The 4s on Saturday was a game for the older generation in the team. Travelling to Boxmoor 3s at their second ground to play on an artificial pitch skipper Rob Willoughby lost the toss and was asked to field. Things did not start well with openers Jack Childs (4-0-19-0) and Josh Conley struggling to find their line early on. Boxmoor made the most of it, with their openers scoring quickly, although Conley did manage to pick up one wicket. However, the run rate soon slowed down significantly with the change bowlers of Sam Rice (9-1-25-0) and the effervescent Ian Roberts, playing his first game as a 60 year old. Roberts was exceptional and tore into the remaining top order and middle order batsmen ending with figures of 12-5-19-6.Alan Ward (11-2-31-0) and Rob Willoughby (6-0-27-1) continued the bowling, and Conley came back for one more over and picked up another wicket finishing with 5-0-26-2. Catches were taken by Conley (2), Chris West (2) at keeper and Willoughby. Boxmoor finished with 166 for 9 off their 47 overs.After tea Reed welcomed back Pete Baker to open with Richard Robertson. Both took the attack to the Boxmoor openers scoring freely before Baker was caught for 24. The next wicket fell cheaply before the inform Alan Ward came to the crease. Ward and Robertson kept the score going quickly before Robertson was stumped for a good 42. Willoughby and Roberts then fell for 10 and 3 respectively before West scored a very important 16. It was then left to the young Rice (2 n.o) and Ward to take Reed home. Ward ended with 37 n.o, and once again was the batsmen that ensured Reed picked up another win by [...]

Reeds stand-in captain Peter Baker won the toss elected to field against Baldock at the Freman College ground. The pitch did not appear to have suffered unduly by the week’s constant rain, aided perhaps by the strong winds of the previous day.Opposition captain Robin Watts opened for the visitors and with Lawson started well despite good opening spells from Joe Graves and Jack Childs. It was first change bowler Alan Ward who made the break through, bowling Lawson for 28. Josh Conley (7-0-28-1), finding a nice bit of movement, also took a wicket followed soon after by Ward taking his second. The important wicket of Watts (36) was taken thanks to a sharp catch behind by Marcus J.E. Baker standing-up to the wicket. This brought Mongston to the crease who’s opening salvos cleared the rope, after that though he flirted with danger making 29 before being bowled by the legendary Jim Allsopp (8-0-48-1) making his return after several years away from the game. Baines (23) had played some nice shots until trapped LBW becoming Ward’s third wicket, however Ward was only half done. His perfect line and late movement bowled a further two and had another caught by Ben Walker, he finished with figures of 17 overs, 6 wic kets for 52 runs. The Baldock score of 202 for 8 was achieved thanks mainly to a fine knock by Harris who played some impressive shots late in the innings making 32 not out.In reply Reed struggled to get going as the top 5 contributed only 18 between them. There then followed a resilient effort from M.J.E. Baker and Ben Walker, they played with patience and diligence in playing the bowling of Loriot (8-3-22-2) and Harris [...]