Reed firsts crashed to a nine wicket defeat at the hands of St Albans in their Herts League Division 1 game on Saturday. Electing to bat first, Reed found runs hard to come by. Opening bowler O'Toole took two of the three opening wickets to leave Reed struggling on 41 for 3 in the thirteenth over. Baz Curtis with 29 only showing some resistant. The introduction of the left arm spin of Ramsay to complement the right arm spin of Surrey County player Murtza Hussain completely dried up any meaningful assault by the visitors. Only Chris Jackson with a patient 24 and older brother Simon with an unbeaten 26 held out. Lee Jonhson 13 and an unbeaten 14 from Bernie Morrs took Reed to 128 FOR 8 in their 53 Overs. St Albans showed why they are title contenders with a quick procession to their target in just over 27 Overs. Suffolk County Player Caley with a quick fire 72 led the hosts home he was supported by 31 from Howson and 22 from Arafat. Lee Johnson 1 fOR 35 the pick of the Reed bowling attack.

A depleted Reed first team played a strong Herts Premier League Sawbridgeworth in their 1st game of the season at home on Saturday.  Sawbridgeworth contained Andrew Richardson who was called up to the West Indies squad in 2007 and Michael Burrell who plays for Hertfordshire.  Whilst Reed were giving first team debuts to new players Bernie Morse and Joe Curk Surprisingly Reed were asked to bat Michael Burrell bowled a very tight early line and got the early scalp of Baz Curtis (7) before Chris Jackson (14) made a good start with his elder brother Simon.  Joe Curk (13) hit a few classy shots before he was the only wicket of West Indian Richardson.  Simon Jackson played Richardson very well on his way to 32 before being given out by occasional bowler Danny Wilson.  Debutant Bernie Morse, Ed Garrott and Rob Willoughby saw Reed to a very respectable 125 on a low scoring wicket.   In reply Sawbo got off to an awful start losing Tom Small to a magnificent catch by Graham Hazard off captain Andy Youngs bowling.  Young (3 for 29) with his quick bowling also cleaned bowled Burrell 1st ball and Sawbo were reeling at 30 for 3.  Further changes to the bowling saw the rejuvenated Richard Johnson bowl probably his best first team spell of his career and was unlucky to finish with only 1 for 28 from his 9 overs.  In his first spell for the club Bernie Morse bowled an amazing spell bowling 9 overs, 5 maidens, taking 3 wickets for 4 runs.  Despite Reed taking regular wickets, excellent fielding and great enthusiasm Sawbo got to their victory with 4 overs left but only 3 wickets.   Stand in [...]

Letchworth gained more than ample revenge for their loss to Reed earlier this season with a nine wicket victory at The Green on Saturday.Asked to bat first, Reed were soon in trouble losing skipper James Heslam and Joe Curk in consecutive balls with just five runs on the board, the probing fast-medium bowling of Durham University opening bowler Ed Morse accounting for both wickets. Chris Jackson scored two boundaries before departing for just 11 and with Michael Curtis and Will Dobson soon following, the home side were precariously placed at 26 for 5 in just the thirteenth over. Stuart Smith and Simon Jackson set about trying to make a rescue mission but with Smith departing for just 3 it was left to Jackson to drop anchor to try and secure a defendable total. He did hold out for nearly ninety minutes for a gritty ten runs before falling to the off-spin of Marsh. It was left to the last wicket pair of Lee Johnson (14 not out) and Andy Young (34) to take them up to 99 All Out off just 43.4 overs. Morse with 4 for 37 and Marsh 4 for 41 the pick of the Letchworth attack.Letchworth then proceeded to their target with little problem and seemed as they reached 103 for 1 in just 18 overs. South African Seb Franke- Mattecha unbeaten on 54. Lee Johnson (1 for 27) picking up Reed's only wicket and indeed their only point out of the game.The defeat leaves Reed fourteen points above Hoddesdon who they must avoid losing to in their last League game to preserve their First Division status for next year.

