Hoddesdon CC Saturday 3rd XI travel to Datchworth CC 3rd XI on Saturday afternoon looking to put recent frustration behind them and force their way back into the heart of the Division 12 East title race. It is another huge fixture in a league that has tightened dramatically over the last fortnight, with Louis Webb once again stepping into the captaincy role in the absence of Dan Hawkins, who has been selected in the 2nd XI.

The match gets underway at 1pm at Datchworth Cricket Club, with conditions expected to be testing once again as the temperature pushes into the low 30s. After successive defeats against Enfield and Ickleford, Hoddesdon will be desperate for a response, but this is no gentle route back into form, with Datchworth sitting just one place and four points behind them in a congested top four. The latest Division 12 East table tells the story of a season that has suddenly become a proper scrap. Hitchin CC 5th XI lead the way on 233 points from nine matches, Enfield CC, Middx 4th XI sit second on 225, Hoddesdon are third on 199, and Datchworth are right behind in fourth on 195. With Datchworth so close behind and Datchworth having already beaten Hoddesdon once this season, Saturday has the feel of a game that could shape the next phase of the campaign. Hoddesdon’s position remains strong despite the recent wobble, and there is still plenty in the numbers to encourage Webb’s side. From nine matches they have five wins, three defeats and one cancellation, while their 13 batting bonus points and 26 bowling bonus points show a team that has generally competed hard even when results have not gone their way. The challenge now is to convert those promising spells back into 30-point Saturdays.

Division 12 East

The form guide shows why the 3rd XI will be keen to arrest the slide quickly. Hoddesdon beat Potters Bar by 53 runs on 13 June, then followed it with a tense two-wicket win away at Hatfield and Crusaders on 20 June, but defeats to Enfield at Hertingfordbury and Ickleford at The John Rand Rec have seen them knocked off top spot and dragged back towards the chasing pack. It has been a demanding spell, played through some fierce heat and against sides who have all had plenty to play for.

Datchworth come into the match with mixed form of their own, but their latest result will have given them confidence. They beat Hatfield and Crusaders by six wickets on 4 July after bowling them out for 108 and knocking off 109 for four in just 17 overs, a sharp response after a 10-run defeat against Potters Bar and a heavy 73-run loss against Hitchin. Before that they had beaten Letchworth Garden City by five wickets, so they are a dangerous side when they get early control of a match.

There is also recent history between these two sides, and Hoddesdon do not need reminding how fine the margins were when they met at the start of the season on 9 May. On that occasion, at Hertingfordbury Cricket Club, Hoddesdon were bowled out for 146 in 34.4 overs before Datchworth crept to 147 for nine in 37.5 overs to win by one wicket. It was the kind of game that could have gone either way, with Hoddesdon collecting 14 points from the defeat but Datchworth walking away with the full 30. That first meeting still hangs over the return fixture because it proved there is very little between the two sides when the pressure is on. Datchworth’s Michael Nash was a major figure that day, taking 3 for 17 with the ball and then producing an unbeaten 41 to help his side over the line. Jamie Clark also hurt Hoddesdon with 3 for 33, and those contributions will be firmly in the mind as Webb prepares his side for another tight contest.

Datchworth Won A Tight Game At Hertingfordbury Back In Early May

Datchworth’s danger men are clear from the statistics. With the bat, Maxwell Imina leads their standard batting numbers with 115 runs from three innings, an average of 38.33 and a strike rate above 100, while Chris Saunders has 94 runs from six innings and has shown he can score quickly. Chris Sharp has 74 runs from three innings, George Wallace has already made a half-century this season, and Nash’s 41 not out against Hoddesdon earlier in the year remains one of their key individual performances. Their top batting displays underline the threat throughout the order rather than from just one obvious player. Wallace’s 51 against Ickleford, Sharp’s 49 against Letchworth, Imina’s 45 against Bayford and Hertford, Saunders’ 43 against Potters Bar and Nash’s 41 not out against Hoddesdon are all reminders that Datchworth have several players capable of making the match-winning score. Hoddesdon’s bowlers will need discipline, patience and good fielding support in what could be another afternoon where energy levels are tested by the heat.

The bowling figures are perhaps even more eye-catching. Rufus Jenner leads the way with 14 wickets from 36 overs, including a best of 5 for 35, while Jesse Carter has eight wickets at an average of 11.50 and Jamie Clark has eight wickets at an average of 9.13 with a miserly economy rate of 2.28. Add in Jasper Hill, Michael Nash, Ben Akers and Leon Kamali, and it is clear why Datchworth have taken 27 bowling bonus points this season.

