The seconds had to endure a rather one sided affair in their opening game of the 2011 season. Peter Baker led a weakened, ten man side down to Enfield for the friendly fixture.The hosts batted first and took full advantage of the gap in the field as they took Reed for 10 an over in the first fifteen. The break through finally came as Julian Fynn had Naughton (30) playing on. Jason Pallett was then introduced and soon had the wickets of opening bat and top scorer Barrell (84) and hard hitting number three Raffa (43). During the middle overs of the innings Reed slowed Enfield down as under 15 Joe Graves and Fergus Martin bowled well to the middle order. Returning spells produced wickets for Mitchell Cooper, thanks to a good catch at deep extra cover from F. Martin, and Jason Pallett who had Fereday (35) stumped by Marcus J.E. Baker. Enfield’s final total of 334 for 5 after their forty overs was greatly assisted by the number of wides which were adjudged by the Minor Counties umpire as anything that went down the leg side. In reply Reed never looked anywhere near as comfortable as the hosts at the crease. At 39 for 5 M. Cooper was joined by Josh Conley who swung hard and made contact sending several well bowled deliveries to the boundary including a huge six, but his cameo came to an end the next ball caught for 24. Meanwhile, Cooper had played a mature innings until he was also out caught for 27. Julian Fynn added 24 and Jason Pallett 14, before Reed were all out for 146. Reed had displayed some dogged resistance in places and there was [...]

The seconds had to endure a rather one sided affair in their opening game of the 2011 season. Peter Baker led a weakened, ten man side down to Enfield for the friendly fixture.The hosts batted first and took full advantage of the gap in the field as they took Reed for 10 an over in the first fifteen. The break through finally came as Julian Fynn had Naughton (30) playing on. Jason Pallett was then introduced and soon had the wickets of opening bat and top scorer Barrell (84) and hard hitting number three Raffa (43). During the middle overs of the innings Reed slowed Enfield down as under 15 Joe Graves and Fergus Martin bowled well to the middle order. Returning spells produced wickets for Mitchell Cooper, thanks to a good catch at deep extra cover from F. Martin, and Jason Pallett who had Fereday (35) stumped by Marcus J.E. Baker. Enfield’s final total of 334 for 5 after their forty overs was greatly assisted by the number of wides which were adjudged by the Minor Counties umpire as anything that went down the leg side. In reply Reed never looked anywhere near as comfortable as the hosts at the crease. At 39 for 5 M. Cooper was joined by Josh Conley who swung hard and made contact sending several well bowled deliveries to the boundary including a huge six, but his cameo came to an end the next ball caught for 24. Meanwhile, Cooper had played a mature innings until he was also out caught for 27. Julian Fynn added 24 and Jason Pallett 14, before Reed were all out for 146. Reed had displayed some dogged resistance in places and there was [...]

For the second year running, Reed were frustrated by the weather at Flamstead. Reed lost a vital toss and were inserted on what looked like a bowler friendly track. Baz Curtis and Fergus Martin again opened the batting, but both fell having scored 2. Matt Bowles and Richard Johnson showed more aggression and looked to have repaired the early damage before Bowles drove at a wide one and was well caught behind for a fine 36. At 65-3 it looked like Reed would be able to set a challenging total and may even get some batting points, but Rose had other ideas. He had Johnson caught at mid off for 31 and then ripped through the middle order reducing the visitors to 96-8. That was soon 104 all out. Rose finishing with 7-37 from 21.2 overs.A shower before the home side could start their innings delayed their reply, and they had to face a tricky 20 minutes before tea. Reed knew their was enough in the wicket to still make batting hard and some good bowling could still steal a victory. Mitchell Cooper had Oswin well caught at gully by Wheeler and then Rupert Martin picked up two wickets before the tea break. Blunt being removed as the players ran off for tea and another shower. The covers did a good job, but the surrounding area around the wicket was very wet. Flamstead did a good job to get play back on again. Skipper Taylor came out with some intent hitting two boundaries before he was caught a short midwicket by Cooper with a great diving catch.Both Cooper and Martin picked up more wickets and the home side were in sorts of trouble at 57-7 [...]

