Sunday’s U16 Matchplay game at Harlow not only ended in a victory for Upminster, but it was also the 100th fixture played this season by the club’s junior sides. By Tuesday night our teams had completed 106 matches across all age groups. There have been lots of wins, a number of losses, but most importantly there has been a lot of good cricket played and a lot of fun had by everyone involved. Here we take a look at how the season is progressing for each of our squads:

Girls U15s, U13s and U12s:
This squad has been one of our busiest, with 17 games completed so far across a number of competitions. The U15s enjoyed an excellent run in the National Cup, overcoming Wanstead and Snaresbrook and Frenford before losing to Billericay. It was a similar story for the U13 Girls as they also reached the third round of the same competition, before being beaten by a strong Billericay side. In the U15s County competition the side have lost two very closely fought games against Billericay and Woodford Wells, while in the U13s County competition the highlight so far was a win against Saffron Walden, with the girls having to take on a three hour round trip for a midweek game, but putting in one of their best performances to date.

In the U13s Central Girls League Upminster sit top of the table at the present time, with a huge game tonight (Tuesday) away to Hutton, who are level on points with Upminster at the start of play. In the U12s Central Softball Girls League it is also close at the top between Upminster and Hutton, with both clubs having picked up three wins from three so far.

The U15 Girls are also competing in the Havering U13s League (just one game played so far), and the U13 Girls are also taking part in the Havering U11s League, where they have registered one win and three losses.

On top of these competitions there have also been some brilliant festivals taking place through the first part of the summer. The U12 Girls were victorious at the brilliantly organised Belhus competition on Bank Holiday Monday, while the U13 Girls then claimed the Essex Softball Smash crown which was held at Billericay CC during half term.

There are still more than 20 games scheduled for this squad over the remainder of the season, with lots still to play for. A number of the older girls in the squad have also played for our Ladies XI in Division 2 of the Essex League, which the club have entered for the first time this season, with some also playing in our men’s 7th XI on Saturday afternoons.

Girls U11s and U9s:
Our younger girls squads have also had a busy first two months of the season. The U11 side have been playing in the Havering U9s League, and have picked up two wins from their four matches played to date. They are also playing in the Central U9s League where they have one won and lost one so far.

Our U9 Girls have been playing their first games against other clubs in recent weeks, with some excellent friendlies taking place. Games against Billericay, Hornchurch Athletic and Harold Wood have been played, with the players from all sides showing what progress they have made, and having great fun at the same time.

Boys U19s and U16s:
While results have not been the best so far for this squad, there have been some excellent individual and team performances. Both the U19s and U16s were drawn in very tough groups this year in the Ravi Bopara Trophy and Trevor Bailey Matchplay, but the teams have taken on this challenge with a great attitude.

For the U19s, their first game at Bishops Stortford was a high scoring thriller, with Stortford eventually coming out on top, while in their second game against Saffron Walden they were well beaten by an impressive Walden line up. Last Friday saw the side in action again, this time at Billericay, and despite some positive signs it was Ricay who came away with the win. There is one more game remaining for the U19s, when they face Harold Wood in July.

The U16s started their Matchplay campaign with a trip to Bishops Stortford (a fixture which a number of our sides have played this season) and the home side came out on top by five wickets. However, Upminster bounced back last weekend with a convincing win over Harlow to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout phase of the competition. They face a crucial game this Sunday against Chelmsford at Upminster Park (1.00pm).

Boys U15s and U14s:
Unfortunately for the U15s, they have seen two games abandoned so far, in very different circumstances. Their early season encounter at Harold Wood was called off when one of the Wood players unfortunately obtained a very nasty injury, and we wish the player involved a speedy recovery. And then last week their much anticipated Central Cup game at Shenfield was abandoned after the first innings when heavy rain left the ground unfit for play.

Highlights of the season so far for this group have been the U15 Central Cup win over Chelmsford in late May, and then despite the result, a thrilling two run loss last Sunday for the U14s, against Colchester and East Essex in the Sir Alastair Cook Trophy.

A number of the squad have also stepped up for the U19s and U16s when required, and a large number have also been playing senior cricket for the club on Saturday afternoons.

Boys U13s and U12s:
With 16 games played so far, the U12s and U13s have been kept busy over the last two months.

The U13s narrowly lost out in an exciting local derby at Hornchurch to exit the Central Cup, and they have lost three league games in the Havering and Central competitions by the narrowest of margins. They did though put in an excellent performance against St Johns in the Central League to pick up a well earned victory.

Our U12s have progressed to the knockout phase of the Brian Taylor County competition after picking up three wins from their four group games. Wins over Billericay and Great Baddow, and a defeat against Saffron Walden, left Upminster needing a win on Sunday at…………..Bishops Stortford to guarantee progress. They did this, chasing down their target with just one ball to spare to book a trip to Frenford in the next round. The U12s are also still in the Central Cup after a win over Billericay, and they have a number of Havering League games taking place over the next two weeks.

Boys U11s and U10s:
While all of our squads have been busy, this group have been rushed off their feet, with 34 games having already been played so far!!!

With that many games having been played it’s difficult to pick out highlights, but for the U11s team it will have been the Central Cup win over Hutton as well as a brilliant game against Wanstead and Snaresbrook in the Development League, which ended with Upminster winning by 30 runs. In the same competition there was also a three run loss to a very strong Buckhurst Hill side, with the game being an excellent advert for youth cricket.

The U10 Ultras made it six wins from six in the Central League with a victory over previously unbeaten Great Baddow last night (Monday), while the U10 Ultimate have also picked up some impressive results in the same competition with a win over Brentwood being one of the highlights.

In total, nearly 40 players have already played for the club in this squad so far this summer!!!

Boys U9s and U8s:
This is our youngest squad playing games against other clubs, with games being a mix of hardball and softball contests.

Our 9s are unbeaten so far in the seven games they have played, with matches having taken place in the Central Cup, the Havering League, the Central Softball League and the Central Hardball League. This side have a number of games coming up in the Havering League over the next fortnight.

The U8s have won five of the nine games they have played in so far with a thrilling six run win over Great Baddow in the Central Softball League being the highlight to date.

Thanks of course are due to all of the club's coaches and team managers who put so much time and effort into arranging all of the training sessions and matches and ensuring so many young people are able to play cricket. And we must also thank all the competition organisers for their tireless efforts in administering all of these matches.

Please keep any eye on PlayCricket and the club’s social media platforms over the coming weeks to see how our junior sides are progressing.