Hoddesdon CC 2nd XI make the trip to Ditchmore Lane this Saturday afternoon looking to kickstart their Division 4B campaign as Adrian Lee’s side take on Stevenage CC 2nd XI in an early-season clash between two sides eager to bounce back from opening day defeats. With both teams still searching for their first victory of the summer, there is already a feeling that this fixture could provide an important early injection of confidence heading into the weeks ahead.

The season may only be one game old, but nobody wants to spend too long rooted near the foot of the table, and as things stand Hoddesdon currently sit bottom of the embryonic Division 4B standings, with Stevenage just one place above them in ninth. Of course, league tables in mid-May rarely tell the full story. One good afternoon can transform the mood entirely, and Hoddesdon will head into Saturday’s contest believing there were enough positives in last weekend’s defeat to suggest brighter days are not too far away.

After suffering relegation last season, there has been plenty of determination around the club to ensure this year becomes one of rebuilding, improvement and renewed momentum. Opening day defeat against North Enfield was frustrating, but there were also encouraging signs for captain Adrian “Animal” Lee and his squad. Last Saturday at Lowfield, Lee won the toss and elected to bat first in favourable batting conditions against a North Enfield side who quickly showed they will likely be among the stronger outfits in the division this year.

Hoddesdon never quite managed to fully capitalise with the bat but still produced several contributions of promise.

Lee himself looked composed at the top of the order, grinding out a determined 27 from 56 deliveries while attempting to stabilise the innings during difficult periods. Tyrone Mazarura added an entertaining 16 featuring a six and a boundary, while wicketkeeper Phil Stafford produced the standout innings of the afternoon with a fluent 47 from 62 balls that included eight boundaries.

Unfortunately for Hoddesdon, wickets continued falling at regular intervals around Stafford, and despite useful contributions from Martin Atkinson, Connor Hunt and Charlie Tackley lower down the order, the home side were eventually dismissed for 134. North Enfield’s chase was anchored by William Munt and Kieran Jones before Tom Coughlan accelerated through the middle overs to guide the visitors home by seven wickets.

Although disappointed by the result, Hoddesdon’s dressing room remained upbeat after the game, fully aware that improvements in a few key areas could quickly turn performances into victories. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stevenage, captain Adrian Lee insisted there was no sense of panic despite the difficult start to the campaign.

“It’s obviously not the start we wanted, but it’s one game,” said Lee.

“We know there’s more in this side than we showed last Saturday. There were still positives to take from it — Phil batted really well, some of the younger lads stepped up, and we competed for periods against a decent North Enfield side."

“It’s very early in the season and everyone’s still finding rhythm after a long winter. The mood in the group is still positive and we’re looking forward to getting back out there and putting things right this weekend."

“The key now is responding well. We want to bounce back, play with a bit more freedom and show what we’re capable of.”

Lee will once again captain a side containing a healthy blend of experience, youth and attacking talent. One notable absence is wicketkeeper Phil Stafford following his impressive performance last weekend. In Stafford’s absence, Ben de Fig takes over behind the stumps and will be eager to make his mark both with the gloves and the bat. Bilal Ahmad is once again expected to feature prominently near the top of the order after showing glimpses of promise during the opening fixture, while Mazarura’s aggressive style could prove particularly important on what is traditionally a decent batting track at Stevenage.

Robert Aindow and Greg Marsh both come into the side and offer valuable balance with bat and ball, while Martin Atkinson retains his place after producing an energetic lower-order cameo against North Enfield. Olly Maughan also continues in the XI after claiming a wicket during the opening weekend defeat, while Connor Hunt will hope to build on his own breakthrough against North Enfield when he dismissed Kieran Jones. Freddie Webb is another inclusion for Hoddesdon this weekend, but perhaps the most exciting selection remains young Charlie Tackley. The Sunday XI captain is rapidly developing a reputation as one of the brightest young talents currently emerging through the club ranks. Tackley impressed during the opening fixture with his energy and commitment in the field and continues to earn praise from senior players around the club. Still young but already highly regarded within the Hoddesdon setup, Saturday offers another valuable opportunity for Tackley to continue his development in competitive senior cricket.

Stevenage, meanwhile, come into the game following a heavy defeat away at Northampton Exiles last weekend.

The Exiles piled up 255-6 from their 50 overs before bowling Stevenage out for 129 to secure a commanding 126-run victory. Despite the defeat, Stevenage still possess players capable of causing problems for Hoddesdon, particularly with the ball. Bowler Amey Salvi was the standout performer during the Northampton Exiles match, returning impressive figures of 3-36 from ten tidy overs. Salvi’s ability to control the middle overs and break partnerships could make him one of the key players in Saturday’s fixture, and Hoddesdon’s batting lineup will need to approach him carefully.

Andrew Lorimer also bowled economically during the opening weekend, finishing with 1-36 from his ten overs, while Martin Nevill and Mohammad Zobair both showed discipline with the ball despite the difficult conditions they faced. Stevenage’s recent form guide reads W-W-L-X-L, while Hoddesdon enter the contest having lost four of their last five completed matches stretching back into the closing weeks of last season.

But statistics and form often matter little this early in the campaign.

Both sides will view Saturday as a chance to reset. Conditions are expected to remain dry, if not especially warm, and after weeks of stop-start spring weather, both teams will simply be hoping for another uninterrupted afternoon of cricket. For Hoddesdon, the challenge is now about turning potential into points.

The batting lineup has enough quality to post competitive totals, the bowling attack showed moments of control against North Enfield, and the squad contains several players capable of influencing games quickly once confidence begins to build. A victory at Stevenage would not suddenly define the season after only two matches, but it would certainly provide a welcome boost heading into the weeks ahead. And with Animal leading the charge once again, Hoddesdon will travel to Ditchmore Lane fully believing their season can truly begin this Saturday.

Hoddesdon CC 2nd XI Squad

Bilal Ahmad
Adrian Lee (Captain)
Tyrone Mazarura
Ben de Fig (Wicket-Keeper)
Robert Aindow
Greg Marsh
Martin Atkinson
Olly Maughan
Connor Hunt
Freddie Webb
Charlie Tackley

Match Details

Fixture: Stevenage CC 2nd XI vs Hoddesdon CC 2nd XI
Competition: Herts Premier Cricket League – Division 4B
Date: Saturday 16th May 2026
Start Time: 12:00pm
Venue: Stevenage CC, Ditchmore Lane, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 3LJ

#GreenMachine