorious spring day, Reed elected to bat on an unusually dry wicket after winning the toss. Baz Curtis (47) and James Heslam (84) got Reed off to a scintillating start with a 151 run partnership with Buntingford desperate for a wicket from somewhere. When the pair were finally dismissed by Pearce (9-0-36-2) in quick succession, Chris Jackson (18) and Tom Fulk (23) took over the reins, but Chris Chambers (8-1-35-4) stopped them in their tracks by making a double strike, followed swiftly by bowling Marcus Martin for a duck. It was left to Simon Jackson, Reed’s ex-1XI skipper, to lead a measured, mature and energetic innings of 21, with late support from William Clarke (10) and Dale Shepherd (2*) to haul the score to 246 for 8 off 45 overs.Buntingford’s reply began slowly and poorly, as Jim Allsopp (9-1-22-2) removed M Cootes (8) and J Clements (12) cheaply, and when Shepherd (9-1-20-1) bowled C Ford (11), Buntingford were reeling. However, the ship was stabilised by Richard Pearce (48) and Chris Chamber (26), who although batted steadily, were unable to raise the run rate to the level required at any point. When probing bowling from William Clarke (8-1-29-1) removed Chambers, and Ed Garrott (10-0-48-2) had Pearce stumped by Simon Jackson, the run chase completely fizzled out, leaving them well short of the required total.James Heslam, who has succeeded Simon Jackson as 1st XI captain, commented after [...]

Despite the up coming club tour to the Cotswolds, Reed's 1st XI managed to keep focused on their promotion push. Thanks to efforts of groundsmen Richard Robertson and Jason Archer the ground was ready for the scheduled start at 1pm despite the weeks rain. Skipper James Heslam lost the toss, but wasn't too disappointed to be put into bat. Baz Curtis and Heslam took the score to 38 before Curtis middled one off the back of the bat and was caught at point. This brought in Chris Jackson who along with Heslam tamed the pitch. They put the bad ball away and along with some good running put on 86 for the 2nd wicket. Heslam was caught for 63, his second successive league 50. Jackson was LBW for 38 when the score was on 136. Reed could have wobbled, but with Tom Fulk scoring a measured 30 and a late flourish from Simon Jackson, 8, and Marcus Martin, 19, Reed posted a very respectable 213-6. This left relegation threatened Broxbourne with 1 point. Reed hoped this would force the visitors to attack their target.This Broxbourne did through the whole of their innings. They had reached a comfortable 29 before Peter Tidey struck, removing Dawson for 16. By the time the score had reached 49, Tidey and protege William Clarke had the visitors struggling at 49-4. When Tidey took his 4th wicket in his 10th over he had only conceded 17 runs. Both bowlers were well into their stride. Clarke took his second wicket in his 13th and final over. He took 2-36. A delighted Tidey picked up his fifer and left the home side in sight of victory as Broxbourne were 89-6. Broxbourne to their [...]

Reed slipped to third in Division 2 of the Saracen’s Herts League on Saturday after narrowly missing out on a victory against top-of-the-table Berkhamsted away.With skipper James Heslam returning from tropical climes, the game was finally blessed with similar weather as it finally felt like the cricket season. Searching for victory, Reed elected to bowl despite missing vice captain Andrew Young due to holiday.Reed opened tightly as Peter Tidey (16-6-55-2) began by pegging their openers B Langley (36) and N Seagrabe (18) in tandem with Graham Wilson (10-1-44-0). But 8 overs in, the skipper made a controversial move by removing the dependable Wilson from the attack and bowling Tidey in conjunction with William Clarke (17-4-40-3). It paid off as the pair tightened runs even more, and Clarke eventually made the early breakthrough having Seagrabe caught behind with a sharp chance by keeper Simon Jackson. The batsman was clearly disappointed with his decision, as the bat was sent skyward in the same manner as a Scottish cabre at a highland games. With Tidey then quickly removing no 3 S Hardy (6) thanks to a sharp catch by William Clarke at mid on, the momentum lay with Reed.When an under the weather B Hughes began opening his shoulders, the situation looked as though Berkhamsted were taking control until Clarke struck again removing Hughes, and new bowler Richard Johnson (10-1-32-1) removed the obdurate Langley together with his off stump. Clarke then followed up with the wicket of Herring (3) and 2 run outs ensued, the highlight a direct hit by James Heslam. Johnson claimed the difficult wicket of P Langley (30), but with I Cambill (28) and L Roberts (7) remaining at the crease, Berkhamsted managed to sustain [...]

Saturday was a bonus weekend for Reed as they bounced back to top of Division 2 with a 54 point boost. Not only did they rout Ampthill away, but also picked up a further 25 points after the Hertfordshire League adjudged Knebworth Park IIs to have fielded an ineligible player some 4 weeks ago in contravention of League rules.Saturday;s game unfolded with Reed fielding a side missing wicket keeper and ex captain Simon Jackson, but this did not hold them back as they dismissed Ampthill for a mere 129 in 42 overs.Despite losing the toss, Reed were asked to bowl on a true but slightly moist wicket. A tight opening spell from Peter Tidey (21-7-40-5) and William Clarke (10-2-31-1) saw the hosts off to a slow start, Clarke exploiting some variable bounce and seam movement in a hostile spell. This eventually brought rewards as he struck L Archer’s (12) off stump with a sharp delivery.With the score on only 23, this encouraged Tidey, who then dismissed P Clark (16) LBW followed swiftly with an uncharacteristic caught and bowled off a well struck ball from D Goul (0). Reeling on 29 for 3 this only brought G Rupping (30) and H Nittle (24) to the crease, as Rupping completed a succession of boundaries of Clarke, then new bowlers R Johnson (2-0-14-0) and Karl Ward (3-0-16-0). It took another special ball from Peter Tidey to trap him LBW. With Tidey in his stride, Andrew Emms (6-0-15-4) was brought into the bowling attack with immediate impact as Chris Jackson snaffled a half chance at mid off to bring new batsmen Esh (3) and Snowden (14) to the crease. But Emms and Tidey broke this partnership as they did [...]

Saturday saw Reed 1XI officially gain promotion to Hertfordshire’s premier cricket league, as they finished with 408 points, narrowly behind Berkhamsted to gain a position in Division 1 of the Saracen’s Herts League, facing many of Hertfordshire’s finest cricketing elite. With 408 points, Reed finished a comfortable 61 points ahead of third placed Flitwick.Despite promotion already guaranteed before the game started, as Flitwick decided earlier in the week not to appeal a decision by the Hertfordshire League to deduct 20 points for ineligible player selection, Reed aimed to end the season on a winning note, and they eventually produced one of the most thrilling games of the season, as their opponents Abbots Langley played a competitive and spirited game, eager to ensure their own survival in the Division.Losing the toss, James Heslam’s team were asked to bowl on a pitch which was distinctly suited to batsmen, and it was shown as Abbots Langley took early control. This was despite their opener C Foster being run out by an uncharacteristic piece of sharp fielding from Richard Johnson at point. However, C Smith (87) and T Porter (16) steadied the ship slightly taking the score to 26. Both Peter Tidey (13-6-35-0) with his season league haul of 36 wickets, and William Clarke (15-2-62-3) with his 28 wicket haul, struggled with the new ball on a true wicket. It took a fortunate inside edge of Porter’s bat to unsettle the visitors, as Clarke bowled him, but this proved a nail in Reed’s coffin as Carlisle (80) came to the crease whose intelligent and measured shot selection around the wicket, combined with Smith’s stubborn play, built a 145 run partnership taking the score to 171. It took the introduction [...]