Hoddesdon Win First Friendly of the 2017 Season

Sunday 9th April saw Hoddesdon play their first Friendly of the 2017 season away to Harlow Town CC. With the sun lapping the ground skipper Bill Thorn won the toss and put Harlow into the field to endure the mid afternoon sun.

Hoddesdon opened up with Leat and Fryers 1 and 2 and both looked comfortable at the crease. Both batsman looked to play positively and got the away team to a good start. Leat was the first to go for 25 and Fryers road his luck being dropped 3 times was finally dismissed for 51.

In true Hoddy fashion the middle order came and went. Sam Davis was controversially dismissed for 20 with a suspect No Ball which the square leg umpire deemed to be ok whereas the batsman and the rest of the Hoddy Players thought otherwise. Todd Sturdy (37) looked in "good nick" crashing the ball around the ground before being caught.

Hoddesdon's ballast, Martin Brown kept the middle order pumping and was soon joined at the crease by Rhys Jones. The pair looked to pick off the runs and turned easy two's in slow singles whilst they caught their breath. Jones soon lost his head and was bowled with Harry Mason soon following in his footsteps.

Hoddesdon's innings came to a close with the away side 199 for 8 from 40.

Hoddesdon took to the field with some heavily sunburnt players. Brown and Murray opening up with the new ball and both looked to make the Harlow batman's play. Brown struck first with a LBW and Murray soon followed in the wickets.

At the first bowling change skipper Bill Thorn handed the ball to Sam Davis who blew the pre-season cobwebs away with a quick 3 over blast and Harry Mason who managed to pick up 3 wickets in his 6 over spell. Thorn soon took the ball and continued from his intense Pre-season bowling good areas taking with him the scalps of 2 HT batsman. "Tommy" Fryers finished the innings off getting the HT Skipper Neil Gladwin Stumped by Jones on 30 and then bowling Ali for a duck.

In all, a good start for Hoddesdon on a difficult wicket in hot conditions.