Hoddesdon CC 3rd XI bring the curtain down on their 2026 Herts Premier Cricket League Division 12 East campaign this Saturday with a home fixture against Ickleford CC 3rd XI at Hertingfordbury Cricket Ground. Promotion may now be out of reach after last weekend’s abandoned match at Enfield, but Louis Webb’s side still have plenty to play for as they look to finish a strong and eventful season with one more statement performance.

The league table shows just how competitive the division has been. Hitchin sit top on 397 points, with Enfield close behind on 392 and Datchworth third on 391, meaning the top three are separated by just six points going into the final weekend. Potters Bar are fourth on 364, Hoddesdon sit fifth on 360, and Ickleford are sixth on 323, so Saturday’s game gives Hoddesdon the chance to finish on 390 points and potentially climb above Potters Bar if results and bonus points go their way.

The League Table With One Game To Go

That would be a fine reward for a side that has shown real resilience across the summer. There were moments when Hoddesdon looked like they might fall away from the promotion conversation after a mid-season wobble, but four consecutive completed wins changed the mood completely and dragged them right back into the top-end fight. The abandoned fixture away at Enfield last Saturday, with Enfield 16/1 from seven overs before the weather intervened, probably ended the promotion push, but it did not erase the progress made by a group that has grown stronger as the season has gone on.

The recent form column tells that story clearly. Hoddesdon beat Letchworth Garden City by 57 runs on 1 August, stunned leaders Hitchin by 155 runs on 8 August, defeated Potters Bar by 34 runs on 15 August and then chased down 187 to beat Hatfield and Crusaders by four wickets at Newgate Street on 22 August. That run of results was full of different types of wins, from dominant all-round displays to tight chases, and it showed that the 3rd XI have developed both quality and character.

Hoddesdon Were On A Good Run Until Last Weekend's Abandonment

Captain Louis Webb said the squad are determined to end the campaign properly. “It is obviously frustrating that promotion is out of our hands now and, realistically, gone after the way last weekend finished, but that does not change what Saturday means to us,” said Webb. “We have worked too hard over the last month to let the season drift away, and I want us to finish with the same standards we have shown during this run.”

Ickleford arrive at Hertingfordbury sitting sixth, and while their season has not quite carried them into the promotion places, they have shown more than enough quality to make this a very serious final-day test. Their record stands at five wins, eight defeats, one tie and one cancellation, with two opposition concessions helping them to 323 points. They were awarded 30 points last weekend when Hatfield and Crusaders conceded, but their last completed match ended in a six-wicket defeat away at Potters Bar on 22 August. Their recent results underline the unpredictable nature of their campaign. Ickleford beat Letchworth Garden City by two wickets on 8 August after chasing 175, but they were bowled out for just 78 against Hitchin a week later and then made 110/9 in defeat to Potters Bar. Those results show a side capable of winning tight contests but also vulnerable if opponents apply sustained pressure with the ball.

Ickleford's Last Win Came On The 8th Of August

Hoddesdon know all about Ickleford’s threat from the reverse fixture on 4 July at The John Rand Recreation Ground. On that hot afternoon, Ickleford made 202/7 from their 40 overs after Hoddesdon had won the toss and chosen to field, before restricting the visitors to 148/8 to win by 54 runs. Mark Howard made 51, Cruz Serradinho struck 46, Tom Willoughby added 34 and James Dermont contributed 25, while Louis Webb took 3/35, Monty McCullagh claimed 2/33 and Paul Webb bowled a tidy spell of 1/26. With the bat that day, Hoddesdon had moments but could not build enough partnerships to threaten the target. Mark Feely led the way with 44, Louis Webb battled for 26, Reece Jones made 17 and Louis Purves finished unbeaten on 17, but Ickleford kept control for long periods and deserved their victory. Saturday gives Hoddesdon the chance to reverse that result on home soil and show how much they have improved since early July.

The Visitors Won The Reverse Fixture By 54 Runs Back In Early July

Ickleford’s batting danger men are obvious from the season statistics. Ben Mason has been their standout performer with 294 runs at an average of 73.50, including a massive unbeaten 163 against Enfield and 85 against Preston. James Dermont has also had an excellent season with 240 runs at an average of 40.00, while Chris Coleman has 182 runs, Mark Howard has 179 and David Baker has 162, giving Ickleford a top order with proven run-scoring ability. Ramu Nenavath is another player Hoddesdon will not ignore, even though his appearances have been fewer. He has 126 runs at an average of 126.00, including an unbeaten 76 against Potters Bar, and he is exactly the sort of player who can change a game quickly if allowed to settle. Sam Taylor, Dan Watson, Richard Peareth and Cruz Serradinho add further depth, and Serradinho’s 46 in the reverse fixture was a reminder that Ickleford’s middle order cannot be treated lightly.

