2026 SEASON REVIEW: FIRST XI SIGN OFF A CAMPAIGN OF PROGRESS, BIG PERFORMANCES AND AN END OF AN ERA

Hoddesdon Cricket Club’s First XI brought the curtain down on their 2026 campaign with a fifth-place finish in the Herts Premier Cricket League Championship Division, completing a season that delivered eight league victories, several outstanding individual performances and plenty of evidence that the side can look towards 2027 with genuine optimism. It was also a year that carried added emotion, with Rob Walters completing his 15th and final season as First XI captain, ending one of the longest and most significant captaincy tenures in the club’s modern history.

The final league table shows Hoddesdon fifth with 295 points, behind champions North Mymms on 398, runners-up Sawbridgeworth on 352, Luton Town & Indians on 307 and Shenley Village on 303. Hoddesdon therefore finished only 12 points away from third place and eight behind fourth, and although the closing afternoon at newly crowned champions North Mymms ended in defeat, that final placing should not obscure just how competitive the side were across a demanding summer.

Across 18 Championship fixtures, Hoddesdon recorded eight victories and six defeats, with two losing draws, one abandonment and one cancellation completing the campaign. There were periods when the side looked capable of forcing themselves right into the promotion conversation, while a superb sequence during August demonstrated the quality available within a team that contained experience, emerging players and several cricketers producing arguably some of their finest seasons in Hoddesdon colours.

For Walters, it was an especially memorable final year at the helm. He ended the wider First XI season with 908 runs at an average of 50.44, including four centuries and two fifties, and the Championship statistics placed him at the very summit of the competition’s batting charts with 834 league runs.

“It has been a season I’ll remember for a lot of different reasons,” said Walters. “Of course there was always going to be some emotion attached to it because I knew it was my last year as captain, but once we started playing I wanted the focus to be on the team and making sure we enjoyed our cricket, competed properly and gave ourselves a chance every Saturday. I think we did that for the vast majority of the season, and there are a lot of performances and memories that everyone involved can be proud of.”

A FLYING START

Hoddesdon began their programme in fine style at Redbourn in May, scoring 232 for eight before dismissing their hosts for 177 to secure a 55-run victory. It provided an immediate indication that the side possessed plenty of batting depth and a bowling attack capable of taking ten wickets, while also giving the squad early momentum that would be built upon during an excellent opening month. The following week at Lowfield produced one of the most dramatic victories of the entire campaign, as Dunstable were edged out by a single wicket. Chasing 268, Hoddesdon squeezed home at 268 for nine, a result which showed the resilience and composure that would repeatedly surface during the summer when matches became tight.

Then came one of the season’s great days at Sawbridgeworth. Hoddesdon piled up 328 for six before dismissing their hosts for 266, with Walters producing the outstanding individual innings of the First XI season by smashing 158 and Himesh Ramanayake delivering an excellent all-round display, including figures of four for 30.

That 62-run success also produced the leading partnership of Hoddesdon’s year, Walters and Ramanayake combining for 169 for the fourth wicket. It was a partnership which perfectly demonstrated the different qualities of the pair, Walters capable of dominating attacks and accelerating rapidly while Himesh provided control, consistency and the calm accumulation that became one of his defining characteristics throughout 2026.

The winning sequence ended at Preston, but Hoddesdon hardly went quietly. Walters struck another superb century, making 124 as the visitors amassed 319 for five, only for Preston to chase 322 for eight and win by two wickets in a remarkable game of Championship cricket. Even in defeat, a total of 319 away from home demonstrated the attacking potential within Hoddesdon’s batting order. By the end of May, Walters had already made major statements with the bat, while the team had shown they were capable of winning in different circumstances and posting totals that could challenge anybody in the division.

HEMEL WIN AND A TESTING JUNE

June began with another impressive league victory as Hoddesdon travelled to Hemel Hempstead Town and produced one of their most complete performances. Hemel were dismissed for just 115 before Hoddesdon reached 116 for three, winning by seven wickets and taking maximum points from an away fixture that had threatened to become awkward.

The month became more demanding from there, beginning with a high-scoring draw against Welwyn Garden City. Welwyn made 333 for six before Hoddesdon responded with 250 for five from 55 overs, with the sixth-wicket partnership of 112 unbeaten between Ramanayake and Will Steward among the most productive stands recorded by the First XI during the season.

