Reed’s Third Eleven put up a good fight in a close fought game against third placed Welwyn Garden City IV’s. The hosting captain won the toss and inserted Reed. Opening the batting were Aiden Swain and Will Heslam. Both looked in fine touch despite both being absent from the crease for several weeks, the pair made 50 together before Swain (25) fell. Heslam continued with some fine shots before being caught, unfortunately 4 runs shy of another 50. Contributions came from Maseeh Naeem and Paul Garrott, both scoring 15, but another strong batting performance from all -rounder Richard Robertson (53) led Reed to their final total of 201 for 8 from 47 overs. For Welwyn the opening pair of Russell and Day put Reed under pressure before Christian Martin (7-1-33-2) made the breakthrough removing Russell (31). Soon after R. Robertson removed Day (31) from the other end. However, each wicket was hard earned as many of the opposition made contributions, but with wickets from Martin and Robertson (12-1-53-3) the win was up for grabs for both sides. Julian Fynn (14-0-56-2) in a returning spell also took vital wickets including running out a jumpy number 9 when the pressure was on. Last year when these two sides met Welwyn required 12 from the last over with one wicket remaining and lost. This time however Reed required two wickets and the hosts only two runs from the last over. Reed lost by two wickets but were by no means disgraced by the third placed side.

Reed IIIs got back to winning ways in style this Saturday after demolishing 3rd placed Waltham Cross Rosedale IIIs at Freeman, to re-ignite their promotion hopes. Skipper Matt Bowles lost the toss, and on a damp track, his side were asked to bat. William Heslam (25) and Aidan Swain opened up the innings and Heslam in particular got Reeds innings off to a flyer with some magnificent shots. However when he fell, a mini collapse ensued. Richard Robertson (5) went caught behind, and then in form Bowles was run out without troubling the scorers to leave Reed 35-3. Swain was then joined by Naeem, who began to steady the ship and propel the score towards three figures. Naeem was particularly brutal, and he dispatched ball after ball to the boundary, soon racking up his half century. Swain was also beginning to find his form, and he too reached his half-century, when Naeem fell for a crucial 56. Julien Fynn then got in on the act, and along with Swain took reed to above 170 and the maximum 10 batting points. Swain eventually fell for a well crafted 86, only for Jack Tidey (20 Not Out) and Fynn (30 Not Out) to see Reed to 247-5 off of their 47 Overs with some crashing blows. With no bowling points, Rosedale had to reach the target to make their trip a worthwhile one, but with the forecast set for rain as the night drew in, Reed knew they had to take early wickets. Fynn and Tidey, fresh from starring with the bat, then did so with the ball. Fynn’s opening spell was deadly, as he snared 3 early wickets, with the rapid bowling of Tidey also picking [...]

Reed IIIs were left frustrated after Southgate Compton IIs batted out for a bizarre draw at Freeman College on Saturday. Reed finished the day with a healthy 18 points, but ran out of Overs and just failed to bowl out Compton after the visitors made the strange decision to shut up shop from the start of their innings ending up with 0 points, not even trying to make a total of 110, where the first batting points begin. The day started off well for Compton, as Reed Skipper Matt Bowles lost his 4th consecutive toss. The visitors elected to field on what looked a belting pitch, and Reed’s openers Ben Bowles and William Heslam then set about putting a total on the board. Youngster Heslam again looked in fine form as he played a classy array of shots, showing maturity and skill beyond his years as he raced into the 20s. Bowles was playing a more watchful innings at the other end, and Reed reached a good total of 56 before Heslam (46) clipped a shot off of his legs stright into the arms of square leg, agonisingly short of what would have been his 3rd half century in 4 games. George Greaves (4) went soon after, and it was left to Bowles and Mitchell Cooper to steady the ship. Scoring was now a much slower process for Reed, but the pair successfully weathered the storm, and with 29 of the allotted 47 Overs gone, Reed had reached 110. Bowles upped the tempo and began to find the boundary with some thumping shots, ably supported by Cooper. Bowles (56) reached a gritty half century, finally out attempting to up the pace. Maseeh Naeem then entered [...]

