THIRD XI SEASON REVIEW: PRIDE, PROGRESS AND A FINISH FULL OF FIGHT

Hoddesdon CC 3rd XI may have ended the 2026 season just short of promotion, but the final table only tells part of the story. This was a summer full of growth, character, selection challenges, memorable wins, narrow defeats, outstanding individual performances and, above all, a team that refused to let a difficult mid-season spell define its campaign.

The final Division 12 East table shows Hoddesdon finishing fifth on 390 points, behind champions Enfield CC, Middx 4th XI on 422, Datchworth 3rd XI on 421, Hitchin 5th XI on 403 and Potters Bar 4th XI on 394. On paper, fifth place can look like mid-table, but in reality Hoddesdon finished only four points behind Potters Bar, 13 behind Hitchin, 31 behind Datchworth and 32 behind Enfield, which underlines just how tight the promotion picture became in the closing weeks.

Across the season, the 3rd XI played 18 league matches, winning 10, losing six and seeing two matches fall into the no-result category through weather or cancellation. A win percentage of 62.5% is something to be proud of, especially in a division where every side in the top five had genuine quality and where bonus points, rain, availability and momentum all played their part.

Hoddesdon Claimed A 5th Place Finish

The campaign began with signs of promise and frustration in equal measure, as Hoddesdon opened with a painfully narrow one-wicket defeat at home to Datchworth. That result could easily have knocked belief early, but the response was excellent, with wins over Bayford & Hertford, Preston, Letchworth Garden City and Potters Bar showing that the side had depth, balance and the ability to win in different ways. There were glorious early-season moments that should not be forgotten. The six-wicket win away at Bayford & Hertford, the four-wicket victory over Preston by one run, the composed chase against Letchworth and the 53-run success away at Potters Bar all built the foundations for a season that would remain alive until the final weeks.

The home win against Preston was one of the great early highlights, not least because of the record-breaking seventh-wicket partnership between Louis Webb and Bilal Ahmad. Their unbeaten stand of 130 remains top of the 3rd XI partnership charts for the season, while Bilal’s unbeaten 72 also finished as the highest individual score by a Hoddesdon 3rd XI batter in 2026. Benjamin Strong also wrote his name into the season with a superb 7-22 against Preston, the best bowling figures recorded by the 3rd XI across the campaign. Performances like that are why the season review should not just focus on where Hoddesdon finished, but also on how many players delivered moments that will be remembered long after the table has been filed away.

The 2026 3rd XI Hall Of Fame

There was then the first meeting with Hatfield and Crusaders on 20 June, when Hoddesdon won by two wickets in a tense contest at Newgate Street. Paul Webb’s patient 50, Austin Bean and Kyle Hay’s important wickets, and Dan Billson’s lively lower-order runs all helped the side over the line in a match that demanded calm heads and proper club cricket graft.

The season also had its testing spell, and the 3rd XI had to live through a run of defeats that threatened to take the edge off the campaign. The narrow 22-run home defeat to Enfield was followed by losses to Ickleford, Datchworth, Bayford & Hertford and Preston, and suddenly a side that had looked right in the hunt found itself needing to rediscover momentum. That difficult period should be viewed with context, because availability changed, selection demands across the club shifted and key players moved around to support other teams. Dan Hawkins, who had led the 3rd XI with pride, made the switch to the 2nd XI to help them in their battle against relegation, which opened the door for Louis Webb to take on the captaincy more permanently.

Louis Webb Took On The Captain's Role

Louis deserves huge credit for the job he did. Still a young captain learning the role, he took the responsibility seriously, led with energy and honesty, and helped rebuild belief at a time when the season could have drifted away. His development as a leader was one of the most positive stories of the entire summer. Webb’s impact was not limited to captaincy either, because he finished the season as the 3rd XI’s leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets from 101.1 overs. His best figures of 5-22 against Potters Bar earned him his first ever Greene King Level Head Green Jacket, and that day became a major milestone in his season and in his growing role within the club.

The Potters Bar win at Hertingfordbury was one of the matches that changed the mood completely. Hoddesdon made 191-9, with Nikunj Pradhan scoring 59 and Mark Feely adding 46, before Webb’s five-for and Ash Hill’s outstanding all-round display helped bowl Potters Bar out for 157 and secure a 34-run win. That victory formed part of a brilliant late-season surge. Hoddesdon beat Letchworth by 57 runs, demolished league leaders Hitchin by 155 runs, beat Potters Bar by 34, chased down Hatfield and Crusaders by four wickets, saw the Enfield match abandoned in the rain, and then finished the season with an emphatic 84-run win over Ickleford.

Ash Hill

Nikunj Pradhan

The 155-run win away at Hitchin was arguably the headline result of the season. To go to the league leaders and produce such a dominant performance took belief, quality and discipline, and it showed exactly what the 3rd XI were capable of when the batting fired and the bowling unit backed it up. Reece Jones and Mark Feely put on 109 for the fourth wicket in that match, while Nikunj Pradhan also produced one of his finest knocks of the season with 65. Henry Taylor’s 4-9 remains one of the top bowling performances of the campaign, and that combination of runs, wickets and energy made it one of the most complete displays of the summer.