Danger Man Ben Mason Scored A Superb 163 Not Out A Few Weeks Ago

Their bowling attack also contains several match-winners. Sam Taylor leads the way with 19 wickets and has produced top performances of 4/26 against Bayford & Hertford, 4/30 against Letchworth and 4/37 against Enfield. James Kench has 17 wickets with a best of 4/12, while Scott Dalrymple has 11 and both Noah Giggle and Richard Peareth have seven apiece, so Hoddesdon’s batters will need to show the same patience and decision-making that has powered their recent revival.

Hoddesdon, though, have their own form players and a side full of confidence. Nikunj Pradhan will keep wicket and has become one of the key figures in the second half of the season, combining calm batting with a reliable presence behind the stumps. Darshana Keerthichandra, known as Dash in the dressing room, has also been in excellent touch, following his match-winning unbeaten 70 at Hatfield with another chance to influence the final league fixture.

Nikunj Will Keep Wicket

Mark Feely has enjoyed a fine season and remains one of the side’s most important players with the bat. He has contributed crucial runs throughout the campaign, including his club-best 51 in the stunning win over Hitchin, and his experience will be important again against an Ickleford attack that can keep things tight. Ross Maughan, Connor Hunt, Reece Jones and Nirosh Perera give Hoddesdon further options in the batting order, with Nirosh’s leadership and game awareness always valuable when the pressure comes on.

4th XI Skipper Nirosh Perera Lines Up For The 3rd XI This Weekend

The bowling attack also looks strong for one final push. Louis Webb leads the side again and remains Hoddesdon’s leading wicket-taker, while Scott Higgins brings pace, aggression and the ability to unsettle batters on any surface. Henry Taylor has been popular and effective whenever called upon, Monty McCullagh offers control and reliability, and Nirosh gives Webb another thoughtful option with the ball if conditions suit.

Webb Has Plenty Of Options To Choose From

Webb believes the balance of the side gives Hoddesdon every chance of finishing well. “We have got a good mix again this week, and it feels like a proper 3rd XI side with players who have contributed across the season,” he said. “Nikunj taking the gloves gives us balance, Dash is full of confidence, Touchy has had a really strong year, and with Scott, Henry, Monty and Ash all involved in recent weeks, we have shown we can take wickets in different ways.”

The captain also wants Saturday to be seen as a celebration of the season as much as a final league contest. “Of course we want to win, because that is what we turn up to do, but I also want the boys to enjoy it and recognise how far we have come,” added Webb. “We had a tough spell, we stuck together, and then we put a run together that gave us a chance right until the last couple of weeks. That says a lot about the group.”

The selected Hoddesdon side is Louis Webb, Nikunj Pradhan, Ross Maughan, Darshana Keerthichandra, Mark Feely, Connor Hunt, Reece Jones, Nirosh Perera, Henry Taylor, Scott Higgins and Monty McCullagh. It is a strong XI for the final Saturday of the season, with enough batting depth, bowling variety and experience to give Ickleford a proper test at Hertingfordbury.

Saturday’s wider fixture list also keeps the final weekend interesting. Hitchin host Preston, Enfield travel to Letchworth Garden City, Datchworth visit Hatfield and Crusaders, and Potters Bar host Bayford & Hertford, so the top five still have points, positions and pride to settle. Hoddesdon cannot now break into the promotion places, but a win over Ickleford would complete a superb late-season run and give them every chance of finishing fourth.

For a young side led by a young captain, this has still been a good season. There have been setbacks, selection challenges, weather frustrations and narrow defeats, but there have also been excellent wins, emerging players, senior contributions and a clear sense that the group is moving in the right direction. One last big performance at Hertingfordbury would be the perfect way to close the book on 2026.

Fixture details:

Hoddesdon CC 3rd XI v Ickleford CC 3rd XI
Saturday 5th September 2026, 1pm start
Hertingfordbury Cricket Ground, St Mary’s Lane, Hertingfordbury, Hertford, SG14 2LE
Herts Premier Cricket League Division 12 East
Players to watch: Hoddesdon Nikunj Pradhan, Darshana Keerthichandra, Mark Feely, Louis Webb, Scott Higgins and Henry Taylor Ickleford Ben Mason, James Dermont, Chris Coleman, Sam Taylor and James Kench

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