SATURDAY: The Firsts scored at 6 an over to total 302 for 6 on the Green. Fifties were scored by Will Heslam, Richard Wharton and Matt Sampson. When Botany Bay batted Sampson took 2 wickets and Marcus Martin 3 in four deliveries and were all-out for 230. At the end of the first batch of 50/50 format matches, Reed are 6th in the Championship Division. The Seconds came up short at Broxbourne who had made 205 all-out, Peter Tidey in the wickets there. Reed mustered 186 all-out with George Garrott top-scoring with a half-century. Reed are 5th in Division 4B. On the Freman Oval, Mill Hill Village were bowled out for 170. 2 wickets each for Steve Hughes and Martin Johnson, and 3 to Marcus Baker. Then Paul Garrott led the way reaching 80 and MJEB hit 60 as the Thirds passed the target with 5 wickets in-hand. This leaves Reed in 7th position in Division 9A. For the second successive week, the Fourths had to concede having only 5 available players. This Division plays only matches in the 40/40 format and positions are based on points aggregated divided by matches played (including those conceded). Perhaps it is needless to report, but Reed are bottom of Regional Division B East, with a Minus 1 Point Average. I am sure we look forward to when player availability is better and Reed CC as a whole can field four competitive teams in the Herts League all playing at their full potential. SUNDAY: After 532 runs were scored on the Green on Saturday, a further 606 runs were notched-up on Sunday. Reed made 322 for 7 with Will Haslam (91), Jack Tidey (73), Mitch Cooper (66) and Toby [...]

It's been all-change this week. The Fourths had to concede their Herts League match on Saturday. Not enough players! Eaton Bray have conceded their Village Cup match against Reed 1st XI on Sunday. Not enough players!! The Sunday "Friendly" against Aspenden would have been conceded; not enough players!!! But because the 1st Team players became available, there will be a match at Reed on Sunday. It won't be against Aspenden though (not enough players!!!!). Instead a combined Preston / Knebworth Blue side will visit us; 2pm start. SATURDAY: The Firsts and Seconds had a double-header against Ampthill. Away at Ampthill, the 1sts bowled them out for 144, 3 wickets each to Tom Greaves and Sean Tidey. Ed Wharton then biffed 66 supported by Rob Lankester's 25. But precariously poised 9 wickets down needing the final runs, Toby Fynn saw Reed to a 1 wicket win. Meanwhile at Reed, Phil Frenay led our 2nds to 218 for 6 with 89; Matt Sampson scored a half-century too. The visitors could muster only 134 leaving Reed victors by 84 runs. The wickets were "shared around". Over at Bayford, the 3rds played Bayford & Hertford Nondescripts who reached 205 for 8 in their 50 overs. Marcus Baker took 3 for 25 and Steve Hughes 2 for 19. At 24 for 5 in reply, Reed looked dead & buried, but a new 6th wicket partnership of 119 between Matt Yates (26) and MJEB ensued. MJEB ploughed-on to 133 until Reed were all-out for 201, just 5 runs short of the target. SUNDAY: The Sunday friendly against a Combined XI from Knebworth Blue and Preston at Reed saw fine batting performances from George Garrott, (83), and Rhodri Hughes, (78), as they [...]

Saturday: Of the 131 matches in the Herts League programme, 22 were cancelled, 3 conceded and 34 rain affected. Unfortunately, heavy rain did not come soon enough at Reed as the 1sts were bundled out for 62 and duly lost by 8 wickets. The 2nds travelled to Harpenden where the rain caused abandonment after the hosts had reached 30 for 1 in 11 overs. The 3rds ended with 30 points after a win against Shenley Village on the Freman Oval. In an innings reduced by the rain to 48 overs, Paul Garrott scored 69 and Marcus Baker, (39), Rob Willoughby, (35), and Ben Moody, (28 not out), took the score to 213 for 6. After and during rain, Shenley batted to finally finish on 101 for 2 after 24 overs before the weather conditions were such that play could not be continued. Based on run-rate, they had required 107 off those 24 overs. There was a wicket apiece for Maseeh Naeem and MJE Baker. At the Maccabi Sports Ground in Barnet, Totteridge Millhillians racked-up 208 for 6 after a delayed start in an innings reduced to 35 overs. Neil Haslam, Lloyd Bowman and Richard Stuart took 1 wicket each but starring with the ball was Graham Stuart with 3 for 36. There were no stars with the bat, Steve Hoy, (18), and Peter Baker, (14), put on 35 for the first wicket but were the only batsmen in the nine-man team to reach double-figures. Reed all out 58. Sunday: Reed's friendly away at Aston was cancelled. Once again Reed were unable to find 11 players available to play. Village Cup news: Because Shenley Village had conceded to Reed last weekend, and Long Marston had conceded [...]

