Reed 4s entertained Wormley 3s on Saturday at Freeman College in Herts Division 13. The Reed team were made up of some of the club's promising younger players, some experience and some returning players. Skipper Rob Willoughby won the toss and decided to bat.Early wickets put Reed under immediate pressure. Josh Conley and Willoughby looked to steady the ship but were both dismissed for 13. Wickets continued to fall, but youngster Freddy Stuart batted sensibly and top scored with 18. Reed were bowled out for 78.In the field the opening bowling pair of Joe Graves and Conley started well, and ended with a wicket each. Ian Roberts and Willoughby were then brought into the attack, Willoughby getting a wicket, with Roberts being unlucky not to get at least one. Sam Rice bowled one over, also grabbing a wicket, before Wormley knocked off the runs for the loss of 4, winning by 6 wickets.

Reed IV travelled to Waltham Cross Rosedale IV in a must win game between two teams near the bottom of the table. Conditions were not conducive to high scoring on the slippery artificial pitch with a wet, slow outfield. However, after winning the toss and choosing to bat Peter Baker (39) and Richard Robertson (14) made a solid start to build a good foundation for the innings. After the loss of a couple of quick wickets, Cemal Ramadan then came to the crease. After hitting his first ball for 6 Ramadan continued to entertain smashing 41, with a number of partners. Freddy Stuart (15), Jack Childs and Joe Graves all batted sensibly to take Reed to 172 all out in 43 overs.After a very good tea, Reed started to attack the home side’s batting, with brilliant bowling from Alan Ward (19.3-8-24-4) and the young Graves (11-1-28-2).Ramadan entertained with his unconventional style wicket keeping for the first time. With the home side always under pressure to get the runs and losing wickets it became a race for Reed to take the wickets before the overs ran out to secure the win. Jack Childs (4-0-31-2), skipper Rob Willoughby (8-2-18-7) and Sam Rice (4-0-9-2) all kept the score down bowling tightly. It was left to Ward to take the final wicket in the final couple of overs to make Reed victorious.

Reed 4s took a young and inexperienced side to Shenley Village 4s on Saturday. Losing the toss skipper Rob Willoughby was asked to field on an extremely hot afternoon that would be hard work for the youngsters more used to playing 20 over matches.Joe Graves (6-0-28-1) and Josh Conley opened the bowling. Both bowled well using the variable bounce of the pitch to test the batsmen. Each picked up a wicket thanks to catches from Willoughby in the slips and Chris Marshall at mid-on. Willoughby (11-2-42-1) then came into the attach taking a wicket bowled with his first ball. Sam Rice (3-0-28-0) got a lot of spin but could not quite get a wicket. Christian Martin (13-2-40-2), however did manage to get some luck and showed how much difference experience can make. Rhodri Hughes (2-0-18-1) bowled an important 2 overs taking the wicket of the opposition captain who had scored 50, before being replaced by Conley who took his second wicket ending with figures of 12-1-29-2. The catching of the Reed fielders was good with Willoughby taking another, and Richard Robertson and Conley also taking one each. Chris West also kept wicket very well for his first time and is keen to continue in this role in the coming weeks.With Shenley Village finishing on 199 for 7 off of their 47 overs, Reed knew they had to start well in reply. Openers Robertson and Hughes looked solid before Robertson was bowled trying to work one off his legs for 15. Hughes continued to look very good, and has made huge improvements with his batting. He scored a very good 30 whilst wickets fell all around him. Fortunately the tail did wag, with West (18), Martin [...]

Thanks to a determined effort from both sides Reed and Rickmansworth managed to get a full game in at Freman. Skipper Rob Willoughby lost the toss with Rickmansworth deciding to bat. Reed’s young openers Joe Graves (6-1-21-1) and Jack Childs (6-2-8-2) bowled superbly using the drying wicket and muggy conditions well, not giving anything away. Both took each of the openers bowled, with Childs picking up a second thanks to a sharp catch by Willoughby in the slips.Change bowlers Alan Ward and Willoughby then continued the good work, with their slow bowling. Ward and Willoughby stayed on for the remainder of the innings to ensure that Reed got through their overs whilst the rain came down intermittently. Ward took the important wicket of Patel who looked dangerous, and was unlucky not to get two LBW decisions. Ward finished with 15-1-63-2. At the other end Willoughby was bowling tightly on his way to his first five- for, with the help of catches from Ward, John Kershaw, Chris Marshall, and a caught and bowled, finishing with 14.3-1-45-5.After another fantastic tea from Tina Hughes, openers Ward and Kershaw flew out of the traps to take the game to the Rickmansworth openers. Kershaw was starting to find form after a lack of games for most of the season before being caught out for 22. However, Ward looked in great touch and was the foundation of the Reed innings scoring a brilliant 85 before being trapped LBW. Chris West, who earlier kept wicket for the second time, contributed with an important 10, before Willoughby came to the crease to support Ward. Willoughby was caught for 20, shortly after Ward was dismissed, but the pair had taken the score to 147 [...]

