HODDESDON SIGN OFF IN FIFTH AS WALTERS’ 15-YEAR REIGN COMES TO AN END

Hoddesdon Cricket Club’s 2026 First XI campaign came to an end at Home Farm on Saturday, where newly crowned Championship Division winners North Mymms completed their title-winning season with a seven-wicket victory. Hoddesdon were dismissed for 189 from the final ball of their 50 overs before the champions raced to 190/3 in just 24 overs, bringing down the curtain on both the league season and Rob Walters’ extraordinary 15-year tenure as First XI captain.

The defeat ultimately left Hoddesdon fifth in the final Herts Premier Cricket League Championship Division table on 295 points, but that position should not disguise what has been an immensely positive campaign. Eight victories, several memorable individual performances and a terrific late-season run ensured Walters’ final year at the helm contained plenty to celebrate, while the emergence and development of players throughout the squad offers considerable encouragement for whoever inherits the captaincy in 2027.

Rob Was Presented With A Memento Of His Time As Captain Back At Lowfield On Saturday

CHAMPIONS PROVIDE A TOUGH FINAL TEST

North Mymms had already secured the Championship title before Hoddesdon arrived at Home Farm and duly showed why they will be playing Premier League cricket next season. They finish with an imposing 398 points from 18 games, having recorded 13 victories and ending 46 points clear of runners-up Sawbridgeworth, who completed their own impressive season with 352.

The final afternoon also produced some dramatic movement immediately behind the leading pair. Luton Town & Indians thrashed Welwyn Garden City by 174 runs to leap into third on 307 points, while Shenley Village remained fourth on 303 despite an extraordinary 270-run defeat against Preston. Hoddesdon therefore slipped from fourth to fifth with 295, ahead of Welwyn on 265, Dunstable on 249, Redbourn on 236, Hemel Hempstead on 224 and Preston on 183.

The Final Championship League Table

For Hoddesdon, fifth represents a very respectable conclusion to a season in which they remained competitive against virtually everyone in the division and spent much of the summer around the upper reaches of the table. Their final record includes eight victories, and the fact that only 12 points separated them from third illustrates just how tightly packed the clubs immediately behind the top two eventually became.

Walters was understandably disappointed not to finish his captaincy with one last victory, but his overriding feeling afterwards was pride in what the group has achieved.

“Obviously you always want to win your last game, particularly when it’s your last one as captain, so there’s a little bit of disappointment there,” said Walters. “But I’m not going to allow one result to change how I feel about this group or this season. We’ve played some really good cricket, we’ve had some fantastic wins and I’ve loved captaining the lads for one final year. North Mymms have been the best side in the league and they showed that again today, so congratulations to them because they thoroughly deserve the title and promotion. For us, fifth is still a good finish in a very competitive division, and there’s a lot in this side to be excited about going forward.”

EARLY WICKETS PUT HODDESDON UNDER PRESSURE

North Mymms won the toss and elected to field, and Hoddesdon immediately found themselves in trouble against a high-quality home attack. Gagan Dissanayake was trapped leg before by Arnav Pimple without scoring from the fourth delivery of the innings, while Walters’ final knock as captain ended at six when he was caught by Jakob Bhula from Pimple’s bowling.

Andrew Lewis attempted to rebuild and contributed a patient 36 from 71 balls, striking five boundaries, but wickets continued to fall around him. Johnny Munday provided a lively 10 from only seven deliveries before Yuvresh Malhotra removed him, while Rob Jones fell without scoring and Will Steward made five as Hoddesdon slipped to a precarious 90/6 after 24.3 overs.

North Mymms bowled with the confidence of champions throughout that period. Dharmarajsinh Jhala was outstanding, conceding only 20 runs from his ten overs while taking three wickets and bowling three maidens, while Malhotra was the principal wicket-taker with excellent figures of 4/31 from ten overs. Pimple finished with 2/25 from six overs and Rhys Wynne claimed 1/35 from his ten, leaving Hoddesdon desperately in need of a partnership. What followed provided the visitors with easily the biggest positive of their innings and ensured North Mymms would at least have a meaningful target to chase.

