After the extreme rain of the day before Reed’s Sunday Seconds were indeed lucky to arrive at Guilden Morden to find a perfectly playable pitch. Due to a local fund rising bbq there were several spectators located around the ground to watch the game. Reed captain George Greaves lost the toss and was subsequently asked to bat first. Greaves went out with Peter Baker and started slowly as the outfield was not giving away many boundaries. Greaves (17) looked in fine touch until a good catch out in the deep ended his innings. Reed then suffered a collapse as four more wickets fell with little to no contribution to the then low total of 50 for 5 from 22 overs. P. Baker was then joined out in the middle by son Marcus who after a shaky first few balls found his eye scoring his first runs with a huge six. The pair rotated the strike as they successfully fended off the Guilden bowling. The Baker boys made an undefeated 117 together in 18 overs, P. Baker made 62 (6x4, 1x6) and M.J.E. Baker made 50 (5x4, 2x6) as Reed finished on the competitive score of 167 for 5. For the opposition Sean Tidey (8-0-30-3) showed his all round ability. Neil Haslam (4-0-43-1) took one in his first over however Guilden could boast having former county player, Ben Ingrey who came in at number 3 and proceeded to take Reed apart. Despite wickets from Matt Giblin (6-0-19-1) and Michael Naeem (3-0-27-1), both of whom held good lines Guilden reached their total in only the nineteenth over, Ingrey scoring 86 and S. Tidey 44.

Whilst Reeds future in the Village Cup was decided at the Green, the Sunday second eleven travelled to Elmdon for a 40/40 friendly. Reed batted first having lost the toss and started steadily as George Greaves and Ed Blissett played themselves in. Whilst Greaves (13) eventually fell, Blissett remained at the crease and with some sensible stroke play made fifty assisted by Richie Barlow (7) and Marcus Martin (14). Runs down the order from James Bloor (12), Kallum Ward (34*) and Jack Tidey (6*) took Reed to a stable 183 for 7. Elmdons innings saw wickets fall at regular intervals from the bowling of Neil Haslam (8-2-25-3), K.L. Ward (8-3-22-3), R. Barlow (5-0-27-2) and J.Bloor (6-0-33-1). M. Martin displayed some brilliant fielding as did R. Barlow who took a fantastic catch at square leg before having keeper M.J.E. Baker catch one from his first ball. Despite having the hosts at 79 for 8 an impressive partnership between A. Gale (42) and A. Dixon (44*) led Elmdon to victory. The weary Reed side left the fixture naturally disappointed with the outcome but can hopefully come away with some lessons for the future.

With the heavy morning rain it was expected that both Reed games would be called off, but that was not the case and Reed II XI made the excursion down to Cheshunt for a 40/40 friendly. The brothers Greaves opened the batting for Reed and Tom (24) was soon making runs, dominating the crease until he put one in the air, caught from the bowling of Gough (8-1-31-3). Reed then lost two more quick wickets and were struggling on 38 for 3, but another vital partnership between George Greaves and Marcus J.E. Baker (14) stopped the flow of wickets and started putting runs on the board again. G. Greaves who had taken along time to get off the mark was now playing a brilliant innings with some impressive shots. With a large boundary and slow outfield quick running was the name of the game and the two put on 51 until Baker was also out caught. A nice knock from Steve Lovegrove (20) followed and then Mitchell Cooper (21*)made 67 runs with G. Greaves as they attacked the Cheshunt bowling in the closing overs of the Reed innings as they reached 196 for 5. But it was George Greaves finally getting his half century that was highlight of the day ending 40 overs worth of batting on 90 not out.In reply most of Cheshunt’s batting got going but could not hold on against Reed’s bowling talent. The wickets were shared amongst Neil Haslam (8-0-29-1), Chris West (7-2-21-1), Peter Baker (6-0-25-2), Jack Tidey (6-2-13-1), Maseeh Naeem (4-3-4-1) and Mitchell Cooper (6-1-13-1). Cheshunt finished on 125 for 7 from their 40 overs leaving Reed victors. Once again Reed had been exemplary in the field and there were [...]

