Despite the prolonged rainfall on Friday / Saturday, only 5 matches out of the entire programme of 133 Herts League matches were cancelled. The new covers at Reed are proving their worth, and the old-style ground sheet covers were employed at Freman College which meant matches began on time. At Reed, the Firsts had a well-earned victory over old rivals, Botany Bay, and moved one position up the Championship Table. There were 3 wickets each for Jack Tidey and Toby Fynn as the Bay were restricted to 203 all-out. Then slowly but surely, Reed made the required target in the 60th over. Chris Jackson provided the glue to the innings making 65 not out as Reed lost 7 wickets on their way to the win. One of the 5 games cancelled was Welwyn Garden City’s home match versus Old Cholmeleians in Division 5B. Old Cs were top of the table prior to yesterday’s round of matches, but by being awarded only 10 points for their “No Result”, Reed Seconds were able to leap-frog them once they had demolished Ickleford for 82 and won by 6 wickets. They are now in 1st place with a lead of 8 points. The bowling credits go to Pete Tidey and Karl Ward who again had 3 wickets each, then Rob Lankester remained calm at the crease to score 39 not out as Reed overhauled the target within 22 overs. In the Third’s match against Great Gaddesden at the Freman Oval, the visitors scored an under par 222 for 9 in their 53 overs. 3 wickets fell to Will Stock who then scored 67 in the run chase that followed. Old-timer Peter Baker hit 62 but from a good position [...]

West Herts won the toss and invited the 1st XI to bat. Scoring 196 all-out, the 1sts had a comfortable 31 run victory as W-H were bowled out for 165. Phil Lill was in the wickets again. The Firsts are 6th in the Championship now. Marcus Martin’s 2nd XI marched on with a home win against lowly Wheathampstead. The visitors were shot-out for only 76. There were 3 wickets each for Pete Tidey & Karl Ward, and 2 wickets each for Marcus Martin & Tom Walsingham. Ed Garrott (42 not out) and Richard Johnson (31 n.o.) had no difficulty knocking off the required 77 runs in only 10 overs to win by 10 wickets. The 2nds retain second place in Division 5B. The Thirds travelled to Harpenden where they won the toss and batted first. Baz Curtis and Matt Bowles reached the thirties and later Owen Hughes and Adrian Woodcock boosted the total to 179 for 9 in an undefeated 10th wicket partnership of 64 as the innings closed. Reed earned some welcome bonus points as Harpenden lost 7 wickets before they reached their target, four of them falling to Swetank Khambhat. The 4th XI did not have a league fixture and their friendly against Mayfield was cancelled. However, their position at the top of the Division was unaffected. On Sunday, the visiting Chigwell bowlers restricted Reed to 169 for 8 but then found runs hard to find themselves as they reached only 109 in reply. Reed's captain, Marcus Baker, had led the way with 66 not out with the bat and Jack Tidey took 4 for 14 with the ball. Last Wednesday, Foxton beat Reed in the Keatley Cup Final which was played at [...]

All four of Reed’s sides batted first on Saturday but only the Seconds managed not to lose. They drew. The Firsts were at home to Shenley Village and scored 156. The visitors lost 5 wickets in overhauling that total within 20 overs. In the “double header”, the Seconds were away at Shenley Village. Phil Frenay and Marcus Baker hit fifties in Reed’s 234 for 9 but that score appeared too much for Shenley to chase as they batted out 47 overs reaching only 130 for 6. A couple of late wickets gave Reed an extra few points; Reed 16 points, SV 9 points. At the Freman Oval, the Thirds were all-out in the 45th over for an undefendable 175. Top of the table Berkhamsted had a dozen overs to spare when they won although Reed had taken 7 wickets in the process. The Fourths had their first loss of the League season at Elstree against Hatch End. Being inserted, the Fourths set off like an express train with thirties from Martin Johnson, Zac Conley and Michael Catt but eventually declared when the score was 178 for 8. In reply, Hatch End batted for 42 overs when they reached their target. Neil Haslam took 3 of the 5 wickets to fall. Despite this defeat, Reed remain in 1st position in the Division. The Sunday XI fared better at the Green in between the odd shower. Reduced to 32 overs per innings, Reed totted-up 178 for 7. Leading the way were Mitchell Cooper, (38), Owen Hughes, (42), and Rob Lankester, (32). Knebworth Blues responded with 150 for 7 giving Reed a win by 28 runs. On Thursday the 9th, the Mid-Week XI had played and lost to [...]