Reed thirds continued their recent good form this week with another victory this time against Sawbridgeworth. The opposition captain won the toss and elected to bat first on the Freman College ground. M. Bursun (55) made up a large percentage of the visitors total as others struggled for runs. Chris Peckett led the Reed bowling attack taking 4 for 50. Whilst the bowling change introducing Richard Robertson (7-3-18-2) seemed successful. Julian Fynn (7-1-14-3) got the ball to move in a long way to take his three wickets. Kallum Ward (8-3-29-1) also bowled well and took the last wicket ending the Sawbo innings with a target of 144 runs and 51 overs to get them. Reed made up the runs in only 35 overs, captain Matt Bowles looked in good form until he was out LBW for 28. R. Robertson also looked comfortable at the crease making 35 before being caught behind. Maseeh Naeem made 15 but it was Alan Ward (14*) and Marcus J.E. Baker (12*) who were the men not out as Reed won by 5 wickets.

The thirds returned from the disappointment of the week before to a solid victory over a weakened Southgate Adelaide. Reed’s captain Maseeh Naeem won the toss and elected to bat first asking David Johnson and Peter Baker to open proceedings. The pair seemed in comfortable form until Johnson (9) fell victim to a good catch in the gully. Reed then suffered two more quick wickets including P. Baker (16) leaving the visitors on 33 for 3. Reed were then bolstered by the partnership of 92 by captain Naeem and Richard Robertson. Playing aggressive but none the less skilful shots, both gave the Reed total substance taking Reed past the hundred mark. Having lost Robertson for a well played 33, Naeem was then joined by Alan Ward (23) who supported his captain as he achieved his first hundred for the third eleven. In the closing overs Marcus J.E. Baker (26*) did some damage as Reed finished on 248 for 5 from 40 overs, Naeem finishing on 115 not out. The opposition suffered from only having ten players and certainly did not look like competing for the win which indeed they didn’t as Julian Fynn (6-1-12-5) tore through their order. Kallum Ward (6-1-14-1) made the initial break through, whilst Christian Martin (1.3-1-0-2) and David Hill (1-0-1-1) chipped in as Reed bowled out the hosts in only 15 overs for 31, winning by 217 runs and picking up vital points in the process.

In the last league game of the season Reed’s third eleven naturally wanted to end with a victory, however that was not to be the case as Reed lost to visitors Radlet. Reed fielded first having lost the toss and soon had the opposition in trouble as the opening pair of Julian Fynn (7-0-54-4) and Jim Allsopp (4-1-22-1) went through their top order. The pressure was on as number 7 Reza came out to bat, still padding up on his way to the crease to face Fynn’s hat trick ball which he only just survived. From there Reza (79) rescued Radlet as he played a class innings. Richard Robertson (10-2-21-4) struck straight away after the drinks break and another quick flow of wickets followed as Reed bowled out Radlet for 154 from only 33 overs. There were catches from Paul Garrott, David Johnson and Peter Baker who also took one wicket for twelve runs. With the extra overs allotted, Reed had 57 overs to reach their target but wickets began to fall as none of the Reed batsmen could either get started or stay at the wicket. P. Baker made 18 and Maseeh Naeem 17 but neither score was enough to save Reed from losing by 50 runs. Entertainment came towards of the innings as J. Allsopp (22) smashed the ball over the boundary several times to ruin the figures of Cohen (7.1-2-24-5).

Winning the toss and faced with the prospect of playing on a rain affected and intriguingly weed infested wicket, skipper Naeem asked the home side to bat. Despite a couple of early batsmen with 20's Pirton struggled to make much impression on the Reed bowlers and after a very slow passage of play they were recording 90-6 off 41 0vers with Richard Robertson 12 overs 3-23 the most miserly performer. However a late move away from Reeds recognised bowling options backfired as Pirtons Gentle delivered an array of powerful and unique scoring shots to strike 37 in 6 overs and take Pirton to a once unlikely looking score of 144 for 8 from their 47 overs. Reed lost Will Heslam and Paul Garrott early but John Heslam defied the vagaries of the wicket to take Reed to 63 before he fell caught for 39. John Kershaw 20 and Maseeh Naeem 21 saw Reed past the hundred mark without further loss before both perished in quick succession leaving Reed 106-5. Steve Lovegrove compiled 17 and a rapid 15 from Jim Allsopp saw Reed well placed at 131 for 5 needing 14 to win with 5 wickets in hand. However, an unbelievable collapse littered with irresponsible shots from several players who ought to have known better saw Reed collase to 137 for 9. A hard struck 4 from No11 Julian Fynn took the total to within a boundary of victory but it was not to be as Kallum Ward fell caught for 1 with Julian left stranded on 4 not out at the other end and 11 balls still to go in the match! A match that Reed ought to have won thrown away!

