Promotion to the top flight of the Saracens Hertforshire League is now out of Reed 1XI’s hands after they lost out to 3rd placed Old Finchleians on Saturday.Hoping for a sunny day and flat batting track in a game they would look to bat first and take good bonus points from Reed were faced with overcast conditions and a slightly green top due to midweek rain. Despite the conditions, to bat first was still a reasonable option and it was taken but would require some good batting. This was made harder by the excellent Old Finchleians attack who gave very little away all afternoon.Reed were reduced to 29-4 at one stage. Although Stuart Smith (21) then showed some resistance the score had by the 26th over become 78-7. At this point Reed looked in all sorts of trouble but a well played knock of patience for the situation by the classy and in-form Ed Garrott (30) and a positive and sensible innings from Jack Tidey (32) gave Reed hope as they moved it up to 118 before Tidey went to one that wasn’t quite there for the drive. Garrott continued with the tail to ensure Reed didn’t give away too many overs to the opposition and at least gave the bowlers something to work with taking the Reed score to 140 before he was last man out.Reed knew they were going to have to bowl and field out of their skins to turn the game around. Jack Tidey (3-38) did just that continuing his fine form with the ball taking out the Old Finchleians top 3 reducing the visitors to 39-3. However, Reed needed to continue to take wickets and failed to do so as [...]

Reed continued their good run of form with a convincing away victory at Northwood on Saturday. Arriving at the ground, the Reed players could have been forgiven for thinking the track had been unprepared; bright green in colour, the track had been covered and not cut for a couple of days leaving plenty of grass on the wicket to add to the insitu moisture. Reed lost the toss and were unexpectedly ask to have a bowl. Lee Johnson opened up for Reed and produced a fine spell of opening bowling which saw him and his partner Jack Tidey make good use of the wicket, causing problems throughout for the Northwood batsman. Tidey was first to make the breakthrough, snicking up Khan to his brother Sean with the score on just 16. The rest of the show however was Lee Johnsons', taking 6 wickets in a double spell of bowling which reduced Northwood to tatters. If it wasn't for Hussey and Wise who produced a resilient 6th wicket partnership, Northwood would have been skittled out cheaply. However, they pushed the score to 109 before Chris Peckett (2-37) broke the partnership, taking one of his two wicket of the game. Mitchell Cooper (1-13) again showed his all round credentials with the ball, however it was Johnson (6-31) who finished up the tail to end an superb spell of bowling and topped off a fine fielding performance from Reed. In reply, Reed lost the early wicket of Greaves when a ball from Lewis held up in the pitch and was easily caught at mid-off. At 33-1, Mckechnie strode out to the wicket to join Heslam, who had been adjusting well to the conditions and was scoring relatively freely. [...]

Reed played host to Luton Town on Saturday and came away with all 30 points in a comprehensive all round performance. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Reed got off to a shaky start losing some early wickets to some tight bowling from the Luton openers. Liam Mckechnie, fresh from his vacation, returned to add some much needed steel to the Reed middle order and compiled a fine innings of 57. Mckechnie was well supported by Karl Ward (53), who punished anything short of a length. Ward fell short just after knocking up his half century, which brought Sean Tidey to the crease who batted well beyond his years. Sean struck the ball cleanly throughout a fine innings, notching up his maiden first team half century for the club in doing so. Sean's 68 was pivotal in Reed setting Luton the the challenging total of chasing 242 to win the game.In reply, Reed got off to an excellent start with the dangerous Jack Tidey removing Jeremy Page in the forth over. Throughout his opening spell, Jack bowled with excellent rhythm, pace and bounce and reaped the rewards when Khan was caught at slip leaving Luton 59-2. The introduction of Tom Greaves (2-43) instantly changed the game, with him picking up two quick wickets, adding to the all rounder's already increasing tally of wickets for the season. At 72-4, Luton were precariously hanging onto the game, however Dalvi, who had been quietly building a fine innings at the other end was proving to be the backbone of the Luton innings. When he was finally caught by Heslam off the bowling of Garratt two short of his century, and Luton on 180 this saw the [...]

