15-year-old Sam Osborne starred as Reed Firsts slipped agonisingly to defeat against Hoddesdon yet again. After losing the 50-over league match earlier this season by two wickets, Reed repeated the result in the 60-over "timed" format. However, there were times during the game when a much bigger defeat seemed likely. In customary fashion this year, Reed lost three quick wickets, but the innings was steadied by a 62 run partnership between captain Tom Greaves and youngster Sam Osborne. Greaves started patiently soaking up the pressure from the opening seam attack and Osborne followed his example. When the spinners came on for their 39 over marathon, Greaves cut loose making 43 runs before he was adjudged LBW. Osborne remained calm while others perished and at 114 for 8 a paltry score seemed on the cards. At this point he opened up and was last man out for a flawless 58 with one over to spare and 166 on the board. Despite Ed Wharton bowling skipper Rob Walters, Hoddie looked like they would walk the game at 78-1, but the introduction of spinner Kapil Dave made the breakthrough with the help of a sensational catch by Max Sanderson off a steepling skyer at midwicket. Further catches removed the rest of the top order, Dave finishing with 3-46. Greaves (2-45) then chipped-in with a couple of dismissals and when Wharton took two wickets in his returning over Hoddesdon's nerves started to show. Monger, however, guided them home to the disappointment of the Reed faithful. Wharton ended with 3-36 from his 14 overs. Another frustrating result, but an enjoyable, keenly fought game with Reed taking a meagre 6 points from such a closely fought contest. Match report submitted by [...]

Games at Lowfield are invariably tight affairs for the Firsts and this was no exception. Two years ago Hoddesdon pipped Reed to the Championship title here and before that a high scoring encounter ended with the scores tied. This time the hosts won by two wickets in an exciting, nerve jangling match which see-sawed backwards and forwards. Ed Wharton (14) and Will Heslam (17) carefully negotiated the accurate opening attack of new acquisition, South African paceman Matt Varner and perennially miserly Martin Brown, slowly building a foundation for the innings. However at 55 for 3 a big partnership was required and Rob Lankester (64) in tandem with Sean Tidey (44) obliged, taking the score to 140. With 5 overs left and Lankester starting to strike sixes, 180+ seemed possible, but three wickets in three balls turned the game back in Hoddie's favour. A run-a-ball cameo of 15 by Stuart Smith helped to take it to 166 for 8, a par score considering the slow wicket and wet outfield. In contrast to Reed's patience, Hoddesdon started aggressively and paid the price. Ed Wharton (2-24) and Toby Fynn (2-23) abetted by Smith's safe hands in the deep, left them in big trouble at 31-4, but this brought to the wicket Reed's arch nemesis, South African Jayden Broodryk who once again punished them to the tune of 68 runs. Initially, with keeper Will Steward (29), he defied the best efforts of spinners Tom Greaves and Kapil Dave until the latter sharply turned a ball through Steward's defence and finally had Broodryk snick one behind to Tidey. Greaves also chipped in with two wickets, but by then Hoddesdon only required 14 with 2 wickets left. They managed this with [...]