Leverstock Green make Reed 1sts sweat
At 89-7 chasing 256 Leverstock Green looked dead and buried, but a fighting stand of 94 by the swashbuckling Vallance Morris (43) and the steady Jamie Wallis (30), aided by 25 wides, threatened an amazing comeback in the afternoon heat. However, with the introduction of Ed Wharton, who bowled both of them, claiming 2-34, Reed managed a 50 run victory. Earlier Tom Greaves with 3 wickets, including a stunning diving catch in the outfield by Matt Sampson to remove the dangerous Lewis Koch for a rapid 31, and 2 wickets for Toby Fynn had the opposition on the rack. In their innings, Reed had accumulated steadily with twenties from Rob Lankester and Sampson, the latter putting on 70 with Zac McGuigan, who made an accomplished 66.Yet when both were removed in successive overs a below par score seemed likely. Step up Stuart Smith, striking 11 boundaries in his 58 together with Marcus Martin (22) in a partnership of 81, which accelerated the innings towards 250. The tail did the rest. Reed have now won their first four league games this season. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.
Headlines; Week ending 2nd June
SATURDAY: First XI v. Leverstock Green. Batting first, Reed made 256 all out with half-centuries by Zac McGuigan and Stuart Smith. Leverstock Green lost wickets regularly although there was a late revival, nevertheless, they were bowled out for 206 largely due to Tom Greaves, (3 wickets), and Ed Wharton & Toby Fynn, (2 each). Second XI v. Hitchin. Wickets were shared around between Alex Kelly, Matt Giblin, Rupert Martin, Owen Hughes and Julien Fynn as Hitchin piled-up 270 for 8. Acting Captain Rupert T.B Martin top scored with MJE Baker and Rob Willoughby lending solid support, but unfortunately Reed were bowled out well-short of their target for only 128. Third IV v West Herts. I am afraid there is a pattern emerging. Before last Saturday, the most recent time the Third Team scored more than 300 was last season and they then conceded their next match the following week. The same has happened this time. Last week the Thirds made a winning 311 for 6 but this week had to concede to West Herts simply because only 4 (possibly 5) players were available. That should really read 26 or 27 (out of the 33 required to field three teams). Most of the regular “Third Teamers" were playing for the Seconds this week. SUNDAY: Return of The Outlaws. I am pleased that this match took place after rumours of absent players had been quashed. In the event, Rhodri Hughes and Joe Graves changed allegiance to the visitors and it was played as 10-a-side. Michael Juckes and Julien Fynn bagged two Outlaws each as they reached a not insurmountable 185 for 6. Reed's Colts were represented by William Archer and William Green both making their debuts in [...]
Social Media Abuse
A MESSAGE FROM THE HERTS LEAGUE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. All participants in the Herts League are reminded that Twitter Abuse of SHPCL or its management or of any participant will be severely dealt by the SHPCL Disciplinary committee. This extends to all Social Media outlets. Please consider carefully before posting anything. All participants in the Herts League are reminded that the Code of Conduct and Spirit of Cricket applies to Social Media as well as on the field of play. The League has been made aware of spoof twitter accounts and messages sent between participants that bring the League into disrepute. Any participant following or commenting on these spoof accounts could be considered to be complicit in their content and therefore risk their own, or their clubs, further sanctions. It is easy for the committee to see who they are. Therefore, we ask anyone engaged in this activity to immediately remove any likes, comments and even follows for these accounts and their critical messages. Friendly banter is welcomed, but these sites go way too far and it simply isn’t acceptable. After June 1st 2019 anyone engaged in this activity, even if just following an abusive twitter site or person, will face League disciplinary procedures.
Colts’ Round-up
The programme for all the Reed teams has started in earnest. There have been several changes to the match dates since the Club’s Fixture Card went to print in early-April meaning you will have to keep up to date by looking at the “Events Calendar” on this website. Hannah and the Team Managers inform me when matches have been re-arranged for one reason or another. Then, once I know them, I also enter the results in the post “Fixtures & Results (All of 2019)”. In the “View Entries” box I suggest you choose 100 then scroll down the list. Under 13s versus Royston (CYCA Cup). Reed 179 for 2, (Sam Osborne 33 retired, Charlie Butler 32 retired, Will Archer 21, Jacob Vincent 20 not out) beat Royston 67, (James Mitchell 2 for 8, Iestyn Hill 2 for 13), by 112 runs. The next opponents in the U13 CYCA Cup are Cambridge St Giles on a date to be fixed. Under 13s versus City of Cambridge (CYCA League). Reed 108 for 7, (Sam Osborne 33 retired, Charlie Butler 30 retired) lost to City of Cambridge 154 for 2, (Sam Osborne 2 for 18), by 46 runs. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-———————— Under 11s versus Thriplow (CYCA League). Reed 255 (Net) lost to Thriplow 283 (Net) by 28 runs. Thriplow batted first and made 283. Captain Tom Green was the pick of the Reed bowlers. In reply Reed ended up on 255 with Tom Green again contributing with the bat. His partnership with Eddie Cook gave Reed hope with others chipping in but unfortunately we couldn’t match the Thriplow score. The young Reed team consisted of 4 debutants - including 9 year olds Oscar Brickles, Jamie Rogers and Joseph Rhodes and [...]
Twin Tons at the FC Oval!
