Reed 4s had a disappointing Saturday away to Waltham Cross Rosedale 4 finishing with only 8 points, and damaging their promotion push.Skipper Rob Willoughby lost the toss and was surprisingly asked to bat on a sweltering day on an artificial pitch. However, this looked to be a good decision from the opposition captain as Reed lost Peter Baker and John Kershaw early. This brought Rhodri Hughes to the crease to bat with Paul Garrott (26). Hughes batted very sensibly to settle the Reed innings. Hughes being only 16 showed his older team mates the way to play straight and then put away the bad ball. Unfortunately Reed lost Garrott then Willoughby quickly. Scott Caine (22) combined well with Hughes, but after he was out the rest of the Reed batting quickly followed. Hughes was out for 42, as Reed finished on a low 122 only picking up two batting points.After a fantastic tea, Reed kept the old ball hoping that it would swing for Joe Graves (1-35) and Jack Childs (1-21). Childs did pick up an early wicket and Graves the vital wicket of the opposition's opener, but it was the fielding of Caine that had the game on an edge. Caine effected two fantastic run outs, which combined with a wicket each for Willoughby (1-30) and Conley (1-12) had the hosts 6 down and still needing about 50 runs. However, an experienced campaigner led Waltham Cross Rosedale home with the help of one of their younger players, for no further loss of wickets. Reed lost by four wickets.

10 man Reed 4 entertained Watford Town 4 for what would be a rain affected draw. However, significantly there were four adult son combinations; Willoughby, Garrott, Rice, and Lalli. Watford won the toss and choose to bat. Without many options skipper Willoughby opened with George Garrott and spinner Sam Rice. Both bowled fantastically well, not giving away anything cheaply. They were also supported by fine fielding. The first four wickets were catches two for Chris West at keeper and one each for George Willoughby. The wickets being shared equally by George and Sam.Change bowler Willoughby (1-53) was not quite as economic but did induce a run out thanks to Paul Garrott. He then picked up the vital wicket of the Watford skipper, again thanks to Paul but this time with a catch down low. Mandeep Lalli (0-27) bowled efficiently and was unlucky not to get a wicket. George (3-42) and Sam (4-73) then returned to finish the innings, thanks to another catch by Willoughby a run out and a great and caught and bowled by Sam. Watford finished on 212 off 41.2.In reply Reed immediately lost the overs they gained from bowling out Watford early through a rain delay. In the end Reed had 34 overs to try to win the game. Openers Baker and Paul started cautiously as the pitch that was a road before rain became more awkward after being freshened up by the rain. Baker fell early for 4. However George came the crease and batted without giving a chance. George was the mainstay of the innings, as batsmen came and went with only minimal contributions. George finished on 100 not out, to draw the game and guide Reed to 147 for [...]

Reed 4 travelled to Welwyn Garden City 5 to complete a rain affected victory to continue to rise up the table. WGC won the toss and decided to bat on what was already a wet outfield at the beginning of the game. The pitch being artificial was largely unaffected.Openers Joe Graves and Jack Caine (0-32) restricted the run rate effectively, with Graves picking up the wicket of the captain thanks to fine catch from Paul Garrott, and finishing with 1-11. With the rain starting to come down, captain Willoughby was keen to get the overs in and brought himself and Reece Fitzgerald into the attack. This was the start of 14 overs for the talented youngster Fitzgerald who finished with 4-38.With the rain abating for a period, Josh Conley replaced Willoughby, and bowled an awkward length producing good bounce thanks to his height. Conley finishing with 2-27.The game was delayed for over an hour and early tea was taken. With the weather markedly improved after tea, WGC completed their reduced innings of 37 overs to score 125, which if it was not for some big hitting late in the innings would likely to have been below 100.In reply Reed opened with Pete Baker and Garrott. Baker fell early for 5, but Rhodri Hughes came to the crease and he and Garrott were steady and frustrating the bowlers. After the fall of Hughes (17), Scott Caine came in and upped the run rate. Caine combined well with Willoughby, after Garrott (33) was caught, to ease past the total comfortably with almost 5 overs to spare of their 33, with some big hitting. Caine finished on 23 and Willoughby on 38, both not out.

