On a bright sunny day Reed 1st team started the 2009 league campaign away to Cockfosters. Reed won the toss and elected to bat and lost their first wicket in the first over; Fergus Martin getting a good deliver from M Stead that lifted and left the opener. On an afternoon of frustration, a series of Reed batsman seemed to be set for a long innings then got themselves out Chris Jackson 16, Edd Garrot 24 being the only notable scores in the middle order. Whilst all the wicket were falling James Heslam was constructing a match saving knock that took him to his century in the 40 over, before being caught of the bowling of the impressive Stead for 101, M Stead finishing with figures 4 for 35, James being supported ruggedly by Simon Jackson 23; Reed were dismissed in the 52 over for 205. Reed’s bowling after tea was as lose as its batting and Cockfoster found themselves in a strong position of being without loss in the eight over on 43 until Richard Johnson pick up the wicket of O’Leary (22) caught at mid wicket by Young. This loss of O’Leary and the introduction of Morss to the bowling attack lead to Reed’s most productive part of the game, Morss striking twice and Young Picking up the wicket of Copper, leaving Cockfosters struggling on 74 for 4. Next into bat for Cockfosters was captain Mat Fisher (31) and supported by Claxton (53) lead an assault on Reed’s bowling attack that proved to turn the game in the home sides favour, with M Stead scoring 24 at the end to complete his man of the match performance and the home sides win by [...]

Reed entertained Bishop Stortford II’s at the Green on Saturday, desperate to get back to winning ways after a series of draws. With Bishop Stortford down towards the foot of the table, Reed knew that this game could be the one to reignite there season. Skipper Bernie Morss won the toss and elected to bat. Reed suffered an early blow when Phil Frenay was adjudged LBW for 7. However, Bishop Stortford probably regretted taking this wicket, as it united the in-form pair of Chris Jackson and James Heslam who set about amassing a second wicket partnership of 157. This week it was the turn of Heslam to be the aggressor, although he still took his time early in his innings. As the game moved on, so did Reed’s run rate with Heslam in particular reaching the boundary regularly with an array of pulls and drives. C Jackson, creamed some elegant drives through the covers and the pair looked totally at ease, as the Bishop Stortford bowlers struggled to unsettle the pair at all. Heslam was first to go for yet another magnificent century, leaving C Jackson to finish the innings and reach his ton. The wicket brought Richard Johnson (3) to the crease, who didn’t last long, chipping a shot to midwicket. Tom Greaves was next in, and although he struggled to find the boundary, much to his annoyance, some good running between the pair and some fine stroke play from C Jackson produced a partnership of 48 for the 4th wicket which ended when Greaves was bowled for 15. Marcus Martin (3) unselfishly gave his wicket away for the team, running a risky second and finishing inches from home. With his brother at the [...]

Reed’s 1st team 2009 campaign continued in week three with an away fixture at Ampthill.   Chris Degnan the Ampthill captain won the toss and elected to bat on what looked to be benign track, with the home side’s confidence high after to two good wins in the previous couple of league fixtures.  Despite this confidence the opening pair of Morral and Rupping struggled against the pace of Johnson and the accuracy of Wilson and in the third of over of the fixture Johnson struck, taking the wicket of Morrail caught Jackson for 6. More score board pressure was applied over the next few over, leading to the running out of Rupping, this being caused by good work from Heslam and again wicket keeper Jackson.   The run out brought Archer (48) to the wicket and with his batter partner Gould (17), put on 45 for the third wicket before Gould was caught of the bowling of Wilson.  Wilson great spell continued removing the middle order of Ampthill for 10 ten runs leaving the home side 97 for 7 and then finally 109 all out, Wilson finishing with figures of 21.3-9-49-6   support by Morss 2 for 25 and  Johnson 1 for 26.In spite of some great bowling from Degnan 2-26 and Sneath, Reed made steady progress to the required target despite losing an early wicket.  Not for the first time this season Heslam was the hero carry his bat 65 not out support by Fulk 20 not out, Reed completing the victory 30 over.