JUST when another relegation was starting to look inevitable, Reading Cricket Club have boosted their hopes of survival in the Thames Valley League Division One by winning two successive games.

They remain in trouble but still have three matches left to climb out of the drop zone.

Seeing them staying in the top division would be a real tonic for former chairman and benefactor Mick Southern, as well as for long-serving club historian Allan Gooch.

Both have suffered health problems this year, preventing them attending matches.

Without these two stalwarts, the club fighting to avoid relegation for a third successive season would probably be in even deeper trouble.

The cricket section is facing an uncertain future, but hopefully some positive news will emerge at the club’s annual meeting next month.

  • ENGLAND and Great Britain international Liam Sanford has become the new head coach to the University of Reading’s hockey section.

The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, who has won more than 40 caps, will continue to play for Reading’s first XI.

And, to cement even closer links between the two, Reading HC club captain Rob Farrow has been appointed the uni’s director of hockey.

Rob and Liam have high hopes for the hockey section, which is among the best funded clubs at the Whiteknights campus.

  • JAMIE Liu, one of the most talented young table tennis stars ever seen in Reading, has left town.

Having secured an all-round scholarship to Whitgift School in Surrey, he and his family have moved to Coulsdon after living in Caversham for 19 years and Woodley for six.

In the past week, international star Jamie has joined Greenhouse Sports Club in Marylebone, London, which was officially opened by Prince Harry in April and whose supporters include former Earley-based table tennis ace Matthew Syed.

TV broadcaster and national journalist Matthew is now a successful author of children’s books with his latest paperback – ‘You Are Awesome: Find Your Confidence and Dare to be Brilliant at (Almost) Anything’ – going to number one in the Sunday Times’ best sellers list.