Reed batted first on a very damp Freeman wicket. Peter Baker and Paul Garrott got the Reed innings off to a steady start with Baker punishing the bad ball especially well. Garrott fell for 6, and Baker was joined by Rhodri Hughes who played well for his 32 runs. Baker was adjudged run out, for a well compiled innings of 36 when he looked to be home safely. John Kershaw came to the crease and played in his usual manner, flaying any short ball to the boundary. Nobody else really got going though and the steady Wheathampstead bowling attack never let the Reed batsmen get away and after Reed had batted for 47 over’s a score of 140-8 seemed to be about 30 runs light on a drying pitch. The pick of the bowlers being Z.Ahmed who took 4 wkts for 5 runs.In reply the Wheathampstead batsmen looked to have no answer to the young opening reed attack and at 30 for 4 then 48 for 5 Reed seemed to have a strangle hold on the game. But Joe Graves and Jack Childs only being able to bowl 7 overs and 6 overs respectively in that opening spell because of age restrictions, the initiative seemed to swing back towards the batsmen. Although all the Reed bowlers performed admirably they did not take another wkt. Tashin 41 no and Robbins 42 no managed to thwart the bowlers, picking up singles, and the odd boundary on their way to a 5 wkt victory which was achieved in the 40th over.

Reed 4 hosted promotion chasing Northwood Town 3 on a rain threatened Saturday at Freman. Skipper Rob Willoughby won the toss and decided to bat. However, this did not look the best option as openers Paul Garrott and Willoughby fell cheaply and were soon followed by Ben Moody. However, this must have lulled Northwood Town into a false sense of security as the classy Sam Deville and the dependable Alan Ward came to the crease. Both played punishing shots to the boundary whilst also running quick singles, taking apart the majority of the bowling attack. When Deville was out for 124 the pair had put on a record partnership of 218. Young Jag Lalli (2 no) then came to the crease to finish the innings with Ward who finished on 92 no. Reed finished on 249 off 45 overs declaring two overs early.In the field Reed opened with Owen Hughes and the returning Will Kirby. Both had contrasting styles with Hughes being more skiddy and Kirby getting more bounce. Both bowled well with Hughes getting a wicket in the first over, and also another in his last over of his first spell thanks to catches from Garrott and Deville. Kirby was unlucky not to get a wicket (0-35). Ward (1-47) and Sam Rice were the change bowlers. Ward using his experience to tie down the batsmen picked up a wicket thanks to a catch at first slip from Willoughby. Rice bamboozled the batsmen and at times was unplayable. Rice picked up a fantastic wicket bowled leaving the batsmen clueless, and finishing on 1-64.Willoughby then replaced Rice. After picking up two wickets Northwood Town looked out of the game. However, they started to up the run [...]

A fine batting display from Paul Garrott (97 no) and John Kershaw (92 no) ensured Reed 4s pick up maximum points on a wonderful Saturday afternoon at Freman. Captain Rob Willoughby won the toss and took the decision to bowl, as knowing his team were not going to get relegated he wanted victory to push Reed into promotion contention.Openers Joe Graves (8-1-28-0) and Steve Hughes (4-0-22-0) bowled tightly but knowing that anything slightly loose would speed away in the lightning outfield. Graves especially was unlucky not to get a wicket, but with not much happening off the pitch there was no help for the bowlers. Jack Childs 11-1-51-1) and Willoughby (18-0-64-2) were the change bowlers but again although bowling without conceding a huge amount of runs, struggled to get much out of the pitch. Willoughby picked up his two with a caught and bowled and a sharp stumping from keeper Chris West. Childs getting his thanks to a catch in the deep by the ever reliable Scott Caine.Veteran bowler Pete Baker (5-0-33-1) picked up the only other wicket with a catch from Garrott. Credit must also be given to the Old Owens skipper Hunter who carried his bat for 103 no. Hunter took his side to 202 for 4 declaring one over early at 46 overs.In reply Garrott and Baker (10) looked very comfortable going at an impressive run rate due to the very fast outfield. Baker was extremely unlucky to be caught at slip by a one handed diving catch from the most athletic of the Old Owens fielders! This only brought John Kershaw to the crease. Garrott and Kershaw have wildly contrasting techniques when batting. Garrott a more classical opener whilst Kershaw bludgeons [...]

Due to limited availability and two late call offs from higher sides on Friday, a weakened Reed 4s took on Rebourn 4s. It was to the credit of the club's youth structure that Reed fielded a full 11. Skipper Rob Willoughby lost the toss and was asked to field.After initial tight overs from openers Giblin (0-23) and Conley, it soon became apparent that Reed were due a long afternoon in the field. Rebourn's opener started to score with ease and in the end scored 163, after being run out. Before this Coldicott-Stevens (0-23), Childs (0-34) and Ward (0-53) found it difficult to get wickets against the solid openers. A change in the pace of bowling with Willoughby (2- 62) coming on bought the first wicket. Willoughby' s second was thanks to a sharp catch from Moody keeping for the first time in senior cricket. Rice(0-43) bowled well and Conley (1-36) managed to pick up a wicket in his second spell. Redbourn finished on 279 for 4 after44.5 overs.In reply young Owen Hughes opened with Garrott but was out for a duck. This brought Moody to the crease. Moody played the good deliveries straight and then punished the bad balls to the boundary with ease. He finished on 47 for a finely constructed innings for anybody let alone a 14 year old. Garrott was out for 36 and Ward scored a good 37 on his return to the side. Several other batsmen reveived ducks but Bowman (35) and Giblin (31) managed to get Reed over 170 for their maximum batting points. Reed finished on 227 all out, to eventually lose the game.