Reed II versus Barley at Reed on Sunday 26th April 2009. This was the first fixture between teams representing close neighbours Reed and Barley for several seasons. Barley used this friendly for their first team to gain some pre-league match practice whilst Reed fielded many of their junior players so it was not surprising that Barley won the match even though Reed were by no means disgraced. Barley batted first and with opening batsman J Walters leading the way with 68 they reached 225 for 6 in 40 overs. Brian Symes, (34), Wallace, (47) and Gurnell (24 not out) contributed runs down the order on a perfect batting pitch. There were wickets each for Reed’s Chris West, Matt Giblin and Neil Haslam whilst Richie Barlow took 3 for 46 supported by some fine fielding and catching. The Reed reply started well enough until Will Heslam was caught for 10. George Greaves, (20), joined captain Peter Baker, (31), as they progressed the score to 70. By this time, Richie Barlow was showing his all-round qualities and was supported successively by Richard Robertson, (12), Marcus Baker, (15), and Kallum Ward, (15 not out), as Reed II took the attack to Barley. Realistically, Reed were always behind the required run-rate, nevertheless ending on 185 for 6 was a competent batting display against a useful Barley bowling attack for whom Wallace and Gurnell took 2 wickets each. Barlow scored 8 fours and ended undefeated on 54. Barley won by 40 runs

Reed Sunday Seconds hosted Aston at the Green for a 40/40 friendly. Reed batted first and made 258. After an early loss John Kershaw and Robert Willoughby began to put runs on the total as the pair notched up several boundaries. 81 was on the board when Reed lost Willoughby for 31 runs made up of seven fours. John Kershaw also hit the ball hard in his impressive innings of 67 (8x4, 3x6). Kallum Ward then dominated the crease with Maseeh Naeem (30) but was unlucky not reach his half century falling for a well played 49. Runs came down the order from Julian Fynn (10) and Matt Giblin (16). In reply most of the Aston top order got starts but could not hold out against the Reed bowling talent. Neil Haslam (8-3-26-1) and J. Fynn (4.4-0-22-1) both took a scalp each whilst M. Naeem took 4 for 23 and Christian Martin made his tally for the weekend nine with bowling figures of 4 for 31. Reed bowled out Aston for 156.

Reed’s Sunday seconds racked up their fifth consecutive victory by bowling out Aston on the last evening of May. Peter Baker won the toss and decided to bat and after an early upset the Reed total started to tick by rapidly. George Greaves, yet again impressing with the bat and Marcus Martin, vacationing in the seconds, found little trouble in the host’s bowling as they put on 107 together for the second wicket which fell when Greaves (51) missed a straight one. Martin continued regardless and passing his fifty contributed to another partnership, this time with Matt Bowles (35) who played some fantastic shots to antagonise Aston. However, a reoccurring injury interfered with Bowles’s innings and he retired hurt. Martin could not quite reach his century as he was run out for a marvellous 94. A flurry of runs from the hard hitting Phil Frenay (45 not out) and James Bloor (12) ended Reeds innings of 294 for 5 from 40 overs. Aston never had a real chance in their innings thanks mostly to the Reed bowling talent who kept a tight line. Christian Martin (7-0-19-2) picked up some much deserved wickets, as did Chris West (7-0-26-1), James Bloor (6-0-29-1) and Peter Baker (0.3-0-2-1). But it was yet another dominating spell of bowling from Jack Tidey (6-0-28-5) who tore through the opposition order. Impressive catches from P. Frenay, G. Greaves, Ed Blissett and a tidy stumping from Marcus J.E. Baker had the players soon enough returning to the pavilion as Aston loss their tenth wicket in the 27th over for 107 losing by 187 runs.

Reed hosted Elmdon at the Green for a 40/40 friendly, captain Ed Blissett went out with Will Heslam as Reed batted first. Whilst Blissett (3) was out soon Heslam continued to make 34 setting the tone for the Reed innings as everyone made contributions. Maseeh Naeem (38), Hunter Diack (22) and Kieran Willoughby (17) gave the Reed total substance, finishing with 180 for 6. James Bloor performed well at the end with an undefeated 38. Jack Tidey took three for eighteen and Neil Haslam one for seventeen in the second innings but it was not enough to stop D. Gaine (61) D. Bysouth (56*) and G. Dixon (26*) making up the runs for Elmdon as they won by five wickets.