HIMESH AND HARRY LEAD THE RECOVERY

Himesh Ramanayake and Harry Mason combined superbly with Hoddesdon six wickets down, producing an 82-run seventh-wicket partnership that transformed 90/6 into 172/6. Against an attack that had dominated the opening half of the innings, both showed patience, composure and an awareness that simply batting deep would give their side a chance.

Ramanayake continued his outstanding season by making 58 from 84 deliveries, hitting six boundaries and reaching his half-century from 75 balls. He has repeatedly produced when Hoddesdon have needed him throughout 2026, and this was another innings built around excellent judgement and an ability to absorb pressure. He returns to Sri Lanka shortly and we thank him for his involvement this season, scoring some crucial runs for the team and consistency taking wickets when bowling.

Himesh Returns To Sri Lanka Shortly

In the group chat after the weekend, Himesh commented "As the season has come to an end and I’ll be heading back to Sri Lanka soon, I’d love to get everyone together for one last drink before I go! Let’s meet at The Jolly Fisherman, Stanstead Abbotts, at 8pm on Thursday 10th. It’s been an amazing season with all of you, and I’d really love to see everyone there for a few drinks and a proper goodbye. Hope to see you all there!" We invite everyone to join Himesh on Thursday and give him a proper send off and thank him for his contribution to our club.

Mason’s contribution was equally impressive, particularly given the lengthy injury lay-off which kept him out of the side during a significant part of the summer. He made 54 from 89 balls with eight fours, reaching his fifty from 80 deliveries and remaining at the crease until the final ball of the innings. The partnership briefly raised hopes that Hoddesdon might push beyond 200, but Ramanayake’s dismissal to Jhala for 58 triggered another late cluster of wickets. Olly Maughan and Om Thakeria were both dismissed without scoring, and although Mason battled through the final overs, he was the last man out with the total on 189.

Harry Mason Scored A Gutsy 54

Both Ramanayake and Mason were firmly in contention for the weekend’s Greene King Level Head Green Jacket after their half-centuries, but they were ultimately denied by Paul Webb’s five-wicket haul for the Second XI. Webb’s bowling heroics earned him the jacket, although the contributions from Himesh and Harry were hugely significant in preventing the First XI innings from unravelling much earlier.

MYMMS ATTACK THE CHASE

If Hoddesdon were to defend 189, they needed early wickets and a disciplined start with the ball, but North Mymms approached the chase with characteristic aggression. Dan Waite and Yuvresh Malhotra immediately put the pressure back onto the visitors, carrying the score to 71 before Harry Mason made the first breakthrough in the eighth over.

Waite struck 46 from only 31 balls, finding the boundary nine times before Charlie Tackley held the catch from Mason’s bowling. Malhotra was even more destructive, smashing 52 from 32 deliveries, including eight fours and a six, before Om Thakeria finally bowled him with the score on 109. Jakob Bhula ensured there would be no significant loss of momentum, making 44 from 35 balls with six fours and a six. Charlie Tackley eventually removed him, Andrew Lewis taking the catch, but by then North Mymms had reached 176/3 and required only another 14 runs. Richard Soulsby finished unbeaten on 40 from 44 balls and Armaan Randhawa was three not out as the champions reached 190/3 after exactly 24 overs. Mason, Thakeria and Tackley took one wicket apiece, but North Mymms’ scoring rate ensured Hoddesdon were unable to build sustained pressure.

Charlie Tackley Took One Catch And One Wicket

It was an emphatic finish from a side who have set the standard in the Championship this season, and Hoddesdon were quick to acknowledge their achievement. The hosts’ combination of a deep batting order and formidable bowling attack has carried them to a deserved title, and everyone at Hoddesdon wishes North Mymms well when they step up into the Premier League in 2027.

