NORTHWOOD TOWN'S 2ND X1 recorded a 54 run victory over Hoddesdon to bring home an excellent double for the Chestnut Avenue club.

Hoddesdon won the toss and asked Town to bat.

The visitors elected to open with Travis Abel who had been rested from the first team to gain some confidence and he responded with a solid 31.

His second wicket partnership of 60 with John Boast (36) gave Town a useful start whilst Sean O'Neill backed up Boast well once Abel had been dismissed.

Chairman Alan Armitage took on the mantle once Boast had fallen and carved out an excellent unbeaten 50. With Dave Harding (28), the two belied their advancing years and showed signs of their long gone youth with quick running between the wickets as they created a critical partnership of 65 to lift Town to 205 for 8 from their 53 overs.

In reply, skipper Adam Hills elected to open with himself and Neal Furmenger and this brought immediate dividends as Hills took a wicket in his first over.

Furmenger responded in kind to claim three quick wickets himself and the hosts looked in desperate trouble at 36 for 4.

This soon turned to 66 for 6 but Hoddesdon battled back and stayed determined to make a game of it.

Skipper Hills rotated the bowling to try and initiate a breakthrough and it was Sumit Khetia who finally took the vital seventh wicket to leave the hosts on 120 for 7.

Hills then brought himself back on and he claimed the final three wickets as Hoddesdon were dismissed for 151. Furmenger had claimed 5 for 40 with Hills taking 4 for 50.

Hills was delighted with the victory: He said: "It was a big win and we performed well both with bat and ball. Hopefully this is a good springboard for the rest of the season."