The curtain comes down on the 2025 Championship Division season this weekend, and Lowfield will play host to one final clash as Hoddesdon CC 1st XI welcome Reed CC 1st XI. For Hoddesdon, the pressure is off – Rob Walters’ side are safe and set for a mid-table finish – but for Reed, this is a game with everything riding on it. Sitting just above the drop zone, they know that defeat could send them tumbling into relegation, while a win could yet secure their place in the division for another year and send Preston CC down.

League Picture

The table makes for intriguing reading. Hoddesdon sit 6th on 262 points, sandwiched between Dunstable (282) and Hemel Hempstead (258). Whatever happens, they’ll finish in mid-table. Reed, however, sit precariously on 175 points, just three clear of Preston and only 67 clear of rock-bottom Chorleywood. Their fate remains in the balance, and they’ll arrive at Lowfield knowing survival depends on producing their very best cricket.

Recent Form

Hoddesdon: L L L L W W
A difficult August has given way to a late-season revival, with back-to-back wins lifting spirits and easing any danger of being sucked into the relegation scrap.

Reed: L L W W L
Reed’s form has been inconsistent, but victories against mid-table rivals showed their potential. That said, last week’s defeat to Broxbourne means they enter this clash under serious pressure.

Hoddesdon Danger Men

The numbers show where the home side’s strength lies.

Rob Walters (Captain): Walters has led from the front this season with a staggering 1,142 runs and a highest score of 164. His presence at the top of the order has been the foundation of Hoddesdon’s campaign. Expect him to set the tone once more in his final innings of 2025.

Asif Mohammed: Has a slightly skewed best strike rate of 200, but his skill lies with the ball in hand.

Oliver Arkinstall: The club’s top wicket-taker with 32 wickets, his right arm craft will be central to Hoddesdon’s bowling attack.

Jamie Curtis: The ultimate all-round threat. Best figures of 7/23 and the best economy rate at 3.84 mark him out as a bowler capable of destroying batting line-ups while keeping the run rate in check.

With a lineup featuring the youthful energy of Johnny Munday, Andrew Lewis, Johnny Munday and Om Thakeria alongside experienced heads like Will Steward and Clayton Stone, Hoddesdon look balanced and eager to finish on a high.

Reed Danger Men

The visitors’ stats reveal their potential match winners:

Robert Lankester: With 524 runs, he has been Reed’s most consistent run-scorer. If Reed are to survive, they’ll need a big contribution from him.

Stuart Smith: Holder of the season’s highest individual score (126), proving he can bat long and take games away from opponents.

Michael Mooney: Boasts the best strike rate at 109.09, making him a dangerous middle-order hitter.

William Heslam: Reed’s top wicket-taker with 30 wickets, the bowler Hoddesdon will most want to see off early.

Tom Greaves: His best figures of 7/62 demonstrate his ability to run through sides if conditions suit.

George Wood: With a mean economy rate of 1.5, he’s the bowler to call upon for control and pressure.

What’s at Stake

For Hoddesdon, Saturday is about playing with freedom, entertaining the Lowfield faithful, and closing out the season on a positive note. For Reed, it’s about survival. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and that contrast could make for a thrilling contest.

Beyond the Boundary – End of Season Party

Once the cricketing action concludes, attention turns to celebrating the end of the season at the clubhouse. This year’s finale carries extra poignancy as Hoddesdon say farewell to club stalwart Antony Higgs, his wife Sophie, and children Fin, Imogen, and Callum as they embark on a new life in Australia. Antony’s contributions to the club, both on and off the field, have been immense, and Saturday will be an opportunity for the whole Hoddesdon family to send them off in style.

The celebrations will feature:

Live performance from vocalist Jenny Salmon
Live set from DJ JD, keeping the music going long into the night
Plenty of food, drink, and a chance for the entire Green Machine community to come together one last time in 2025

Read more about the evening festivities by clicking HERE.

The Verdict

It’s set up to be a dramatic finale at Lowfield. Hoddesdon, safe and buoyant after recent wins, will relish the chance to play attacking cricket without pressure. Reed, by contrast, face the fight of their lives to secure survival. With so much at stake, one thing is certain: Saturday promises fireworks both on and off the field.

First ball at 11:00am – don’t miss it.

#GreenMachine