A week later at Shenley Village, Hoddesdon scored 269 for seven but saw the home side reach 273 for seven to win by three wickets. Usman Shafi’s magnificent 113 and Ramanayake’s unbeaten 89 were major highlights from the defeat, and Himesh’s innings was another example of just how reliable he became whenever Hoddesdon needed somebody to hold an innings together.

Shafi’s century was his standout individual innings of the year and placed him among the side’s five centurions during 2026. His eventual aggregate of 444 runs included that 113, two half-centuries and an overall strike rate approaching 95, illustrating the attacking option he provided whenever he was able to establish himself at the crease.

Ramanayake’s 89 not out at Shenley also earned him another Greene King Level Head Green Jacket, having already claimed the award earlier in the season for his superb all-round performance at Sawbridgeworth. The Green Jacket continued to recognise outstanding performances from across all Hoddesdon sides, and the First XI supplied several worthy recipients during an excellent summer.

BATTLING THROUGH MID-SEASON

July provided arguably the toughest section of Hoddesdon’s campaign, with the schedule bringing together several of the strongest sides in the Championship. North Mymms visited Lowfield and chased down Hoddesdon’s 278 for eight for the loss of six wickets, with Ramanayake unbeaten on 90 and Harry Mason claiming four wickets in a match which showcased the eventual champions’ formidable batting strength. Redbourn then produced a one-wicket victory at Lowfield after Hoddesdon had made 249, although James Curtis almost changed the game completely with a brilliant five for 69. Curtis’ spell was one of only two five-wicket hauls recorded by Hoddesdon bowlers during the season, and his ability to strike repeatedly gave his side a chance in a contest that could easily have slipped away much earlier.

A draw at Dunstable followed, with the hosts making 271 before Hoddesdon replied with 225 for six. Walters made 52, James Mitchell 44, Ramanayake an unbeaten 55 and Andrew Lewis 36, while Gagan Dissanayake enjoyed an excellent all-round afternoon with three wickets and two catches to secure the weekend’s Green Jacket. That Dissanayake performance proved a precursor to an even bigger contribution later in the summer. His limited appearances produced 136 runs from just six innings, but included a hugely important 91 at Welwyn Garden City and an excellent average of 27.20.

Sawbridgeworth then returned to Lowfield and won by 41 runs after being dismissed for 173, Hoddesdon falling to 132 in reply. Ramanayake took four for 30 and Martin Brown claimed three wickets from a marathon 20-over spell, but James Mitchell’s 57 was not enough to rescue a chase which had been badly damaged by a cluster of early wickets. Results during that period could easily have derailed the season, yet the response during August was arguably the most impressive feature of the entire campaign. Instead of allowing a difficult month to define them, Hoddesdon put together their best winning run of the summer and climbed back towards the leading places.

AUGUST SURGE

The turnaround began at home to Preston, where Hoddesdon chased 269 to win by seven wickets. Walters scored 111 and combined with Shafi for a 127-run opening partnership, while Ramanayake produced the finest bowling analysis recorded by a Hoddesdon First XI player in 2026, taking seven for 69. Those figures eventually stood as the best bowling performance in the entire Championship Division according to the league’s Hall of Fame. It was one of several occasions during the season when Himesh demonstrated that his contribution extended far beyond his exceptional batting, and his final First XI figures of 33 wickets at an average of 20.45 underline just how influential he was with the ball.

A week later came another excellent away victory at Luton Town & Indians. Luton were dismissed for 211 before Hoddesdon reached 214 for three, with James Mitchell producing a magnificent unbeaten 106 to secure a seven-wicket win and one of the season’s Green Jackets. Mitchell’s form became one of the biggest stories of the second half of the campaign. He finished with 517 runs from only ten innings, averaging 64.63, and recorded two centuries, two fifties and a top score of 106 not out. His second hundred arrived just seven days later against Hemel Hempstead Town at Lowfield, where Mitchell made 101 and Shafi 67 as Hoddesdon amassed 297 for eight. Hemel replied with 247 and were dismissed with more than five overs remaining, giving Hoddesdon a 50-run victory and completing a third consecutive league success.

