This top of the Hertfordshire Championship table encounter promised a feast of Cricket with unbeaten Hertford hosting second placed Reed who had won their last 6 league matches in a row. However, what could have been an “upset” result was mired in controversy and for the 2nd time in 2 seasons Reed came away from Hertford as losers and feeling hard done by as key decisions seemingly again turned the match away from the “junior” Club playing away against a senior County Club on their own ground. Reed won the toss and elected to field first. Hertford skipper Gale soon went caught and bowled by Jack Tidey but then Bailey 36 and Ray 29 took Hertford to 67 before Bailey was well caught by Reed skipper James Heslam off Tom Greaves for 36. Cliff Caverner joined Ray and the Hertford total progressed to 90 before Tom Greaves induced 2 wickets in 2 balls reducing the home side to 90-4. At 128 Caverner was dismissed also caught off Greaves for 21 and when Gethin-Golder went for a duck, giving Greaves his 4th wicket, with the total 137-6 in the 33rd over Hertford were in serious trouble. It was at this point that Hertford No 6 Ruskin, an acknowledged fine batsman but on 0 at the time went back to a ball from Jack Tidey and was hit shin high, seemingly in front of all 3 stumps. The perception was a plumb LBW but it was not to be granted in Reeds favour, a decision that gave rise to some Reed incredulity, later to be deemed formal “dissent”. The key dismissal not having been awarded, Ruskin joined by No 8 Bancroft began to score freely against the [...]