Reed 4s travelled to Datchworth for a game that ultimately had to be abandoned due to rain. Captain Rob Willoughby won the toss and decided to bat. Openers Ben Bowles (9) and Peter Baker (46) started steadily on a slow pitch where scoring was not easy. The fall of two quick wickets brought young Jack Caine to the crease who immediately looked to up the run rate with some nice shots to score 18. After Caine was caught, Willoughby came to the crease and scored 85 not out. Willoughby was notably supported by Mike Naeem (20) and Joe Graves (16 not out). Reed scored 211 for 8 in their 47 overs.In reply Datchworth looked to score quickly, but good bowling by Graves and under 15 Jack Childs, prevented them getting away whilst creating chances for wickets. In the end the rain got the better of the game, but Graves did get a wicket thanks to a catch by Alan Ward. There was also a very good run out thanks to a direct hit by Caine.

Reed 4 travelled to Hertford 5 away but as luck would have it the fixture was at Hare Street, due to the nomadic arrangements Hertford have to make. Skipper Rob Willoughby lost the toss and was asked to field.Reed opened with Matt Goblin and Joe Graves, who both bowled tight lines and did not go for many runs. Giblin picked up 2 wickets thanks to catches from himself and Dom Mcomish. Graves was unlucky not to pick up a wicket in his first spell.Willoughby (10-1-41-1) then came on for Graves with Giblin continuing to bowl a spell of 12 overs. At first Willoughby and Giblin contrasted to keep the runs down, however, with the short boundaries runs did start to come off the bat and combined with 4 easy dropped catches and one difficult catch missed Hertford were picking up their batting points.Willoughby then turned to his young bowlers Owen Hughes (5-0-21-0) and Sam Rice (4-0-29-1) to hold up one end. Both bowled well largely restricting the scoring shots but again suffering with the short boundaries and having their bad balls punished. Graves and Giblin returned to finish off the innings, with Graves (13-0-48-1) picking up a deserved wicket caught Willoughby and Giblin (15-3-45-3) his third bowled. Hertford finished with 194 for the loss of 6.Reed knew the chase was possible due to the short boundaries. Unfortunately John Heslam, opening with Paul Garrott, fell for a duck, with Mcomish (10) and Steve Hughes (0) falling shortly after. Willoughby (28) then joined Garrott and immediately took the attack to Hertford, however lived and died by the sword getting out caught in the same over as hitting two sixes and a four.Under 14 Ben Moody then joined [...]

Reed 4s travelled to Leverstock Green 4s for their penultimate game of the season, knowing that they were safe from relegation. However the match did allow skipper Rob Willoughby to give debuts to 13 year old Matt Yates and his father Jerry.Willoughby won the toss and decided to bat. He opened the batting with under 13 Jag Lalli. Lalli is unfazed by any bowling that comes his way and occupied the crease for a significant time whilst allowing Willoughby to keep a reasonable run rate. Lalli was unlucky to be out played on for 5 as he did not look in any danger of getting out. This bought the inform Lloyd Bowman (14) to the crease who played some nice shots to the boundary. There were then useful contributions from Chris West (9) and Matt Giblin (16) who helped Willoughby keep the score going.Unfortunately after the loss of Giblin the wickets then tumbled with only Matt Yates (3) contributing with Willoughby. Willoughby was the last wicket being bowled for 89 trying to force some more runs. Reed finished on 149 all out.In reply Giblin and Neil Haslam opened the bowling against the experienced host batsmen. The runs were hard to come by, but no wickets fell. Leverstock Green knew they had plenty of overs to get the runs required. The first wicket came from the ever improving Sam Rice with a sharp catch behind by the tidy Chris West at keeper. Reed then struggled to look threatening with their bowling but it was debutant Matt Yates (1-15) who pick up the second with his last ball of his spell, bowling the Leverstock captain. Sam Rice (2-35) then picked up the third and final wicket thanks [...]