The early-season momentum keeps rolling for Hoddesdon CC Saturday 3rd XI as Dan Hawkins’ side prepare for another important Division 12 East assignment this weekend, travelling to St Christopher’s School to face a Letchworth Garden City CC 5th XI side who will be desperate to halt the visitors’ impressive rise to the summit of the table.

After last weekend’s dramatic four-wicket victory over Preston CC, Herts 4th XI at Hertingfordbury, Hoddesdon head into Saturday sitting proudly at the top of the division with 74 points from their opening three matches. It is a position earned through resilience, strong individual performances and an ability to find ways of winning under pressure. The league standings remain incredibly tight however, with Datchworth 3rd XI and Hitchin 5th XI both breathing down Hoddesdon’s neck on 73 points, meaning there is absolutely no room for complacency as May draws to a close.

The visitors will travel with confidence, though. Hawkins’ side have already shown plenty of character during the opening weeks of the campaign and there is a growing sense around the club that this group is developing nicely together. Last weekend’s success over Preston felt particularly significant. In sweltering conditions, Hoddesdon defended and fought brilliantly before Bilal Ahmad’s magnificent unbeaten 72 guided the team home during a tense chase. Benjamin Strong’s extraordinary seven-wicket haul stole many of the headlines, while Preston’s Srini Nanjundan remarkably claimed a hat-trick during a chaotic middle-order collapse. Despite those setbacks, Hoddesdon still found a way to win, and that grit will encourage Hawkins enormously heading into another potentially awkward away fixture.

Speaking ahead of the trip to Letchworth, captain Dan Hawkins admitted the mood in the camp is extremely positive, but insisted standards must remain high.

“We’re delighted with how the season has started,” Hawkins said. “To be top after three games is obviously pleasing, but the lads know it’s very early days and there’s still a huge amount of cricket to be played. What I’ve liked most is the attitude. Even when games have got difficult, people have stuck together and contributed.”

“Last weekend showed that perfectly. Bilal played an unbelievable innings under pressure and Ben Strong produced one of the best bowling spells you’ll probably see at this level. The boys are enjoying themselves and there’s a good spirit around the team, but we know Letchworth will be another tough challenge.”

Letchworth Garden City arrive into the fixture sitting fifth in the table on 65 points following a mixed start to the campaign. Their recent form tells an interesting story. After opening the season with an eight-wicket defeat away at Hitchin CC 5th XI, Letchworth have responded strongly with back-to-back victories. They defeated Potters Bar CC 4th XI by seven wickets before following it up with an excellent 31-run win over Hatfield and Crusaders CC 3rd XI last weekend.

That victory over Hatfield and Crusaders demonstrated exactly why Hoddesdon cannot afford to underestimate Saturday’s opponents. Defending just 126 all out, Letchworth bowled with discipline and intensity to dismiss Hatfield for only 95. There are clearly players within the side capable of influencing matches quickly, particularly with the ball.

The statistics ahead of the game highlight a number of danger men Hawkins’ side will need to keep quiet. Teddy Edwards and Jack Coles have both produced eye-catching figures of 3-21 already this season, while Matthew Mitchell’s superb 2-6 against Potters Bar showed his ability to rip through batting line-ups. Charles Cook and Thomas Hull have also contributed with the ball, underlining the fact that Letchworth possess several bowling options capable of causing problems if conditions suit.

With the bat, Matthew Heath currently leads the way after scoring 38 against Potters Bar, while Harry Forrester and Mike Forrester have both registered scores of 31 this season. Jerry Dovey’s 30 against Hatfield and Crusaders also proved valuable in a low-scoring contest. None of those scores may appear enormous individually, but collectively they suggest Letchworth have several players capable of chipping in and building partnerships rather than relying heavily on one standout batter.

Hawkins acknowledged that point and warned his side not to focus too heavily on individuals.

“They look like a proper team unit,” he said. “You can see from their results that they scrap hard and don’t really give teams easy games. They defended 126 last weekend which tells you they’ve got bowlers who can apply pressure and fielders willing to work hard for each other.”

“There probably isn’t one superstar you look at and think everything revolves around him, but sometimes those sides are the dangerous ones because contributions come from everywhere. We’ll need to be switched on from ball one.”

Saturday’s fixture also presents another interesting test for Hoddesdon’s batting line-up. The side showed tremendous composure last weekend after collapsing from 9-2 to 15-6 during Srini Nanjundan’s devastating spell for Preston. Bilal Ahmad and Louis Webb then rebuilt the innings calmly and intelligently to secure victory, with Bilal carrying his bat magnificently throughout the chase. That ability to recover from adversity could prove hugely important across a long season.

Bilal steps up to the 2nd xi this week after his match-winning knock last time out, while Louis Webb remains to provide stability near the top of the order. Freddie Hawkins has also impressed in patches already this season and there is excitement surrounding the inclusion of Paul Webb and Barnaby Webb for this weekend’s trip.

Barnaby Webb will take the gloves behind the stumps, while Benjamin Strong unsurprisingly returns after his unforgettable seven-wicket haul against Preston. Strong’s figures of 6.5 overs, 1 maiden, 22 runs and 7 wickets were among the standout performances anywhere in the club last weekend and served as a reminder of his enormous potential. The young bowler was unfortunate to miss out on the Greene King Level Head Green Jacket award, narrowly edged out by Himesh Ramanayake’s exploits for the 1st XI, but there is little doubt Strong’s spell played a huge role in keeping Hoddesdon top of the table.

Hawkins was full of praise for the youngster.

“Ben was unbelievable,” the skipper said. “Everything just clicked for him. His rhythm was spot on, he attacked the stumps and he fully deserved the rewards he got. To take seven wickets in any game is special and hopefully it gives him loads of confidence going forward.”

“What impressed me most was how calm he stayed. He didn’t get carried away and just kept hitting good areas. He’s a great lad to have around the side and everyone was buzzing for him.”

Reece Jones, Henry Taylor, Austin Bean, Sampathreddy Palepu and Lee Ellerbeck complete the starting XI which is full of talent and ambition.

Conditions this weekend are expected to remain warm across Hertfordshire, although temperatures should be slightly cooler than the scorching heat experienced during last Saturday’s fixtures. Even so, another dry surface could await both teams at St Christopher’s School and that may again place a premium on disciplined bowling and patient batting.

The league table adds even more intrigue to the contest. Hoddesdon know another victory would strengthen their grip on top spot and continue an excellent opening month to the season. Letchworth meanwhile will recognise that a win could propel them right back into the thick of the promotion conversation. With both sides carrying decent form into the game, the ingredients are certainly there for another competitive Division 12 East encounter.

For Hoddesdon, there is also a growing sense that momentum is building nicely throughout the club. The 3rd XI have played a huge role in that during the opening weeks and there is visible enjoyment within the squad. Long may that continue.

Whatever happens on Saturday afternoon, Hawkins simply wants his side to maintain the standards they have already shown.

“If we compete hard, stay disciplined and enjoy ourselves, we’ll always give ourselves a chance,” he said. “The lads have worked really hard for this start and now it’s about keeping that consistency going. We’re looking forward to it.”

Match Summary

Fixture: Letchworth Garden City CC 5th XI vs Hoddesdon CC Saturday 3rd XI
Competition: Herts Premier Cricket League – Division 12 East
Venue: St Christopher’s School, Barrington Road, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3JZ
Date: Saturday 30 May 2026
Start Time: 1:00pm

Hoddesdon CC Saturday 3rd XI