The Green Machine rolled into rural Hertfordshire on Saturday and delivered a powerful statement of intent in the HPCL Championship, swatting aside Reed by 83 runs in a commanding away-day triumph. With skipper Rob Walters leading from the front with the bat and the evergreen Harry Mason producing a match-turning all-round display, Hoddesdon bagged a vital 30 points to leapfrog up the table and breathe new life into their promotion push.

Make no mistake — this was no fluke, no get-out-of-jail job. This was Hoddesdon cricket with the handbrake off: relentless, disciplined, and executed with the kind of precision that had travelling supporters bouncing with delight from the pavilion to the picket fences.

After losing the toss and being inserted by Reed — who perhaps misread the pitch or underestimated the mood of their visitors — Hoddesdon crafted 236 for 8 in exactly 60 overs. It was an innings of patience and poise, underpinned by a high-class 97 from Rob Walters and a priceless 40 not out from Harry Mason, who later returned with the ball to snare two key wickets and wrap up the hosts’ hopes.

Reed, chasing a gettable total under grey skies and modest bounce, limped to 153 for 9 from 33.3 overs in a reply that never truly got going, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals as Hoddesdon squeezed the life out of the innings.

Let’s unpack how this one was won.

THE WALTERS WAY: CAPTAIN’S KNOCK IGNITES HODDY CHARGE
Sent into bat on a pitch offering initial nibble and cloud cover, Hoddesdon made a solid but cautious start. Rob Walters and James Mitchell Jr. weathered a probing opening burst from Jack Tidey and Matt Giblin, grafting their way to a 77-run opening stand that gave the visitors an early platform.

Mitchell, circumspect for his 36 off 76 balls, fell just as he was finding rhythm — caught after being set up nicely by Tom Greaves. That dismissal triggered a mini-collapse: Clayton Stone (0), Oliver Arkinstall (4) and Will Steward (9) departed in the space of 7 overs, as Hoddesdon lurched from 77-0 to 119-4.

But throughout the wobble, Walters remained ice-cool. Playing a captain’s knock of high authority, he threaded 18 boundaries in his 129-ball 97, pulling with power and caressing through the covers with finesse. He narrowly missed out on a deserved century, caught just three short, but by then he’d laid the groundwork.

The late innings fireworks came courtesy of Harry Mason (40 off 51 balls)* and *Om Thakeria (32 off 36)**, who added 63 in a thrilling unbeaten ninth-wicket stand. Mason’s strike rotation and clean striking combined with Thakeria’s elegance through the off-side ensured Hoddesdon posted a competitive — and ultimately match-winning — total of 236-8.

MASON’S MAGIC MOMENT: 2 WICKETS, GREEN JACKET
If Mason’s knock was classy, his spell with the ball was cruel — and absolutely crucial.

Reed’s reply got off to a cautious start, but the removal of Ward and Heslam in a firecracker burst left Reed wobbling at 17 for 2.

Just as the dangerous Sean Tidey (40) began to launch a counterattack with four crunching boundaries, up stepped Mason, calmly nipping out both Jack Tidey and Matt Giblin to break the back of the innings. Bowling with clever angles and teasing lengths, his spell of 2.3-0-9-2 turned out to be a masterstroke.

At the other end, Oliver Arkinstall picked up 3 for 46 from 14 overs, weaving magic through the middle order and snapping up the key scalps of Lankester, Ward and Chambers. With Walters (2-0-13-1) and Hasan Ali (3-65) sharing the early breakthroughs, Reed were left to cling on grimly for survival.

But with pressure mounting and the scoreboard stagnant, the hosts succumbed. They were eventually bowled out for 153 in just 33.3 overs, handing Hoddesdon a thumping 83-run victory.

GREEN JACKET GLORY: HARRY MASON TAKES THE HONOURS
In a game filled with stellar performances, the standout was undoubtedly Harry Mason.

He might not have taken a five-for or blasted a ton, but his contribution with both bat and ball came at the perfect time. His unbeaten 40 held the innings together when Reed sensed collapse, and his two wickets crushed any lingering hope of a late rescue.

For his all-round brilliance, Mason deservedly walked away with the club’s coveted Green Jacket — awarded weekly to the clubs standout player. He wore it proudly on Saturday night as players and fans celebrated a vital result in back at Lowfield. You can read all about Harry's performance HERE.

TABLE TALK: HODDY BACK IN THE MIX
With this win and 30 valuable league points in the bag, Hoddesdon stay ahead of Dunstable and closed the gap to Redbourn and Old Owens, who lost to Broxbourne. They now sit fifth in the HPCL Championship Division on 148 points, just three behind Redbourn and well within striking distance of the promotion contenders.

With games to come against fellow mid-table sides and top-tier rivals alike, this performance couldn’t have come at a better time.

Confidence is building. Momentum is growing. The Green Machine is rolling again.

FIELDING FOCUS: DISCIPLINE AND INTENSITY
The win wasn’t just about runs and wickets — Hoddesdon’s fielding display was electric.

Finley Higgs and Will Steward were livewires in the field, while Rob Jones and Oliver Maughan chased down everything in the deep. James Mitchell Jr., though quiet with the bat, showed his worth during the Reed counterattack. Even in the dying overs, the pressure never dipped. Every man was on their toes. Every catch stuck. Every run was fought for. It was a total team performance, and the kind of sharpness in the field that can make the difference in tight division battles.

KEY MOMENTS

• 77-run opening stand between Walters and Mitchell Jr. set the tone
• Middle-order wobble had Hoddesdon in trouble at 119-4
• 40 from Mason and 32 from Thakeria** steadied the ship
• Early wickets from Walters, Arkinstall and Hasan Ali rocked Reed’s top order
• Mason’s double strike sealed the win
• Arkinstall’s 3 wickets choked the middle phase

FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Rob Walters (Captain):

“I’m so proud of the lads. We’ve talked about playing our brand of cricket — and this was it. Everyone played a part. We batted long, we fielded hard, and we never let up. Mason was outstanding — with bat and ball — and it's wins like these that can turn a season.”

Harry Mason (Green Jacket Winner):

“Buzzing to get the jacket — been chasing it for a few weeks! More importantly, we got the win. I just tried to hang around with the bat and back up the bowlers later on. Felt great out there.”

WHAT’S NEXT?
The Green Machine now shift focus to next weekend’s fixture as they host Preston CC in what promises to be a blockbuster clash at Lowfield. The side’s confidence is sky-high. The mood is buoyant. If they can replicate the intensity and sharpness shown at Reed, Hoddy’s rise up the table could be just beginning.

#GreenMachine