Letchworth GC now sit third, three points off the top, in the Saracens Herts League Division One after failing in what looked a comfortable run chase for the second week running. Steve March won the toss and invited Reed to bat at Whitethorn Lane. He got

Letchworth GC now sit third, three points off the top, in the Saracens Herts League Division One after failing in what looked a comfortable run chase for the second week running.

Steve March won the toss and invited Reed to bat at Whitethorn Lane.

He got an early reward with the returning Ed Morse grabbing a wicket, but then Aussie Jo Kirk (81) and skipper James Haslam (64) put on 137 before Dom Marsh dismissed them both to leave Reed 168-3 with plenty of overs still to go.

Letchworth managed to slow the run rate and Marsh picked up two more wickets, both stumped by Ricky Fuller, as the visitors declared on 225-8 after 52 overs. Jackson finished on 40no and Marsh took 4-65.

The target looked comfortable and Tom Cranston and John Hilliard looked in no trouble putting on 47 before Hilliard chipped to mid wicket for 24 off Pete Tidey.

The next ball proved a big blow as Seb Franke-Matthecka left a ball which unusually popped, hit him on the forearm and bounced on to the wicket for the South African's second successive unlucky dismissal.

With both Cranston (45) and Tom Simmons (15) both also undone by sharp bounce, Letchworth found themselves 111-4.

Simon Elliott (32) and March (27) then added 41 and at 169-5, the chase still looked on with plenty of overs in hand.

However, Will Clarke had other ideas and shot out the tail finishing with 5-29 as the Garden City were all out for 189 with almost six overs to play, suffering their first defeat of the season. Veteran Tidey took 3-44.

* There was better news from the other sides, with the second XI scoring a much-needed victory over neighbours Stevenage seconds at Fairfield Park.

Stevenage put on 93 in quick time for the first wicket, after which the spin attack of skipper Graham Bishton (6-46) and Dom Chatfield (4-57), who each bowled 19 overs, slowed things down and Stevenage were dismissed for 212.

Letchworth made a solid start and with good contributions from Sam Booth (68), Dave Mullen (45), Chatfield (30) and Rob Cornell (25), they won comfortably by four wickets, with Darren Curry winning the game with a huge six.

The thirds were on the wrong end of a draw at Old Camdenians who declared on 270-8 off 48 overs, with only Dan Burley (2-42) causing any problem. Letchworth GC replied with 215-8 with Dane Hirst making 51, Matt Bridge 48, Michael Turner 29no and Josh Furness 29.

The fourth XI had a nail-biting win at Clifton seconds. The Garden City reached 260-4 declared off 50 overs, led by Mike Hughes (89), Dominic Simmons (35), Rob Williams (26no) and the father and son team of Dave (41no) and Ben Smith (24).

Any thoughts of an easy victory were dispelled by Clifton opener Panton who smashed 134 but when he had gone wickets fell and at the start of the last over, Clifton, nine down, needed five to win. However the last batsman fell, stumped off the first ball, to give Letchworth GC victory.

In contrast the fifth XI had a totally pointless game with Cockfosters fourths at St Christopher School.

The visitors won the toss and put Letchworth GC in and a good century from Matt Heath (108), supported by Jerry Gillham (44) and Henry Robinson (33), allowed Gillham to declare after 43 overs with 258-4.

In reply, Cockfosters made no attempt to even get a batting point finishing on 134-6 with Bav Aujla taking 3-31 and Joe Hartley 2-38 to make Cockfosters' journey from North London literally pointless.

* The one Sunday game, a second XI friendly at Chingford, by contrast had a great finish.

Chingford made 222-8 with Darren Curry taking 2-49 and Simon Edwards 2-18, before Letchworth scrambled home by one wicket in the last over, Dom Chatfield and Rob Booth both making 42 and Rob Wight 31.