Electing to bat first on a hot and humid afternoon, Reed moved off well, until Skipper James Heslam fell to an away-swinging delivery from Siddiqui for 14. Michael Curtis & Joe Curk set about building a 61 run partnership before Curtis fell for 46.  Curk continued the run building with Chris Jackson (31) and Will Dobson (18) before being bowled himself by the left-arm spin of Martins-Craig for 88. Reed finished well to end on 236 for 8 off 53 overs. Martins-Craig was the pick of the visitor's bowlers, with 4 for 41.In reply, the Visitors set off at a reasonable pace before Andy Young (2 for 67) claimed both openers, leaving them 75 for 2. Enter Lee Hodgson and Skipper Simon O'Brien, who built a partnership that at the time seem to be taking Totteridge to a comfortable victory. Joe Curk and Bernie Morss had other ideas though, and turned the match upside down. Curk dismissed O'Brien for 36 and Hodgson for a brilliant 103 as the visitors slumped from 194 for 2 to 224 for 9 with just the last over to come, Curk taking 4 for 21 and Morss 2 for 32 in the process. Reed nearly completed a famous comeback victory as Lee Johnson had an LBW shout with three balls remaining in the final over, however the ball was adjudged to be going down the leg side, and Totteridge Millhillians last batsman Siddiqui played out the remaining three balls to leave the match drawn. Reed pick up nineteen points and remain eighth in the table with six games remaining, and travel away to St Margaretsbury this coming Saturday.

Reed travelled to Totteridge on Saturday for their third Saracens Hertfordshire League match, but were unlucky not to take away 30 points, as they narrowly lost by 8 runs in a nailbiting finish.Despite losing the toss and being asked to field on a dry batting wicket, Reed openers Andrew Young (15-2-61-5) and Lee Johnson (7-0-28-0) bowled with discipline and conviction.  Despite some early runs from A Hussain (17) and A Martins (23), Peter Tidey (15-4-40-2) drew first blood as he had Hussain sharply caught by Chris Jackson at short midwicket, which Jackson shortly followed up with another sharp chance in the same position.  Young then ran through the top order to reduce the hosts to 91-7 again thanks to another sharp catch from wicket keeper Marcus Martin and some astonishing control of his line and length.   The momentum was truly with Reed as Young bowled with venom and accuracy in his finest spell of the season.  Teaming up with Reed veteran Peter Tidey, the pair dried up runs immediately, and pressure mounted on the hosts.  With the prospect of skittling Totteridge and Millhillians for a paltry score, Reed tried to apply pressure, but it wasn’t to be as S Bunyard (50) managed to bolster the score with a handful of lusty blows.  With Young tiring and Tidey beginning to find himself unable to dismiss Bunyard, Johnson returned to the attack to no avail.  It took a slowing of the pace of the ball as B Morss (6.2-0-22-2) came into the attack with his left arm spinners – despite suffering some punishing shots, he made a valuable breakthrough having Pyrke caught by Tidey at point.  William Clarke (3-1-10-1) then had Saddiqui caught thanks to a steepling [...]

Reed 1XI narrowly lost out again in another hard fought division one encounter this time at home to St Margaretsbury. At 10:00 it was looking like the game may not go-ahead due to heavy rain for much of the week leading up to the fixture but thanks to the hardwork of the Reed ground staff the match was able to begin at 1:30 just with the aid of a shortened boundary on one side of the green.Captain Heslam lost the toss and Reed were put into bat on what was obviously a wet wicket, but one that although holding up a little still played decently enough. Having said this the visitors did take advantage with the early wickets of Heslam (9) adjudged LBW in the 5th over and the in-form Joe Curk out without scoring who was through his shot too early in the slower conditions. Despite this shaky start Michael Curtis (33) continued his good form and along with Chris Jackson (76*) helped take Reed to 61-2 after just 13 overs. St Margetsbury then turned to their slower and medium pace bowlers and runs began to dry up. This period also saw the end of Curtis and then Fulk for 12. This then brought Simon Jackson (36) to the crease and along with his brother forged an excellent partnership of 74 that really gave the innings the boost it needed. With excellent running between the wickets and some useful boundaries they were able to initially consolidate and then propel the innings to 161 before Jackson S was 5th man out with 4.4 overs still left to go. Jackson then helped the Reed total up to a respectable 188-9.In reply Reed achieved an early breakthrough [...]

