Cup Kings Reed Lift National TitleAfter winning their Saracens Hertfordshire League Division 2 title with a win at Dunstable on Saturday Reed moved on to play at Lords Cricket Ground in the 2012 Final of the Yorkshire Tea National Village Cup against 4 times finalists, and twice winners, Woodhouse Grange CC from near York in North Yorkshire. No Hertfordshire side had previously won the coveted National Village Cup, which is organised by The Cricketer Magazine and has been keenly contested since 1972.292 sides entered this years competition so competition had been intense with the reward of playing the Final at Lords complete with full Lords match facilities. After being dropped off by their coach from the hotel at the legendary Grace Gate entrance, Reed were awarded the privilege of occupying the “Home” Lords No 1 Changing Room, usually used by England in Test Matches and Middlesex for County matches.The weather was truly glorious, hot and sunny with not a cloud in the sky, as the newly commissioned Reed Club Flag was raised over their changing room and a sizeable crowd, which eventually swelled to almost 4,000, filtered into the ground for the 11.00am start. A brass band played behind the pavilion whilst the full range of Lords match facilities were operated - Big Screen TV, Electronic Scoreboard, and MC announcements by the regular Lords Test match announcer.The Reed side was unchanged from their semi-final, meaning that once again they fielded 10 ex Club Colts in their 11-man team, a truly remarkable proportion especially at the level that they now play, and in such a prestigious competition. Even the 12th man, 16 year old Tom Walsingham, was an ex Colt. The average age of the Reed [...]

On Sunday, Reed entertained Home Counties Premier Division outfit, Potters Bar. The gulf in leagues seemed apparent from the outset as Potters Bar's openers looked to make headway with the fielding restrictions in place in the first 15 overs. Jack Tidey bowled with a good line and length and was unfortunate not to make a breakthrough. Will Dobson came into the attack and took the wicket of Van Der Maat for 48. This brought Middlesex youngster James Kettleborough to the crease. He and L . Cooper took the attack to the Reed bowlers both scoring quickly and passing 50 with ease. Cooper went on to make 138 from 111 balls before being caught by Tom Greaves from the bowling of Mitchell Cooper. After C. Swainland came and went for 11 caught behind off the bowling of Alex Kelly, M. Milligan came in and battered the ball to all parts of ground. He made 79 Not Out from just 33 balls including 5 Sixes and 7 Fours. Kettleborough went on to make a spl endid 107 before a fine catch by Greaves from the bowling of Kelly. Kelly ended with 3 wickets as Potters Bar racked up an astonishing 411-5 in 50 overs. After tea, Reed had a mountain to climb and set about chasing down the giant total. Will Heslam and Will Dobson set about their work sensibly and with fine class as they raced to 80 before Dobson was trapped LBW by C Hodge. Stuart Smith joined Heslam at the crease and looked to make use of the bad balls, grooming his way to 24 before he was bowled by C Boyce. After captain Greaves and Johnson also departed, Reed needed a partnership. At [...]

The Lords Dream lives on as Rampant Reed move into last fourAfter a momentous week which saw them lift the midweek Keatley Cup on Wednesday, and stride up their league towards a promotion place with another win on Saturday, Reed crowned it all with a win in their UK last 8 in clash in the Yorkshire Tea National Village Cup on Sunday. Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire Champions Reed took on East Sussex Champions Plumpton & East Chiltington away in Sussex and came away from the south coast with a fine 4 wicket win achieved with 7 overs to spare.In front of a crowd estimated at around 400, with a very sizeable proportion having travelled to support the Reed team, Reed controlled the match from the very start with a dominant display in the field. Plumpton won the toss and chose to bat on what proved to be a dry but low and slow wicket, on an overcast day, which ultimately did see the rain intervene in proceedings.In the face of a hostile opening bowling spell led by Lee Johnson (9 Overs 3-18) and Jack Tidey (9 Overs 2 -37), the home side were never allowed to settle or build any sizeable partnerships. The bowlers were backed up by magnificent Reed fielding which readily contained the Plumpton attempts to accumulate runs. A magnificent one handed catch at slip by Chris Jackson, and a marvellous direct hit run out by William Heslam, typified the Reed control and dynamism in the field. 16-1, became 20-2, 40-3, 50-4 and 51-5 as Reed strangled the Plumpton innings. At 65-5 at the 20 overs halfway point the home team innings was deep in trouble. It never truly recovered as Mitchell Cooper (9 [...]