Reed picked up their first full maximum points of the season with a convincing win over visitors Knebworth Park.  On a glorious day, Knebworth won the toss and elected to bat.  Reed's opener's Wilson and Johnson bowled with good pace and vigour, not allowing the Knebworth openers to settle.  Johnson (3-36) was the first to make the breakthrough when Jackson took a sharp catch in the slips to remove Roseberry.  Letford was next to go, LBW to the increasingly dangerous Johnson, who soon thereafter picked up his third wicket with an exceptional one handed caught and bowled.  Gregory and Salerno started to rebuild the innings, with Gregory looking the more accomplished of the two.    Wilson (1-53) picked up his first wicket of the game, seeing the back of Salerno, taken by a sharp one handed catch by Sean Tidey.  The remaining Knebworth batsman struggled to make much of an impact rebuilding the innings and between Peckett (1-13), Garratt (3-15) and Greaves (1-6) Knebworth were bowled out for 135. In reply, Reed's openers got off to a confident start, before McKechnie was adjudged a long way forward and given out LBW.  Will Heslam followed in similar fashion, which gave Knebworth the sniff of a chance.  However Jackson and Heslam started to re-build the innings before Jackson was caught in the gully for 24 off Salerno.  Ward soon followed, top-edging back to the bowler.  Tom Greaves (26*) soon put his mark on the game with some classy strokes and lusty blows, whilst Heslam (61*) carried on in his good vain of form seeing Reed home in the 31st over to top a convincing all round performance. Knebworth Park 2nd

Reed got back to winning ways and maintained their position one off the leaders in the Herts Div 2 with a one wicket victory over Ickleford. Reed won the toss and elected to have a bowl, but found early wickets hard to come by. Millwood and Edwards put on 79 for the first wicket before the introduction of Chris Peckett saw the break through. Peckett (3-43) and Tom Greaves (5-40) bowled superbly in tandem, which saw the pair pick up three and five wickets respectively. Ickleford's innings limped along past the 150 mark thanks to some hard hitting from Mason, but it was the reintroduction of Lee Johnson which finished off the tail, leaving Reed to chase 177 to win the game.In reply, Reed started well with both Heslam and Greaves looking in fine form. Greaves was adjudged LBW with the score on 36, which gave Ickleford the impetus to attack and pile the pressure on the Reed batsman. Chris Jackson joined Heslam at the crease and between them they settled the ship, before Heslam was bowled by excellent delivery from Robinson (3-75) for 29. Reed's middle order then managed to hit the fielder on three occasions which saw a mini collapse, however Jackson and Ed Garratt batted well under pressure to move the game firmly into Reed's hands. The partnership was finally broken when Marsden (5-71) sneaked the ball past Jackson's defences with the score on 148, with Jackson making an important 54. Ed Garratt (44*) then took charge of proceedings, wining the game with a maximum to see Reed home, despite losing a couple of late wickets.

Reed side, weakened by injuries played host to third placed Hemel Hempstead on a warm but breezy day at the Green. Stand-in skipper Lee Johnson won the toss and didn't hesitate to elect to bat, on a wicket that looked dry and hard. Mckecknie and Greaves opened up for Reed, to the unusual combination of Hemel's attack of seam and spin. Both batsman started relatively slowly to some tight bowling, but soon played themselves in to provide Reed a very good starting block to build on. Mckecknie (40) was first to depart, caught and bowled having put on 121 for the opening wicket. Chris Jackson joined Greaves to the crease, and between them they continued to move the ball nicely around the park. Looking to dominate the bowling of Canham, Greaves was out 10 runs short of his century, stumped for an excellent 90. With the score at 142-2, Hemel thought they were back in the game, however a quickfire 36 from Karl Ward continued Reed's momentum before he was caught out in the deep looking to go big. It was then down to Jackson and Roddi Liebenberg, making his first team debut, to continue the home side's domination. Liebenberg (22) was unfortunate to be out on the last ball of the innings with Reed posting 250 on the board for the loss of 4 wickets. Jackson finished unbeaten on 53 not out. In reply, Reed got off to the best possible start, with Johnson bowling Hemel's skipper with the score on just 5. Jack Tidey, taking the new ball was unlucky in his opening spell, having beating the bat on a number of occasions. However, Jack was eventually rewarded when Berry nicked one to [...]

Reed continued their promotion push with a convincing 8 wicket win over Welwyn Garden City on Saturday. Having won the toss and electing to bat, Welwyn had no answer for the pace and accuracy of Lee Johnson. Johnson (5-47) picked up the early wicket of Russel in his first over and continued to cause problems for the Welwyn batsman throughout an excellent 14 over spell. Ably assisted by Jack Tidey and Chris Peckett, Reed cornered Welwyn to 60-8. However, a stubborn rear guard partnership between Lynch and Taylor, and latterly Bridgewater put some respectability on Welwyn's total. The tail enders pushed the score onto 126 before Tom Greaves (2-15) finally got the better of Lynch, luring him into a big shot after having batted so patiently in a much need innings of 36. Welwyn being bowled out for 126 in 48.1 overs. Chasing 127 to win, Reed wasted no time in stamping their authority further on the game, which saw openers Heslam and Greaves batting positively before Heslam snicked one to the keeper with the score on 34. Chris Jackson (25*) joined Tom Greaves at the crease and the pair continued the momentum, scoring freely and at relative ease. Greaves (39) was particularly brutal in dispatching the bad ball, playing a classy innings before he too fell to the useful Stainsby. In the absence of Liam McKechnie, Stuart Smith took the opportunity to cement his place at number four with a fine innings to see Reed home in the 16th over. Smith (45*) arrived at the crease at a difficult time, and having played back the first five deliveries he then scored a devastating 45 in his next 14 deliveries, which included 2 sixes and [...]

