Rich Barlow retired after reaching fifty on Saturday against Flitwick in a friendly. There were also useful early-season innings by Rhodri Hughes, Ed Garrott, Mitchell Cooper, Rob Lankester and MJE Baker who all passed twenty as Reed closed on 205 for 5. The home bowling proved too strong for Flitwick who finished 84 runs short on 121 for 8. Karl Ward and Joe Graves took 3 wickets each and Mitchell Cooper 2. The 1st XI's friendly away at Stevenage was called-off because of an unfit pitch. In addition to the 1st XI being involved in the County 20/20 next Saturday, it is looking quite likely that some additional friendly fixtures will be arranged for next Saturday and / or Sunday with several players interested and available. If you are wanting to get some time on the field before the League begins the following Saturday,(11th May), remember to contact Matt Bowles or one of the other selectors by Monday evening. PGB.

Availability was such that we were able to arrange a second fixture on Saturday so that in addition to the Knebworth Park match we also took an XI to play away at Sawbridgeworth. The "A" Team came off for tea after Knebworth Park had rattled-up 238 for 7 from their 40 overs. Wickets were spread between Ed Wharton (3) Matt Giblin (2) Toby Fynn (2) and Tom Greaves (1). Reed managed only 95 in reply with Phil Frenay top-scoring on 40. At Sawbridgeworth, Reed's Extra "A"s bowled-out the hosts for 181. Again wickets were shared, Matt Bowles (3), Julien Fynn, Alex Kelly & Rupert Martin (2 each) and Karl Ward (1) but the catching was superb, MJE Baker claiming 3 behind the stumps led the way. The batting response was a little slow as wickets fell to some accurate bowling, but Rob Willoughby (56) and MJE Baker (51) kept Reed in contention although once they were out the requirement was too much and Reed finally ended on 145 for 7. PGB

There are no Headlines; both "friendlies" (against Baldock on Saturday and Aston on Sunday) were cancelled. And that Ladies and Gents concludes the playing aspect of the season. There will still be some Social events to look forward to plus the Club's AGM in November as well as the end of season tasks to be dealt with. Keep an eye on the calendar on this website for details. PGB

SATURDAY (SHPCL): The League season is over. The final round of matches was completed leaving the Firsts at 7th place in the Championship, the Seconds in 6th position in Division 4B and the Thirds taking the drop from Division 9A. Stuart Smith was the surprise mystery bowler at Langleybury snaring 4 wickets in their 232 for 9. The Firsts' reply was based round 33 by Richard Barlow, 45 from Ed Wharton and a masterful 68 not out by Marcus Martin passing the target in the final over with 7 wickets down. The Seconds had 7 wickets in-hand after they recovered from 22 for 3 to overhaul Stevenage's 192 all out without losing another wicket. Reed supporters were searching the record books as Chris Jackson and MJE Baker put-on an unbroken 171 for the 4th wicket as they each passed 80. It meant that the twenty-year-old partnership record of 177 between Simon Roberts and Mark Peart remains on the list. Earlier there were 3-wicket hauls for Karl Ward and Joe Graves. Main run-getters for the Thirds were Paul Garrott, (33), and Peter Baker, (20), but after a promising start, 107 all-out was never going to be enough. Mill Hill Village lost 5 wickets on the way to victory, 2 of them falling to Kieren McKinna. SUNDAY: There were fifties for Joe Graves and Rob Lankester in the friendly against Little Hadham supported by Ross Gardner and James Crockford who also passed thirty as Reed ended on 235 for 8. Hadham were restricted to 178 for 9 with 2 of the wickets falling to Sam Rice and 3 to Ross Gardner. Expect Match Reports to follow. PGB

SATURDAY (SHPCL): Not a great day team-wise but Matt Sampson scored a terrific 123 for the Firsts in their defeat by Hoddesdon. Hoddesdon 277 for 6, Reed 222 all out. Chris Jackson again was top scorer for the Seconds with a forty out of 127, a total that was no problem for West Herts who achieved the target with only 4 wickets down. The Thirds had to concede for the fourth time this season. Too many players deciding to do something other than actually play cricket! SUNDAY: No fixtures arranged. PGB

SATURDAY (SHPCL): Despite the Firsts posting a healthy 260 on the board, Sawbridgeworth got home with only 2 wickets lost. Sawbo are bottom of the Division and even their Second XI conceded today in Div 3B so their strength must be somewhat variable. Batting-wise, Reed's Rob Lankester (72), Jack Caine (56) and Richard Barlow (45) were the main contributors but the bowlers could not penetrate. A nail-biter on the Green ended with the Seconds losing by 1 run. Chasing Flamstead's 227 for 8 (2 wickets each for Matt Giblin, Marcus Martin and George Teeboon), Stuart Smith led the way scoring 78 with Marcus Martin in close support with 41. As dusk decended and wickets fell, MJE Baker and Ben Bowles edged closer until they required 2 to win off the last delivery. MJEB was run-out for 25 with Reed 1 run short. A much needed victory occurred at Freman College as the Thirds knocked over Letchworth for 121. George Garrott and Ian Roberts took 4 wickets each and Roberts, (Reed's oldest active player), also pouched 3 catches. Rhodri Hughes was 36 not out after PG Baker scored 34 as Reed overtook the target with 7 wickets in-hand. SUNDAY: Richard Barlow chalked-up his second ton of the season with 111 against Camden. Tom Nussey and James Crockford passed thirty and Reed closed on 249 for 8. Camden's reply ended on 131 for 8, Crockford taking 3 wickets and Steve Hughes 2. COLTS: In the Herts Summer League on Monday, the Under 13s (132 for 4) overcame Braughing (92 for 6) to qualify for the Semi-Final away against Welwyn Garden City on Friday 24th August starting at 1730hrs. Expect Match Reports to follow shortly. PGB

