Hoddesdon CC Saturday 3rd XI head back onto the road this weekend looking to bounce back from opening-day heartbreak as Dan Hawkins leads his side into battle away at Bayford & Hertford CC 2nd XI in Division 12 East.

Saturday’s clash takes place at the picturesque Bayford Green ground, with a 1pm start scheduled and conditions expected to be dry but cool, with temperatures hovering around the 13-degree mark. After the drama of last weekend’s agonising one-wicket defeat against Datchworth, Hawkins and his men will be eager to get points on the board and kickstart their 2026 league campaign.

The opening-day loss at Hertingfordbury still stings somewhat. Hoddesdon fought magnificently to defend a modest 146 before Datchworth eventually scrambled home with just one wicket remaining in a thriller that could easily have swung the other way. Yet despite the disappointment, there were plenty of positives for Hawkins to take from the performance. The lower-order resistance shown by Kyle Hay and Sampathreddy Palepu helped rescue the innings after a difficult start, while the bowling display that followed demonstrated the fighting spirit already developing within this Hoddesdon side.

Now comes another difficult assignment.

Bayford & Hertford currently sit proudly at the top of the Division 12 East table after an utterly dominant opening-day victory over Hatfield and Crusaders. Their performance last Saturday sent an early warning shot to the rest of the division. Hatfield and Crusaders were blown away for just 64, before Bayford calmly chased the target down in under 12 overs to secure maximum points and immediately establish themselves as one of the early pace-setters in the division.

The standout performer in that demolition job was Stuart Brooks, who produced staggering figures of 6 wickets for 24 runs from his eight overs. Any batter who witnessed the scorecard would have immediately taken notice. Brooks’ ability to strike regularly and maintain relentless pressure means Hoddesdon’s batting unit will need discipline, patience and bravery if they are to blunt Bayford’s biggest weapon this weekend.

Captain Hawkins knows exactly where the threat lies.

“Stuart Brooks obviously had a brilliant game last week and we absolutely have to respect that,” Hawkins admitted ahead of Saturday’s fixture.

“But at the same time, we can’t become frightened of one player. We’ve got lads in our dressing room who can bat, and if we show composure and apply ourselves properly, we’ll give a good account of ourselves.”

The skipper remains upbeat despite last week’s defeat and believes there is already strong character emerging within the group.

“There were loads of positives from the Datchworth game,” he added.

“The way we fought back with the ball showed the spirit in the side. Nobody gave up for a second. We were one wicket away from winning after being in real trouble earlier in the game.”

“If we keep playing with that attitude, the results will come.”

Hoddesdon currently sit sixth in the Division 12 East table following the opening weekend, with Bayford top on 30 points after their emphatic win. It's very early days but Hawkins will still be keen for his side to stay in touch with the leading pack during these early weeks of the campaign.

Saturday’s fixture also sees a slightly reshaped Hoddesdon lineup take to the field.

Dan Hawkins once again captains the side and will be hoping to lead from the front both tactically and emotionally as his side attempts to upset the division leaders on their own patch. One particularly notable inclusion is newcomer Ben Marques, who takes the wicketkeeping gloves for the trip to Bayford Green. Fresh faces always bring intrigue and excitement early in the season, and Marques will no doubt be eager to make a strong first impression in Hoddesdon colours. Behind the stumps could prove a busy place too, especially if Hoddesdon’s bowlers manage to exploit the cool conditions and generate movement through the air.

There is also a pleasing blend of youth and experience throughout the XI.

Experienced heads Mark Feely and Tyler Burroughs bring years of cricketing know-how and calmness to the lineup, while Ross Maughan’s guile and reliability remain hugely important within the side. Maughan looked in solid touch last weekend before falling for 19, and Hoddesdon will hope he can convert another promising start into something even more substantial this time around.

Feely’s presence in particular adds a layer of composure and leadership to the middle order. A familiar figure around Hoddesdon cricket circles for many years, his experience in difficult situations could become invaluable against a confident Bayford attack. Meanwhile, Tyler Burroughs offers further steadiness and understanding of league cricket — the kind of player every successful lower-division side relies upon during long summer campaigns.

The younger members of the squad will also have an important role to play.

Scott Higgins returns to the side and is a particularly welcome sight on the team sheet for Hoddesdon supporters. The pace bowler has developed a reputation as a genuine wicket-taker, capable of unsettling batters with aggressive spells and natural attacking instincts. Quite simply, Higgins loves taking wickets. Against a Bayford side who chased so quickly last week, Hoddesdon may well need early breakthroughs to put pressure back onto the home side — and Higgins could become central to those hopes.

Freddie Hawkins also features in the XI and continues his gradual development within senior cricket, gaining valuable experience alongside more seasoned teammates. Louis Webb, another player who showed grit and commitment last weekend, retains his place and will once again offer important balance with both bat and ball. Sampathreddy Palepu and Benjamin Strong likewise continue after contributing valuable runs and wickets respectively during the narrow defeat against Datchworth.

One thing Hawkins will certainly demand this weekend is belief.

Despite Bayford’s blistering start to the season, Hoddesdon showed enough fight and discipline last Saturday to demonstrate they are capable of competing strongly in this division. The key will likely be handling the opening exchanges. If Hoddesdon’s batters can negotiate the early threat posed by Brooks and company, there is every chance the contest settles into a far more even affair than last weekend’s results might initially suggest. Likewise, disciplined bowling and energetic fielding remain essential if the visitors are to frustrate Bayford’s aggressive batting lineup. The conditions themselves may also assist Hoddesdon’s seamers. Cooler temperatures and a dry surface could provide enough help for bowlers willing to hit consistent areas and remain patient. And while Bayford enter the fixture as early favourites based on opening-day form, Hawkins insists his players are embracing the challenge rather than fearing it.

“These are the games you want to play in,” the skipper said.

“They’ve started brilliantly and deserve credit for that, but we’ll go there looking to compete hard and hopefully spoil the party a little bit.”

There is little doubt that Division 12 East already looks fiercely competitive, and every point earned across the opening weeks could become hugely significant later in the summer. For Hoddesdon, Saturday represents an opportunity not only to bounce back from last week’s heartbreak, but also to prove they can compete toe-to-toe with one of the division’s early frontrunners.

HODDESDON CC SATURDAY 3RD XI VS BAYFORD & HERTFORD CC 2ND XI

Dan Hawkins (Captain)
Freddie Hawkins
Ross Maughan
Mark Feely
Benjamin Strong
Scott Higgins
Sampathreddy Palepu
Ben Marques (Wicketkeeper)
Louis Webb
Tyler Burroughs
Connor Taylor

MATCH DETAILS

Fixture: Bayford & Hertford CC 2nd XI vs Hoddesdon CC Saturday 3rd XI
Competition: Herts Premier Cricket League Division 12 East
Date: Saturday 16th May 2026
Start Time: 1:00pm
Venue: Bayford Green, Hertford, Hertfordshire, SG13 8PU

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