Reed's first eleven fell to a disappointing defeat against St Albans at The Green on Saturday.  Put into bat on a breezy afternoon, skipper James Heslam fell early without troubling the scorer. Michael Curtis & Joe Curk built a fifty run partnership before Curtis was out for 25, the first of three wickets for seamer O'Toole. Dobson & Frenay fell cheaply and when Curk himself was dismissed for 42, the home side were 86 for 5 approaching the thirtieth Over. Reed were then shown an expert spell of Off-Spin by Murty Hussein (20-7-20-4) and they crumbled to 127 All Out off 48 Overs. Only Richard Johnson of the lower middle order reaching double figures (13) The visitors set off quickly in pursuit of their target. Caley fell to Andy Young (1-36). Hart & Arafat then set about building a platform for victory. Reed shuffled their bowling pack but to no avail. Despite Dobson (1-28) bowling Hart for 33 and Pete Tidey (1-29) bowling Arafat for 32. St. Albans cruised to their target and a six wicket victory. Reed pick up four points and they remain ninth in the table with a 25 point cushion on tenth place Hoddesdon. They face Dunstable at home on Saturday.  

Reed firsts crashed to a nine wicket defeat at the hands of St Albans in their Herts League Division 1 game on Saturday. Electing to bat first, Reed found runs hard to come by. Opening bowler O'Toole took two of the three opening wickets to leave Reed struggling on 41 for 3 in the thirteenth over. Baz Curtis with 29 only showing some resistant. The introduction of the left arm spin of Ramsay to complement the right arm spin of Surrey County player Murtza Hussain completely dried up any meaningful assault by the visitors. Only Chris Jackson with a patient 24 and older brother Simon with an unbeaten 26 held out. Lee Jonhson 13 and an unbeaten 14 from Bernie Morrs took Reed to 128 FOR 8 in their 53 Overs. St Albans showed why they are title contenders with a quick procession to their target in just over 27 Overs. Suffolk County Player Caley with a quick fire 72 led the hosts home he was supported by 31 from Howson and 22 from Arafat. Lee Johnson 1 fOR 35 the pick of the Reed bowling attack.

A depleted Reed first team played a strong Herts Premier League Sawbridgeworth in their 1st game of the season at home on Saturday.  Sawbridgeworth contained Andrew Richardson who was called up to the West Indies squad in 2007 and Michael Burrell who plays for Hertfordshire.  Whilst Reed were giving first team debuts to new players Bernie Morse and Joe Curk Surprisingly Reed were asked to bat Michael Burrell bowled a very tight early line and got the early scalp of Baz Curtis (7) before Chris Jackson (14) made a good start with his elder brother Simon.  Joe Curk (13) hit a few classy shots before he was the only wicket of West Indian Richardson.  Simon Jackson played Richardson very well on his way to 32 before being given out by occasional bowler Danny Wilson.  Debutant Bernie Morse, Ed Garrott and Rob Willoughby saw Reed to a very respectable 125 on a low scoring wicket.   In reply Sawbo got off to an awful start losing Tom Small to a magnificent catch by Graham Hazard off captain Andy Youngs bowling.  Young (3 for 29) with his quick bowling also cleaned bowled Burrell 1st ball and Sawbo were reeling at 30 for 3.  Further changes to the bowling saw the rejuvenated Richard Johnson bowl probably his best first team spell of his career and was unlucky to finish with only 1 for 28 from his 9 overs.  In his first spell for the club Bernie Morse bowled an amazing spell bowling 9 overs, 5 maidens, taking 3 wickets for 4 runs.  Despite Reed taking regular wickets, excellent fielding and great enthusiasm Sawbo got to their victory with 4 overs left but only 3 wickets.   Stand in [...]

Letchworth gained more than ample revenge for their loss to Reed earlier this season with a nine wicket victory at The Green on Saturday.Asked to bat first, Reed were soon in trouble losing skipper James Heslam and Joe Curk in consecutive balls with just five runs on the board, the probing fast-medium bowling of Durham University opening bowler Ed Morse accounting for both wickets. Chris Jackson scored two boundaries before departing for just 11 and with Michael Curtis and Will Dobson soon following, the home side were precariously placed at 26 for 5 in just the thirteenth over. Stuart Smith and Simon Jackson set about trying to make a rescue mission but with Smith departing for just 3 it was left to Jackson to drop anchor to try and secure a defendable total. He did hold out for nearly ninety minutes for a gritty ten runs before falling to the off-spin of Marsh. It was left to the last wicket pair of Lee Johnson (14 not out) and Andy Young (34) to take them up to 99 All Out off just 43.4 overs. Morse with 4 for 37 and Marsh 4 for 41 the pick of the Letchworth attack.Letchworth then proceeded to their target with little problem and seemed as they reached 103 for 1 in just 18 overs. South African Seb Franke- Mattecha unbeaten on 54. Lee Johnson (1 for 27) picking up Reed's only wicket and indeed their only point out of the game.The defeat leaves Reed fourteen points above Hoddesdon who they must avoid losing to in their last League game to preserve their First Division status for next year.