Reed 1XI recorded their second Herts League victory of the season in Divison 1 against Letchworth away on Saturday as they trounced the hosts by 35 runs in an all round performance with bat, ball and in the field.  It also marked a successful weekend for the club as they recorded a 90 point victory for the club, with wins for the 1XI, 2XI and 3XI.Having lost the toss and being asked to bat, Reed racked up 225 for 6 on a good batting wicket in 52 overs.  Despite the early loss of Baz Curtis (7) to Oxford University bowler Ed Morse (11-1-47-1), skipper James Heslam (64) and Joe Curk (81) plundered runs off Morse, S Franke-Matt (8-0-45-0), A Newland (9-2-32-0) and A Jenkins (5-0-30-0).  Their 137 run partnership set the platform for an all round batting performance, that saw Curk dominate the bowling attack scoring his 81 in 113 balls, his fifty in only 73 deliveries.  Heslam built his innings patiently.  Marked by some punishing cuts and pulls, the pair drove Reed towards maximum batting points.  When Curk fell LBW to D Marsh (19-3-65-4), it brought Chris Jackson to the crease who picked up where Curk finished by building a patient 40 off 56 deliveries.  But Heslam then fell with the score on 169 to Marsh in the deep, and Phil Frenay (14), Will Dobson (2) and Simon Jackson (1) could not muster resistance as the former two were stumped off Marsh, and the latter run out trying to stimulate the score in the closing overs.  William Clarke (5*) then joined Jackson (40*) in the closing over to pull the score to 225 for 6.Following the tea interval, T Cranston (45) and J Hilliard [...]

Reed's hangover from their National Village Cup exit continued as they lost to Knebworth Park in their Saracens League Division 1 match on Saturday.Electing to bat first Knebworth Park were restricted somewhat in their scoring by tight bowling from Andy Young (3 for 41) and Lee Johnson (1 for 24). Young accounted for three of the first four wickets to fall. At 59 for 4 Reed were well on top. An unfinished partnership between Sargeant & Holmes took Knebworth Park to 95 before Holmes was forced to leave the field with a leg injury.Pete Tidey removed Sergeant for 26 soon after and Will Dobson took the wicket of Slade, Knebworth Park were still short of a respectable score at 124 for 6. Enter young Wicketkeeper Louis Champion (38) ansd Sam McCrow (42) who engineered a much needed 50 partnership. Two late Joe Curk wickets (2 for 14) left Knebworth Park 195 for 9 off hteir 53 overs.In reply Reed set off at a reasonable rate before James Heslam fell to Brook for 7. Curtis (30) soon followed and despite a good 25 from Joe Curk, Reed were precariously placed at 81 for 4. Will Dobson ground out a gritty 27 but when he departed Reed were 117 for 6. The nagging accuary of Brook (8 for 53) and the cunning off-breaks of the Knebworth Park Skipper Turner (2 for 42) left Reed nowhere to go and they subsided to 132 All Out on the 39th Over. Knebworth Park winning by 63 runs. Reed do pick up nine points but slip to eighth in the table ahead of their "sixty pointer" next weekend against Totteridge Millhillians at The Green.  

Reed 1XI hosted their first Division 1 match at the Green on Saturday as they hosted Knebworth Park 1XI.Yet it was unfortunate as both teams walked away with 10 points after the match was abandoned after only 15 overs with the score on 51-1.Having lost the toss on a green wicket, James Heslam’s men were put into bat on a pitch that appeared to offer substantial assistance to the seam bowlers.  However, it was not to be as James Heslam (17*) concentrated hard to build an early innings and Baz Curtis (25) mixed concentration with some swashbuckling shots.  When Curtis fell caught and bowled to a well struck half volley, this brought Joe Curk to the crease who got off the mark in impressive style with a lofted flick off his pads for 4 over midwicket, followed by a similar shot for 6 the next ball.But the rain settled in, and when the teams left the field, it continued.  An early tea was taken, but the condition of the pitch was considered unfit for play, and the match abandoned.Frustratingly, other teams in the division managed to complete games, allowing them to extend a leading stretch over those who were denied by weather.James Heslam, rueing the weather, commented: “It was frustrating, as I felt we got a good start in difficult conditions, but the umpires made the right decision.  Joe was looking in ominous touch, and it was nice to get some time at the crease myself.”

Reed 1st XI produced another excellent display with both bat and ball against Hoddesdon on Saturday at The Green to earn themselves consecutive league victories. Bernie Morrs returned figures of 18-1-59-5 to restrict the visitors to 188-9 off their allotted 53 overs. In reply James Heslam scored an unbeaten 94 as he guided his team to 192-3 in the 41st over. The game began poorly for Reed with some wayward bowling and a number of dropped chances. However in the 9th over with the score on 37 Lee Johnson (1-41) made the breakthrough, trapping Gandon LBW. Hoddesdon continued to take the game to Reed with coach Young looking agonisingly on, until the first drinks break when the game started to go Reed’s way. The decision to take the pace of the ball and replace the seamers from the top end, with the wily slow left arm of Morrs was thoroughly justified as he and Tidey (1-49) began to exert considerable pressure on the Hoddesdon batsman. The next 20 overs yielded just 43 runs for the visiting side for the loss of 4 wickets. Tidey was able to swing the ball throughout his spell and Morss found just enough turn on a batsman friendly track. Tidey’s mammoth 20 over spell comprised of 6 maidens in total including 4 consecutive maidens. As he began to tire, the “spin twins” of Reed were united for the first time, with Dobson (2-16) ably assisting Morrs. Dobson succeeded in removing Coutts in the 50th over, the only batsman to really offer any patience and resistance against the Reed attack and this allowed the opposition’s total to be kept to a manageable 188-9. Reed’s reply got off to a shaky start when Curtis [...]

