Reed 1st XI produced another excellent display with both bat and ball against Hoddesdon on Saturday at The Green to earn themselves consecutive league victories. Bernie Morrs returned figures of 18-1-59-5 to restrict the visitors to 188-9 off their allotted 53 overs. In reply James Heslam scored an unbeaten 94 as he guided his team to 192-3 in the 41st over. The game began poorly for Reed with some wayward bowling and a number of dropped chances. However in the 9th over with the score on 37 Lee Johnson (1-41) made the breakthrough, trapping Gandon LBW. Hoddesdon continued to take the game to Reed with coach Young looking agonisingly on, until the first drinks break when the game started to go Reed’s way. The decision to take the pace of the ball and replace the seamers from the top end, with the wily slow left arm of Morrs was thoroughly justified as he and Tidey (1-49) began to exert considerable pressure on the Hoddesdon batsman. The next 20 overs yielded just 43 runs for the visiting side for the loss of 4 wickets. Tidey was able to swing the ball throughout his spell and Morss found just enough turn on a batsman friendly track. Tidey’s mammoth 20 over spell comprised of 6 maidens in total including 4 consecutive maidens. As he began to tire, the “spin twins” of Reed were united for the first time, with Dobson (2-16) ably assisting Morrs. Dobson succeeded in removing Coutts in the 50th over, the only batsman to really offer any patience and resistance against the Reed attack and this allowed the opposition’s total to be kept to a manageable 188-9. Reed’s reply got off to a shaky start when Curtis [...]

Reed First Eleven's Saracens First Division adventure came to an end on Saturday as they were beaten by Hoddesdon by nine wickets and relegated to Division 2 for next season. Asked to bat on a slow, damp wicket Reed quickly lost Michael Curtis for 6, Will Dobson and Joe Curk (on his last appearance before returning to Australia) dug in for a 42 run partnership before they both departed in successive overs for 12 and 29 respectably. Chris Jackson began to build a responsible innings and with Phil Frenay in tow took the visitors up to 110 before Frenay was caught on the boundary for 16. Jackson continued towards his fifty but as wickets continued to fall, an imposing total looked out of the question. Reed ending their innings on 162 for 9 off 48 Overs, ten overs being lost to a 35 minute rain shower. Jackson making a spirited 57. Hoddesdon skipper Brown with 3 for 52 and Zimbabwean Harcombe's 2 for 45 the pick of Hoddesdon's attack.      In reply, Hoddesdon were held in check early by some hostile fast bowling from Lee Johnson and skipper Andy Young. Young removing Byrne for just 2 lbw, at 10 for 1 Reed just had a glint of light. This was quickly exstinguished as Gandon and South Afican Rory Coutts crafted a match winning partnership. Try as they might Reed could not prise the two men apart and Hoddesdon moved comfortable to their target inside the 36th over. Young with 1 for 35, the only Reed wicket taker.Hoddesdon safety confirmed and Reed having to contemplate a return to Division Two Cricket.   

Reed moved up to sixth place in Saracens League One after gaining eighteen points in an exciting draw with Hitchin at The Green on Saturday. Asked to bat first, Reed lost Baz Curtis for 5 with the score on only 12. Joe Curk blitzed 25 in quick time before giving a catch to the Hitchin Wicketkeeper Danny Fair. After loosing both Chris Jackson & Phil Frenay cheaply the home side were wobbling at 64 for 4. Captain James Heslam and Will Dobson then crafted a brilliant 106 fifth wicket partnership. With Heslam falling for 85 (his six successive fifty plus score for the club this season) and Dobson soon following for a patient 38 it was left to Simon Jackson (24 not out) & Richard Johnson (22 not out) to steer Reed to a respectable 228 for 6 in 52 overs. Moore & Hammond both with 2 for 39 the pick of the Hitchin bowlers.   Reed struck early in the Hitchin reply with Lee Johnson (11-1-49-2) & Pete Tidey (15-5-42-3) leaving Hitchin at 60 for 4. A quick 18 from Fair steadied the ship slightly but with Hitchin at 87 for 5 , Reed were well on top. Then Bowyer (61) & Maylin (56) made a 91 sixth wicket partnership before both fell to an excellent stumping from Simon Jackson off the spin of Dobson (7-2-22-2). Try as they might Reed couldn't take the last two wickets and Hitchin were left on 191 for 8 off their 48 overs.

Saturday saw Reed 1XI begin their Division 1 campaign at Hitchin, following their promotion the previous season, with a loss at Hitchin by 4 wickets.The season saw the arrival and Herts League debuts of Australian batsman Joe Curk from Newcastle in New South Wales, left arm spinner Bernie Morss and fast bowler Lee Johnson.However, despite promising signs for their new Division 1 campaign, Reed were unable to muster the momentum to force an early season win.  Instead they took away a healthy 14 points.On a solid batting wicket, Reed skipper James Heslam elected to bat, but must have personally regretted his decision as be tickled an edge to the wicket keeper off D Moore (13-1-60-3) without scoring.  And then, with the score on 7, Chris Jackson was adjudged LDW off A Ranade (13-2-57-2). Reed looked to be struggling, but stalwart Baz Curtis (23) steadied the ship with some grinding cricket, and combined with Joe Curk (87), took the score to a more respectable 65 off only 12 overs.  But Hitchin continued to battle, and when Curtis chased a ball which he could have left, he left Ranade celebrating his second wicket, and the wicket keeper his second catch of the match.  Tom Fulk joined Curk who was beginning to get into his stride, but Fulk was deceived by I Bowyer’s (8-2-31-1) variation as he too found himself trapped in front of the stumps LBW.With the score on 101 for 4, Reed were conscious to use their overs wisely, but allow Curk free scoring reign.  Curk continued in fine form as he destroyed bad balls all around the wicket with sumptuous cover drives, thundering hooks and a solid defence.  Forcing 14 off one over from Bowyer, [...]