This was a fantastic game to finish the season for Reed 4s at Freman with all 11 players coming to the party and contributing. Skipper Rob Willoughby won the toss and decided to bat in the heat of the early afternoon. This turned out to be a good move as it was hard work for the visiting Preston 4th XI, in the sun with openers Richard Robertson and young Rhodri Hughes making the most of the lightning fast outfield. The opening partnership was 141 before Robertson fell stumped on 60. Rhodri fell bowled soon after but did bring up his maiden adult 50, scoring 55. Rhodri’s batting has really come on this season and can now be considered a solid opening bat.Batsmen 3 and 4 were the inform Alan Ward and Willoughby respectively. These two combined lusty boundaries with quickly taken singles as they continued to work the change bowlers. Ward was caught for 36 but Willoughby continued with Freddy Stuart, who scored a very good 16. Willoughby quickly got his first half century of the season as Reed were scoring well and an early declaration was on the cards. This came after 43 overs with Willoughby left 86 not out and Chris West 1 not out.To their credit the Preston openers did give the chase a good go with Wright especially taking the attack to the bowlers scoring 126. Reed opened with Joe graves (6-0-42-0), who has bowled well all season and Graham Stuart (6-0-41-0). Both created chances but the luck was with the batsmen for now. Change bowlers Ian Roberts (8-2-42-0) and Ward immediately brought the run rate back and took the run rate out of the equation. Now Reed needed wickets to [...]

Reed 4s were on the road again looking for another win, this time against the team at the bottom of the league. Skipper Rob Willoughby lost the toss and was surprisingly asked to bat first, even though the home team were still awaiting the arrival of players. Willoughby (19) and Pete Baker (7) opened the batting against initial wild bowling containing many extras. They put on 37 runs before losing Willoughby to a catch. Cemal Ramadan (5) soon followed. Wickets continued to fall but the returning Jason Pallett (13) steadied the ship batting very well. Other good contributions came from Rhodri Hughes (12) and Sam Rice (10) batting at 9 and 10 respectively. Reed finished 116 all out, which considering the variable bounce of the wicket and the slow outfield looked to be a competitive total.After tea the home team came out to bat with what was now 9 players. Joe Graves (6-0-8-2) and Pallett (7-5-6-2) opened the bowling keeping very tight lines. Pallett took the first wicket with a catch to Willoughby in the covers. Wickets then continued to fall with two superb run outs from Mehmet Ramadan, including one direct hit, showing the younger Ramadan how to do it, and a good catch in the covers from Hughes. Good bowling contributions continued from Josh Conley (7-3-13-1) and Sam Rice (6-2-7-0). The innings was finished off by a fine high catch from Steve Hughes, again showing his son how to do it, off the bowling of Willoughby (1-1-0-1).Reed won following a fine display from both the young cricketers in the club as well as their Dad’s, and can now look to push on in the coming weeks.

Reed IV won for the third week on the bounce thanks to a fine batting display, against Hertford V. Losing the toss skipper Rob Willoughby was asked to field. On a warm day fielding was hard work, especially for the younger members of the team, but Reed stuck to the task well against the aggressive batting of Hertford. Alan Ward was the pick of the bowlers with a mammoth spell of 23 overs finishing with figures of 23-11-47-2. The other wickets went to the returning Dom Mcomish (6-0-46-2), and a fine run out from Cemal Ramadan emulating is father from the week before. Hertford declared on 217 after 46 overs.In response Reed started badly losing their openers with only 4 runs on the board. Fortunately both Ward and Mcomish were in form. Mcomish playing some superb shots, racing to his half century and finishing on 68 before being bowled. Ward continued his fine batting, now being supported by Willoughby who scored a quick 30. Wickets then began to fall, despite Ward almost seeing Reed home, finishing with a very important 73. It was then left to two edges for 4 to win the game, one each from father and son combination Steve and Rhodri Hughes.Reed are now in mid- table and going form strength to strength with their young players improving fast in the different environment of adult cricket.

