The rain was the winner on Saturday with the third interruption of the day being the killer blow just as Reed had begun their reply to Datchworth’s 167 for 8. Inserted on the damp-ish pitch, Datchworth’s openers had set-off cautiously and even as their innings progressed their subsequent batsmen never looked that they would overpower the Reed attack. George Garrott took one wicket in his opening spell and Chris Marshall bowled a tight line recording 0 for 22. Bernie Morss, in the country for a flying visit, then used his experience to close down one end and bowled 14.5 overs returning 4 for 35. Young spinners, Rhodri Hughes and Reece Fitzgerald bowled well in their contrasting styles but by taking 1 for 39, Fitzgerald became Reed Fourth’s leading wicket-taker in the League this season. Garrott had an excellent day in the field and safely pouched 3 well-judged catches before returning to remove one more batsman at the end of the innings to produce bowling figures of 2 for 32.Garrott and Peter Baker opened the batting for Reed but a downpour after just 2 overs meant the players left the field again at 4 for no wicket. Once the sun shone again, Datchworth wanted to continue as they needed the points to remain in contention for a promotion place, but the pitch had become too slippery. The match was abandoned with 10 points awarded to each team. Considering that just 4 weeks ago, Reed were in 17th position and in the relegation zone, this result plus the intervening four straight maximum pointers left them in a much improved and safe 9th position with just one match left to play.

Reed IVs clawed some points back on Saturday as their visitors lost 7 wickets before they reached the modest target of 152. Christian Martin was back in the wickets with 3 whilst Richard Robertson (1), Ian Roberts (1) and Jason Pallett (2) took the others. Ian Curtis performed dependably behind the stumps and made 2 catches and the fielding generally was an improvement on the previous week. The match was in the balance for some while until Chipperfield Clarendon’s number 8, Oliver, bashed a quick 27 not out to see them home.Earlier in Reed’s innings, Jason Pallett (35) and Chris West (26 not out) combined to set a new 9th wicket batting partnership for the Fourth XI of 49. Skipper Peter Baker had top-scored with 42 at the beginning but it was West and Pallett who extended the innings to give Reed’s bowlers a reasonable total to defend.Reed still have lots of ground to make-up at the halfway point of the season.

With their strongest batting line-up for many weeks, Reed’s plans to score a massive total had been disrupted by Bushey’s Patel and Cawthorn and after 25 overs Reed were reeling at only 72 for 6. Luckily, Kallum Ward batting at number 8 knuckled down and accompanied by Richard Robertson added 124 in the next 17 overs allowing Reed to close their innings on 214 for 7. Ward had scored a super 66 and Robertson was left undefeated on a fine 74.Chris West struck early-on removing one opener in his first over then adding the number 3 soon after. Ward was too quick for the batsmen and beat the bat many times although when he found the edge, these flew down to third man at pace. Leg-break bowler Rhodri Hughes replaced Ward and was rewarded for an excellently flighted spell when John Kershaw stumped opener Asif for 29 in the 29th over of Bushey’s reply after being all at sea against the young spinner. Meanwhile, George Garrott bowled a tight offside line and good length at pace from the southern end and these two pulled back the run rate. Reece Fitzgerald chipped-in with a wicket in his spell but young Chris Sleeman and experienced Rothwell accelerated the rate when the end was in sight. Rothwell was 23 not out but Sleeman raced past his century with some hard-hit boundaries and ended on 120 not out as Bushey got home with 6 wickets intact. Although defeated, Reed notched-up a healthy 14 points but still require a couple of maximum thirties from their remaining 6 matches to be safe from the relegation zone.

Reed won the toss and elected to bat first but were soon in trouble as they lost 3 wickets for only 23. But Broxbourne’s next success was not until Cemal Ramadan and Alan Ward had added a further 125. This was a new 4th wicket partnership for Reed’s Fourth XI and was based around the 14 year-old Ramadan’s superbly struck 90. By the time he was dismissed, he had scored 5 sixes and 8 fours in happy-go-lucky fashion that all, except the Broxbourne bowlers and fielders, enjoyed immensely. Ward went for 23 then later Jason Pallett (21) and Christian Martin (25 not out) contributed useful runs at the end of the Reed innings to close on 202 for 9 after the allotted 47 overs.Martin and Richard Robertson opened the bowling when Broxbourne batted and although economical, and finding the edge of the bat occasionally, they were unable to break the opening stand. Spinners Rhodri Hughes and Bernie Morss were introduced into the attack and eventually Hughes (1 for 41) flighted one up for Peter Baker to take the catch at extra cover. Pallett replaced Hughes and struck with his first delivery then added another scalp soon after as Baker took a skyer. Meanwhile, 12 year-old Reece Fitzgerald (1 for 27) took over at the other end bowling a tight line and was rewarded by a sharp and low catch by Pallett at square leg. With 4 wickets down, Broxbourne now had the task of maintaining the required run rate, but their own teenaged batting star, Charlie Willis, kept his cool and notched-up a chanceless maiden century. Whilst he was at the crease, Broxbourne were favourites and so it was, despite Willis then giving 3 dropped [...]