SATURDAY (SHPCL): Luton Town & Indians out-gunned the First XI. Tom Greaves took 4 wickets and Ed Wharton 3 but LTI reached 234 all out. Top scorer in Reed's reply was James Heslam's 29. LTI are 60 points clear at the top of the Division with Ampthill in second position; Reed are sixth. The Seconds had a comfortable victory at Baldock who totalled 144 all out. There were 3 wickets each for Matt Bowles, Matt Giblin and Joe Graves then the prolific Chris Jackson saw them home with an undefeated 74. West Herts top the table 55 points ahead of Leverstock Green. Our Seconds are also in sixth place. Lack of player availability again meant the Thirds had to concede to Harpenden Dolphins. Dolphins are fighting it out with Shenley Village for top spot with 1 point separating them but both have 50+ points more than third placed Old Albanian. UNDER 13 COLTS: In the Herts Summer League last week, Bishops Stortford suffered their first defeat of the summer when they made 120 for 5 only for Reed's youngsters to overhaul the target with 9 wickets in hand. OTHER COLTS NEWS: The Under 9s playing in the Herts Junior League Pool 1 came 6th in the table that was won by Hitchin. Thriplow won Cambs YCA Division 11C with Reed U11s finishing in 5th place. In the Under 13 Premier Division of CYCA, Reed came 5th. Saffron Walden were top. PGB

SATURDAY (SHPCL): The highlight performance of the day was surely Tom Greaves snaring 7 of Ampthill First XI's wickets at a personal cost of 37. Unfortunately Reed's response to the visitors' 173 was a poor 62. Jack Caine top-scored with 16. With no disrespect intended, an under strength Second Team went to Ampthill and after rain interruptions came off second best! The hosts scored 298 for 7, Owen Hughes taking a four-for. Paul Garrott, Rob Willoughby and skipper, MJE Baker, were the main contributors in the run chase which was called off at 113 for 5 when rain put paid to the proceedings. Most of the Third team players represented the Seconds this week, meaning the Third XI match against Hitchin had to be conceded. Expect Match Reports to follow shortly. SUNDAY: The match against the Woodcutters had to be cancelled because of rain. COLTS: The Under 13s played two matches recently. In the Herts Summer League they managed 94 for 8 against Broxbourne's 124 for 7; I have no details of individual performances. Then on the next evening they played their last CYCA League match. Had it been against Broxbourne they would have won because this time they scored 125 for 3. But as it was, they were playing Saffron Walden who had already posted 181 for 3. In the latter match, Archie McIntosh took 1 wicket and Sam Osborne 2, then Osborne scored 31 (retired) and Sam Bayley 32 not out. PGB

SATURDAY (SHPCL): Another draw for the Firsts – a comfortable sixty-three runs more than Flitwick but naggingly unable to take the last two wickets. Ed Wharton returned 6 for 41 and earlier Rob Lankester was out for 49 and Stuart Smith for 44 in Reed’s 225 for 8. On the Green Northwood Town set a similar target having been bowled out for 224, Jack Tidey taking 4 wickets. But the Seconds could muster an under par 137 in reply with only Phil Frenay going past thirty. The Thirds meanwhile scored a massive 303 for 7 at Shenley. Unfortunately, Shenley Village had already posted an even more massive 406 for 5. Remarkably, Neil Haslam conceded only 26 of those runs in 10 overs and Keiran Willoughby took two expensive wickets. Batting-wise, openers Rob Willoughby and Peter Baker scored forties but the star innings was Zac Conley’s 87. Three hundred on the board with a much needed 15 bonus points still see Reed footing the 9A table. SUNDAY: Orwell FC made their second visit to the cricket field in the royal blue coloured strip of Reed's First XI. Manager "Big Jack" Tidey stepped aside from the playing XI but the soccer team still included several past & present RCC players and a couple of other useful multi-sport athletes. After consecutive Sunday tons, Toby Fynn was surprised to be out in the first over but a 4th wicket partnership of 213 followed between Will Heslam (103 retired) and Rhodri Hughes (88). Stuart Smith scored 41 not out and Reed's innings closed on 323 for 8. The Orwell response relied largely on the Caine brothers; opener Jack scoring 88 and Scott at number 9, 82. Others chipped-in and wickets [...]