With 2nd place in the SHCL Herts Championship League secured the previous week, Reed found themselves in dire selection straits with 5 of their regular 1st Xl either injured or absent on holiday. With Reed 2nd Xl seeking to win their own league the Club Selectors decision was taken to top up the 1st Xl team for this weeks with 5 players from Reeds normal 3rd Xl. The composite Reed 1st Xl team, missing all 3 of their normal opening bowlers, and several top batsmen, travelled to play 3rd placed Totteridge Millhillians skippered by former England Test Star John Emburey. Totteridge won the toss and invited Reed to bat first. Will Heslam went cheaply but then Sam Fairbrother and Chris Jackson took the score along at a good pace before Fairbrother fell stumped for 30, and soon after Jackson departed caught for 34. Reed limped from 96-3 to stand at 128-6 with all the 1st Xl regulars dismissed and a low total threatening. However, the elevated Reed players came to the fore and all made significant contributions to the Reed cause. 17-year-old Reece Fitzgerald led the way with a marvelous innings of 40 and was well supported by fellow promising youngster Jack Caine who made 18. Michael Robertson struck a swashbuckling 27 not out and the Reed tail certainly wagged pushing the score to a respectable 237 all out in 44.6 of the 50 overs available to them. Reeds stand in seam bowlers bowled respectably but Totteridge’s reply got off to a good start, the score passing 50 without loss. Skipper Tom Greaves bowled a miserly spell of 10 overs 1-26 but it was batting hero Reece Fitzgerald who demonstrated his all-round talents taking the [...]