Mitchell came extremely close to collecting another Green Jacket that evening, but Louis Webb’s superb all-round heroics for the Third XI earned the club award instead. Webb’s contribution had already been rightly celebrated separately, but Mitchell’s back-to-back hundreds remain among the defining First XI achievements of 2026.

Hoddesdon’s winning run continued with perhaps the most satisfying victory of the four, away to Welwyn Garden City. A disastrous start left Hoddesdon 39 for six, but Dissanayake and Todd Sturdy transformed the innings with a magnificent 147-run seventh-wicket partnership, Gagan eventually making 91 and Sturdy 55. That partnership was the second highest recorded by the First XI during the year and turned an innings heading towards disaster into a total of 195. Hoddesdon then defended it brilliantly, dismissing Welwyn for 188 and winning by seven runs in a match that encapsulated the character, patience and resilience of the side.

“The Welwyn game summed up the group for me,” Walters said. “At 39 for six you could easily think the game has gone, but Gags and Todd were outstanding and gave us something to bowl at, and then everybody fought for every run in the field. Those are the wins you remember because they come from a position where most people probably expect you to lose, and the belief within the side was brilliant.”

Four consecutive Championship victories had suddenly propelled Hoddesdon back into the upper reaches of the table. Although catching North Mymms and Sawbridgeworth was always going to require a dramatic sequence of results elsewhere, Hoddesdon had given themselves a realistic opportunity to finish within the division’s leading group.

WALTERS’ FINAL AFTERNOONS

The final home match of Walters’ captaincy should have been another important chapter in the season, with Shenley Village visiting Lowfield on August 29. Hoddesdon reached 178 for three from 28.1 overs, with Walters and Mitchell adding 138 for the second wicket, before deteriorating weather caused the fixture to be abandoned. There was understandably disappointment that Rob’s final home game as captain could not be completed, but the day still became a memorable one in the clubhouse afterwards. Walters was presented with the Green Jacket to commemorate his final appearance at Lowfield as First XI captain, a fitting acknowledgement of 15 years spent leading the side.

The partnership with Mitchell was another reminder that Walters remained a major force with the bat right to the conclusion of his captaincy. Their 138-run stand was the third biggest Hoddesdon partnership of the season and came during a final year in which Rob once again carried a huge share of the run-scoring responsibility. His very last game as skipper took Hoddesdon to North Mymms, where the newly crowned champions demonstrated why they had finished clear at the top. Hoddesdon made 189 from their 50 overs before North Mymms reached 190 for three in only 24 overs, ending the visitors’ season with a seven-wicket defeat.

There were still significant positives, with Ramanayake scoring 58 and Mason making 54 as the pair repaired another difficult batting position. Their half-centuries nearly secured the weekend’s Green Jacket, but Paul Webb’s outstanding five-wicket haul for the Second XI took the honours instead.

For Walters, walking off after that game closed a remarkable 15-year chapter. The result was not the finale he would have written for himself, but the depth of affection shown towards him during the closing weeks of the season spoke far more loudly than anything on the North Mymms scorecard.

“I’ve always said that the biggest thing I’ll take away from captaining Hoddesdon is the people,” Walters said. “You obviously want to win games and score runs, but the friendships, the dressing room, the laughs and the people who have shared those Saturdays with you are what stay with you. I’m enormously proud to have captained the club for 15 years, and I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me and the team during that time.”

THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE SEASON

The final First XI statistics underline the quality of Hoddesdon’s leading performers. Walters topped the club’s recorded First XI batting with 908 runs at 50.44, while Ramanayake accumulated 797 at a remarkable 72.45 and finished with ten half-centuries.

Mitchell’s 517 runs came at 64.63, Shafi finished with 444 and Curtis contributed 408 at 34.00. Walters recorded four hundreds, Mitchell two, while Shafi and Curtis also registered centuries as Hoddesdon produced significant contributions from several different positions in the order.

Ramanayake’s consistency was exceptional, especially considering he was dismissed only nine times in 19 innings. His highest score was 93 not out and he reached fifty on ten occasions, meaning more than half of his innings produced a half-century or better.

