It is a been hectic start to the new year for our indoor sides, with a number of games having already taken place in January. For a number of our junior sides there are crucial games taking place in the coming weeks as they look to claim a number of honours, while the senior side will be looking to pick up the wins needed to climb out of the relegation zone.

Our U8s and U9s have been enjoying an excellent season in both the Havering and Central Leagues. The Storm (U9s) sit second in the Havering League, behind leaders Harold Wood, with one round of games left to play. The Storm need to overcome Upminster Hurricane (U8s) this Sunday and hope that Harold Wood slip up in their game against Rainham to claim the title. The Hurricanes will be looking to beat the Storm to secure a top three finish for themselves. In the Central League competition, the Storm have a 100% record at this stage and face Galleywood in February, before a potential title decider against Billericay in April. Both sides will also be taking part in the Havering Cup which begins in February.

The U11 Heat face a crucial game this Saturday in the Havering League North Division, when they take on Harold Wood. Should Upminster win that game they will secure top spot in the division and a place in the title play off with the winners of the South Division. If Harold Wood prevail then they will be firm favourites to claim top-spot. Upminster Monsoon (U11B) are also competing in the North Division this season, and they take on Gidea Park and Romford in their final league game, this Saturday. In the South Division of the Havering competition are our U10s (Thunder). They currently sit in second place in the table and face Belhus on the 28th January in a game which is likely to decide top-spot. Over in the Central League, in the U10s League, the Thunder have been hit by a number of postponements and face a busy couple of months as they look to climb the table. Meanwhile in the U11s League, the Heat are currently top of the table with three wins from three. All three sides will also be taking part in the Havering Cup which begins in February.

In the North Division of the Havering U13s League, Upminster Inferno have already made sure of top spot, finishing that part of the league season with four wins and a thrilling tie (against Harold Wood). In the title play-off, they will face either Rainham or Upminster Flash who play one another this Saturday in a game which will decide who finishes first and second in the South Division. The Inferno are also competing in the Central U13s League, and have one win and one loss to their name so far. Both the Inferno and Flash are also entered in the Havering Cup which takes place later in the winter season.

Our U15s (Tsunami) are one of four sides still in contention for the Havering League title, as the season reaches an exciting climax. Tsunami must defeat Orsett and Thurrock A next weekend to keep their hopes alive, and then hope other results go their way, with their opponents, Harold Wood and Hornchurch all still in with a chance of claiming top-spot. Upminster U14s (Blaze) are also competing in the same division and with two games to play they still retain hopes of a top half finish. The U15s are also competing in the Central League, where they currently lie in mid-table, and both sides will also be competing in the Havering Cup competition before the end of the season.

It has been great to see our girls sides also playing so much indoor cricket in the past four months. In the Havering U9s League the Flood (U11 Girls) have been putting in some excellent performances, the highlight of which was a brilliant seven run win over Upminster Hurricane. The Flood have also been taking part in the Central U11 Girls League, and their next game in that competition is in February when they take on Brentwood. Our U13 Girls (Breeze) have been involved in a number of good games in the Havering U11s South Division, and they take on Orsett and Thurrock in their next contest on the 28th January. The Breeze are having a great season in the Central U13 Girls League, and currently sit top of the table with two wins from three games so far. Our U15 Girls (Cyclone) have exceeded all expectations in the Havering U13s South Division. Excellent wins over Goresbrook and Orsett and Thurrock have left them with a chance of a top three finish, which would be an excellent achievement. Cyclone are also taking part in the Central U15 Girls League, and all three of our girls sides will be competing in the Havering Cup before the end of the season.

In total our junior sides have already played a remarkable 76 games this winter, with more than 130 girls and boys taking part. By the end of the indoor season we hope that more than 150 young players will have represented the club in indoor games for the 2023/24 season.

While the junior sides have been putting in a number of great performances, the same cannot be said of the senior men’s side in the Premier Division of the Riverside Indoor League. The side have only recorded one win so far, a thrilling two run win over Broomhills, and they face a fight to avoid relegation over the next few weeks. They take on Wickford this Sunday before a crucial encounter against Broomhills on 28th January.

Our Women’s side have been having somewhat more success in the Chelmsford Indoor League. They are in mid-table in Division 1 with the highlight so far being an excellent 14 run win over Chelmsford in early December.