Reed First Eleven's Saracens First Division adventure came to an end on Saturday as they were beaten by Hoddesdon by nine wickets and relegated to Division 2 for next season. Asked to bat on a slow, damp wicket Reed quickly lost Michael Curtis for 6, Will Dobson and Joe Curk (on his last appearance before returning to Australia) dug in for a 42 run partnership before they both departed in successive overs for 12 and 29 respectably. Chris Jackson began to build a responsible innings and with Phil Frenay in tow took the visitors up to 110 before Frenay was caught on the boundary for 16. Jackson continued towards his fifty but as wickets continued to fall, an imposing total looked out of the question. Reed ending their innings on 162 for 9 off 48 Overs, ten overs being lost to a 35 minute rain shower. Jackson making a spirited 57. Hoddesdon skipper Brown with 3 for 52 and Zimbabwean Harcombe's 2 for 45 the pick of Hoddesdon's attack.      In reply, Hoddesdon were held in check early by some hostile fast bowling from Lee Johnson and skipper Andy Young. Young removing Byrne for just 2 lbw, at 10 for 1 Reed just had a glint of light. This was quickly exstinguished as Gandon and South Afican Rory Coutts crafted a match winning partnership. Try as they might Reed could not prise the two men apart and Hoddesdon moved comfortable to their target inside the 36th over. Young with 1 for 35, the only Reed wicket taker.Hoddesdon safety confirmed and Reed having to contemplate a return to Division Two Cricket.   

Reed moved up to sixth place in Saracens League One after gaining eighteen points in an exciting draw with Hitchin at The Green on Saturday. Asked to bat first, Reed lost Baz Curtis for 5 with the score on only 12. Joe Curk blitzed 25 in quick time before giving a catch to the Hitchin Wicketkeeper Danny Fair. After loosing both Chris Jackson & Phil Frenay cheaply the home side were wobbling at 64 for 4. Captain James Heslam and Will Dobson then crafted a brilliant 106 fifth wicket partnership. With Heslam falling for 85 (his six successive fifty plus score for the club this season) and Dobson soon following for a patient 38 it was left to Simon Jackson (24 not out) & Richard Johnson (22 not out) to steer Reed to a respectable 228 for 6 in 52 overs. Moore & Hammond both with 2 for 39 the pick of the Hitchin bowlers.   Reed struck early in the Hitchin reply with Lee Johnson (11-1-49-2) & Pete Tidey (15-5-42-3) leaving Hitchin at 60 for 4. A quick 18 from Fair steadied the ship slightly but with Hitchin at 87 for 5 , Reed were well on top. Then Bowyer (61) & Maylin (56) made a 91 sixth wicket partnership before both fell to an excellent stumping from Simon Jackson off the spin of Dobson (7-2-22-2). Try as they might Reed couldn't take the last two wickets and Hitchin were left on 191 for 8 off their 48 overs.

Reed buried the ghost of their earlier loss during the season to Dunstable as they recorded their first win since early July on Saturday.  It also helped close a relegation gap in their first season in division 1 of the Herts League.Having won the toss, Reed elected to bat and Baz Curtis (14) got the hosts off to a flying start with a punishing opening over against R Blake (8-1-39-1), but it was the bowler who had the last laugh as Curtis off stump was struck in the fourth over leaving Reed 20-1.  James Heslam, Reed’s skipper, was well set and he dismissed a recent poor run with a well crafted 33 until he was unlucky to be trapped LBW by C Stearn (8-3-27-2).  With J Curk (10), Chris Jackson (14) and Will Dobson (0) all falling cheaply to Luke Cherry (10-0-31-3) and Steve Watts (15-6-30-2), Reed were left reeling on 78 for 5.But this brought Stuart Smith (46) to the crease who crafted hard with wicket keeper Simon Jackson (2) to comfortably hold their wicket and use some overs.  Smith’s innings was epitomised with a resilient defence mixed with some forceful attacking shots.  When Jackson was caught and bowled by Stearn, a collapse seemed possible, but William Clarke (20) hit his first two balls for 4 and together with Smith, forged a valuable 54 run partnership against a grinding spin combination of S Watts and S Cherry (9-2-19-0).When Clarke was eventually bowled off his pads, Smith continued to battle with the tail, and dragged the score to 157 all out off 50.4 overs after he finally capitulated being caught at cover.Reed’s reply began well as Andrew Young (6-0-28-2) immediately reduced the visitors to 19-2 [...]