Saturday: Will Heslam was in the runs again with 79 not out supported by 42 from Rob Lankester and 36 by Richard Wharton as Reed Firsts won their first league fixture. Ian Osborne took a 3-for and Wharton made 4 wicket-keeping dismissals as Stevenage closed on 186 for 9. At Reed, Richard Barlow looked in command scoring 85 not out for the 2nd XI easily overtaking Ampthill's 147. There were 3 wickets apiece for the two "JCs", (Josh Conley & Jack Caine). Rob Willoughby scored 63 and Chris West 45 when the Thirds were looking good at 120 for 2. But wickets tumbled and they were all-out for 166. Pirton knocked them off for the loss of just 1 wicket. Sunday: "Rooty" Rob rattles-up a ton. Forties by John Kershaw and Bill Mansfield helped Reed reach 283 for 5 in 53-run victory. Expect match reports to follow shortly. PGB

Saturday 1sts: Josh Conley "Exiled" 3 visiting batsmen to the pavilion before the Heslam bros. each scored 56 in reply as Reed beat Northampton Exiles by 10 wickets. In our other friendly match, Mayfield proved too strong for our "Fourth XI" running-out winners by 116 runs. Top-scorer for Reed was Ben Moody with 18 out of 60. Owen Hughes had returned impressive figures of 2 for 8 from 6 overs. Sunday: It was Reed versus Reed on Sunday as 2 Fitzgeralds, 2 Caines and 2 Wards rattled-up 262 for 5 - all for Hare Street & Hormead! In response, the real Reed side scored 190 for 4; runs coming from Rob Lankester, John Kershaw, Paul Garrott and Karl Ward. Monday: Sampson & Smith slam big boundaries to make short work of Chorleywood in the Herts 20/20. Chasing just 104, Reed won by 6 wickets with Stuart Smith (24 n.o.) and Matt Sampson (22 n.o.) winning with 8 overs unused. Expect match reports to follow shortly.

Saturday: After losing three early wickets, a strong Reed team closed on 173 at home versus Hornsey. Chris Jackson passed fifty and he was supported by Tom Greaves with a thirty and Sean Tidey's 25. Captain Greaves rounded-off a good day with 3 wickets as the visitors ended 11 runs short. Sunday: Ed Garrott showed his class with 88 runs after Jack Childs had taken 5 for 52 when Preston were all-out for 175. Despite their efforts, Reed lost by 48 runs. Expect Match Reports to follow in due course.

The Heslam brothers took the game away from Flitwick. Wickets had been shared around with Jack Tidey taking 3 of them, as the visitors closed on 221 for 8 after 60 overs. But Will Heslam scored another fifty and James, a marvellous undefeated hundred, as they put on a century partnership together helping Reed 1sts win by 9 wickets and climbing into 4th place in the Championship. Opponents next week are 3rd placed Hoddesdon. Marcus Martin’s gentle and seemingly innocuous slows, (4 for 31), were too much for Luton Town & Indians as they succumbed to 160 for 7. Richard Johnson made sure that the Seconds maintained top spot in Division 5B with an attractive 76 not out in a victory by 4 wickets. The Thirds battled it out against Division 8A leaders, St Albans, at Freman College. Reed’s innings ended on 175 for 9, Swetank Khambhat top-scoring with 47, and they fought back after tea taking 7 St Albans’ wickets, 3 of them to that man Swetank again! 13 points helped the Thirds gain another rung up the Divisional ladder and are away to close rivals Langleybury next weekend when the match format return to the 50/50 variety. The Fourths suffered an upset away at Welwyn Garden City. There were 3 wickets each for Hunter Diack and Ollie Mansfield as WGC managed only 186 for 8. But a weakened Fourths were shot-out for only 88 and 31 of these came from the bat of Martin Johnson. The Fourths have 3 matches left in the programme, but still maintain first position in their Division. They are due to play second-placed Harpenden next week. Regular opponents, Aston, visited The Green on Sunday and posted a total [...]

I am sure that you will join me in wishing our Clubmate, Steve Hoye, a speedy recovery after he was taken ill during the Fourth XI match away against Totteridge Millhillians. Steve had just returned to the changing-room after his innings when he felt unwell necessitating the attendance of paramedics. Steve was later taken by ambulance to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. Maseeh Naeem is acting as family liaison and reported on Saturday night that after treatment Steve will likely be kept in hospital for observation for a few days. Get well soon Steve. On the pitch, things did not go too well for Reed either. All four teams lost on Saturday! The Firsts had a good first half when they dismissed Stevenage for 155. Unfortunately, Stevenage bowled Reed out for just 108 in the 34th over. Old Cholmeleians beat the Seconds on the Green in this top-of-the-table clash. Scoring 212 for 9, (well within range of the free-scoring Reedsters), the OCs then had Reed all-out for a disappointing 139 in the 39th over, Marcus Baker top-scoring with 45. Next week, Reed will play third-placed Shenley Village. There was a late-finishing nail-biter at Freman College as the Thirds just failed to clinch victory against Waltham Cross Rosedale. Led by Richie Barlow’s 85, then needing just 3 runs to overtake the visitors’ 226 for 7, the last wicket fell when the score was on an agonising 224. Earlier Aiden Woodcock had earned 3 wickets for Reed. On a non-league day for the Fourth XI, they travelled to Barnet to play a friendly against Totteridge Millhillians 4th XI. In his first match of the season, Matthew Naeem took 3 wickets as the hosts reached 224 for [...]

A superb win for the 1st XI as they chased-down West Herts's total of 226 inside 40 overs with 6 wickets in-hand. The equally convincing Second XI (260) beat Wheathampstead by 168 runs in Division 5B. The Thirds lost to Harpenden at the Freman Oval and were all-out for 159 in their quest for 269. The Fourth XI had a "league-free" Saturday so a Conference fixture was played away against Aztecs CC in Barkingside. Unfortunately, the hosts were too strong and scored 251 for 5. Jet-lagged Reed managed only 75 in reply. Opponents Old Owens withdrew from the National Village Cup match on Sunday leaving Reed 1st XI through to the next round without playing any games so far. The Sunday Friendly XI match away to Cheshunt did not take place. PGB

A great start for all four League XIs. 120 Points in the bag. Total Runs for, 897 Total Runs against, 467 Total Wickets lost, 31 Total Wickets taken, 39. And making it five-out-of-five for the weekend, the Sunday XI won by their Friendly versus Woodcutters by 6 runs too. Reed: 1063 for 39 The Rest: 627 for 49. Expect Match reports to follow soon.