Stansted Hall & Elsenham CC 2nd XI vs Hoddesdon CC HEBL 3rd XI
The Pavilion, Elsenham Road, Stansted Mountfitchet
Saturday 17 May 2025
Herts & Essex Border League – Division 3

A tough afternoon in Stansted saw Hoddesdon’s HEBL 3rd XI brought firmly back down to earth after their flying start to the 2025 HEBL Division 3 campaign, as a well-drilled and clinical Stansted Hall & Elsenham 2nd XI inflicted a 98-run defeat on the #GreenMachine.

On a day where very little went right with the bat, and discipline deserted the bowlers at crucial moments, Hoddesdon were outplayed in all departments. The result sees the home side leapfrog Hoddesdon in the standings, earning 20 points to Hoddy’s 5, and offering a sharp reminder that nothing comes easy in this league — especially against sides with title ambitions of their own.

Maughn Wins The Toss – And Takes The Ball
Returning skipper Ross Maughn, back at the helm after injury, won the toss and opted to bowl first on a warm afternoon at The Pavilion. With some green patches on the wicket and the memory of bowling Thorley out for 37 still fresh in the mind, the decision made sense. But where Hoddesdon’s bowlers had found unerring lines and relentless pressure two weeks earlier, this time the radar faltered, and Stansted Hall & Elsenham took full advantage.

Despite some early breakthroughs, including a smart stumping from Josh Robinson off Rudy Bean to remove opener P Walton (4), Hoddesdon couldn’t keep a lid on the scoring. A combination of powerful stroke play, rotating the strike, and wayward bowling — 21 wides, 11 byes and 4 no-balls in total — allowed the hosts to keep the scoreboard ticking steadily throughout the innings.

Mason-Smith Anchors The Innings With Classy 83
The backbone of Stansted Hall’s innings came courtesy of their captain, P Mason-Smith, who compiled a match-defining 83 from 98 balls. It was an innings of maturity and control, blending patient accumulation with timely aggression, including 10 boundaries and a towering six.

Mason-Smith formed two key partnerships: first with O Saunders (26 off 35), whose busy knock gave momentum to the middle overs, and then with F Bevan (42 off 62), who punished anything short and carved through the off side with authority.

Despite good efforts from Austin Bean (2-33), Louis Webb (2-35), and a wicket each for Maughn and R Bean, Hoddesdon's inability to build sustained pressure ultimately allowed the hosts to reach a commanding 215/7 from their 40 overs.

Extras Haunt Hoddy Attack
Much of the post-match conversation inevitably turned to bowling discipline. While individual spells from Paul Webb (0-35 off 8), Bean, and Louis Webb showed promise, the overall extras tally — a concerning 38 runs, including 21 wides — was a source of frustration. Kyle Hay did manage to bowl the only maiden over of the innings and we shouldn't lambast Maughn's players for having an off day, lord knows we've all done it, but it is certainly something to work on in training.

Even the returning Maughn (1-21 from 4) couldn't stem the tide entirely, though he did trap Mason-Smith with a crucial breakthrough in the 35th over, an excellent catch by Rudy Bean proving the captain's undoing. But by that stage, the damage was largely done.

Chasing 216 – And Losing Early Wickets
In reply, Hoddesdon needed a steady start and calm heads — but instead suffered a top-order collapse that all but ended their chase before it could properly begin.

Maughn fell for a duck to the first ball of the second over of the innings — bowled by the lively Chamberlain — and from there, wickets tumbled in a hurry. Austin Bean, who had impressed with the ball, battled for 38 deliveries for a gritty duck before falling to D Devine. Paul Webb, usually so reliable, briefly raised hopes with a flurry of boundaries in a fluent 34, but was undone by Devine.

From 58-3, things deteriorated further as wickets fell at regular intervals: J Robinson (7), L Webb (0), and K Hay (19 off 22) were all unable to form meaningful partnerships. The only resistance came from Neil Pomeroy, whose dogged unbeaten 11 off 60 balls showed admirable resilience, even as the required rate spiralled beyond reach. If staying power counted for anything, Pomeroy would be top of the table.

Devine And Chamberlain Rip Through The Order
For Stansted Hall & Elsenham, D Devine (4-6 from 7 overs, 3 maidens) was the clear standout — mixing accuracy with smart variation to dismantle Hoddesdon’s middle order. Chamberlain (3-28) provided excellent support with key wickets at crucial moments, including both Maughn and Hay as well as the final wicket of McCullagh.

Saunders also chipped in with the late scalp of Rudy Bean, caught and bowled. In total, Hoddesdon lost all ten wickets for just 117 in exactly 40 overs — a symbolic reminder that batting the full allocation means little without scoreboard pressure. The hosts were just as guilty of extras as Hoddesdon however, gifting 28 runs including 24 wides, but in the end it mattered not.

“We Just Didn’t Turn Up” – Maughn Reflects
Speaking after the defeat, skipper Ross Maughn offered an honest assessment of the performance:

“We didn’t hit our standards today. With the ball we gave away far too many extras and let them get away in the last 10 overs. And with the bat, we never built partnerships. We’ve got to learn from it, stay positive, and bounce back next week. One bad day doesn’t define a season — but it should sharpen focus.”

Indeed, while the defeat stings, Hoddesdon still sit in a strong position in Division 3 after three rounds, with two wins and one loss, and a clear sense of the high level required to compete at the top end of the table.

Score Summary
Stansted Hall & Elsenham CC 2nd XI: 215/7 (40 overs)
P Mason-Smith 83 (98), F Bevan 42 (62), O Saunders 26 (35)
A Bean 2-33 (7), L Webb 2-35 (8), R Bean 1-21 (5), R Maughn 1-21 (4)
Extras: 38 (b11, lb2, nb4, w21)

Hoddesdon CC HEBL 3rd XI: 117 all out (40 overs)
P Webb 34 (63), K Hay 19 (22), N Pomeroy 11* (60), S McCullagh 7 (7)
D Devine 4-6 (7), A Chamberlain 3-28 (8), O Saunders 1-6 (3)
Extras: 28 (b2, lb1, nb1, w24)

Result: Stansted Hall & Elsenham CC 2nd XI won by 98 runs
Points: Stansted 20, Hoddesdon 5

League Table Update – HEBL Division 3 (Top 5)

1 Dunmow CC – 3rd XI 60pts
2 Stansted Hall & Elsenham CC – 2nd XI 60pts
3 Little Munden CC – 1st XI 49pts
4 Hoddesdon CC – 3rd XI 45pts
5 Abridge CC – 2nd XI 44pts

Next Fixture: Home Comforts Beckon
Hoddesdon will now turn their attention to a crucial home tie next Saturday, as they welcome Broxbourne 5th XI to Thundridge. Broxbourne, who have blown hot and cold so far, will present another stern test — but Maughn’s men will be desperate to set the record straight after this humbling defeat. With a full week to regroup, train, and correct the basics, expect a fired-up Hoddy side back on home turf looking to get their promotion challenge back on track.

Final Word
Days like this are part and parcel of league cricket. For Hoddesdon’s HEBL 3rd XI, the key now will be resilience — taking the lessons on the chin, and responding with purpose and pride. The potential of this group remains undeniable, and their season is still very much alive. But as this sobering afternoon in Stansted showed, every single week is a battle — and every point must be earned.

Back to work. Back to basics. And back to business.

#greenmachine