2013 1st XI Review
The 2013 season presented a new challenge to the young Reed 1XI after the highly successful 2012 campaign. This was a return to life in Herts Division One for the club after four seasons of consolidation and gradual progression in Division Two to make the necessary steps to make the top two in that league (never an easy task). For one reason or another, the pre-season preparations were not as strong as they had been in previous years, but despite this things got off to a positive start. One player who certainly hit the ground running was key all rounder Tom Greaves who scored two important fifties in the first two games, that saw us unlucky to be rained off when in control of the game against Luton Town and complete an excellent run chase against Flitwick (with five sixes in a row!) to put us top of the league two games in. A disappointing defeat at Old Finchleians followed with poor preparation not helping our chances, but the right response came in bowling out Hitchin for 98 at Reed and then comfortably beating St Albans to sit nicely in the top three after five games. In amongst the opening games, despite comfortably seeing off Eaton Bray, the National Village Cup defence didn’t last long due to the only really poor all round display I can remember from the 1XI in the last 2 seasons away at Wheathampstead. Returning to the Division One campaign, we were unfortunate to be rained off at Ampthill when we had them 28-2 and then to lose the toss to Totteridge Milhillians on a wet day which made it hard for our bowlers against a good batting side. Although we [...]