Reed IIIs maintained their winning start to the season at home to Old Albanians IIIs on Saturday. Playing their first game on their newly acquired home ground at Freeman College, Reed captain Matt Bowles lost the toss and his side were asked to field. Opening bowlers Kallum Ward and Julian Fynn bowled excellently for little reward in the opening exchanges, on what was turning out to be an excellent track to bat on. The visitors made steady progress and found themselves without loss on 66 after 22 Overs. The introduction of the returning Jim Allsopp and the wily Richard Robertson soon turned the game in Reed’s favour however, as Allsopp uprooted an off stump, before Maseeh Naeem held on to a good catch to leave Albanians 70-2. Robertson then got in on the act, as his patient and cunning spell of swing bowling proved too much for the ailing batsmen, Robertson eventually ending up with 3 wickets. Kallum Ward also returned to the act with some style, as the promising youngster bowled a brilliantly accurate and pacey spell of seam bowling, taking 4 wickets, including 3 in 7 balls. Julian Fynn then returned to deservedly wrap up the tail. Old Albanians finally all out for just 123. In reply, youngster William Heslam picked up where he left off from the week before, where he scored a half-century on debut, by clattering the experienced Albanians attack to all quarters. Heslam played some wonderful shots and finished up on a magnificent 73 Not Out, ably supported by Steve Lovegrove (35 Not Out) as Reed got home for the loss of just one wicket, Peter Baker (9) to secure an impressive 9 wicket victory.

On another hot and sunny day at Freman College the visitors batted first on the hard fast and true wicket but were well contained by the tight Reed bowling of Julian Fynn 8 Overs 1-10 and Karl Ward 8 Overs 2-17. Tunnell 40 was the mainstay of the North Mymms innings supported by Bevans 21 and Rodgers 21. However Richard Robertson 4-21, aided by fine Reed catching (Will Heslam x2) and good ground fielding kept significant pressure on the visitors who eventually subsided to 136 all out with one ball of their maximum 47 overs remaining. After a sumptious tea the father and son combination of 57 year old John and 14 year old William Heslam set about the North Mymms total. Regular boundaries flowed from the bats of both batsmen and JQH defied his broken finger injury with 13x4's and 1x6 in his 67 not out. William again batted majestically scoring his 3rd half century (also add a 47!) in 5 appearances in the league this season. He scored an unbeaten 65 as the pair knocked of the total in imperious fashion in only 23.4 overs leaving Reed easy 10 wicket winners with 19.2 overs to spare.

On a bright and sunny afternoon Reed were put in by the Exiles and soon lost Steve Lovegrove for 4. However the Father and Son combination of John and William Heslam set about building a sizeable Reed total. Heslam senior dealt virtually exclusively in boundaries with 8x4's in his 34 before he departed caught with the score at 93. William however carried on with yet another quality innings and achieved his 4th league 50 of the season before being caught for a fine 53. Richard Robertson played a quality and cultured innings of 58 not out and with 25 extras Reed declared early at 215 for 7 after 45 overs. After a delightful tea served in the open air from the Smiths Mobile Home due the pavilion being out of use due to an Art Exhibition the Exiles were never seriously in the hunt as Jim Allsopp 3-17 and Julien Fynn 2-27 kept them under constant pressure from the start. Alex West bowled a good 6 over spell of 2-22 whilst Jason Pallett 1-23 and Richard Robertson 1-23 also took a wicket apiece. Reduced to 10 men by an unfortunate injury in the field the Exiles totalled 116 all out leaving Reed clear and deserving victors by 99 runs.