Reed buried the ghost of their earlier loss during the season to Dunstable as they recorded their first win since early July on Saturday.  It also helped close a relegation gap in their first season in division 1 of the Herts League.Having won the toss, Reed elected to bat and Baz Curtis (14) got the hosts off to a flying start with a punishing opening over against R Blake (8-1-39-1), but it was the bowler who had the last laugh as Curtis off stump was struck in the fourth over leaving Reed 20-1.  James Heslam, Reed’s skipper, was well set and he dismissed a recent poor run with a well crafted 33 until he was unlucky to be trapped LBW by C Stearn (8-3-27-2).  With J Curk (10), Chris Jackson (14) and Will Dobson (0) all falling cheaply to Luke Cherry (10-0-31-3) and Steve Watts (15-6-30-2), Reed were left reeling on 78 for 5.But this brought Stuart Smith (46) to the crease who crafted hard with wicket keeper Simon Jackson (2) to comfortably hold their wicket and use some overs.  Smith’s innings was epitomised with a resilient defence mixed with some forceful attacking shots.  When Jackson was caught and bowled by Stearn, a collapse seemed possible, but William Clarke (20) hit his first two balls for 4 and together with Smith, forged a valuable 54 run partnership against a grinding spin combination of S Watts and S Cherry (9-2-19-0).When Clarke was eventually bowled off his pads, Smith continued to battle with the tail, and dragged the score to 157 all out off 50.4 overs after he finally capitulated being caught at cover.Reed’s reply began well as Andrew Young (6-0-28-2) immediately reduced the visitors to 19-2 [...]

Saturday saw Reed lose by 5 wickets to Dunstable on a blustery afternoon at Dunstable.  Having lost the toss, Reed were put into bat, and the decision looked to backfire initially as Baz Curtis took their attack to the sword, slashing a quickfire 41 off only 28 balls, but L Cherry (7-0-40-1) had his revenge as he had Curtis caught at square leg with a hustling bouncer.With Reed on 60 for 1 wicket after only 10 overs, the signs looked good.  James Heslam (55) was also beginning to master some of the bowling, but he could not be supported by Phil Frenay (7), Joe Curk (10) and Richard Johnson (2), all victims of A Wilson (10-3-40-3).  The pressure had been reversed onto Reed who were on 91 for 4.  Simon Jackson (6) in his usual consistent middle order role was unable to add many runs, despite occupying the crease, as he was eventually unlucky to be given out LBW to S Cherry (11.3-2-24-4).  On 105 for 5, the prospect of increasing the total looked bleak, as the weather became even more challenging.  William Clarke (29) occupied some time with James Heslam as they advanced the score to 142 with some confident drive strokes and punishment of the poor deliveries.  But James Heslam mishit a stroke over midwicket to be caught on the boundary after passing his half century in what was a patient and responsible innings of aggression and deft touches.  Clarke continued to occupy the crease with the tail, but Andy Young (1) and Lee Johnson (6) could not muster a strong resistance, and they eventually fell to S Cherry and S Watts (22-2-60-2) who bowled consistently throughout the innings.  Reed were eventually dismissed [...]

Reed travelled to fellow promoted Berkhamsted on Saturday still in search for their first league victory.Reed captain James Heslam won the toss and decided to bat first on what appeared to be a pitch full of runs. Reed’s innings got off to a disastrous start when Baz Curtis was athletically caught at mid off without troubling the scorers. Curtis departure saw the in form Joe Curk arrive at the crease and with the help of James Heslam the pair put on 62 in 13 overs until James Heslam was adjudged LBW of the bowling of Janaway (3-76). Curk carried on with his expert batting performance and deservedly achieved his 3rd league half century of the season until shortly after he was caught behind for a sublime 60 which left Reed at 82 for 3 off 21 overs. A number of useful contributions from the middle order, Tom Fulk (30), Phil Frenay (17) and Simon Jackson (21) saw the score board tick over and a very useful 13 not out from Lee Johnson at the end saw Reed finish up on a very respectable 184 for 8 off their allotted 53 overs.Berkhamsted reply got off to a disastrous start due mainly to fantastic bowling from Reed’s opening pair off Andy Young (3-25) and Lee Johnson (2-18), the pair’s pace and accuracy was too much for the Berkhampsted batsman and left them reeling at 50 for 5 after 18 overs. After the initial demolition of the Berkhamsted top order Joe Curk and Pete Tidey (2-8) took over the mantle and carried on causing problems for the Berkhampsted batsman. Only Berkahampsted captain Herring with a quick fire 17 and Janaway with a hard hitting 23 not out offered [...]