Louis Webb was the toast of Lowfield on Saturday night after claiming this week’s Greene King Level Head IPA Green Jacket Award, following a superb captain’s performance for Hoddesdon Cricket Club’s Third XI in their 34-run victory over Potters Bar 4th XI at Hertingfordbury. In a season where Webb has had to balance the responsibility of leadership with the pressure of producing his own performances, this was a day where both sides of his cricketing character came together beautifully, as he took 5-22 from 6.3 overs to help bowl Hoddesdon to a much-needed and well-earned win.

Ash Hill Presented The Green Jacket To Louis Back At Lowfield

The Green Jacket has already produced some memorable winners this summer, but Louis’ success felt particularly significant. This was not only his first ever five-wicket haul for Hoddesdon, but also his first ever Green Jacket award, making it a milestone evening for a young man who has grown rapidly into one of the club’s most important emerging figures. Captaining a side is difficult enough at any level, but doing it while still developing as a cricketer in your own right takes real maturity, and Webb continues to show he is more than capable of carrying both responsibilities.

Hoddesdon’s 191-9 from 40 overs gave the Third XI something to work with, built around a composed 59 from Nikunj Pradhan and a valuable 46 from Mark Feely, with Darshana Keerthichandra also adding a useful 21 later in the innings. Louis himself only made 5 with the bat, but his influence on the game was still to come, and it arrived in decisive fashion once Potters Bar set about their chase. Rather than allowing the visitors to settle into their pursuit, Webb found a rhythm with the ball, hit his areas, and delivered the kind of spell that turns a competitive total into a winning one.

Hoddesdon Beat Potters Bar 4th XI by 34 Runs

His final figures told the story of a bowler in complete control: 6.3 overs, 2 maidens, 22 runs and 5 wickets, at an economy rate of just 3.38. The wickets came at vital moments too, with Webb removing Ansh Mithal, Daniel Amon, Vishnu Panchamukhi, Shrut Patel and Daksh Vinnakota as Potters Bar were dismissed for 157 in 35.3 overs. The five-wicket landmark arrived in the closing stages of the innings and was greeted with the kind of reaction that showed just how much it meant, not only to Louis, but to his teammates and everyone who has watched his progress over the past few seasons. For all the wickets, this was also a captain’s display in the wider sense. Louis had to manage his bowlers, keep his side calm, respond to pressure when Potters Bar threatened through Nathanial Faldo’s 50, and make sure Hoddesdon did not let the game slip away after doing the hard work. That balance between tactical thinking and personal performance is not easy, especially for a young skipper, but Webb handled it impressively and set the tone for a side that continues to develop under his leadership.

Webb Took Five Wickets From 6.3 Overs

There was serious competition for the award, particularly from Ash Hill, who enjoyed a remarkable all-round fielding and bowling display of his own. Ash took 4-28 from eight overs and also held four catches, a contribution that would have been enough to win the Green Jacket on many other weekends. Fittingly, it was Ash who presented the jacket to Louis back at the clubhouse, a classy touch after the pair had worked together so effectively in the field to shut down Potters Bar’s chase. James Mitchell was also firmly in the conversation after yet another outstanding century for the First XI, scoring 101 as Rob Walters’ side beat Hemel Hempstead by 50 runs. In most weeks, another Mitchell hundred would have been extremely difficult to overlook, particularly given the brilliant form he has been in lately, but Louis’ first five-for, first Green Jacket and match-winning captain’s performance gave him the edge. It says plenty about the standard across the club that the selectors had to weigh up a five-wicket haul, a four-wicket haul with four catches, and a First XI century before settling on this week’s winner.

Ash Hill And James Mitchell Were Serious Contenders For The Award

Louis’ figures on Saturday also sit neatly within the wider story of his growth as a bowler at Hoddesdon. Across his club career so far, he has now taken 89 wickets from 441.5 overs, with 38 maidens, an economy rate of 5.18 and a bowling average of 25.73. His previous best was 4-17 against Potters Bar earlier this season, but the 5-22 at Hertingfordbury now stands proudly at the top of his personal list, giving him the five-wicket haul that had been threatening to arrive for some time.