Curtis’ 408 runs were another valuable contribution from a player who also carried significant bowling responsibility. He made a century and two fifties while taking 17 wickets, making him one of Hoddesdon’s most important genuine all-round contributors across the season. Sturdy finished with 212 runs, Lewis 184, Steward 153 and Munday 149, while Dissanayake’s 136 came from relatively few opportunities. Rob Jones added 104, including an unbeaten 51, while Mason’s late-season 54 at North Mymms was his highest score and demonstrated useful depth in the lower middle order.

With the ball, Ramanayake led Hoddesdon with 33 wickets before Om Thakeria’s 25 and Mason’s 22. Curtis collected 17, Walters himself contributed 15, while the wider attack received useful support from Asif Mohammed, Charlie Tackley, Hasan Ali, Brown and Dissanayake.

Himesh’s economy rate of 3.62 was particularly impressive considering the number of overs he bowled, while his average of 20.45 and best of seven for 69 made him one of the most effective bowlers in the Championship. Mason’s 22 wickets came at 24.05 and included best figures of four for 28, with his return from injury during the second half of the season providing another welcome boost. Thakeria carried a huge workload, sending down more than 151 overs and taking 25 wickets. His best return of four for 63 came at Shenley, and although he occasionally came under pressure from aggressive batting sides, his willingness to bowl important overs remained hugely valuable throughout the campaign.

HALL OF FAME RECOGNITION

Hoddesdon’s influence extended well beyond their own internal statistics, with the Championship Division’s Hall of Fame highlighting two First XI players among the competition’s leading performers. Walters was recognised as the division’s leading run-scorer, while Ramanayake’s seven for 69 against Preston stood as the best individual bowling analysis of the Championship season.

Sawbridgeworth’s Joe Joyce produced the competition’s highest individual score with 160 not out, while North Mymms’ Dharmarajsinh Jhala was recognised for his prolific wicket-taking. Jhala was a central figure in the champions’ season and ultimately finished North Mymms’ campaign with 46 wickets in their own club statistics, illustrating the standard of player Hoddesdon were competing against throughout the summer.

The final Championship top-ten batting chart also tells an impressive story for Hoddesdon. Walters sat first with 834 league runs, while Ramanayake also featured prominently among the division’s top performers with 734, placing two Hoddesdon players within the elite group of Championship run scorers. That is a significant achievement in a division containing outstanding batters from every club. Walters’ combination of volume and big scores was particularly striking, while Himesh’s remarkable consistency and number of not-outs meant he maintained an extraordinary average across the campaign.

PARTNERSHIPS AND FIELDING CONTRIBUTIONS

Cricket seasons are not built purely around individual milestones, and Hoddesdon’s partnership statistics reveal several occasions when players combined to fundamentally change the course of matches. Walters and Ramanayake’s 169 at Sawbridgeworth remained the biggest partnership of the year, ahead of Sturdy and Dissanayake’s unforgettable 147 at Welwyn and the 138 added by Walters and Mitchell against Shenley. Ramanayake and Shafi shared 131 at Shenley, Walters and Shafi added 127 against Preston, while Himesh and Steward’s unbeaten 112 against Welwyn further demonstrated the number of combinations capable of producing substantial stands. Shafi and Curtis also put together 105 against Hemel, and Walters featured in several of the side’s other most productive partnerships.

The work behind the stumps and in the field should not be overlooked either. Steward led the overall fielding table with 13 victims, including nine wicketkeeping catches and three stumpings, while Sturdy completed ten catches and Ramanayake was involved in nine dismissals. Dissanayake and Munday each finished with eight total victims, while Curtis and Walters recorded seven apiece. Mitchell contributed six, and Andrew Lewis, Thakeria, Tackley and Mason all played their part in a side that produced several outstanding days in the field.

THE GREEN JACKET

The Greene King Level Head Green Jacket once again became an important part of Hoddesdon’s Saturday evenings, celebrating outstanding performances from players across all four league sides. The competition for the jacket was fierce throughout 2026, and several First XI players found themselves either wearing it or narrowly missing out after performances that would have won it on many other weekends.

