Reed entertained possible promotion rivals Knebworth Park II’s on a glorious day up at the Green, with both teams looking to assert themselves at the top of the table. Skipper Bernie Morss won the toss and elected to bat on what appeared to be a belter of a wicket. Reed’s openers made a solid start to proceedings, negotiating the new ball effectively and punishing some wayward bowling. With the score on 43, Fergus Martin appeared unlucky to be adjudged LBW for 14, when he got an inside edge on to his pad. The wicket brought Chris Jackson to the crease, he, combined with James Heslam set about dominating Kneboworth’s attack, both playing shots all around the ground. Heslam looked in ominous form as he eased towards his third century of the season, and in doing so placed his team in a strong position to post a challenging total. Having put on 122 for the second wicket Chris Jackson was bowled for 46. Tom Fulk was next in and was a victim of trying to force the pace towards the end of the innings, falling for 8. With the score at 193-3 Phil Frenay joined Heslam in the middle. At first Frenay was content to work the single, maintaining Reed’s momentum and allowing the in-form Heslam to hit the boundaries. However by the 51st over at 264-3 when Morss called an end to the innings, Frenay had scored a brisk 29 off 25 balls and Heslam finished with a magnificent 149 not out. Reed started brightly with the new ball, although initially without luck, as Lee Johnson (13-1-66-1) bowled Knebworth Park’s opener only for it to be called a no-ball. Johnson worked up a fair head [...]

Reed 1st XI travelled to Harpenden II’s last Saturday on a hot and humid summer’s day. Reed won the toss and elected to bat on what appeared to be a hard and true pitch. Reed had revised their batting order slightly for this game, with Richard Johnson accompanying the in form James Heslam at the top of the order. Unfortunately this had little affect as R Johnson was bowled for 2. This brought Chris Jackson to the crease, hoping to prolong his recent run of good form. However he did not last long as he was run out comfortably having slipped over, also for 2. Tom Greaves was next in and he and Heslam set about stabilising the innings. Greaves, having survived a blow to the helmet from his first delivery, was the aggressor. He played a number of thumping drives down the ground and classy flicks over square leg. He was ably supported by Heslam who took the more cautious approach. Having put on 93 for the 3rd wicket and both registered there half centuries, Reed suffered a double with both Greaves and Heslam going in quick succession. Greaves was caught at mid-wicket, pulling, for 56 and Heslam was caught behind for 51. This sparked a spectacular batting collapse which resulted in the last 8 wickets falling for just 40 runs. First to go was Phil Frenay who misjudged an inswinging full toss and was given out LBW for 0. Ed Garrott was soon to follow, caught behind for 3. Si Jackson offered some resistance facing 35 balls for his 9 before being run out, with same fate happening to Lee Johnson, out for 1. Kallum Ward on his 1st team debut made a [...]

Reed travelled to Flitwick on Saturday in need of a victory to maintain their promotion push. On what was a glorious day for cricket, Bernie Morss won the toss and elected to bat despite the pitch looking lush after a week of showers. Reed lost opener Phil Frenay early on as he was yorked for 3. This brought the in-form Chris Jackson to the crease and he and James Heslam looked to rebuild the innings. C. Jackson was soon into his stride and scored at a comfortable rate, taking advantage of some over pitched bowling. Heslam, although not scoring as fluently as Jackson, was looking in ominous form. The pair looked set for big scores, but just as C. Jackson made it to his half century, an error of judgement led to him being caught at point for a well made 53, leaving Reed 101-2. Tom Greaves was next in, however his stay was short as he was adjudged caught behind for 0. Marcus Martin looked comfortable at the crease until he was bowled for 4 which brought in Richard Johnson. Johnson (15) played some delightful drives and it looked as though he and Heslam could form a meaningful partnership. Unfortunately for the team however, Heslam perished, run out for 63, and with him went Reed’s hopes of making a total much over 200. Next out was R. Johnson, caught for 15. Some lusty blows from Lee Johnson (16) and quick running between the wickets from Si Jackson edged the total closer to 200, however after L. Johnson was run out, both Bernie Morss and Graham Wilson could not add much to the tally, both making 1 and leaving Andy Young 0 not out. Despite [...]

