HPCL Championship Division
Saturday 9 August 2025, Lowfield
Old Owens CC 1st XI 176 all out (50.2 overs)
Hoddesdon CC 1st XI 127 all out (42.2 overs)
Old Owens won by 49 runs

Toss: Old Owens won the toss and elected to bat
Captains: Rob Walters (Hoddesdon), Jake Wickham (Old Owens)
League points: Old Owens 30pts, Hoddesdon 7pts

Old Owens, pushing at the sharp end of the Championship table, arrived at Lowfield in second place and left with a hard-earned, disciplined 49-run victory that keeps their challenge on track. Hoddesdon, who began the day seventh, found themselves well placed during the visitors’ innings thanks to a superb six-wicket burst from Harry Mason, but a resolute 45 from Old Owens captain Jake Wickham and a clinical bowling effort led by Brad Lane and Rhys Carter completed the job for the visitors. The chase never truly settled after a cluster of wickets at 56 and, despite resistance from Rob Walters and a late attempt to stall the collapse from Finlay Higgs, Hoddesdon were bowled out for 127 in 42.2 overs.

Old Owens build
After winning the toss, Old Owens chose to bat and set about crafting a total that would test the home side on a pitch that always offered the bowlers something if they hit the top of off and kept a tight line. Jj Van Der Sandt and Ben Wells gave the visitors a neat start, moving crisply to 23 before Hoddesdon drew first blood. Oliver Arkinstall produced the breakthrough, Will Steward claiming the catch to dismiss Wells for 11 (17 balls, two fours). That wicket brought Jack Timms to the middle and the innings settled into a steady, controlled rhythm.

Van Der Sandt was the early aggressor. He struck 55 from 58 balls with six fours and two sixes, scoring positively whenever the bowlers slightly over-pitched. Timms supported calmly at the other end (22 from 44 balls), and the pair carried Old Owens to 83 before Hoddesdon’s attack, led by Mason, found a way through. Timms departed at 83, bowled by Mason, and five runs later the Hoddesdon quick removed the mainstay as well — Van Der Sandt falling caught and bowled Mason at 88. From the vantage point of the scoreboard, those two wickets felt pivotal, pulling momentum back towards Hoddesdon and exposing the middle order.

Jamie Curtis then joined in: at 94 he removed Brad Lane for 4, caught by Clayton Stone; and after a brief spell of consolidation he trapped Rhys Carter lbw for 5 at 108. When Mason persuaded Ralph Lane to hit to Arkinstall at 112, Old Owens were wobbling on 112 for 6 and in danger of squandering the work done by their top order.

This, however, is where captaincy feet found firm ground. Jake Wickham, coming in with plenty to do, put together a smart, composed 45 from 69 balls, striking six fours and a six. He shepherded the tail, milked the gaps, and made sure Old Owens’ innings stretched deep into a 51st over. Around him, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals: Ross Walpole (5) was bowled by Mason at 119; Ed Gaeton (6) was caught by Stone off Mason at 137; Adam Clark (3) was pinned lbw by Om Thakeria at 146. Wickham kept pushing the total forward with good game awareness — rotating the strike when needed and taking boundary options when they were offered — before Mason returned once more to have the captain bowled, the final wicket, with Old Owens 176 all out in 50.2 overs. Jack Bloxham was left 9 not out (14 balls), having chipped in handily alongside his skipper.

For Hoddesdon, the bowling returns told a clear story. Harry Mason delivered a big shift: 18.2–3–56–6, a high-quality combination of persistence and threat that repeatedly opened doors. James Curtis provided control and incision across a long spell for 20–3–67–2, Arkinstall chipped in with 7–0–36–1, and Thakeria’s five overs (1–17) helped tidy up the lower order. An unusual statistical footnote: the Old Owens card listed no extras at all — no wides, no no-balls, no byes or leg-byes — reflecting both Hoddesdon’s discipline with the ball and Will Steward’s tidy work behind the stumps.

Old Owens’ innings arc, by the numbers: 23-1 (Wells 11), 83-2 (Timms 22), 88-3 (Van Der Sandt 55), 94-4 (Brad Lane 4), 108-5 (Carter 5), 112-6 (Ralph Lane 11), 119-7 (Walpole 5), 137-8 (Gaeton 6), 146-9 (Clark 3), 176-10 (Wickham 45). It wasn’t a runaway score, but it was a total with teeth — particularly given the way the surface rewarded bowlers who were naggingly accurate.

