AFTER three consecutive league wins Reed have suffered back-to-back defeats after a poor team performance away against Old Finchleans. Having reached the ground minutes before the start, losing the toss and then seeing James Heslam dismissed in the first

AFTER three consecutive league wins Reed have suffered back-to-back defeats after a poor team performance away against Old Finchleans.

Having reached the ground minutes before the start, losing the toss and then seeing James Heslam dismissed in the first over, Reed needed to rebuild their innings through hard-hitting Baz Curtis and solid Chris Jackson.

Curtis managed to stroke and strike the fast bowling attack before taking a liking to the hosts' slower bowlers.

However, once he was bowled for 53 with Reed on 79 in the 14th over, very little resilience was shown by the other Reed batsmen.

Chris Jackson, returning to the side, batted 23 overs for his 29 and the only support offered came from his brother Simon, who held an end up for 18 overs as Reed were dismissed for 119 in only 41 overs.

In reply Old Finchleans lost one of their six Depalas in Andy Youngs (1-43) second over. The ever dependable Pete Tidey (eight overs for 20 runs) tried to tie down the Old Boys' batting.

However C Depala stroked the ball to all corners of the ground on his way to a match-winning 70, batting with D Depala.

Seamer Andy Emms and spinner Chris Jackson could not stop Finchleans knocking off Reed's total for the loss of three wickets in only 26 overs.

Reed II posted their highest score of the season on Saturday against Holtwhites Trinibis, but could manage only a winning draw in their quest for promotion.

On a good track, Reed were surprisingly put in to bat by Trinibis and again sent out brothers Ben and Matt Bowles to open the batting.

After a solid start, Matt Bowles went for 16, and was replaced by youngster Harry Picton-Turbivell.

Picton-Turbivell looked good and began to find the boundaries with some style, only to be bowled by Cragwell for 19.

This brought the in-form Ian Fulk to the crease, and he and Ben Bowles began to steady things for Reed.

Bowles eventually went for 35 playing a good supporting role, leaving Reed 93-3 after 32 overs.

The returning Richard Johnson now partnered Fulk at the crease, and the two began to push the scoring for Reed with some immaculate timing and stylish shots.

The score jumped from 93 to 200 in 12 overs, with both players reaching chanceless and superb 50s, before Johnson fell late on for 59.

Undeterred, Fulk (103 not out) continued in the same vein by taking apart the Trinibis bowling to reach his maiden century, which included 14 boundaries, in some style.

Some lusty blows late on from Richard Robertson (12 not out) took Reed to a daunting-looking total of 259-5 fromtheir allotted 53 overs.

Trinibis looked to have an insurmountable task ahead of them if they wanted to win the game, but began their innings in positive fashion, with Alleyne (22) and Morley (57) hitting boundaries.

Holtwhites Trinibis looked in with a chance at 110-1, especially with Morley looking good after Ian Roberts had earlier removed Alleyne.

Morley then suffered a back injury and retired hurt whilst Robertson removed Brown for 17.

Reed knew they needed to take quick wickets and turned to promising young bowler Rupert Martin.

Martin tore into the Trinibis middle order, taking 4-10 in seven overs.

Picton-Turbivell operated from the other end, and he too bowled well, taking the wicket of Reis to leave Trinibis on 144-7.

However, Reed could not take the remaining wickets, and finished the game with 17 points and with the knowledge that their unbeaten run had stretched to four games