Match report to follow

Another disappointing weekend for the Reed 2nd XI. Baz Curtis lost a toss that both skippers were desperate to win. The heavy over night rain made the track look like a bowl first wicket.Visiting skipper Sam Stephenson had no hesitation in putting the home side into bat. Curtis and Fergus Martin opened and survived an excellent spell of seam bowling from P. England who exploited the conditions and on another day could have had a hat full of wickets. Curtis was putting the bad ball away from the other end and had raced to 26 before a leading edge was skied to mid wicket where he was well held.The run rate was slow, but steady as Martin and Phil Freney tried to see off the new ball. The pair had put on 42 before Martin was caught behind for a patient 19. Richard Johnson came to the crease and looked to be aggressive. Both plays took time to adjust to the spin of Stephenson, but boundaries came a regular intervals. Both looked well set and Reed had got 100 without too many scares.Stephenson struck again to remove Freney for 37 and at 115-3 with 17 overs to go and challenging total looked possible. S. England had other ideas. He ripped throughout the rest of the Reed batting taking 5-41 in 14 overs. Reed were shout out for 142. Johnson top scoring with 39. None of the last 7 Reed batsman made double figures.Reed needed quick wickets to put the league leaders under pressure, but despite the run rate being slow wickets didn't come. Rupert Martin was the first to strike when he had Warboys caught at mid wicket. Cheshunt decided that taking no chances was [...]

Another disappointing weekend for the Reed 2nd XI. Baz Curtis lost a toss that both skippers were desperate to win. The heavy over night rain made the track look like a bowl first wicket.Visiting skipper Sam Stephenson had no hesitation in putting the home side into bat. Curtis and Fergus Martin opened and survived an excellent spell of seam bowling from P. England who exploited the conditions and on another day could have had a hat full of wickets. Curtis was putting the bad ball away from the other end and had raced to 26 before a leading edge was skied to mid wicket where he was well held.The run rate was slow, but steady as Martin and Phil Freney tried to see off the new ball. The pair had put on 42 before Martin was caught behind for a patient 19. Richard Johnson came to the crease and looked to be aggressive. Both plays took time to adjust to the spin of Stephenson, but boundaries came a regular intervals. Both looked well set and Reed had got 100 without too many scares.Stephenson struck again to remove Freney for 37 and at 115-3 with 17 overs to go and challenging total looked possible. S. England had other ideas. He ripped throughout the rest of the Reed batting taking 5-41 in 14 overs. Reed were shout out for 142. Johnson top scoring with 39. None of the last 7 Reed batsman made double figures.Reed needed quick wickets to put the league leaders under pressure, but despite the run rate being slow wickets didn't come. Rupert Martin was the first to strike when he had Warboys caught at mid wicket. Cheshunt decided that taking no chances was [...]

Reeds Second eleven withstood the scorching heat to restrict Bentley Heath in their pre-season friendly.The Host’s captain clearly had misplaced faith in his batsmen as Reed set about their work under the command of Pete Tidey. Lewis Fitzgerald (5.3-1-26-3) started off with good pace and line and a sharp catch from keeper Marcus J.E. Baker from the fourth ball of the innings made the early breakthrough. Returning in his second over Fitzgerald then bowled a perfectly delivered slower ball, pitched fuller, decimating the wicket. He would go on to take a third thanks to an extremely tough catch from Richard Johnson. Meanwhile, opening at the pavilion end of the charming ground was Under 15 Tom Walshingham who also impressed and returned figures of 7 over, 4 maidens, no wickets for only 5 runs. First change bowlers Rupert Martin (6-0-14-0) and Chris Peckett (6-1-22-2) continued in the same form, with Peckett claiming two wickets thanks to good catches from George Garrott and T. Walshingham. Second eleven spinner Matt Bowles (5-0-7-3) was then introduced and always looked like taking a wicket; he came away with three. His first, a perfectly flighted delivery drew in Dunnett who lobbed it out to G. Garrott who took his second good catch. Bowles’s second and third were bowled and L.B.W. respectively. Pete Tidey (4-1-5-1) also got in on the act taking a fantastic catch off his own bowling, before a run out orchestrated between T. Walshingham and L. Fitzgerald took care of the final wicket with Bentley Heath all out for just 100 runs.Aiden Swain and Will Heslam made a strong start in the second innings making a partnership of 52 in eleven overs. Swain had characteristically been displaying the pull [...]

