Put in on a green wicket, the openers Will Heslam and Stuart Smith made a steady start, reaching 50 without loss until Heslam was caught for 29. With Skipper Lankester’s arrival the scoring rate slowly increased and the score mounted. Indeed, the pair put on the highest partnership of the season making 143 together; Smith grafted his way to a chanceless 69 including a couple of maximums. When he was out, Charlie Walters made a quickfire 18, but on his departure at 231-3 five wickets clattered for just 8 runs in a mad dash to secure the tenth batting point. Reed just made it finishing on 251-7. The highlight of course was Lankester’s 100 with 10 boundaries and 4 sixes. In truth, with a steadier approach they could have had 20 more runs.
Northwood have had some high scoring batters this season, belying their lowly position in the table and everyone, barring their opener made double figures. Initially Reed needed 3 wickets to ensure promotion and Matt Giblin, Jack Tidey and Tom Greaves obliged reducing Northwood to 59-3. However, the middle order dug in, so it took the persistence of Greaves with 4-54 to chip away at the wickets. It had taken a couple of spectacular catches by Lankester and Snith snaring a couple of gun bats to have the hosts 160-7 as well as a miserly spell of 1-31 by Ollie Johnson, but they were far from finished. Reed had to turn to Heslam and Lankester to get them over the line. To underline his man of the match credentials Lankester wheedled out a couple of wickets, but Northwood still finished only 10 runs short on 241-9.
Sadly, this meant Northwood were sent back to Division 2, but even before they came off the field Reed learnt they were the champions as both their nearest rivals, St Albans and Ampthill had lost. With 13 wins it has been an exceptional season.