Reed 4s hosted Hatfield Hyde 3s on one of the few sunny days of the year. The match looked in doubt the night before when there were puddles on the wicket, however the pitch dried out and played well throughout.Captain Rob Willoughby won the toss and decided to put the visitors into bat on the drying wicket. An extreme of ages opened the bowling with Jack Childs (6-23-1) and Ian Roberts (11-11-1), both bowling tight lines restricting the run rate. At one point Roberts was bowling so well that he merited 3 slips and a gully! Michael Robertson (11-39-1) came on after Childs returning after an extended absence of living in Japan and having operations. M Robertson built up pace causing the batsmen difficulties.At the other end Kieren Willoughby (7-26-1) also returning from an operation, bowled spin with particularly deceptive flight. K Willoughby removed the most dangerous visiting batsmen thanks to a superb diving catch from Lloyd Bowmen, after several attempts. Eventually skipper R Willoughby (6-11-4) brought himself on to finish the innings, thanks to catches from brother K Willoughby and two stunning catches from Richard Robertson. He was supported by Graham Stuart (2-14-0), who bowled for the first time in 22 years, and whose wife Nicky did a superb tea, and may be asked back to do it again! The visitors finished on 143 all out of 45 overs. After tea Reed felt confident of the run chase but knew that they needed to concentrate. After an early scare when losing R Robertson for 0, other opener Roberts carried his bat for an unbeaten 49, very well supported by M Robertson scoring 84. Both Roberts and M Robertson hit the ball to all parts [...]

Reed Fourth XI are still to get out of first gear this season having the weather disrupt their fixtures and inconsistent availability preventing a settled team. Hence, under the temporary guardianship of acting skipper, Peter Baker, the 4ths had no less than 6 players making their Herts League debuts. Having been inserted, Reed could not recover from being 3 wickets down with only 1 run on the board. Josh Conley, (10), and Cemal Ramadan, (7), stayed a while, but 16 for 5 became 29 for 9 within 13 overs as the young Datchworth bowlers Atkinson, (5), Murphy, (2), and Finn, (2), were unrelenting in their attack. Debutants, Jack Childs and Sam Rice who are both from the Reed Under 15 team, batted at numbers 10 and 11 and between them added a very useful partnership 24 runs with Rice top-scoring with 17 before being run-out and Reed ending on 53 all-out.Childs then performed in his bowling role and returned an impressive 2 for 12 from 6 overs. Josh Conley was accurate and economical with 1 for 18 from 9 overs. Batting was not easy and Datchworth, expecting to knock-off the low target quickly, soon found that conditions and tight bowling meant that they too lost wickets frequently. Reed’s fielding and catching was attacking and highlighted by the diving / rolling catch at point of Mehmet Ramadan showing-off the silky athletic pedigree passed-on to son, Cemal. In fact it was Cemal who was then introduced into the bowling attack who recorded the most impressive figures of 3 for 12. It was not enough though, and Datchworth struggled through to win with 6 wickets down. Reed IV 6 points; Datchworth III 30 points.

Men against boys. Reed IV's travelled to the far end of the County (not the best part) to play their first league game of the season. A team was scrambled together by our injured Captain Rob Willoughby, consisting of 3 under 15's, 2 under 17's and a mixture of experience and enthusiasm.Reed won the toss and decided to insert the opposition on a very damp soft green wicket. In the back ground was a large tent with a travelling circus and at one point our stand in skipper trying to field the ball in the covers did his own impersonation of coco the clown (much to the delight of the younger players!). The skipper's decision to open up with the hugely talented Jack Caine and Rhodri Hughes soon paid off, as three early wickets put the opposition under pressure. N Ilyas who went on to score over 90 was dropped early on and had we managed to take his wicket the total could have been under 50 as 9 of their players failed to reach double figures. There was good fielding from all of the team notably Scott Caine who patrolled the deep cover boundary with speed.After the openers had bowled their first spell Joe Graves replaced Jack Caine from one end and was unlucky not to take wickets as he beat the bat on a number of occasions, and the experienced Christian Martin took over from Rhodri Hughes taking 2 for 30. Reed continued to take wickets at regular intervals with Jack Caine taking 5 for 41 on debut. Reed had managed to bowl out Bushey for 156 in 46 overs.After tea Adain Swain and Peter Baker opened up for Reed and got off [...]