East Haddon won the toss and elected to bowl  On a sunny and warm day in Northamtonshire Fergus Martin and Phil Frenay opened the batting for Reed on East Haddon's artificial surface, putting on an impressive 112 for the first wicket, against some  inaccurate deliveries from the open bowlers of the home side.  Phil was first to be dismissed for 36, hitting a delivery from young leg spinner Povey to the fielder at deep mid wicket, who took a comfortable catch.  Chris Jackson was next in and move along nicely to 20 before being caught off the off spin of Berger, attempting to increase the scoring rate.  This led to the introduction of Tom Greaves who played some characteristic aggressive shots including a big six of a full toss from Berger.  During this feast of extras, expansive shot making and wickets falling young opener Fergus Martin was plying his trade, cleverly rotating the strike and playing some classy shots, including an extra cover drive off East Haddon's best bowler Southam.  Martin's innings was completed in the 40th over after being bowled by Keeping for 78,  bring Karl Ward to the crease to face the final few over of the innings.  Reed's inning was completed on 216 with Tom Greave's not out on an impressive 31. The Johnson’s, Lee and Richard opened the bowling for Reed and despite the artificial surface slow pace suiting neither bowler an early break through was soon made, with Richard Johnson clever slower ball being pulled to Young at mid wicket  who completed a sharp catch.  The next phrase of play proved to be East Haddon best, when the home sides South African captain Berger came to the crease.  Berger and the opener Brown played well taking the home side to 73 before Richard Johnson took his second wicket, removing Brown [...]

On a bright sunny day Reed 1st team started the 2009 league campaign away to Cockfosters. Reed won the toss and elected to bat and lost their first wicket in the first over; Fergus Martin getting a good deliver from M Stead that lifted and left the opener. On an afternoon of frustration, a series of Reed batsman seemed to be set for a long innings then got themselves out Chris Jackson 16, Edd Garrot 24 being the only notable scores in the middle order. Whilst all the wicket were falling James Heslam was constructing a match saving knock that took him to his century in the 40 over, before being caught of the bowling of the impressive Stead for 101, M Stead finishing with figures 4 for 35, James being supported ruggedly by Simon Jackson 23; Reed were dismissed in the 52 over for 205. Reed’s bowling after tea was as lose as its batting and Cockfoster found themselves in a strong position of being without loss in the eight over on 43 until Richard Johnson pick up the wicket of O’Leary (22) caught at mid wicket by Young. This loss of O’Leary and the introduction of Morss to the bowling attack lead to Reed’s most productive part of the game, Morss striking twice and Young Picking up the wicket of Copper, leaving Cockfosters struggling on 74 for 4. Next into bat for Cockfosters was captain Mat Fisher (31) and supported by Claxton (53) lead an assault on Reed’s bowling attack that proved to turn the game in the home sides favour, with M Stead scoring 24 at the end to complete his man of the match performance and the home sides win by [...]

Reed entertained Bishop Stortford II’s at the Green on Saturday, desperate to get back to winning ways after a series of draws. With Bishop Stortford down towards the foot of the table, Reed knew that this game could be the one to reignite there season. Skipper Bernie Morss won the toss and elected to bat. Reed suffered an early blow when Phil Frenay was adjudged LBW for 7. However, Bishop Stortford probably regretted taking this wicket, as it united the in-form pair of Chris Jackson and James Heslam who set about amassing a second wicket partnership of 157. This week it was the turn of Heslam to be the aggressor, although he still took his time early in his innings. As the game moved on, so did Reed’s run rate with Heslam in particular reaching the boundary regularly with an array of pulls and drives. C Jackson, creamed some elegant drives through the covers and the pair looked totally at ease, as the Bishop Stortford bowlers struggled to unsettle the pair at all. Heslam was first to go for yet another magnificent century, leaving C Jackson to finish the innings and reach his ton. The wicket brought Richard Johnson (3) to the crease, who didn’t last long, chipping a shot to midwicket. Tom Greaves was next in, and although he struggled to find the boundary, much to his annoyance, some good running between the pair and some fine stroke play from C Jackson produced a partnership of 48 for the 4th wicket which ended when Greaves was bowled for 15. Marcus Martin (3) unselfishly gave his wicket away for the team, running a risky second and finishing inches from home. With his brother at the [...]

Reed’s 1st team 2009 campaign continued in week three with an away fixture at Ampthill.   Chris Degnan the Ampthill captain won the toss and elected to bat on what looked to be benign track, with the home side’s confidence high after to two good wins in the previous couple of league fixtures.  Despite this confidence the opening pair of Morral and Rupping struggled against the pace of Johnson and the accuracy of Wilson and in the third of over of the fixture Johnson struck, taking the wicket of Morrail caught Jackson for 6. More score board pressure was applied over the next few over, leading to the running out of Rupping, this being caused by good work from Heslam and again wicket keeper Jackson.   The run out brought Archer (48) to the wicket and with his batter partner Gould (17), put on 45 for the third wicket before Gould was caught of the bowling of Wilson.  Wilson great spell continued removing the middle order of Ampthill for 10 ten runs leaving the home side 97 for 7 and then finally 109 all out, Wilson finishing with figures of 21.3-9-49-6   support by Morss 2 for 25 and  Johnson 1 for 26.In spite of some great bowling from Degnan 2-26 and Sneath, Reed made steady progress to the required target despite losing an early wicket.  Not for the first time this season Heslam was the hero carry his bat 65 not out support by Fulk 20 not out, Reed completing the victory 30 over.