Datchworth Green Will Play Host To Louis Webb's 3rd XI On Saturday

For Hoddesdon, the selected XI has a strong blend of experience, youth, family connections and familiar club characters. Louis Webb captains the side, with Paul Webb, Ross Maughan, Freddie Hawkins, Robert Aindow, Ben Marques, Benjamin Strong, Scott Higgins, Reece Jones, Henry Taylor and Jon Dean completing the team. Ben Marques will keep wicket, while Freddie Hawkins drops in from the 2nd XI to strengthen the side in what looks like a properly competitive away-day selection. Webb will also have the familiar support of his dad Paul, who has been a steady presence for the 3rd XI this season and remains a key figure with bat, ball and calm advice. Ross Maughan adds another experienced head in the top order, while Freddie Hawkins offers quality and reliability after stepping down from the 2nd XI for the week. Reece Jones, Robert Aindow and Ben Marques give the batting line-up depth, with Ben also taking the gloves in what could be a busy afternoon behind the stumps.

With the ball, Hoddesdon will look to Scott Higgins, Benjamin Strong, Henry Taylor and the captain himself to set the tone, while Paul Webb’s control and experience could be important if the pitch and conditions demand patience. Higgins has been one of the more consistent performers in recent weeks, and his pace gives Hoddesdon a genuine point of difference. Strong and Taylor both offer threat, while the captain’s own bowling has been central to Hoddesdon’s better performances this season.

Scott Higgins Will Play A Key Role On Saturday

There is also a first league appearance of the season for veteran, committee member, social media chairman and former “Shoddy” player Jon Dean. Work commitments have prevented Dean from playing much cricket this summer, but he comes into the side grateful for the opportunity and keen to do his bit for a team that still has everything to play for. Whether the hamstrings, shoulder, lungs or general sense of dignity survive the afternoon remains to be seen.

Speaking ahead of the game, stand-in captain Louis Webb said his side are under no illusions about the importance of the fixture. “We know where we are in the table and we know Datchworth are right behind us, so this is a big game,” said Webb. “The last two results have hurt, but there is still a lot of cricket left and the mood in the group is still good. We have got a strong side, we have got experience, we have got young lads who are improving every week, and we have got to go there with belief.”

Webb also admitted the one-wicket defeat earlier in the season adds a little extra edge to the contest. “That first game was one we felt we could have won, and when you lose by one wicket it stays with you a bit,” he added. “Credit to Datchworth because they got over the line, but we know we were very close. The message this week is simple: start well, stay calm, win the key moments and make sure we are the side that finishes the job this time.”

Paul Webb Offers Strong Support and Advice to Son Louis

Dean, meanwhile, was in typically understated mood when asked about his long-awaited return to league action. “I am delighted to finally get a game and I genuinely appreciate Louis and the selection committee giving me the chance,” said Dean. “I have spent most of the season writing about everyone else running in, diving around and pretending to enjoy 35-degree heat, so it will be nice to remind myself how difficult it actually is. I will bring experience, encouragement and, hopefully, at least one functioning body part.”

He also recognised the importance of the day for the side. “The 3rd XI have had a really good season and there is still so much to play for,” Dean said. “Datchworth away is exactly the sort of game you want to be involved in, especially with the table as tight as it is. I am looking forward to pulling the shirt on, helping Louis where I can, and doing whatever job the team needs. Datchworth also normally offer one of the beast teas in the county, so even if we lose, at least the scones will be decent.”

Jon Dean

The weather could again become a major factor, with the forecast pointing towards another very warm afternoon in the low 30s. That means energy management, drinks breaks, fielding standards and concentration will all be crucial, particularly in the second innings when the heat has had time to drain both sides. Hoddesdon have played in brutal conditions several times already this summer, and they will need to use that experience wisely.

For all the talk of recent defeats, the bigger picture remains positive. Hoddesdon are still third, still only 34 points behind leaders Hitchin, still within reach of Enfield, and still above Saturday’s opponents in the table. A win at Datchworth would not only halt the mini-slide, it would reopen momentum and give the 3rd XI a timely lift heading into the next block of fixtures. This is not quite a must-win in mathematical terms, but it is certainly a match that feels important emotionally and competitively. Datchworth will see a chance to leapfrog Hoddesdon and strengthen their own promotion hopes, while Webb’s side will see an opportunity to respond, settle nerves and show that the last fortnight has not knocked the belief out of them. In a league this tight, that may matter almost as much as the points themselves.

Selected XI

Louis Webb (c), Paul Webb, Ross Maughan, Freddie Hawkins, Robert Aindow, Ben Marques (wk), Benjamin Strong, Scott Higgins, Reece Jones, Henry Taylor, Jon Dean.

Match Summary

Fixture: Datchworth CC 3rd XI v Hoddesdon CC Saturday 3rd XI
Competition: Herts Premier Cricket League Division 12 East
Date: Saturday 11 July 2026
Start time: 1pm
Venue: Datchworth Cricket Club, Wallace’s Meadow
Weather: Very warm, with temperatures expected in the low 30s
League positions: Hoddesdon 3rd on 199 points; Datchworth 4th on 195 points
Last meeting: Datchworth won by one wicket on 9 May, chasing 147 after Hoddesdon made 146
Hoddesdon ones to watch: Louis Webb, Paul Webb, Freddie Hawkins, Scott Higgins, Benjamin Strong
Datchworth danger men: Rufus Jenner, Jesse Carter, Jamie Clark, Michael Nash, Maxwell Imina, Chris Saunders