A chase derailed at 56
Hoddesdon’s reply began with hope and ended in frustration. Rob Walters, leading from the top as usual, moved briskly and positively, finding the fence seven times on his way to 37 from 42 balls. But the home side’s innings struggled to recruit sustained partnerships around him, and when the dam broke at 56, it did so decisively.

The visitors’ attack was impressively varied through the middle — hard lengths from the captain Wickham, probing lines from Brad Lane, relentless economy from Bloxham, and then the crucial squeeze from Rhys Carter — and they reaped rewards early. The first incision came at 21, with James Mitchell run out for 1 (11 balls). Five runs later Johnny Munday fell caught Bloxham and bowled by Wickham without scoring; then Walters and Arkinstall nursed the score to 56 before a three-wicket surge split the innings wide open. In the space of a few deliveries Arkinstall (15 off 25, three fours) was caught and bowled Wickham, Clayton Stone was bowled Wickham for 0, and Walters was removed caught by Van Der Sandt off Brad Lane for his 37. From 56 for 2, Hoddesdon were suddenly 56 for 5, the decisive hinge on which the game swung.

Will Steward was next to fall, lbw Brad Lane for 4 (8 balls), at 66 for 6. Andrew Lewis added 10 from 17 (two fours) before he too was caught by Van Der Sandt off Brad Lane, making it 86 for 7. The visitors kept the pressure ratcheted tight; Jamie Curtis briefly pushed the board forward with 16 (22 balls, three fours) before he offered a catch to Rhys Carter off Jack Bloxham, the score slipping to 88 for 8.

From there, Hoddesdon’s hopes rested on time and attrition. Finlay Higgs dug in admirably for an unbeaten 8 from 62 balls — a vigil that at least slowed Old Owens’ progress — and with Harry Mason (18 off 37, three fours) the pair eked out 22 valuable runs to carry the reply to 110 before Mason’s resistance was worn down by Rhys Carter. Carter wasn’t done: he completed the win when Om Thakeria (7 from 24, one four) advanced and was stumped by Van Der Sandt to close the innings at 127.

Old Owens’ bowlers shared the success exactly as their captain would have sketched it in the huddle. Brad Lane led the way through the top and middle with 14–3–52–3, including the pivotal dismissal of Walters and the lbw of Steward. Jake Wickham’s new-ball and first-change spells set the tone: 9–4–32–3, including both dismissals of Munday and Arkinstall and the ball that bowled Stone. Rhys Carter applied a ruthless choke late on with 7.2–1–11–2 — stingy and match-closing — while Jack Bloxham delivered 10–3–21–1 and Ed Gaeton backed up for 2–1–4–0. Eleven extras (1 wide, 5 byes, 2 leg-byes, 3 no-balls) nudged the total along, but the absence of any sizeable stands meant Old Owens were never put under sustained scoreboard pressure.

Hoddesdon’s fall of wickets captured the pattern cleanly: 21-1 (James F Mitchell 1), 26-2 (Johnny Munday 0), 56-3 (Oliver Arkinstall 15), 56-4 (Clayton Stone 0), 56-5 (Rob Walters 37), 66-6 (Will Steward 4), 86-7 (Andrew Lewis 10), 88-8 (James Curtis 16), 110-9 (Harry Mason 18), 127-10 (Om Thakeria 7).

Mason’s six and Wickham’s 45: the innings that framed the match
Two individual displays underpinned the contest. For Hoddesdon, Harry Mason’s 6 for 56 in 18.2 overs was the day’s stand-out spell. It combined accuracy with persistence and accounted for the most dangerous Old Owens batters: he bowled Jack Timms, removed Van Der Sandt with a sharp return catch, and then kept breaking stands as the innings deepened, also dismissing Ralph Lane, Ross Walpole, Jake Wickham (the last wicket), and Ed Gaeton (via Clayton Stone’s catch). Over nearly 19 overs he maintained a parsimonious economy of just over three-an-over; every return to the crease seemed to bend the innings back towards the hosts. He was a serious contender for this week's Green Jacket award, only losing out to a superb batting performance from Dan Hawkins in the 2nd XI.