Match report to follow

Reeds Second eleven withstood the scorching heat to restrict Bentley Heath in their pre-season friendly.The Host’s captain clearly had misplaced faith in his batsmen as Reed set about their work under the command of Pete Tidey. Lewis Fitzgerald (5.3-1-26-3) started off with good pace and line and a sharp catch from keeper Marcus J.E. Baker from the fourth ball of the innings made the early breakthrough. Returning in his second over Fitzgerald then bowled a perfectly delivered slower ball, pitched fuller, decimating the wicket. He would go on to take a third thanks to an extremely tough catch from Richard Johnson. Meanwhile, opening at the pavilion end of the charming ground was Under 15 Tom Walshingham who also impressed and returned figures of 7 over, 4 maidens, no wickets for only 5 runs. First change bowlers Rupert Martin (6-0-14-0) and Chris Peckett (6-1-22-2) continued in the same form, with Peckett claiming two wickets thanks to good catches from George Garrott and T. Walshingham. Second eleven spinner Matt Bowles (5-0-7-3) was then introduced and always looked like taking a wicket; he came away with three. His first, a perfectly flighted delivery drew in Dunnett who lobbed it out to G. Garrott who took his second good catch. Bowles’s second and third were bowled and L.B.W. respectively. Pete Tidey (4-1-5-1) also got in on the act taking a fantastic catch off his own bowling, before a run out orchestrated between T. Walshingham and L. Fitzgerald took care of the final wicket with Bentley Heath all out for just 100 runs.Aiden Swain and Will Heslam made a strong start in the second innings making a partnership of 52 in eleven overs. Swain had characteristically been displaying the pull [...]

Reed’s 2nd XI stormed to victory on Saturday with an excellent 8 wicket win. Winning the toss, skipper Baz Curtis put the visitors into bat on a wicket that he hoped would prove helpful to his young pace attack. Overhead conditions provided some swing as well.Kallum Ward took full advantage taking the first four wickets to fall including a superb caught and bowled. His opening partner Rupert Martin was late to the party, but picked up two wickets late in his spell.At 30-6 Bentley Heath looked dead and buried. Jaslina and Tarimzi rebuilt the inning. Jaslina batted extremely positively and hit the ball to parts or Reed. The home side seemed to lack ideas and their early work seemed to have been wasted. Julian Fynn had replaced Martin and thanks to a superb one handed diving catch at gully by Simon Jackson, he removed Jaslina for 66. The pair had put on 85 for the 7th wicket. Tarimzi tried to go on the attack, but was caught for 4 and the very next ball Fynn struck again. He finished with 3-22. The final wicket fell with a run out and Bentley Heather were all out for 124. Ward finished with 4-11 from 7 overs.Baz Curtis opened with William Heslam and their main aim was to see of the new ball. Bentley Heath got some early swing, but the pair put the bad ball away and had reached 39 without much alarm before Curtis was caught for 17, with the score on 39. Matt Bowles added 17 with Heslam before he to was caught.Richard Johnson joined Heslam and the pair looked in total control. Heslam hit 11 boundaries in his 58 not out and Johnson with [...]