With one week to go, here is the current standings in the UCC Fantasy Cricket League:

1 - Steve Wright - Shane Watson Sucks - 7567.5
2 - Michael Harrison - Shane Watson is Overrated - 7547.5
3 - John Curtis - Injuries-R-Us - 7445.5
4 - Ted & Sam Green - Court Behind - 7380.5
5 - Alan Ison - Aunt Bessie's Yorkshire Pudding XI - 7341.5

We would like to remind all members of the public and all members of Upminster CC that the Pavilion area will only be open to players, officials, sponsors and invited guests during the Benefit Match on Sunday 12th September.  Access to the Pavilion area will not be allowed to anyone else during the game.

There will be a seating area cordoned off to the right of the Pavilion for wives, girlfriends and families of the Upminster Players.  A bar, BBQ and other refreshments will be available for all in the area parallel to the tennis courts.  Toilets for all will be situated behind the Pavilion and the public toilets next to the library will also be open throughout the day.

As reported earlier in the summer, an Upminster "XI" will be taking to the streets of South London on Sunday 26th September to take part in the Run to the Beat Half Marathon.

While doing this, the members will be looking to raise funds to help with the building of the planned new net facilities next to the Pavilion, and to go towards a potential new grass wicket in the local area for colts and lower eleven games.

The members taking part are:

Stewart Hammond
James Evans
Will Murphy
Rob White
Paul Middlemiss
Oliver Peck
John Curtis
"Iron" Mike Rath
Rob Tuffee
Rob Bannister
Shaun Richardson (coach)

Training has been going well with some of the above now even managing a run for the bus in the morning without fear of keeling over!!!

Now is the time for you to support the squad by pledging your sponsorship towards their efforts. The half marathon course is 21,000 metres long and you can sponsor the team for the metres they complete.  £1 in sponsorship will equate to 2 metres of the course.  So for the generous ones amongst you for instance, £20 will be worth 40 metres of the course!!  If the whole course is sponsored, then that will be £10,000 raised!!!

If you would like to pledge some sponsorship, then you can do this by e mailing:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . When you do this, please state your name and the amount you would like to pledge.  Sponsorship forms will also be available at the Club over the last few weeks of the season.

All support for the team would be most welcome on the day, and details of the route, and the best vantage points will be provided on the Club website over the coming weeks.

If the rain ever stops, there will be some important games for Upminster's senior sides on Saturday afternoon.

Woodford Wells provide the opposition for the 1st XI (12 noon) as they look for a crucial win in their fight against the drop.  Upminster narrowly lost out to Hainault  last time out, but had been in good form in the few weeks before that.  Wells currently lie 7th in the table, one place above Upminster.

The 2nd XI welcome Wells' second string to Upminster Park in the reverse fixture (1.00pm).  Wells have been in good form in recent weeks, climbing to second in the table.  Upminster are without a win in three weeks but welcome back some familiar faces to their side for this clash.

After last week's crucial win over West Essex, Chris Cully's 3rd XI also face Woodford Wells, at Coopers School (1.00pm).  Cully's side know that a win would guarantee their Premier Division status for next season. their 10th consecutive year at that level.  The two sides currently sit next to one another in the table, with Upminster in 6th and the Wells in 7th.

The 4th XI will be looking to move a step nearer to promotion when they travel to struggling Basildon, while the 5th XI know nothing less than a win will do when they face title chasing Hainault 4s at Coopers (all games 1.00pm). Paul Scott's 6th XI were due to face Hornchurch 5s, however the game has been called off due to the weather conditions.

On Sunday Woodford Wells also provide the opposition for the Sunday 2nd XI in a friendly game at Wells' Monkhams Lane ground (1.30pm), while the Academy side face South Weald at the Club (2.00pm) in their first home game of the season.