Hoddesdon CC 1st XI vs Broxbourne CC 1st XI

HPCL Championship – Saturday 31st May 2025 | Lowfield, Hoddesdon
Start time: 12:00pm
Umpires: Adrian Dell & Anthony Levy | Scorer: Liz Woods

Top of the Table Showdown as Hoddesdon Host High-Flying Broxbourne
The HPCL Championship Division serves up a blockbuster fixture this Saturday as Hoddesdon 1st XI welcome unbeaten table-toppers Broxbourne to Lowfield for what promises to be one of the standout clashes of the season so far.

Both sides head into the contest in red-hot form, with Hoddesdon winning their last two matches in style and Broxbourne arriving with a perfect record after three rounds. The Green Machine will be eager to protect their strong home record and close the gap on their local rivals at the top of the table — in what should be a thrilling encounter between two promotion contenders.

Form Guide
Hoddesdon 1st XI enter this weekend buoyed by back-to-back victories that have lifted them into third place in the league standings. After a big 100-run win over Hemel Hempstead Town and a clinical 7-wicket triumph away at Chorleywood last Saturday, skipper Rob Walters’ side is building momentum at just the right time.

At Chorleywood, the bowlers led by James Curtis (4/31) restricted the hosts to 167 before Walters (55), Oliver Arkinstall (60*), and Will Steward (25) expertly marshalled the chase to secure another maximum 25-point haul. The result took Hoddesdon’s tally to 59 points from three games — level with Shenley Village.

Broxbourne, meanwhile, sit proudly at the summit with a perfect record: three wins from three, 75 points on the board. They’ve looked imperious so far, brushing aside Dunstable Town, Redbourn and Shenley Village with dominant performances, and boast a well-balanced squad with firepower in both batting and bowling departments.

The League Table – Top Four Tightening
Pos Team P W L BatP BowlP Pts
1 Broxbourne CC 3 3 0 0 0 75
2 Old Owens CC 3 3 0 0 0 75
3 Hoddesdon CC 3 2 1 7 2 59
4 Shenley Village CC 3 2 1 5 4 59

With Hoddesdon and Shenley Village breathing down their necks, Broxbourne’s position is far from secure — and a home win for Hoddesdon this weekend would blow the title race wide open.

Match Details

• Venue: Lowfield, Hoddesdon
• Start Time: 12:00pm
• Umpires: Adrian Dell & Anthony Levy
• Scorer: Liz Woods
• Postcode: EN11 8PX

Fans are encouraged to arrive early, grab a spot on the boundary rope, and enjoy what is shaping up to be one of the marquee fixtures of the 2025 HPCL Championship season.

The Hoddesdon 1st XI Line-Up
Skipper Rob Walters has named another strong XI for Saturday’s clash — with the side showing consistency, balance, and growing depth:

Rob Walters (C) – In excellent touch with bat and as a leader.
James Curtis – Starred with 4 wickets at Chorleywood. Reliable top-order bat.
Will Steward (WK) – Solid middle-order presence, rotated strike well last game.
Oliver Arkinstall – 60* last week, match-winner with bat and ball.
Clayton Stone – Compact, steady and adapting quickly to foreign conditions.
Todd Sturdy – Comes into the side, adds flexibility in middle order and superb ground skills.
Rob Jones – Tactical experience and versatile with the bat.
Johnny Munday – A consistent all-rounder, the youngster has already impressed.
Harry Mason – Rock both on the pitch and in the dressing room.
Om Thakeria – Brings variety with the ball, athletic fielder.
Muhammad Hasan Ali – Leading strike bowler, capable of early breakthroughs.

Hoddesdon: Key Players to Watch
Rob Walters
Fresh off a fluent 55 at Chorleywood and the monumental 164 against Hemel earlier this month, Walters is one of the league’s most in-form batsmen. His leadership and runs will be pivotal.

James Curtis
With ball in hand, Curtis is fast becoming one of Hoddesdon’s key weapons — his 4/31 last Saturday turned the match decisively in Hoddy’s favour.

Oliver Arkinstall
The definition of an all-rounder. His unbeaten 60* showed composure and class under pressure, while his bowling remains vital through the middle overs.

The Opposition: Broxbourne CC
Broxbourne arrive with a 100% record, having dismantled their early opposition with a blend of consistent top-order scoring and a potent seam attack. They’ve been the division’s pace-setters so far and will be aiming to make a statement away from home.

A typically aggressive batting approach combined with clinical bowling has seen them win all three matches by commanding margins. Hoddesdon’s bowlers will need to be sharp early — Broxbourne’s top order is capable of running away with the game if allowed to settle.

Sam Neale his an impressive 148 from 100 balls last week against Shenley, and with a talented supporting cast of James Logan, captain George Davies and Kegan Eales all capable of going big with the bat, Hoddesdon have an interesting to puzzle to solve.

The Stakes
For Hoddesdon, a home victory would be a real marker of intent — not only cutting the gap on Broxbourne, but keeping pace with Old Owens and establishing themselves as genuine promotion contenders. For Broxbourne, it’s a chance to cement top spot — but Lowfield is one of the toughest grounds to visit in the division, and they will know they’re in for a battle. Expect a high-intensity encounter where every run, every wicket, and every point could prove crucial in shaping this season’s title race.

From the Captain
Ahead of the match, Rob Walters said:

“These are the games we play for — top of the table, big stakes, big crowd at home. The boys have trained hard and we’ve built some momentum. Broxbourne are a quality side but we’ll back ourselves to put in a strong performance.”

Final Thoughts
With the season now well underway, this Saturday’s showdown at Lowfield is perfectly timed to ignite the HPCL Championship race. Expect a bumper crowd, a cracking atmosphere, and two in-form teams giving it everything in pursuit of those vital 25 points.

Follow the match across the club’s social channels using:
#GreenMachine | #Hoddy | #HPCLChampionship | #Lowfield

The first ball is at midday and the first pint is up to you.

#greenmachine