Mark Feely, affectionately known as Touchy in the dressing room, finished as the leading run scorer with 295 runs. He played 11 matches, batted 10 times, made two half-centuries and produced a highest score of 58, combining experience, patience and timing at important stages of the season. Feely’s late-season form was especially important. His partnerships with Nikunj against Potters Bar and Connor Hunt against Ickleford were two of the biggest stands of the year, and his reliability through the middle order gave Hoddesdon the kind of platform they needed in tight matches.

Mark Feely And Reece Jones

Louis Webb finished second in the batting list with 234 runs, while Nikunj Pradhan followed with 191. Nikunj’s two half-centuries, including 65 against Hitchin and 59 against Potters Bar, were both among the top five individual performances of the season, and his willingness to take the gloves when required added even more value to his campaign.

Reece Jones also deserves credit for his contribution, finishing with 173 runs and a highest score of 57 not out. He offered intent, positive running and a strike rate of 110.90, which made him one of the more attacking options in the side when Hoddesdon needed to move the game forward.

The Batting Stats

Paul Webb added 147 runs and brought experience whenever he was available, while Ross Maughan made 143 and stepped in brilliantly as captain when Louis was away. Ross leading the side to victory at Hatfield, with both Dan Hawkins and Louis Webb unavailable, was one of those moments that showed the value of having experienced club men ready to step up.

Ross Maughan

Darshana Keerthichandra, known to everyone as Dash, only played four matches but still made a huge impact. His unbeaten 70 away at Hatfield and Crusaders was one of the defining knocks of the season, and his average of 61.50 shows how influential he became during the closing stretch. Connor Hunt’s 68 against Ickleford in the final match was another standout innings. He and Mark Feely put on 118 for the fourth wicket, which finished second on the season’s partnership list and helped Hoddesdon post 226-7 before completing an 84-run win to end the campaign in style.

There were plenty of other batting contributions worth naming too. Bilal Ahmad’s unbeaten 72, Kyle Hay’s useful runs when called upon, Ash Hill’s explosive cameos, Freddie Hawkins’ early-season contributions, Peter Draisey rolling back the years with 28 against Bayford, and the efforts of Ross Maughan, Paul Webb, Tyler Burroughs, Sampathreddy Palepu, Caleb Harding, Amer Khokhar, Oscar Ramsdale and others all added texture to the season.

With the ball, Webb’s 24 wickets placed him at the top of the club’s 3rd XI bowling list, but he was far from alone in carrying the attack. Scott Higgins took 16 wickets at an economy rate of 3.02, consistently giving the side pace, hostility and control, while Henry Taylor’s 13 wickets came at an impressive average of 10.92. Benjamin Strong’s 12 wickets included the unforgettable 7-22 against Preston, and Daniel Hawkins still finished with 10 wickets despite moving up to support the 2nd XI. Paul Webb took nine, Michael Billson seven, Ashley Hill six, while Austin Bean and Monty McCullagh both finished with four wickets apiece.

Scotty (left) Took 16 Wickets

The top bowling performances list tells its own story. Benjamin Strong’s 7-22, Louis Webb’s 5-22, Henry Taylor’s 4-9, Webb’s earlier 4-17 against Potters Bar and Michael Billson’s 4-21 against Letchworth were all match-shaping spells that showed the variety and depth available across the summer.

Ben Strong Took An Incredible 7fer Against Preston CC

Mick Billson’s performances deserve a special mention too, because his wickets, experience and competitive edge were a real asset whenever he was involved. His bowling figures and presence reminded everyone that the 3rd XI was not just about developing younger players, but also about blending youth with seasoned cricket know-how. Ashley Hill became an increasingly important figure as the season went on. He bowled superbly against Potters Bar, pushed hard for the Green Jacket that day, contributed in the field and gave the side energy, athleticism and another genuine all-round option.

Hoddesdon's Bowling: The Numbers

The fielding numbers also tell a positive story. Joe Robinson finished with eight total victims, including six wicketkeeping catches and a stumping, while Benjamin Strong took seven fielding catches and Louis Webb took six. Ashley Hill and Sampathreddy Palepu both claimed five fielding catches, Tyler Burroughs took four, and Dash finished with three total victims including a run out. Those figures matter because many of Hoddesdon’s wins were built not only on runs and wickets, but on taking chances and maintaining pressure when games were still in the balance.

There were Green Jacket stories throughout the wider 3rd XI group too. Louis Webb’s first ever Green Jacket for his five-wicket haul against Potters Bar was a special moment, while Paul Webb’s all-round efforts and contributions from players moving between the 3rd, 2nd and 4th XI all highlighted the strength of the club pathway.

Louis Webb reflected with real pride on the season and the group he led. “I am incredibly proud of this team because we had every chance to let the season fade away when results went against us, but the lads kept turning up, kept training and kept believing,” he said. “Taking over as captain properly was a big responsibility, especially after Dan moved up to help the 2nd XI, but I had 10 people every week who gave everything, and that is all a captain can ask for.”