Reed narrowly missed out on promotion on the final game of the season despite an exciting run chase against Dunstable. Requiring a win, along with fellow challengers Cockfosters to slip up, Reed always knew the odds were against them but gallantly chased the unknown only to fall short at the final hurdle.Requiring to chase the game, Reed took to the field looking to restrict Dunstable to a gettable target. However, on a flat track the Dunstable batsman were rarely challenged by the Reed bowlers and moved the ball around with relative ease. Wickets were slow in coming, but it was the introduction of Tom Greaves (6-84) who peppered away at the Dunstable batsman in a marathon spell of spin bowling. Runs were too easy to come by, contributed by some solid batting and some uncharacteristically loose bowling, which saw Dunstable amass 238 all out in their 53 overs. Reed only had one game plan, and this was symbolised by the approach Heslam and Mckechnie took in the opening 11 overs, amassing 83 until Mckechnie was unfortunate to be runout for 28. Heslam was joined by Chris Jackson (75) and the pair chipped away at the total as the slow bowlers set themselves in for the afternoon. Heslam, topping off an excellent season with the bat achieved his half century before snicking one to the keeper for 53. Reed lost Greaves without troubling the scorers, and this saw the game quickly turn in the favour of Dunstable. Jack Tidey (18), pushed up the order after his recent fine form, assisted Jackson well before also snicking one behind. Two more quick wickets saw Reed reduced to 6 wickets requiring 69 off the last ten overs. Jackson was [...]

Reed travelled to newly promoted County Hall on Saturday looking to emulate their recent good form. Arriving at the ground to the unfamiliar sight of a green damp wicket, the bowlers were licking their lips, only for the batsman to be latterly licking their wounds. With the forecast set to be sunny, it was inevitable that the pitch would dry out as the day goes on so it was a toss that Reed skipper James Heslam was eager to win. However, having lost the toss and predictably inserted into bat, the Reed batsman struggled to score freely against the ball darting and lifting around off the pitch. The County Hall openers both bowled a marathon spell of good line and length and made batting difficult and slow. Mckechnie was first to go, trying to cut a ball that lifted on him, caught in the gully. This bought Chris Jackson to the crease, who along with Greaves tried to buy time and see off the new ball, before Greaves was caught at mid-on for 20. At 44-2 and the wicket making life difficult for the Reed batsman, Stuart Smith and Jackson carefully mixed patient batting with some lustier blows. When Smith was out with the score on 98, the game was in the balance. However, Jackson and Ward pushed forward, with the latter punishing anything slightly short of a length in a fine inning of 48. Jackson was eventually out, caught within the ropes of the boundary for a well built 58. Reed's middle order manoeuvred the game into commanding position, helped by some tired bowling but some nice stroke play from the likes of Heslam and Liebenberg. Reed declared in the final over for 218-9, [...]

On Saturday Reed 1XI returned from St Margretsbury with another good point scoring draw. After electing to bat Reed set off impressively with Liam Mcechnie (36) and James Heslam (97) putting on 84 for the first wicket. Karl Ward batting at 3 replacing the injured Chris Jackson joined Heslam and batted sensibly as the pair took the score up to 171-2 before Ward fell for a well made 31. Reed then collapsed to 175-5 and it took a mature and exciting innings by 17 year old wicket keeper batsman Sean Tidey of 34* to see Reed to what looked a good score of 222-9 in 53 overs. This looked an even better score when Lee Johnson (3-47) who produced an excellent opening spell removed the dangerous Simon Tilbury for 23 after Reed had frustrated him well. Graham Wilson (1-46) also bowled tightly putting the home side under pressure. Reed were then well in control of the game but unfortunately failed to take the regular wickets required to force the victory largely thanks to a very impressive 111 not out by Brown. A few chances went down which could have made the difference as St Margretsbury never looked like collapsing to defeat but defiantly rallied to 201-6 after their 47 overs.St Margaretsbury Score Card