Last weekend saw the conclusion of the indoor season for our junior sides, as the Havering Junior Indoor League concluded at Coopers.  This new competition, along with the Central District Indoor League, provided our youngsters with plenty of indoor action over the last five months.  The club fielded 11 sides in total, including three girls squads who made huge progress as the season evolved.  

The Central Indoor League has been part of the club's calendar for some time, but the Havering Junior Indoor League was new for 21/22.  Formed by the nine clubs who take part in the summer Havering Junior League, seven of those clubs entered sides in the inaugural season and in total the competition saw 146 games completed.

Upminster's U9 sides enjoyed a brilliant winter in both competitions.  In the Central League the "Storm" went through their group games undefeated to advance to the Final.  Unfortunately they came up against an excellent Great Baddow side in the showpiece game and just lost out after a thrilling final.  Our U8 "Hurricanes" also took part in the Central League, and while they picked up just one win from their five games they gained some invaluable experience against some excellent sides.  In the Havering League the "Storm" claimed the League and Cup Double, seeing off the challenge of Hornchurch Athletic to claim the league title and beating Rainham in the Cup Final.  The "Hurricanes" and the "Whirlwinds" (our other U9s side) finished in mid-table, while our U10 Girls, the "Lightning", enjoyed an excellent campaign.  They finished third in the league table before beating Athletic by five runs in a thrilling Plate Final to round off a brilliant winter.

The U10s "Thunder" finished the Central League season with a brilliant win over Brentwood in the Grand Final of their competition.  They had lost to Brentwood in the group stages of the competition but recovered to make it into the top two and then produced a brilliant display to take the trophy.  The "Thunder" also picked up two second places in the Havering League, as they finished behind the Upminster "Heat" in the U11s table, and then lost out again to the "Heat" in a final ball thriller at last week's Cup Final.  The "Heat" went unbeaten in the Havering League, but had to settle for runners-up spot in the U11s Central League after losing out in the Final against Billericay, who they had also lost to in the group stages.  Also playing in the U11 Havering League were our U13 Girls side, "Eclipse".  While they only won one game, their performances and results improved vastly as the season progressed, and the benefit of these games will be seen over the coming summer season.

Our U13s side, "Inferno", enjoyed an excellent winter.  In the Havering League they finished in second spot, losing out to an excellent Orsett and Thurrock side who went unbeaten throughout the nine game league programme.  The "Flash" (U12s) showed their potential as they came fourth in the league table and also advanced to the Cup Final where they faced "Inferno" in an all Upminster clash.  "Inferno" had beaten Orsett and Thurrock earlier in the Cup but looked for a while like they may lose out to the "Flash".  However, their extra strength showed in the end and they ended the season lifting the Cup.  Also in the Havering U13s competition were the "Cyclone" our U15s girls side.  They started the season slowly and went without a win in the league campaign, but then produced two brilliant performances to see off Gidea Park and Romford and Rainham in the Plate competition and advance to the Final.  There they came up against a strong Hornchurch side who took home the silverware, but the "Cyclone" can be proud of their efforts over the last five months.

Last into action for the winter were our U15s, as the Havering League for that age group did not begin until January.  The team made up for lost time as they won five games from five to secure top spot in the League before moving through to the Cup Final.  After posting an excellent score of 112 in the Final Upminster looked on course for a comfortable victory, but Orsett and Thurrock had other ideas, and with two overs remaining looked like they may take the honours.  However, a run out from the last ball of the penultimate over secured an Upminster win.

All in all it meant the club's junior sides claimed nine trophies during the winter, along with seven runners-up spots.  However, more important than that was the chance to learn the new skills that indoor cricket brings and to play regular cricket after the difficulties of the last two years.  More than 130 players between 7 and 15 years old represented the club and we hope all who played enjoyed themselves.  It was great to play against new sides and old friends, and we hope everything that our young players have learned can be put to good use over the coming months as the 2022 summer season begins!!