Shenley Village have conceded in the National Village Cup match due to be played on Sunday. This means Reed will play either Long Marston or Eaton Bray on the 28th May on The Green in the 3rd Round. In the Herts League on Saturday, all of Reed's sides were depleted and they attempted to do the best they could. The 1sts travelled to Langleybury who posted 260 for 9, Toby Fynn 3 for 52 and Ian Osborne 3 for 56. Reed responded with 219 before being bowled out. Ed Wharton made 86 and Rob Lankester 35. On the Green, Reed 2nds relied heavily on Richard Barlow's 92 in reaching 173 all out. George Garrott helped with 28. Northampton Exiles lost wickets to Owen Hughes (2 for 38) and Jean-Marc Maujean (2 for 28) but still had sufficient in the tank to reach the target five down. "Fortress" Freman is losing its description quickly. Bearing the brunt of the absentees, MJE Baker lost the toss and his eight-player Third team was inserted and promptly dismissed for 70. Josh Conley slashed 21 and MJEB top-scored with 26. There were too many gaps to fill in the outfield and Welwyn Garden City romped home within 11 overs without losing a wicket. It was the 4th's scheduled gap week. It was just as well there wasn't a match because undoubtedly it would have been conceded through lack of players. Poor availability further caused the friendly fixture away to Chippenham on Sunday to be cancelled On Friday the Under 11s had their first CYCA League match. Based on net scores after beginning on 200, Reed's youngsters scored 64 but lost 9 wickets thus reducing their total by 45 runs to [...]

Two wins and two losses on Saturday. The 1sts beat Sawbridgeworth by 64 runs with Stuart Smith contributing an invaluable 59 then Ed Wharton taking 3 for 23. A nailbiting final over saw the 2nds overhaul Northwood Town's 217 with just 2 wickets in-hand. Richard Johnson and Matt Sampson were Reed's main run scorers. The 3rds posted 161 at Aldenham versus West Herts. Runs came from Paul Garrott (43), Owen Hughes (33) and MJEB (33). The hosts ran-out victors with 7 wickets down although Rob Willoughby garnered 3 for 13 towards the end. Freman College was the scene of an embarrassing afternoon for the 4ths. Playing with just 9 fielders, Reed could not stop Old Haberdashers smashing 353 for 5. In less than 6 overs Reed had been anhialated for 20 all out! In Sunday's friendly against Woodcutters, Reed were probably 30 runs under par finishing their 40 overs on 173 for 9. Tom Greaves scored 43, James Sandford 39 and Mike Catt 33. Wickets weren't all that forthcoming as Woodcutters won comfortably by 6 wickets, two of them to Rhodri Hughes. On Thursday, the Under 13s smashed 126 in 16 overs without losing a wicket. They then had Broxbourne 82 for 4 at the close, winning by 44 runs. Expect match reports to follow. PGB

Reed were Langleyburied in their T20 encounter on Saturday at Hertford. Chasing Langleybury's total of 148, Reed failed to achieve significant partnerships as wickets fell regularly leaving them well adrift at 110 all out. Stuart Smith smote 26 and Richard Wharton made 25. Meanwhile, down in North London, a team under the auspices of the 4th XI played against Mayfield and although adrift by 118 runs at the end, they did manage to hold-on for a draw. Owen Hughes and Harry Hawes took 2 wickets each but Mayfield reached 211 for 7. Owen Hughes then made the top score of 29 when Reed replied with 93 for 8. Datchworth were dispatched without too much trouble on Sunday in the Village Cup. Toby Fynn, (2 for 28), Jack Tidey, (2 for 1), Karl Ward, (2 for 25), and Stuart Smith, (2 for 4), restricted the visitors to 70 all-out within 29 overs. Reed needed little more than half those overs to overhaul the target with Will Heslam 39 not out and Marcus Martin 25 not out at the crease when the winning runs were scored with 8 wickets in hand.