On Sunday, Reed entertained North Weald at The Green. On a glorious day, North Weald won the toss and elected to field. Reed’s newly appointed Sunday captain, Tom Greaves, sent out Dom McOmish and James P Day, the latter of which was making their first appearance since a lengthy break from the game. The pair looked to be confident from the outset with Day grooming the ball through the covers early on. McOmish began to take control and dominated the partnership before Day was bowled with the score on 17.This brought the experienced Peter Baker to the crease. The mixture of youth and experience looked to be paying off and a partnership was building until Baker was unfortunately run out after McOmish had drilled the ball back down the ground and the bowler had finger-tipped the ball on to the stumps.At 41-2, Mitchell Cooper came in looking to re-build the innings alongside the impressive McOmish. Cooper looked in fine fiddle early on but was deceived by the seam movement of B.Marks (8-0-40-2) as he was bowled all ends up for 8. The game was in the balance when Reed’s Captain Greaves entered proceedings but he and McOmish finally managed to get to grips with the bowling, finding the boundary frequently. The pair put on 35 quickly, before McOmish was bowled by Marks for an impressive 49.Sean Tidey was the next in and looked to punish the bowling from the outset. Greaves departed for a lusty 31 before Tom Walsingham and S.Tidey came together. The pair ran well and managed to put on 50 with ease before Walsingham fell victim to young S.Archer for a classy 20.Sean Tidey was joined by brother Jack and the pair [...]

With over half their team comprising 3 pairs of brothers, and 10 out of their 11 players being ex Juniors from the Clubs long established and hugely successful Colts Cricketing Academy, Reed raced into the last 8 of the Yorkshire Tea National Village Cup with a resounding 83 run win over Essex and Suffolk Champions Mistley Cricket Club.That the match took place at all after the horrendous rain of the last 7 days was a miracle and testament to the hard work of the Club Members and ground staff team and also to the huge £16,000 investment that Reed made into a new ground drainage scheme 2 years ago.After deluges of rain on Thursday and Friday nights continued into Saturday afternoon the rain finally relented at 3pm on Saturday and the ground staff got to work to such an extent that by Sunday 1pm the ground was in playable condition and also looking a picture.Mistley CC from Essex brought a sizeable crowd with them, and when winning what seemed a vital toss, had no hesitation in asking Reed to bat. The decision immediately paid off when Reed Skipper and top rank batsman James Heslam succumbed caught at gully off a brute of a ball that reared off a length off the last ball of the first over. His fellow opener, brother Will, watching from the non strikers end took up the challenge and in company with Tom Greaves 16 took the score to 47 before Greaves fell caught on the boundary. Chris Jackson 9 and Heslam moved the Reed total to 74 before Jackson fell similarly caught in the deep this time at long-on. 17 year old Will Heslam batted with a skill and maturity [...]

On Sunday, Reed took on Langleybury in the Herts & Beds Regional Semi Final in the Yorkshire Tea National Village Cup. Previous matches between the teams in this competition have provided epic twists and turns. This one was no different.After the winning the toss, Langleybury elected to bat. Reed opening bowlers Lee Johnson (9-1-37-1) and Jack Tidey (9-2-23-0) set the standard with some aggressive and accurate bowling. Tidey in particular gave both openers a working over and was unfortunate not to pick up a wicket. The game was well in the balance with Langleybury on 86 before the impressive Mitchell Cooper (9-3-19-3) picked up the wickets of both openers in quick succession. Tom Greaves (9-0-29-2) grabbed the wicket of Langleybury skipper Rhys Williams for 4. 94-3 soon became 94-5 as Cooper and Greaves both struck again to leave Langleybury in a precarious position. The re-introduction of Lee Johnson bought another wicket before Kallum Ward (2-0-6-2) added to his 3 catches in the field by taking 2 wickets in an exciting and impressive couple of overs. Youngster Tom Walsingham (1.4-0-10-2) wrapped up the innings taking the final wicket. Langleybury ending on 131 all out in 39.4 overs. With a low score set, nobody could have expected what was to come. In reply, Reed got off to the worst possible start losing James Heslam early on but Tom Greaves (21) and William Heslam (39) took the total to 30 before Greaves departed. At 30-2 it was anyones game when Stuart Smith strode out to the wicket. He and Heslam Jnr Batted with class and style puting on 50 for the 3rd wicket before Heslam Jnr was caught off the bowling of K. Kelly and when Smith was [...]

It’s LORDS next for Reeds Home-grown HeroesIn a tremendous game of Cricket that swung this way and that throughout a tense, though absorbing, afternoon, Hertfordshire Champions Reed emerged triumphant, and ultimately convincing winners, over Wiltshire Champions Goatacre in their Semi-Final of the Yorkshire Tea National Village Knock Out Cup. Reed now go on to appear in the national competition final v Yorkshire side Woodhouse Grange at the “Home of Cricket” LORDS on Sunday 9th September. Once again in this competition Reed fielded a team comprising 10 home grown players all emanating from the excellent Reed Colts Academy. Which has been operating for over 35 years.Typically in this wet summer the weather had an immediate impact on the match. A rainy morning in Wiltshire left the ground wet and conditions overcast as Reed lost the toss and not surprisingly were asked to bat first on a wicket that seemed likely to favour the bowlers early on. This was immediately confirmed as, in front of a large crowd of around 500, Goatacre opening bowler Matt House charged in and produced a peach of a ball to remove Reed skipper James Heslam bowled with the first ball of the match! Worse was to follow as 2 balls later he repeated the exercise and, with another seaming pace delivery also bowled Reeds Tom Greaves. Reed 0 -2 – Welcome to Wiltshire! Chris Jackson joined young Will Heslam at the crease and the pair started to stem the tide and re-build the Reed innings. After 8 overs the pair took the total to 29 but then Jackson 14 also fell, again bowled by a special delivery from the rampant House. The determined Stuart Smith, something of a Village Cup specialist [...]

