A welcome return to The Green for Reed’s Sunday Seconds saw a mammoth total amassed by the home side. Having played away for most of the season Reed were happy to have the home advantage again and with just the one game being played they could boast to having one or two first teamers in their ranks. Freddy Stuart was captain for the day, he lost the toss but came away with the result he wanted regardless with Reed being inserted.Despite an early loss, Reed scored quickly. Sean Tidey and Michael Robertson refused to play in anything but top gear with boundaries coming left, right and centre. Tidey’s assault saw him quickly get his half century. Robertson (32) finally fell after shooting one straight up. At that time the score was 85 for 2 from only 7 overs. Freddy Stuart came to the crease and joined in for a time playing to his strengths with some fantastic late cuts. Reed’s captain made 12 before being bowled and making way for Richie Barlow. Meanwhile Tidey was still blasting away in making yet another devastating century. He eventually retired hurt after a spell of cramp with 132 including 12 fours and 9 sixes. Barlow then took charge of Reed’s innings and although the run rate noticeably dropped off in Tidey’s absence the home side continued to score fluently. Barlow, looking classy (61) and Josh Caldecott-Stevens (11) batted well together after drinks. Knocks from Marcus J.E. Baker (24) and Jack Tidey (39*) added to Reed’s mighty total which finished on 338-9.With such a huge total Freddy Stuart had the luxury of rotating the bowling to give everyone a go. Joe Graves and Josh Caldecott- Stevens opened the Reed [...]

Reed’s Sunday Seconds held out against the rain to ensure a comfortable 9 wicket win over Stevenage III’s. Playing on the main ground the visiting Reed side bowled first after captain Marcus J.E. Baker won the toss.A strong side wind was present during most of the first innings and it was an added factor for Reeds opening bowlers Joe Graves and Jack Childs to battle. Both, having accustomed themselves to the wind, started bowling some good tight lines. Childs got the first wicket of the day removing the opposition captain for 0. However, troubles with his run up led to him being replaced prematurely by Rob Willoughby. The simple style of Willoughby did not allow much to be scored off the bat and when eventually partnered with Josh Conley they saw Reed to drinks with a modest total on the board.Willoughby (0-30) would finish un-rewarded due to some at times poor fielding. Conley claimed two, one bowled and another thanks to a catch from Peter G. Baker running in from gully. He would finish with 2 for 33 from his 8 overs. Sam Rice began to tie the opposition in knots as he spun the ball both ways leaving Stevenage un-sure on their shot selection. Combined with Rice was P.G. Baker and Rhodri Hughes bowling alternate overs from the same end. The plan was to not allow the batsmen to feel comfortable at the wicket with constant variation and change in rhythm. The tactics proved successful as Baker (1-17), Hughes (1-4) and Rice (1-25) took wickets. Their triumvirate came to end leaving a single over each to be bowled by Childs and Graves. Childs, thanks to Lloyd Bowman taking his second catch of the day, [...]

With one ear to the radio Reeds Sunday Second XI travelled the short journey to neighbours Cockenhach whilst listening to the incredible last day of the exciting first test of the home Ashes series. Reeds fixture would also prove to be an exciting one as they played rather than the usual 40 over a-side game a 20/20.The hosts won the toss and elected to bat. This was fine with Reed skipper Marcus J.E. Baker as it allowed Cockenhach, who regularly play 20/20, to set the tempo of the game. Under 13 Ed Kershaw opened for Reed and delivered some good deliveries but unfortunately suffered from Dev (13) and Hughs (20) big hitting. Josh Caldicott-Stevens stood up for his opening partner by removing both, one caught and the other bowled. The under 15 playing his first adult game sent down 4 overs of superb lined bowling, taking 2 for only 14. Wickets were also taken by Zak (1-29) and Josh (1-16) Conley as well as Rob Lankaster (1-23). Reed had done well to limit the amount of boundaries during the middle overs and the final total of 147 for 5 seemed beatable.M.J.E. Baker (4) started the Reed reply poorly. Over confidence from his last two innings meant he did not last past the third ball. However, his absence from the crease came with the benefit of allowing Rob Lankaster to start a remarkable innings. Lankaster played the perfect 20/20 knock, finding the boundary regularly with pulls and drives. More importantly though was his running between the wickets. He put pressure on the opposition by turning ones into two and creating singles from nowhere. In this enterprise he was well supported by Lloyd Bowman (22) as they [...]

Closing out July Reed’s Sunday seconds travelled to face Guilden Morden. Reed, earlier this season had beaten Guilden when they hosted them in their opening game. For the return fixture, Reed wanted a second win over their annual rivals.Rhodri Hughes acted as captain for Reed and was not overly disappointed when having lost the toss was asked bowl first, therefore allowing the older and more experienced hosts to set the target. An early onslaught from M.Robinson (47) was quelled when Freddy Stuart (1-31) caught him off his own bowling. First change bowlers Richard Barlow (8-3-23-1) and Marcus J.E. Baker (1-25) sent down some troubling deliveries to hold up the Guilden batsmen. However, Bates and Williams hung in there and started to put a few boundaries away. A change of bowling again proved fruitful when R. Hughes brought himself on and removed Bates (30). Hughes would go on to take a superb catch at long on to remove the potentially dangerous Sam Ingrey (15). There was also good catches from Freddy Stuart at deep midwicket and Lloyd Bowman at mid-off as Reed’s high fielding standards were kept to. Dom McOmish proved the most lethal bowler as he accounted for three wickets for only twenty six. Owen Hughes who had earlier opened the bowling came back and removed two good wickets. Reed could not quite remove the final wicket as the hosts finished on 178 for 9.Rhodri Hughes led from the front with the experienced Peter Baker as they put on 40 for the first wicket. However a sudden collapse saw Reed reduced to 63 for 4 including the loss of the two openers. Graham Stuart, who had come in at number 3, decided that despite the [...]