Webb also pointed to the late run as proof of the side’s character. “The last few weeks showed what we are about, because we beat some very good sides and finished with a proper team performance against Ickleford,” he added. “Touchy, Nikunj, Dash, Connor, Reece, Ash, Scotty, Henry, Ben, Monty, Ross, Barney and so many others all had big moments, and I think we can look back knowing we moved forward as a side.”

Ben Marques

Head of Cricket Louis Purves was equally positive about the role the 3rd XI played within the wider club structure. “The 3rd XI is such an important side for Hoddesdon because it gives young players responsibility, gives experienced players a platform to guide them, and keeps competitive cricket at the heart of the club,” he said. “Louis Webb deserves enormous credit for how he handled the captaincy, Dan Hawkins deserves credit for everything he did before stepping up, and every player who represented the side should be proud of the season they put together.”

Purves also praised the spirit of the group and the wider support network around them. “What pleased me most was that the team kept pushing right to the end, even when promotion was no longer in their hands,” he added. “That attitude says a lot about the players, the families, the committee, the coaches and everyone who helps make Saturday cricket happen across the club.”

The final-day win over Ickleford was the perfect way to sign off. Hoddesdon made 226-7, with Connor Hunt hitting 68, Mark Feely making 58, Dash adding 32 and Louis Webb contributing 21, before Ickleford were restricted to 142-6 in reply. Henry Taylor took 2-23, Freddie Lee also picked up two wickets, while Webb and Scott Higgins chipped in with one apiece. It was a performance full of control and confidence, and it meant the season ended with another 30-point win at Hertingfordbury.

Henry Taylor

That final table might show Hoddesdon in fifth, but it also shows a side that remained in touching distance of the promotion race until late in the year. Enfield, Datchworth and Hitchin all finished above 400 points, Potters Bar edged Hoddesdon by only four, and the gap between fifth and first was small enough to leave everyone wondering what might have been had one or two narrow defeats gone the other way. The one-wicket defeat to Datchworth at the start, the 22-run defeat to Enfield, the hard-fought losses to Ickleford, Bayford and Preston, and the rain-affected abandoned match away to Enfield all mattered in the final reckoning. Yet those moments should not overshadow what was clearly a good season, because Hoddesdon won more than they lost, developed players, gave young cricketers responsibility and produced some outstanding cricket.

Dan Hawkins

Thanks must go to everyone who represented the 3rd XI this season, whether they played every week or stepped in when availability demanded it. Louis Webb, Dan Hawkins, Ross Maughan, Nikunj Pradhan, Mark Feely, Reece Jones, Darshana Keerthichandra, Scott Higgins, Henry Taylor, Benjamin Strong, Paul Webb, Barney Webb, Tyler Burroughs, Ash Hill, Monty McCullagh, Connor Hunt, Freddie Lee, Freddie Hawkins, Ben Marques, Joe Robinson, Kyle Hay, Michael Billson, Austin Bean, Rob Aindow, Amer Khokhar, Sampathreddy Palepu, Caleb Harding, Peter Draisey, Oscar Ramsdale, Bilal Ahmad, Jon Dean, Louis Purves and many others all played their part.

Thanks also go to the umpires and scorers who helped make the season possible. Club cricket relies on people giving their time, often quietly and without fuss, and the 3rd XI are grateful to everyone who stood, scored, supported and helped keep matches running smoothly across the summer.

The committee also deserve thanks for their support throughout the campaign. Running four Saturday sides, Sunday cricket, junior cricket, events, facilities and everything else around the club is no small task, and the 3rd XI benefited from that wider backing throughout the year. A special thank you must go to the parents, wives, girlfriends, partners, families and friends of the players. Their support, lifts, patience, encouragement and understanding are a huge part of what keeps amateur sport alive, even if they do not always appear on the scorecard.

Hoddesdon CC are also extremely grateful to Hertingfordbury CC for once again allowing the 3rd XI to play their home fixtures at their ground. Their hospitality and the work of their grounds team gave the players an excellent surface across the season, and that relationship remains hugely valued by everyone connected with the side.

Finally, thanks must also go to Jungle Bar in Hertford for providing the 3rd XI with somewhere to continue team bonding once the club at Lowfield closed on a Saturday night. Every successful cricket season needs runs, wickets, catches and occasionally somewhere for the post-match stories to grow even taller.

Jungle Bar, Hertford

The 2026 season did not end with promotion, but it ended with pride, momentum and plenty of reasons to look forward. The 3rd XI showed resilience, produced outstanding performances, strengthened the pathway between sides and proved that this group has the talent and spirit to challenge again.

As attention slowly turns towards next summer, the message is simple enough without being simplistic. Hoddesdon CC 3rd XI have built something worth carrying forward, and if the lessons of 2026 are taken into the winter and beyond, there is every reason to believe that next season can be even stronger.

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