The Village Cup Dream Lives On!Sunday 1st July saw Herts & Beds Champions Reed travel to Foxton for their last 32, first inter-county round, of the Yorkshire Tea National Village Cup against Cambridgeshire & Norfolk Champions, and local rivals, Foxton. Reed fielded a team comprising 10 ex colts players brought through from the Clubs long established youth cricket academy. On a fine though blustery afternoon the Foxton wicket and ground were in tip-top condition and the picturesque setting did full justice to the traditional image of English Village Cricket.Winning the toss Reed skipper James Heslam asked the home team to bat first but Foxton started aggressively with the dangerous looking Gareth Roots hammering 14 in the first two overs. However he went in the 4th over LBW to Jack Tidey and the game settled into a more steady tempo. Max Bowen and Laurence Farnum took Foxton to 48 - 1 after 10 overs with Farnum in particular looking untroubled and most runs coming in boundaries or singles with the outfield riding very fast and a shortish boundary on one side. Lee Johnson (9 Overs 1 -33) and Jack Tidey (9 Overs 1 – 37) settled into a good rhythm and bowled very tidily, whilst very sharp Reed ground fielding restricted the Foxton run scoring opportunities. Off the last ball of the 14th Over Bowen was run out for 19 and then a mini Foxton collapse saw them slip to 82 – 4 at the 20 Over mark. Farnum however remained at the crease looking solid and moved to 49 before he miscued a drive and was well caught by a diving James Heslam at deep mid off. Another quick wicket saw Foxton slump to 116 [...]

On Sunday, Reed faced Eaton Bray in the Herts&Beds area final in the Yorkshire Tea National Village Cup. After a nail biting contest last time out against Langleybury, Reed were looking to confirm their spot in the National stages of the tournament for the second season running. On a fine day and in front of a large crowd at The Green, Reed were in the field. Lee Johnson (9-2-32-2) opened up and soon struck gold, bowling D. Kerins for just 1. At 15-1, Bray's captain came to the crease and built a partnership with W.Hosking (47) before Johnson claimed his second victim bowling A.Norris for 17. Hosking and incoming batsmen J Flecknell (34) put on 56 for the thrid wicket before spinner Tom Greaves trapped Hosking LBW. 109-3 soon became 122-4 as Greaves got rid of Flecknell, again LBW. Greaves continued his fine spell taking the wickets of N Pearson (11), C. Tickel (5) and G. Ellerton (1). Greaves ended with figures of 9-2-19-5 in what was a highly impressive and dangerous spell of bowling. Jack Tidey , Mitchell Cooper and Kallum Ward also bowled economically in order to keep Eaton Bray to 143-8 in their 40 overs. Ward picking up the final wicket of the innings.With 144 to win, Reed openers James and William Heslam set about chasing the target. Reed did not get off to the start they would have liked losing the wickets of both Heslams, Smith and Frenay cheaply leaving them in a giant hole on 28-4. G.Ellerton was impressive for Bray with (9-2-34-4).At 28-4, the atmosphere on the green changed but after starring with the ball, Tom Greaves came to the crease trying to avenge the negativity mumbling around the [...]

On Sunday, Reed travelled to Botany Bay in the first round of the National Village Cup. After winning the toss, Reed captain James Heslam decided to bowl on a very green and damp wicket. After Botany Bays opening pair of M.Bott (42) and D.Kaslik (41), got off to a flyer Reed were on the back foot. This was until the introduction of Rupert Martin (9-2-20-4) and Mitchell Cooper (9-1-33-1). Martin bowled with superb control and length to constantly threaten the Bay batsmen. He made the breakthrough with the score on 52, having Bott caught behind by Sean Tidey. Martin struck again with the score on 84, with J. Coleman holing out to Jack Tidey for 9. Mitchell Cooper got in on the act having Bay captain, Kaslik, caught behind. With the score at 99-3 the game was in the balance. Martin was in fine fiddle and took his third wicket, C.Marchant caught at mid-wicket by Tom Greaves for 6. Martin followed this up with the wicket of M.Harris, LBW for 7, completing a superb spell of bowling.112-5 soon became 137-6 after I .Shah (14) decided to try and take a quick single and was superbly run out after a direct hit by James Heslam. Reed were in the ascendancy and brought back pace man Lee Johnson (6-1-30-4) who ran through the Botany Bay lower order like a hot knife through butter. Johnson bowled with pace and accuracy as he bowled 3 of the Bay tail and trapped the other LBW. Reed showed plenty of character and some dogged determination to claw the game back to a winnable position, bowling Botany Bay all out for 149.Reed went out after tea and looked to exploit any poor [...]