Reed 1XI recorded their second Herts League victory of the season in Divison 1 against Letchworth away on Saturday as they trounced the hosts by 35 runs in an all round performance with bat, ball and in the field.  It also marked a successful weekend for the club as they recorded a 90 point victory for the club, with wins for the 1XI, 2XI and 3XI.Having lost the toss and being asked to bat, Reed racked up 225 for 6 on a good batting wicket in 52 overs.  Despite the early loss of Baz Curtis (7) to Oxford University bowler Ed Morse (11-1-47-1), skipper James Heslam (64) and Joe Curk (81) plundered runs off Morse, S Franke-Matt (8-0-45-0), A Newland (9-2-32-0) and A Jenkins (5-0-30-0).  Their 137 run partnership set the platform for an all round batting performance, that saw Curk dominate the bowling attack scoring his 81 in 113 balls, his fifty in only 73 deliveries.  Heslam built his innings patiently.  Marked by some punishing cuts and pulls, the pair drove Reed towards maximum batting points.  When Curk fell LBW to D Marsh (19-3-65-4), it brought Chris Jackson to the crease who picked up where Curk finished by building a patient 40 off 56 deliveries.  But Heslam then fell with the score on 169 to Marsh in the deep, and Phil Frenay (14), Will Dobson (2) and Simon Jackson (1) could not muster resistance as the former two were stumped off Marsh, and the latter run out trying to stimulate the score in the closing overs.  William Clarke (5*) then joined Jackson (40*) in the closing over to pull the score to 225 for 6.Following the tea interval, T Cranston (45) and J Hilliard [...]

Reed's hangover from their National Village Cup exit continued as they lost to Knebworth Park in their Saracens League Division 1 match on Saturday.Electing to bat first Knebworth Park were restricted somewhat in their scoring by tight bowling from Andy Young (3 for 41) and Lee Johnson (1 for 24). Young accounted for three of the first four wickets to fall. At 59 for 4 Reed were well on top. An unfinished partnership between Sargeant & Holmes took Knebworth Park to 95 before Holmes was forced to leave the field with a leg injury.Pete Tidey removed Sergeant for 26 soon after and Will Dobson took the wicket of Slade, Knebworth Park were still short of a respectable score at 124 for 6. Enter young Wicketkeeper Louis Champion (38) ansd Sam McCrow (42) who engineered a much needed 50 partnership. Two late Joe Curk wickets (2 for 14) left Knebworth Park 195 for 9 off hteir 53 overs.In reply Reed set off at a reasonable rate before James Heslam fell to Brook for 7. Curtis (30) soon followed and despite a good 25 from Joe Curk, Reed were precariously placed at 81 for 4. Will Dobson ground out a gritty 27 but when he departed Reed were 117 for 6. The nagging accuary of Brook (8 for 53) and the cunning off-breaks of the Knebworth Park Skipper Turner (2 for 42) left Reed nowhere to go and they subsided to 132 All Out on the 39th Over. Knebworth Park winning by 63 runs. Reed do pick up nine points but slip to eighth in the table ahead of their "sixty pointer" next weekend against Totteridge Millhillians at The Green.  

Reed 1XI hosted their first Division 1 match at the Green on Saturday as they hosted Knebworth Park 1XI.Yet it was unfortunate as both teams walked away with 10 points after the match was abandoned after only 15 overs with the score on 51-1.Having lost the toss on a green wicket, James Heslam’s men were put into bat on a pitch that appeared to offer substantial assistance to the seam bowlers.  However, it was not to be as James Heslam (17*) concentrated hard to build an early innings and Baz Curtis (25) mixed concentration with some swashbuckling shots.  When Curtis fell caught and bowled to a well struck half volley, this brought Joe Curk to the crease who got off the mark in impressive style with a lofted flick off his pads for 4 over midwicket, followed by a similar shot for 6 the next ball.But the rain settled in, and when the teams left the field, it continued.  An early tea was taken, but the condition of the pitch was considered unfit for play, and the match abandoned.Frustratingly, other teams in the division managed to complete games, allowing them to extend a leading stretch over those who were denied by weather.James Heslam, rueing the weather, commented: “It was frustrating, as I felt we got a good start in difficult conditions, but the umpires made the right decision.  Joe was looking in ominous touch, and it was nice to get some time at the crease myself.”