Reed III versus Bentley Heath II at Freman College, Buntingford on Saturday 25th May 2019. On an absolutely prince of a pitch at the notoriously high-scoring Freman Oval, Reed Third XI were back to their blistering best when taking-on Bentley Heath who won the toss and had decided to bat first. The visitors’ century-maker, Luke Peace, enquired what a par score might be as he, and fellow batsmen, Shon Alishah, (50), and Chetan Bakrania, (52), were rattling along at 8 runs an over. The ambiguous answer from the ageing gully fielder was that 300 probably wouldn’t be enough. Despite their quick scoring, Bentley Heath did not have it all their own way and Mike Robertson, in a rare spell of bowling managed to pick-up 3 wickets whilst the more orthodox method employed by Julien Fynn of bowling straight, at pace, and with bounce, accounted for his superb return of 4 for 37. Helped by many wayward sundries, the guests closed on 310 for 9 after their allocation of 45 overs possibly thinking that they had scored enough. Although the strategy was not necessarily that of losing early wickets in the reply, by both Paul Garrott and PG Baker exiting soon after tea, it allowed more time at the crease for Mike Robertson and George Garrott. That plan worked! Robertson was robust in his driving and pulling as he reached 108 whilst the nimble Garrott, gliding runs behind the wicket and running fast throughout and escorted by Fynn and Maseeh Naeem in particular, brought up his own century and was 106 not out when the winning run came midway through the fortieth over. An enthralling match that will be long held in the memory. Reed III [...]
Under 9 (1) v Stortford
Reed Under 9s (1) got the season off to a flying start with an excellent victory away at Bishop’s Stortford. Reed captain Josh Heslam won the toss and elected to bowl first and then led from the front taking a wicket in the first over. This set the tone for the innings as all Reed Bowlers bowled very well supported by some excellent fielding with well taken catches by Rory Longland, Jon Green and a run out by debutant Hugh Hollamby. Despite some good batting Bishop’s Stortford could not stem the flow of wickets with Josh Heslam taking 3 wickets and others being picked up by Jon Green, Ethan Fox, Hugh Hollamby, Luke Wilson and 6 year-old Eddie Heslam leaving them on a below par score of 217 (Net) from their 16 overs. Although Reed's strength is currently in it's bowling this looked an achievable target and with useful batting contributions from everyone particularly Josh Heslam (8) and Ethan Fox (6) the game was won on 234 (Net). A fine start to the season for Reed’s young side comprising of 6 to 8 year-olds in an Under 9s competition. N.B. Teams begin with 200 runs on the board. The net score is decided by adding all the runs scored to 200, then taking away 5 runs for each wicket lost. Match Report submitted by James Heslam.
3 wins out of 3 for the 2’s!
In the absence of usual skipper, Ed Garrott, the Second team vice-captain Karl Ward won the toss and elected to bat first. Opening up for Reed were Richard Barlow and Richard Johnson, the latter falling early without troubling the scorers. Stuart Smith joined Barlow at the crease, and both looked in good touch, putting on 52 runs for the second wicket, before Barlow fell for 24. The in-form James Sandford joined Smith, who continued to build the innings. Both Smith and Sandford played some great shots, but unfortunately fell just short of their fifties. After a few more quick wickets including two run outs, Reed looked like they might fall short of a strong total, when they were reduced to 164 for 7. Luckily some late order hitting from Ward and Matthew Bowles, who added 47 together for the 8th wicket, took Reed up to a more than respectable total of 213 for 9, Ward finishing the innings on 40 not out. With the pressure of runs on the board, the Watford Town openers took the attack to the Reed openers, from the start of the innings. Openers Ward and Matt Giblin plugged away, with no prevail, until with the score at 41, Giblin found the outside edge of opener Nasar, and ‘One of the best catches ever seen at Reed’ was pouched by Mitchell Cooper at first slip. Rupert Martin replaced Ward bowling down the hill, and claimed the next two wickets, firstly Watford’s no. 3, LBW, and then grabbing a well-reacted caught and bowled to dismiss the other opening batsman. The game continued in the balance throughout the innings, with Watford remaining close to the run rate with wickets in hand. Excellent bowling [...]
Reed openers in mammoth stand
NATIONAL VILLAGE CUP, ROUND 3. An under strength Sharnbrook and Bromham side encountered a Reed side in scintillating form in the third round of the Village Cup. Sean Tidey and Richard Wharton capitalised to the tune of 249 runs in 32 overs before Tidey was caught for a brutal 147 from 93 balls.Wharton continued to reach his own century (108 not out) whilst Rob Lankester (20) and Jack Tidey (23 not out) maintained the scoring rate. An understandably demoralised opposition were then skittled out for 55 as Tom Greaves (4-11) and Toby Fynn (3-17) raced through their 8 overs in case rain intervened. However it was left to Sean Tidey and Stuart Smith to polish off the tail. Reed will now face local rivals Preston in the Regional Final on June 9th on The Green. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.
It’s an Ed Wharton deja-vu!
Reed 1st XI. For the second match running Ed Wharton drove Reed to a comfortable victory, this time against last year's Premiership side Letchworth. Following last week's 91. Wharton hit 86 not out with 11 fours and two maximums. Once again he shared an impressive opening partnership of 79 in 16 overs with Zac McGuigan (31) as they matched each other run for run. After that, with Rob Lankester (19) in a supporting role, they nearly doubled the score until the latter was bowled by the only bowler to contain them, the evergreen Maxford Pipe (10-2-31-1) with the last ball of his spell. James Heslam hit the winning boundary in the 31st over. Reed 168-2. This cavalier approach was made possible by another fine all round effort with the ball. Wharton removed captain Tom Simmons early on to an excellent catch by Heslam and Jack Tidey took out the other opener through a diving catch by Richard Wharton to leave Letchworth 37-2 after the power play. Toby Fynn (10-0-33-1) and McGuigan (10-1-33-3) both contained and dismissed the middle order, leaving the lower order to be shared by spinners Sean Tidey and Tom Greaves, Greaves returning the impressive figures of 3-25 from his allocation. This fine win puts Reed on top of the table having gained maximum points from all three of their matches. Match Report submitted by Peter Wholley.