Ramanayake was among the First XI’s multiple winners, rewarded for his superb all-round display at Sawbridgeworth and his unbeaten 89 at Shenley. Dissanayake collected it after his excellent performance at Dunstable, while Mitchell’s unbeaten 106 in the victory at Luton ensured his own place among the season’s recipients. The final home weekend carried a completely different meaning, with Walters receiving the Green Jacket after the abandonment against Shenley to mark his final game at Lowfield as captain. It was less about a scorecard on that occasion and far more about recognising the extraordinary commitment of a man who had led Hoddesdon’s First XI for a decade and a half.

There were also several occasions when outstanding First XI performances were beaten by exceptional displays elsewhere in the club, something which perfectly reflects the spirit of the award. Curtis’ five wickets against Redbourn, Mitchell’s century against Hemel and the half-centuries from Ramanayake and Mason on the final weekend were all edged out by extraordinary performances from teammates representing other Hoddesdon sides.

A SEASON TO BUILD ON

Head of Cricket Louis Purves believes the season represented another important stage in the development of the First XI. While fifth place leaves obvious room for improvement, the closeness of the middle positions and Hoddesdon’s ability to beat strong opponents provide plenty of encouragement.

“I think there’s a huge amount to be positive about,” Purves said. “We’ve had some excellent wins, we’ve had individuals produce performances that stand up against anything in the league, and we’ve shown that our best cricket is very competitive at this level. Fifth place doesn’t tell the whole story because there were fine margins in a number of games, but we also have to recognise where we can improve and use that as motivation heading into next season.”

Purves was also quick to pay tribute to Walters after his final campaign as skipper. The Head of Cricket believes the consistency of leadership provided over 15 seasons has given successive groups of players a strong foundation.

“What Rob has given this club is very difficult to put into a few sentences,” Purves said. “Fifteen years as First XI captain is an extraordinary commitment, and he has carried that responsibility through different teams, different eras and different challenges. Everyone at Hoddesdon owes him a huge amount, and whatever his involvement looks like going forward, he will always have an enormous amount of respect here.”

THANK YOU, ROB

Walters’ statistics alone would make him one of the defining figures of Hoddesdon’s recent history, but reducing his contribution to runs would miss the point. Captaincy at club level requires enormous amounts of time that never appear on Play-Cricket: messages during the week, selection discussions, phone calls, availability problems, tactical decisions, training, recruitment and countless conversations with players. He has done all of that while remaining one of Hoddesdon’s most productive players. Finishing his captaincy by topping the Championship batting standings feels fitting, even if Walters himself has consistently preferred to talk about the team rather than his own achievements.

Club Chairman Ian Munday believes that longevity deserves enormous recognition. He also hopes that stepping away from the captaincy does not mean Hoddesdon supporters have seen the last of Walters in a playing capacity.

“Rob has given an enormous amount to Hoddesdon Cricket Club and to the First XI in particular,” said Munday. “To captain any side for 15 years is remarkable, but to do it with the passion, competitiveness and loyalty Rob has shown makes it even more special. On behalf of the committee and the entire club, I want to thank him sincerely for everything he has done.”

Munday added that the club would naturally give Walters whatever space he needs after such a demanding period. “We would obviously love to continue seeing him playing cricket for Hoddesdon, but the most important thing is that he enjoys whatever comes next and gets some well-earned extra time with Jen and the children. He has certainly earned that, and he should be enormously proud of everything he has achieved.”

A new First XI captain will be appointed ahead of the 2027 campaign, with the appropriate process taking place in accordance with the club’s constitution and ratification through the AGM. Whoever succeeds Walters will inherit a side containing considerable ability, but they will also take on a role shaped for 15 years by one of Hoddesdon’s most committed servants.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE BEHIND THE TEAM

No First XI season is created by eleven names on a scorecard, and the club would like to thank every player who represented the side during 2026. Whether somebody played throughout the summer, stepped up when required, returned from injury, filled a late availability gap or simply supported teammates from the sidelines, every contribution mattered. The same appreciation extends to the umpires who officiated throughout the campaign. Club cricket depends upon people willing to take on those responsibilities every weekend, often in difficult circumstances, and Hoddesdon are grateful to everybody who stood in the middle during another long season.

A particularly huge thank you must go to scorer Liz Woods, whose work behind the book and screen remains invaluable. Quite simply, the First XI would be lost without Liz, whose reliability, accuracy and commitment are appreciated by players, officials and everybody who follows the side.

