REED easily beat Preston in their final league game of the season, and clinched seventh spot out of the 20 teams in the Hertfordshire League Division Two. Reed lost the toss and fielded on a hot late summer afternoon. After thrashing Bishop s Stortford

REED easily beat Preston in their final league game of the season, and clinched seventh spot out of the 20 teams in the Hertfordshire League Division Two.

Reed lost the toss and fielded on a hot late summer afternoon.

After thrashing Bishop's Stortford the previous week, the away side were full of confidence, and they were further boosted when Pete Tidey took two early wickets to leave Preston at 24-2.

Despite some lively bowling from Andy Young, Hearne (52) and captain Catlin (19) looked in good form as they put on 63 for the third wicket.

When Tidey got Hearne LBW and the introduction of Michael Berks the game changed back to Reed's favour.

Berks took four wickets in three overs in his spell of 10 overs 4-56.

After Tidey was taken off after taking 4-40, spinner Chris Jackson took a wicket with his 1st ball after a sharp stumping from brother Simon bowling out Preston for 134.

In-form James Heslam and Will Clarke got Reed off to a solid start before Clarke was bowled for 12.

Chris Jackson (13) gave Heslam support taking the Reed score to77 but with the solid Tom Fulk coming in at number four Reed knew they were in safe hands.

Heslam hit 10 fours as he carried his bat for the 3rd consecutive game as he finished not out on 63, while Fulk was not out on 25, as Reed knocked off the 134 total for two wickets with over 30 overs to spare.

Reed captain Simon Jackson was delighted with his team performance and their seventh placed finish.

He said: "After losing a couple of players over the winter, we have really united as a team and performed really well against some strong town sides, such as Watford, Dunstable and Bishop's Stortford.

"James Heslam finishing with more than 700 league runs was the star with the bat, while Youngie, Tidey, and Berksie, have bowled superbly all season.

"Reed has really been a great club to play cricket at this season and the club has had a great buzz"

An unbeaten century by the always stylish Steve Warman helped Hatley & Arrington complete a seasonal double over rivals Longstowe at the latter's ground on Sunday.

Batting first, the home side made a positive start and looked set to rattle up omore than 200 runs on a batsman-friendly pitch.

But the picture changed once Hatley skipper Frank Hooley joined the attack.

His subtle changes of length removed three top order Longstowe batsmen in quick succession to dramatically slow the scoring rate.

Paul Murden eventually got the scoreboard moving again with 53, helped by Darren Marsh (30) and Ali Fox (27 not out).

However, with Tim Davenport confirming his emergence as a genuine successor to former Hatley all-rounder Mike Brooke by claiming two wickets late on, Longstowe could only total 164-7 from their 40 overs.

In reply, Hatley lost an early wicket before Warman, a late replacement for the absent Russ Nicholson, took charge.

The opener went on to make a chanceless 109, dominating an unbeaten second wicket partnership of 143 with Phil Hastings, who hammered 35 not out.

Together, the veteran batsmen killed off Longstowe and took Hatley to victory by nine wickets.

n Despite losing two-thirds of their matches in August to bad weather, Great Chishill had a very successful season in the Cambridgeshire leagues.

The first team held on to win Division 2SA of the CCA Junior League and claim the chance to play in Division One for the first time.

With neighbours Barley and Cokenach also likely to be competing in the southern half of the top division of the Junior League, 2007 promises to be a year to look forward to.

There was cause for double celebration as Chishill's second team, in only their second season of competitive cricket, remained unbeaten to win Division 4SB and make it a campaign to remember for the village club.