His 2026 numbers show just how important he has become to the Third XI setup. This season alone, Louis has bowled 121.1 overs, taken 28 wickets, sent down 16 maidens and returned an economy rate of 4.68, with his wickets accounting for nearly 20 per cent of the team’s total. They are the numbers of a bowler who is doing a major job for his side week after week, often while also having to think several overs ahead as captain.

Webb's Top 5 Bowling Performances For Hoddesdon Cricket Club

There is also an interesting pattern in the way Louis gets his wickets, with his career dismissals showing a bowler who regularly brings the field into play. Across all seasons, 43 of his wickets have been caught and 34 bowled, while in 2026 his wickets have been split between 18 caught and 10 bowled. That speaks to a bowler who asks questions consistently, creates pressure, forces mistakes and trusts the fielders around him, which is exactly what a captain wants from his attack and exactly what he delivered against Potters Bar.

Louis becomes the third member of the Webb family to claim the weekly award, with Dad Paul Webb winning it last month after a fine individual performance away at Preston CC, Herts, where he contributed strongly with both bat and ball. Paul took 4-30 with the ball before adding 31 from 31 deliveries with the bat, including six boundaries, as Hoddesdon battled hard but ultimately fell 42 runs short at Whitwell Recreation Ground. Brother Freddie has also won the award as a result of a 6 wicket haul in just 8.5 overs at home to Sandridge CC 1st XI back in May 2025. Members agree that it certainly won't be long before we add youngest son Barney to the honours board, as he continues to develop and perform admirably for the 4th and 3rd xi in his maiden season of senior cricket for Hoddesdon. Who knows, maybe younger sister Florence will grace the new girls team at Lowfield someday and make her own claim for cricket's greatest prize?

The Family: Freddie Webb (Left), Paul Webb (Centre), Louis Webb (Right) And Barney Webb (Front)

Speaking after receiving the jacket, Louis said he was delighted to finally get over the line and claim both his first five-for and first Green Jacket in the same afternoon. “I’ve been close a few times, so to finally get a five-for and do it in a win as captain means a lot,” he said. “The lads were brilliant around me, Ash was unbelievable with the ball and in the field, and everyone stuck at it when Potters Bar had a couple of partnerships going. It was a proper team win, but I’m obviously buzzing to get the jacket and I’ll enjoy wearing it.”

Head of Cricket Louis Purves was full of praise for Webb, not just for Saturday’s spell, but for the way he has embraced the challenge of leading the Third XI. “Louis has been excellent for us this season,” said Purves. “He has taken on the captaincy, kept developing his own game, and never hidden from responsibility. A first five-wicket haul is a big moment for any bowler, but to do it while captaining the side to a win shows real character, and everyone at the club should be very proud of him.”

Purves was also keen to highlight the importance of celebrating performances like this across the club, especially from young players growing into bigger roles. “What I like about Louis is that he is learning all the time,” he added. “He thinks about the game, he cares about the team, and he wants to improve. That is exactly what we want from our young cricketers at Hoddesdon, and this award is a great reward for the work he has put in.”

The presentation back at Lowfield was another special Green Jacket moment, with Ash Hill handing over the famous jacket after his own brilliant display had pushed Louis all the way. The clubhouse has become the perfect setting for these weekly awards, giving players from all sides the chance to come together, recognise standout performances and enjoy the feel-good moments that make club cricket so enjoyable. With Greene King’s Level Head IPA continuing to sponsor the award, the Green Jacket has become a brilliant weekly tradition and a genuine highlight of the Saturday night calendar.

Everyone at Hoddesdon Cricket Club congratulates Louis Webb on a superb performance, a maiden five-wicket haul, a first Green Jacket and another big step forward in his development as both a cricketer and a captain. Thanks also go to Greene King and their delicious Level Head IPA for their generous support of the award, helping the club celebrate the players who make a difference every weekend.

On this occasion, that player was Louis Webb, and after a five-star spell at Hertingfordbury, nobody could argue that the jacket was anything other than well deserved.

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