Defeat On The Final Day

A SEASON WITH PLENTY TO CELEBRATE

For Head of Cricket Louis Purves, the final result did little to alter his assessment of a First XI season containing substantial progress and plenty of memorable moments. Hoddesdon have beaten Preston twice, recorded excellent victories over Luton Town & Indians and Hemel Hempstead, and produced one of their most spirited performances of the year when recovering from 39/6 to beat Welwyn Garden City by seven runs.

Louis Purves Took Stock Of The Season

“There’s an awful lot to be pleased about when we look back at the First XI season as a whole,” said Purves. “Fifth is a strong finish in this division and, when you look at how close we were to third, it shows how competitive we’ve been. There have been some outstanding individual performances, but what I’ve particularly liked is how many different people have contributed at different times. There’s a good blend developing within the squad and there is plenty for us to build on. We’ll enjoy a little break, take stock and then start looking towards 2027 because the ambition will be to keep improving and see how far this group can go.”

THE END OF AN ERA FOR WALTERS

Saturday inevitably belonged in part to Walters, even if the scorecard did not provide the fairytale finish that everyone at Hoddesdon would have loved. Fifteen years as First XI captain represents an extraordinary period of service, encompassing countless matches, changing squads, memorable victories and friendships that will extend far beyond the boundary. His final home appearance against Shenley Village the previous weekend was lost to the weather, although Walters was presented with the Green Jacket in the Lowfield clubhouse afterwards to commemorate his last match there as skipper. Seven days later at Home Farm, the captaincy itself finally reached its conclusion.

Purves paid tribute to the outgoing skipper and the influence he has had on the club.

“Fifteen years captaining a First XI is an incredible achievement and I don’t think anyone should underestimate the commitment Rob has given to Hoddesdon Cricket Club,” he said. “He has put a huge amount into the side and the club, and there are generations of players who have played under him and will have their own stories and memories of those years.”

“On behalf of everyone involved with the cricket side of the club, I just want to thank him and wish him, Jen and the family all the very best. Hopefully this isn’t the end of Rob the player because he still has a huge amount to offer, but he deserves the opportunity to enjoy having a little more time and a few fewer responsibilities after carrying them for such a long period.”

Rob Walters

LOOKING TOWARDS 2027

Attention will now gradually turn towards identifying Walters’ successor. In accordance with the club’s constitution, a new First XI captain will be sought and an appointment is likely to be made in the new year following the appropriate process and ratification at the club’s AGM. Whoever takes the role will inherit a side with plenty of ability and a platform from which to move forward. Ramanayake has enjoyed a superb campaign and although due back in Sri Lanka, the future isn't certain. Harry Mason is back fit and contributing, while players including Dissanayake, Lewis, Steward, Jones, Munday, Thakeria, Curtis, Mitchell and others who have represented the side during the season provide significant depth and experience. And who knows? Maybe there are a few more Walters centuries in the bag...

Walters himself was keen for the final word to look forwards rather than backwards.

“I’ve said everything I wanted to say about what the captaincy has meant to me, and I meant every word of it,” he said. “I’ve been incredibly lucky to captain this club for 15 years and to play alongside so many brilliant people. I’m proud of what we’ve done, I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me and I’m excited to see where the next captain can take the team.”

“For now I’ll enjoy having a bit less to think about on a Friday night! There’s a really good group here and I genuinely believe there are exciting times ahead for Hoddesdon. Whoever takes over will have my full support, and I’m looking forward to seeing what 2027 brings.”

Lowfield Will Have A New 1st Xi Captain In 2027

The final result at Home Farm may have belonged to North Mymms, but Hoddesdon can leave 2026 with plenty of satisfaction from a fifth-place Championship finish and a season packed with reasons for optimism. One era has reached its conclusion, but with a new captain to come, a strong playing group already in place and another summer waiting on the horizon, the next chapter at Lowfield promises to be every bit as fascinating.

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