The committee also deserves enormous thanks for the work that happens away from public view. Running a cricket club demands thousands of small jobs across the summer, from administration and facilities to selection, sponsorship, communications, ground preparation, bar work and everything in between.

Hoddesdon would also like to thank every supporter who watched the First XI at Lowfield or travelled to away matches during the campaign. The players notice that support, whether there are dozens watching on a glorious afternoon or a handful standing beneath an umbrella in weather that nobody would sensibly choose to spend several hours in. The families behind the players deserve their own recognition too. Spouses, partners, parents, children and friends give up enormous amounts of their own summer to allow club cricketers to disappear for entire Saturdays, and their patience and support should never be taken for granted.

Volunteers across every area of Hoddesdon Cricket Club have once again made the season possible. From those preparing grounds and opening buildings to people serving behind the bar, organising events, arranging sponsorship, washing kit, providing lifts and doing the countless unseen jobs that make cricket happen, this season belongs to them as much as anybody taking wickets or scoring runs.

LOOKING TOWARDS 2027

There is plenty to excite Hoddesdon as attention gradually turns towards 2027. A fifth-place finish provides a solid platform, while the quality of the performances produced during the four-match winning sequence in August showed what this group can achieve when batting, bowling and fielding performances come together. The challenge will be turning those bursts of form into greater consistency across an entire Championship campaign. Hoddesdon competed closely with many of the division’s strongest sides, but several narrow defeats and difficult periods ultimately cost them the opportunity to finish higher.

There is no shortage of individual quality to build around. Ramanayake has enjoyed a magnificent all-round season, Mitchell showed what an enormous impact he can make, Curtis continues to contribute in both disciplines, and the likes of Shafi, Dissanayake, Sturdy, Lewis, Steward, Munday, Jones, Mason, Thakeria and the wider squad all produced important moments during 2026.

Mason’s successful return from long-term injury was particularly welcome, while the appearances of players stepping into the First XI from elsewhere in the club demonstrate the importance of continuing to develop depth. That depth will become even more valuable as Hoddesdon enter a new era under fresh leadership.

Purves believes there is every reason for excitement rather than apprehension. “There will obviously be a change because Rob stepping down after 15 years is significant, but change can also bring fresh opportunities,” he said. “We’ve got some very good cricketers here and a lot of people who care deeply about the club, so the challenge is to keep progressing and make sure we arrive next season hungry to improve.”

For Walters, the immediate future involves something rather less complicated than field settings and selection discussions. After 15 summers of being the man ultimately responsible for the First XI, there should finally be a little more freedom to simply enjoy cricket again.

“I’m looking forward to having a bit less responsibility and seeing what comes next,” Walters said. “I’ve loved captaining the side and I wouldn’t change those years for anything, but there comes a point when somebody else deserves the opportunity to take it forward. I’m incredibly grateful to Jen, my family, the players, the committee and everyone around the club who has supported me, because none of those 15 years happen without them.”

The final image of the campaign may have been North Mymms celebrating another victory, but that should not define Hoddesdon’s year. The story of 2026 is one of 908 runs for the departing captain, remarkable consistency from Ramanayake, centuries from Mitchell, Shafi and Curtis, memorable wins at Sawbridgeworth, Preston, Luton and Welwyn, and another season in which the First XI represented Hoddesdon Cricket Club with pride. Fifth place provides the statistical conclusion, but it does not feel like an ending. With a new captain to come, an established core of players, emerging talent and another winter in which the club can plan for improvement, 2027 already offers plenty to look forward to.

The biggest change will be seeing somebody other than Rob Walters lead Hoddesdon out when the new Championship season begins. After 15 years, however, his captaincy deserves to be remembered not simply for the way it ended, but for everything that came before it — the wins, the runs, the friendships, the long afternoons, the celebrations and the enormous contribution he has made to the club.

Hoddesdon Cricket Club therefore closes its 2026 First XI season with pride in what has been achieved, gratitude towards everybody who made it possible and excitement about what comes next. To every player, umpire, scorer, committee member, supporter, sponsor, volunteer, spouse, partner, parent, child and friend who contributed to the season...

Thank you.

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