Old Owens CC 1st XI vs Hoddesdon CC 1st XI
HPCL Championship Division – Saturday 7th June 2025 | Old Owens Sports Ground, Coopers Lane, Northaw, Potters Bar
Start time: 12:00pm

Clash of the Contenders as Hoddesdon Head to Unbeaten Old Owens
It’s set to be another blockbuster weekend in the HPCL Championship Division as Hoddesdon 1st XI make the short trip to Potters Bar this Saturday to face the unbeaten Old Owens CC 1st XI — in what looks on paper to be one of the key fixtures of the early season promotion race.

Both sides have made strong starts to the campaign and sit inside the top three after four rounds — and with Broxbourne and Old Owens level at the top on 100 points, and Hoddesdon close behind in third on 66 points, the stakes couldn’t be higher for this clash between two in-form squads.

Led as ever by captain Rob Walters, the Green Machine will be eager to respond after last weekend’s home defeat to table-toppers Broxbourne — and with momentum to be gained before the halfway stage of the season, Hoddy will travel in determined mood.

Form Guide: Two Sides in the Hunt
Old Owens CC 1st XI
Form: W W W W (last 4 games)
Old Owens are in red-hot form and boast a perfect 4-0 record heading into Saturday’s fixture. They’ve gone on an opening four-game winning streak and are sitting joint-top of the table alongside Broxbourne on 100 points. Their top order has been scoring consistently, and they have an attack capable of taking wickets at key moments — making them a well-rounded, dangerous outfit on their own turf at the Old Owens Sports Ground. Wicket Keeper Jj Van Der Sandt is one to watch, a threat with the bat as the regular opener and 270 runs to his name in 2025 already, and a mean wicket keeper to boot.

Hoddesdon CC 1st XI
Form: L W W L (last 4 games)
Hoddesdon have also enjoyed a positive start to 2025 — and despite falling to Broxbourne last weekend, remain third in the table on 66 points thanks to two excellent victories over Hemel Hempstead and Chorleywood earlier in the campaign. Their bowling attack remains one of the strongest in the division, while their batting line-up continues to show depth and potential. Victory this weekend would put them firmly back into the mix at the top of the table. Debut league call ups for Bilal Ahmad and Asif Mohammed is rich reward for their hard work in the 2nd xi this season and we can't wait to see them test themselves at a new level.

Fixture & Venue Details
Venue: Old Owens Sports Ground, Coopers Lane, Northaw, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 4NF
Start Time: 12:00pm
Competition: HPCL Championship Division 2025

Hoddesdon 1st XI line-up for Saturday’s trip to Old Owens:

1. Rob Walters (Captain)
2. Bilal Ahmad
3. Will Steward
4. Oliver Arkinstall
5. Clayton Stone
6. Johnny Munday
7. Andrew Lewis
8. Om Thakeria
9. Asif Mohammed
10. Muhammad Hasan Ali
11. Olly Maughan

Key Players to Watch
Rob Walters
The skipper will once again lead from the front with bat and in the field. After a consistent start to the season, Walters remains a pivotal figure for Hoddy in the top order — and his leadership will be key in this high-pressure clash.

Oliver Arkinstall
Arkinstall continues to deliver vital contributions with both bat and ball. His all-round skills will be crucial against an Old Owens side packed with talent. If he fires, Hoddesdon’s chances rise significantly.

Muhammad Hasan Ali
Arguably the spearhead of the attack so far this season, Hasan Ali’s ability to take early wickets could well set the tone on Saturday. He remains one of the division’s most threatening new-ball bowlers.

Bilal Ahmad & Andrew Lewis
The promotion of Bilal Ahmad gives Hoddesdon an extra option with the bat — while Andrew Lewis provides all-round quality and fielding nous to strengthen the XI. The Sunday XI captain is maturing nicely and learning his craft very nicely indeed.

HPCL Championship: The State of Play
After four rounds, the league table is starting to take shape — and Hoddesdon remain firmly in contention as one of the chasing pack:

Pos Team Points
1 Broxbourne CC 100
2 Old Owens CC 100
3 Hoddesdon CC 66
4 Shenley Village CC 66
5 Hemel Hempstead Town 61
6 Preston CC, Herts 61
7 Redbourn CC 61
8 Reed CC 52
9 Dunstable Town CC 44
10 Chorleywood CC 25

A win for Hoddesdon on Saturday would significantly close the gap on the current leaders and throw the promotion picture wide open heading into the heart of the summer campaign. Meanwhile, victory for Old Owens would strengthen their grip on a top-two spot — with Broxbourne also facing a tricky fixture this weekend.

Last Time Out: Hoddesdon Battle Hard in Broxbourne Defeat
Hoddesdon will travel to Old Owens looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s defeat at Lowfield to current leaders Broxbourne CC, who posted 250/7 and held Hoddesdon to 183 all out. On the day, Rob Jones shone for Hoddy with a superb 65, earning the club’s Green Jacket Award — while Hasan Ali, Mason and Thakeria again impressed with the ball. Despite the result, Hoddesdon collected a valuable 7 bonus points to stay third in the table — a mark of how competitive and resilient this side continues to be.

Captain’s View: Rob Walters on the Challenge Ahead
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Old Owens, skipper Rob Walters said:

“We know the challenge that Old Owens present — they’re unbeaten and will be full of confidence, especially at home. But our lads have trained really well this week and we’ll be going there looking to put in a complete performance.

Every game in this league is a big one — and we’re determined to keep ourselves right in the mix. If we play to our potential, we can beat anyone.”

With both squads boasting match-winners and strong depth this season, Saturday’s contest could well come down to which side handles the key moments best under pressure. For Old Owens, the chance to maintain their unbeaten run and stay top alongside Broxbourne — or perhaps even take sole leadership if results go their way, beckons. For Hoddesdon: The opportunity to land a real statement win away from home and close the gap on the current front-runners — potentially moving clear in the battle for third.

With such fine margins in this year’s division, every point matters — and expect both sides to leave it all out on the field.

Final Word: Fans in for a Cracking Contest
With both sides in strong form and promotion ambitions clear, Saturday’s clash at Old Owens promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the HPCL weekend. Hoddesdon will travel with belief and intent — and if the likes of Walters, Arkinstall, Hasan Ali and the debuting Bilal Ahmad can fire, there’s every chance the Green Machine could cause an upset and shake up the league standings.

As ever, supporters making the trip to Coopers Lane are encouraged to get behind the side — and a strong Hoddy following could make all the difference on what’s set to be another pivotal afternoon in this ever-competitive division.

#GreenMachine