REED Cricket Club start their new season on Saturday with a friendly fixture against Buntingford. The game is likely to see the debut of Australian Joe Curk, Reed s overseas player, who arrives tomorrow (Thursday) for the duration of the summer. It prom

REED Cricket Club start their new season on Saturday with a friendly fixture against Buntingford.

The game is likely to see the debut of Australian Joe Curk, Reed's overseas player, who arrives tomorrow (Thursday) for the duration of the summer.

It promises to be a challenging season for Reed, who will be competing in the top flight of the Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League.

However, the players have been netting since January, and thanks to the club's sponsor The GMB Union, many of their bowlers have also been enjoying some pre-season coaching at Hertfordshire University with Essex coach Ian Pont.

First team captain James Heslam said: "It's the start of our new season, and hopefully our preparations will pay off. It's with great thanks to our sponsors that we have had the funds to help our players work with someone of the calibre of Ian Pont - hopefully his tips will stand us in good stead for the season.

"I'm confident we can carry on the good form from last year and put our new skills into action when the league season gets under way in May.

"We have a copy of his training manual behind the bar, so I'm sure it will be brought out if needs be!"

The first team have two weeks of friendly fixtures before facing Hitchin in their opening league match on Saturday, May 10. The second team's season starts on Saturday, May 3 against Hexton, with the third team also resuming action that day with a match against St Margretsbury thirds.

Anyone interested in joining Reed should contact the club through its website at www.reedcc.co.uk or by phoning Richard Robertson on 01763 848835.

The club is particularly interested in recruiting new players (aged between seven and 13) for its Colts teams, who start training on Saturday. For more information see the above contacts.

ROYSTON Cricket Club, the town's longest-running sporting club, also usher in their new season on Saturday with a friendly match against Royston's newest club in the sport's most explosive format.

Royston Polaris, looking forward to only their fourth season of cricket, will visit Royston CC's home in Therfield for a 20-over pre-season friendly against Royston, for whom the 2008 season marks their 218th year in existence.

Royston's side will be captained by new their new first team skipper Matt Gillham.

The match will start at 3.30pm, and will be followed by a barbecue outside the pavilion. All are welcome.

New players are also invited to drop in at Royston Leisure Centre between 1pm and 3pm on Sunday, where club members will be in attendance as part of the Royston Sports Fayre.

Royston CC runs two adult teams in the Cambridgeshire Cricket Association leagues on Saturdays, jointly runs a Sunday side in the Herts League with Therfield, and will this season also run under-10, under-13, and under-15 sides.

New players of any age and ability are welcome, and for more information contact club secretary Richard Temple on 01763 247880, or visit the club's website at www.roystoncricketclub.co.uk.

COKENACH started their season in style with the impressive Matthew Stevens and James Keel setting them on the road to victory against Watton-at-Stone.

After winning the toss, Cokenach went into bat with openers Stevens and Keel putting on a massive 177, with Stevens scoring 107.

Both retired to let number three and four batsmen take over, with Peter Clarke and new captain Rychard Field assuming control and pushing the visitors to 217 off 40 overs.

In reply the hosts quickly lost their openers, however some decent resistance by Ellis in the middle order put Cokenach on the back foot and helped Watton-at-Stone to a respectable 156-5 off their 40 overs. Liam Botten was the pick of the Cokenach bowlers with 2-19 from his eight overs.