Horley 1st XI had their closest away day, versus Reigate Priory 2nd XI, and were delighted with a seven-wicket win over hosts who had won their first three Surrey Championship Division Four East games this season.

Reigate chose to bat and with Will Taylor slightly late for the start, Ben Davies spearheaded Horley’s attack with Guy Derham. Seth McDowall got Reigate off to a good start with a mixture of elegant and expansive shots, but Davies cut his fun short. Having asked Regan Derham to stand up to the stumps, he rapped McDowall on the pads, trapping the Reigate captain lbw for 25.

One soon turned into two for Davies, as two balls later Fraser McGuinness played on to his own stumps without troubling the scorers. Davies (3-28) wasn’t finished. In his next over, he claimed the scalp of Jonathan Flanders, getting one to nip away and clip the top of off stump, reducing Reigate to 42-3 after nine overs.

The home side were in desperate need of a rebuild, but Horley weren’t giving them any room to manoeuvre, as Taylor, who had replaced Guy Derham, got in on the action with the first ball of his second over, having Fin Wilsher caught behind.

Charlie Robins went one better, claiming his first with the first ball of his spell, and at 51-5, Horley had Reigate on the ropes. Sam Bell (51) tried to lead a recovery and it took Horley ten overs to find their next victim, Robins (2-25) getting William Jones caught behind.

At 77-6, Horley knew Bell was the key wicket. He was showing he had a mature head on young shoulders, frustrating the bowlers. Matthew Gainsford (4-24) has already been vital with both bat and ball for Horley this season, and Mr Reliable did it again in his first over, with Caleb Whiteford putting one straight into the hands of CP Singh at slip.

Bell was slowly starting to run out of partners but brought his 50 up in the 38th over, before Gainsford sent him back to the pavilion at the start of the 39th after a smart catch running backwards from skipper Regan Derham. Gainsford only had to wait three balls for his next, as Sam Remfry held a catch to reduce Reigate to 131-9. Gainsford closed out the innings in the 43rd with a caught and bowled, meaning Horley had 50 overs to chase down 143.

Ben Remfry and Sam Remfry opened Horley’s response, knowing that spending time at the crease was the key to getting over the line. Ben Remfry, with his usual aggressive intent, picked up a couple of early boundaries, but Toby Briggs tempted him with a delivery outside the off stump that he edged to the keeper.

Singh came to the crease at 18-1 in the third over and set about his work. With neither batter taking any unnecessary risks, the score was moving along nicely, and although Reigate skipper McDowall was rotating his bowlers, he couldn’t find a breakthrough.

By the time of the first drinks break at 17 overs, Horley were 70-1. Singh took on the role of aggressor, looking as elegant as ever, scoring runs all around the ground, and Horley seemed to be cruising to another 20 points.

Singh brought up his 50 in the 25th over, but McDowall made sure he didn’t see Horley over the line, getting the overseas caught at mid-off for 58, but at 122-2, the damage had already been done. Fin Wilsher prolonged the game by claiming the wicket of Regan Derham, however Sam Remfry (49) and Davies (2) saw Horley to the finish.

Source: www.pitchero.com/clubs/horleycricketclub/news/mens-match-reports-saturday-31-may-2025-2920896.html