For Old Owens, Jake Wickham’s 45 was the innings that lifted 176 from “par-ish” to “decisive.” Arriving with the score teetering at 112 for 6, the visiting captain guided his lower order with calm clarity. He trusted his defence when the ball hit good areas, cashed in anything errant, and took calculated options to keep the board ticking. He also had the presence to absorb dots — there were plenty, not least from Curtis’s probing 20-over shift — without blinking. That composure, coupled with the way he later marshalled his bowlers, framed the visitors’ victory.

Steward tidy, Van Der Sandt sharp
Wicketkeepers mattered. The scoreboard shows no extras conceded by Hoddesdon during the Old Owens innings — no wides, no-balls, byes or leg-byes — which is as clean a card as you will ever see and speaks to Will Steward’s work as much as the bowlers’ accuracy. For Old Owens, Jj Van Der Sandt was in the game repeatedly: he claimed the catches to remove Walters and Andrew Lewis and finished the job with the stumping of Om Thakeria that sealed the 30 league points. He also set up the first innings with that brisk 55 at the top.

Where the game turned
Hoddesdon will look back at two passages.

Old Owens 112 for 6 to 176 all out. With Mason rampant and Curtis relentless, the home side were on top. Wickham’s 45, supported by stubborn cameos lower down, added 64 valuable runs and stretched the innings into the 51st over. That extra half hour under the sun (and the ball) had a say later.

Hoddesdon 56 for 2 to 56 for 5. Walters was going nicely, Arkinstall had found three boundaries, and although two early wickets had fallen, the chase was still within sensible reach. Then Wickham’s burst — c&b Arkinstall, bowled Stone — and Brad Lane’s dismissal of Walters punctured the effort in just a handful of deliveries. From that point, the equation never felt comfortable again.

Between those two pivots, Old Owens’ bowling plans were executed with clarity. Wickham and Lane drove at that corridor outside off, Bloxham stacked dot balls and maidens to tighten the screw (10 overs, only 21 runs), and Carter’s late spell crushed any thoughts of a late-order jailbreak.

Numbers that tell the tale

• Harry Mason (Hoddesdon): 6/56 in 18.2 — the best figures of the match, including the key scalp of Van Der Sandt c&b.
• James Curtis (Hoddesdon): 20 overs, 3 maidens, 2/67 — a marathon effort at 3.4 runs per over.
• Old Owens extras: 0 — an exceedingly rare sight at this level and a nod to Hoddesdon’s accuracy and Will Steward’s glovework.
• Hoddesdon collapse: 56 for 2 to 56 for 5 — three wickets for no runs, the defining passage.
• Old Owens bowling economy leaders: Rhys Carter 1.6 rpo (7.2–1–11–2) and Jack Bloxham 2.1 rpo (10–3–21–1).
• Leading scorers: Jj Van Der Sandt 55 (58b, 6x4, 2x6), Jake Wickham 45 (69b, 6x4, 1x6); Rob Walters 37 (42b, 7x4).
• Hoddesdon tail resistance: Finlay Higgs 8* (62 balls) and Harry Mason 18 (37) added 22 for the ninth wicket to push the reply into the 40s.

League context
The table shows Old Owens sitting second with 304 points, while Hoddesdon are seventh on 205 points. This result, with the 30-point haul to the visitors and 7 to the hosts, neatly mirrors the game’s pattern: Old Owens consistently did just enough with the bat and were then ruthless with the ball when the pressure moments appeared.

Over-by-over feel of the chase
The chase had a tightness to it from the outset. Walters found his timing quickly, punching seven boundaries in 37, but each time the run rate hinted at momentum, Old Owens found a response. The run-out of Mitchell at 21 was a nudge; the removal of Munday at 26 confirmed that the wicket wouldn’t allow risk-free strokeplay. At 56, the visitors launched their decisive salvo: Wickham’s consistency forced errors, Stone was beaten before he could settle, and Lane’s ability to make Walters play produced the gift to Van Der Sandt. From there, Hoddesdon were stuck between survival and chase, and Old Owens never let them choose. Bloxham squeezed off one end; Carter, on for a short, sharp spell, took the game to Mason and then found the stumping with Van Der Sandt to end matters at 127.

Fielding snapshots
Catches often trace the shape of a contest. For Hoddesdon: Steward moved well to collect Wells early; Stone’s hands were safe twice (dismissing Brad Lane and Ed Gaeton); Arkinstall held Ralph Lane; and Mason grabbed the return chance that sent Van Der Sandt back. For Old Owens: Van Der Sandt’s clean glovework claimed Walters and Lewis and then the final stumping; Carter’s catch to dismiss Curtis gave Bloxham his wicket; and there were the other catches that punctured Hoddesdon’s top order. Nothing flashy, just a stack of competent, pressure-time moments.

