REED S hangover from their National Village Cup exit continued on Saturday as they lost to Knebworth Park in Saracens League Division 1. Electing to bat first Knebworth Park were restricted somewhat by some tight bowling from Andy Young (3 for 41) and Lee

REED'S hangover from their National Village Cup exit continued on Saturday as they lost to Knebworth Park in Saracens League Division 1.

Electing to bat first Knebworth Park were restricted somewhat by some tight bowling from Andy Young (3 for 41) and Lee Johnson (1 for 24), with Young taking three of the first four wickets.

And at 59 for 4 Reed were well on top, however an unfinished partnership between Sargeant and Holmes took the hosts to 95 before Holmes was forced to leave the field injured.

Pete Tidey then removed Sergeant for 26 and Will Dobson took the wicket of Slade, as Knebworth Park were still short of a respectable score at 124 for 6.

Unfortunately for Reed young wicketkeeper Louis Champion (38) entered the action for Knebworth Park and alongside Sam McCrow (42) the youngster engineered a much-needed 50-run partnership.

Two late Joe Curk wickets put paid to any more threat, and as a result the hosts finished on 195 for 9 off 53 overs.

In reply Reed set off at a reasonable rate, before James Heslam fell to Brook for 7. Curtis (30) soon followed and despite a well-worked 25 from Curk, Reed were precariously placed at 81 for 4.

Will Dobson ground out a gritty 27, but when he departed Reed were left stranded on 117 for 6.

The nagging accuracy of Brook (8 for 53) and the cunning off-breaks of Knebworth Park skipper Turner (2 for 42) left Reed with nowhere to go and they subsided to 132 all out in the 39th over.

Following the 63-run defeat, Reed slipped to eighth place in the table and now face a challenging "sixty pointer" against ninth place and relegation threatened Totteridge Millhillians on Saturday.

Reed captain James Heslam said: "It hasn't been the best lately and it was a disappointing result on Saturday.

"The pitch didn't help us, and just when we looked like we might take something from the game it kept slipping away.

"Hopefully we can bounce back this weekend because the game with Totteridge Millhillians is a massive one."

Reed seconds moved up to third place in Saracens League Division 7 following a comprehensive victory over promotion rivals Old Cholmelians.

Skipper Jason Archer (3 for 48) and Richard Robertson (5 for 43) were instrumental with the ball, and alongside Richard Johnson had the visitors all out 185 from 44 of their allocated 53 overs.

Reed had 55 overs to chase the target, but needed considerably fewer, with Fergus Martin and Mark King putting on 76 for the first wicket. King accelerated past 50 alongside Phil Frenay before falling for a brilliant 125.

Frenay and Ben Bowles then saw Reed home without loss, as the home side secured a seven-wicket victory in just 33 overs.

Reed remain undefeated, and travel to league strugglers Kings Langley seconds on Saturday.

Captain Archer said: "It is the end of July and we are still to lose a game.

"However, we'll take nothing for granted, as every team in this league is capable of causing an upset.