Broxbourne CC 2nd XI vs Hoddesdon CC 2nd XI

HPCL Division 4A | Saturday 31 May 2025 | Mill Lane, Broxbourne | 12:00pm Start

Local Derby Showdown as Hoddesdon 2s Travel to Broxbourne
This weekend sees one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures in the HPCL Division 4A calendar as Hoddesdon CC 2nd XI make the short trip across town to face Broxbourne CC 2nd XI in a local derby that promises plenty of needle, quality cricket, and passionate support on both sides of the boundary.

Fresh off the back of a hard-fought battle against Watford Town 2nd XI, Adrian Lee’s Hoddesdon side will be looking to bounce straight back and reignite their early-season momentum with a derby day statement. Meanwhile, Broxbourne 2nd XI — currently sitting 6th in the league table — will be equally desperate to make their home advantage count at Mill Lane.

As an added spice to proceedings, Hoddesdon’s 1st XI will simultaneously be hosting Broxbourne’s 1st XI at Lowfield — ensuring the entire town is gripped by this double derby day.

The Table: Hoddy Still in the Mix
After three completed rounds of fixtures, the HPCL Division 4A table is starting to take shape. Hoddesdon remain very much in the promotion picture — 3rd on 63 points — but with both Hitchin 2nd XI and Northwood Town 1st XI still unbeaten and locked on 90 points apiece, every game now carries added significance.

Here’s how the top six currently look:

Pos Team P W L Pts
1 Hitchin CC - 2nd XI 3 3 0 90
2 Northwood Town CC - 1st XI 3 3 0 90
3 Hoddesdon CC - Saturday 2nd XI 3 2 1 63
4 Harpenden CC - 3rd XI 3 2 1 61
5 Watford Town CC - 2nd XI 3 2 1 58
6 Broxbourne CC - 2nd XI 3 2 1 56

A win for either side this weekend could shake up the order — particularly with Harpenden and Watford also in action and closing fast.

Hoddesdon Squad: Lee’s XI Looking to Rebound
Skipper Adrian Lee will once again lead a well-balanced Hoddesdon XI into battle. There’s one change to the lineup from last week’s narrow loss to Watford, with Andrew Lewis coming in to bolster the middle order.

Here’s the selected side:

• Bilal Ahmad
• Adrian Lee (c)
• Tyrone Mazurura
• Andrew Lewis
• Rocco Cuffaro
• Adam Sturdy
• Rob Harcombe
• Olly Maughan
• Asif Mohammed
• Freddie Webb
• Charlie Tackley

Form Guide: Hoddy Positive Despite Last Week’s Setback
After back-to-back wins against Sandridge and Hatfield & Crusaders, Hoddesdon suffered their first defeat of the campaign last Saturday at Lowfield — going down by five wickets to a resurgent Watford Town 2nd XI.

The defeat saw some bright spots — not least Phil Stafford’s fine 60 and tidy spells from Adam Sturdy and Asif Mohammed — but ultimately, a below-par total of 150 wasn’t enough to defend.

Despite that result, spirits remain high in the Hoddesdon camp. The bowling attack has been effective across all three games, with Mohammed, Webb, Tackley and Sturdy regularly taking key wickets. The challenge this week will be rediscovering the batting fluency shown in round one at Sandridge — and ensuring more batters go deep alongside the in-form top order.

Opposition Watch: Broxbourne Dangerous at Home
Broxbourne 2nd XI will take plenty of confidence into this one. Currently 6th in the table, they also will want the win — and crucially, they play very well at home on the typically flat Mill Lane track.

Broxbourne’s squad is built around a powerful top order and an experienced spin attack. Expect them to come hard with the bat early on and look to dominate through the middle overs. Their bowling strength tends to come from variety — with several seam options supported by a couple of very wily spinners.

Luke Fishburn, Warren Pegg and Robin Glassberg in particular are all masters in the art of taking wickets and captain Josh Goff will look to his bowlers to cause an upset.

In short: this is no easy fixture. Hoddesdon will need to be sharp from ball one.

Derby Day Dynamics: What It Means
There’s always extra fire when these two clubs meet — and Saturday’s double header (1st XIs also facing off at Lowfield) will only heighten the edge. For Hoddesdon’s 2s, this is a perfect opportunity to deliver a big performance away from home and remind the division that they are genuine promotion contenders.

For Broxbourne’s 2s, this is about defending their patch and claiming derby day bragging rights. With their 1st XI also engaged across town, expect big home support and plenty of atmosphere.

Key Match-Ups to Watch
Adrian Lee & Bilal Ahmad vs Broxbourne New Ball
Hoddesdon’s opening pair have shown grit in recent weeks. Getting through the new ball and setting a platform will be vital.

Hoddesdon Bowling vs Broxbourne Middle Order
Both Webb and Tackley have been consistent wicket-takers. On what is often a good batting surface, their spells could be decisive.

Rob Harcombe’s All-Round Influence
Back in the middle order and key with the ball, expect Harcombe — aka ‘Sharky’ — to play a central role in both innings.

Rocco Cuffaro’s X-Factor
Still due a breakout knock this season, Rocco could be a match-winner if he fires at 5 or 6.

Captain’s View: Lee Targets a Big Response
Ahead of the clash, Adrian Lee was in determined mood:

“Last week was a setback but not a disaster. We’ve started the season strongly and we know the level we can play at. Broxbourne away is always a big occasion — and the lads are buzzing for it.”

He added:

“This is where you want to test yourself — tight ground, good local crowd, derby atmosphere. If we stick to our game plan and back ourselves, we can come away with a really important win.”

Final Word: Everything to Play For
With Hoddesdon looking to bounce back and Broxbourne keen to leapfrog their rivals, this one has all the ingredients for a thriller. Expect runs, wickets, passion and no shortage of local pride on the line when these two sides collide.

First ball at 12:00pm — don’t miss it.

#GreenMachine