What each side takes forward
Hoddesdon CC 1st XI: Plenty to like with the ball — Mason’s haul and Curtis’s long spell would trouble most sides — and a notably clean extras column while fielding. The challenge is stitching longer partnerships with the bat to turn chases like 177 into routine work. Walters’ early tempo and Higgs’ patience are positive bookends; joining them up will be the focus.

Old Owens CC 1st XI: The resistance of their captain, the top-order punch from Van Der Sandt, and a four-pronged bowling unit that hunted collectively. Lane and Wickham were the tip of the spear; Bloxham kept it relentlessly tidy; Carter closed it out with barely a run offered. That combination travels well on most surfaces.

After the game, the Hoddesdon skipper was philosophical.

'We did a lot of things right with the ball today, and Harry’s spell was outstanding — six wickets in a game like this deserved to be on the winning side. But we let them wriggle away from 112 for six, and that extra 60-odd runs really hurt us. With the bat, we needed one or two partnerships to stick, and we just didn’t build them. Credit to Old Owens, they kept asking questions and never let us off the hook. We’ve got to be smarter under pressure, and that’s something we’ll be working on this week'.

Old Owens CC 1st XI 176 all out (50.2 overs)

1. Jj Van Der Sandt 55 (58b, 6x4, 2x6), c&b H. Mason
2. Ben Wells 11 (17b, 2x4), c Steward b Arkinstall
3. Jack Timms 22 (44b, 2x4), b H. Mason
4. Brad Lane 4 (6b, 1x4), c Stone b J. Curtis
5. Ralph Lane 11 (28b, 2x4), c Arkinstall b H. Mason
6. Rhys Carter 5 (17b), lbw J. Curtis
7. Ross Walpole 5 (12b, 1x4), b H. Mason
8. Jake Wickham (c) 45 (69b, 6x4, 1x6), b H. Mason
9. Ed Gaeton 6 (22b, 1x4), c Stone b H. Mason
10. Adam Clark 3 (15b), lbw O. Thakeria
11. Jack Bloxham 9* (14b, 1x4)

Extras 0
Fall: 23, 83, 88, 94, 108, 112, 119, 137, 146, 176.
Bowling: H. Mason 18.2–3–56–6; J. Curtis 20–3–67–2; O. Arkinstall 7–0–36–1; O. Thakeria 5–1–17–1.

Hoddesdon CC 1st XI 127 all out (42.2 overs)

1. Rob Walters (c) 37 (42b, 7x4), c Van Der Sandt b B. Lane
2. James F Mitchell 1 (11b), run out (Wickham)
3. Johnny Munday 0 (6b), c&b Wickham
4. Oliver Arkinstall 15 (25b, 3x4), c Bloxham b Wickham
5. Clayton Stone 0 (3b), b Wickham
6. James Curtis 16 (22b, 3x4), c Carter b Bloxham
7. Will Steward (wk) 4 (8b, 1x4), lbw B. Lane
8. Andrew Lewis 10 (17b, 2x4), c Van Der Sandt b B. Lane
9. Finlay Higgs 8* (62b, 1x4)
10. Harry Mason 18 (37b, 3x4), b R. Carter
11. Om Thakeria 7 (24b, 1x4), st Van Der Sandt b R. Carter

Extras 11 (1w, 5b, 2lb, 3nb)
Fall: 21, 26, 56, 56, 56, 66, 86, 88, 110, 127.
Bowling: B. Lane 14–3–52–3 (2nb, 1w); J. Wickham 9–4–32–3; J. Bloxham 10–3–21–1; R. Carter 7.2–1–11–2 (1nb); E. Gaeton 2–1–4–0.

In the end, 176 proved more than enough because Old Owens paired their runs with discipline and nerve. Mason’s six-for gave Hoddesdon a genuine opening; Wickham, Lane, Bloxham and Carter closed it again. On a day that demanded accuracy and patience, the visitors found both for longer, and that’s why the 30 points travelled back with Old Owens.

Next up, Walters takes his men away to Redbourn CC, where a win could see them jump up to 4th place if results go their way. With that particular carrot on offer, expect the 1st XI to bounce back next week and go hammer and tongs for the full 30 points.

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