It was another busy summer for our women’s sides, with more than 60 games played and some well deserved silverware for the Softball side. Our women’s section continues to grow, with a number of young players progressing to the senior sides, a trend which we hope will continue over the coming seasons.

1st XI:
A top three finish for the 1st XI represented another excellent season, but for a while it looked like they may be able to better or match their runners-up spot from 2024. A third consecutive finish inside the top four of EWPL Division One does though show that the side are now one of the most stable and competitive outfits in the top flight and with a number of youngsters coming into the squad hopes are high of that remaining the case for the next few years.

The league season started with a concession from Woodford Wells and then a fine win at Colchester & East Essex where Harri Goodey made a fine century before skipper Zoe Quested guided her side home. More runs from Quested plus three wickets for Alex Goodey couldn’t stop a first league loss of the campaign against Bishop’s Stortford, but the arrival of New Zealander Emma Black then gave the side a real boost. Black arrived in late May and marked her debut with 61 not out as she and Flick Russell (57*) helped keep Upminster in the title race with a six wicket win over Billericay. Russell, Quested and Black were all in the runs again a week later against Wanstead & Snaresbrook, and with Lois Gable and Dani Cox then starring with the ball Upminster picked up another win to keep up the pressure on the other title chasers. That win set up a top of the table showdown with leaders Hutton at Upminster Park in late June, but runs from Russell and Harri Goodey couldn’t stop the home side being bowled out for 136. Keya Shah’s three wicket burst in the middle of the Hutton reply gave Upminster hope before the visitors edged to a three wicket win, a result which would turn out to be a crucial one. The second half of the league campaign started with a win over Colchester with Black making a fine 83 and the Kiwi star went even bigger the following week as she crashed 105 from just 87 balls against Woodford Wells. Harri Goodey also made 74 as Upminster piled up 282-7 before Wells were bundled out for just 69 with Paige Roche claiming 3-5.

That left Upminster still in the title chase with four games to go, but a tough end to the season saw them pick up just one win from that final run of games. Bishop’s Stortford won at Upminster Park by 28 runs despite wickets for Harri Goodey and runs for debutant Lydia Borbas, and then a week later four more wickets for Goodey along with runs for Black and Roche saw Upminster beat Billericay by five wickets. Wanstead proved too strong in the penultimate game of the season, although Russell made an excellent 67, and then without Black, who had returned home to New Zealand, Upminster lost out to champions Hutton on the final day of the campaign. The side’s seven wins from 12 league games saw them finish in third position, behind champions Hutton and Bishop’s Stortford.

The only disappointment of the season came in the 100 Cup where having been given a concession to the semi final the side were beaten by Division Two Kelvedon & Feering. Chasing 110 to win, Upminster finished 21 runs short to exit the competition.

With the bat it was overseas star Black who led the way with 370 runs, closely followed by Harri Goodey with 360. Russell, Roche and Quested also contributed more than 200 runs each across the summer. Harri Goodey claimed 18 wickets to top the bowling charts, and she was followed by younger sister Alex who picked up 13 while Keya Shah claimed 10.

Black’s contribution to the side cannot be underestimated with the New Zealander proving to be a positive influence on and off the pitch during her time with the club. As well as producing runs and wickets she had a positive impact on training and preparation and spent hours coaching girls and boys from our junior teams. It was an honour to have her represent the club this summer and we hope to see her back in RM14 again in the future.

2nd XI:
The 2nd XI finished the season in sixth position in EWPL Division Two, one place lower than in 2025, but with the league being extended to eight sides in 2026 (from six) and with the standard of opposition improving year on year, everyone in the squad will be satisfied with how the season concluded.

If there was any disappointment within the team it will have been from the fact they didn’t push on having won their first two games of the campaign. An unbeaten half century from Jami Armes helped her team claim a five wicket at Hutton on the opening day of the season before a trio of veterans helped make it two out of two a week later against Benfleet. Captain Ange Green claimed four wickets as Benfleet were bowled out for 115 and then Emma Noller and Alex Semon were in the runs as Upminster went top of the table with a two wicket victory. Unfortunately, Wanstead & Snaresbrook proved too strong a week later despite runs from Armes and Holly Minney, and another defeat followed on the following Sunday against Frenford. Catherine Johnson made an excellent 51 for Upminster to help them to what they hoped would be a challenging total of 125-7, but Frenford made light work of the chase winning by ten wickets inside 11 overs. Armes was the all-round hero against Orsett & Thurrock at the start of June, claiming five wickets and then making 32 in a low scoring four wicket win, but Upminster were well beaten a week later at Kelvedon & Feering despite two wickets from Mila Price. The first half of the season ended with a loss as Billericay proved too strong and ran out convincing winners, and that all meant Upminster reached the halfway stage of the campaign in fifth place in the table.

The second half of the season began with a defeat to Hutton despite a brilliant all-round display from Keya Shah. Shah picked up five wickets as Hutton posted 218-8 and then made 39 with the bat during the Upminster reply. Georgia Hayes also made 58 but it was not enough a Hutton prevailed by 50 runs. Unfortunately, that result was followed by a further loss a week later at Benfleet. Lauren Plumb (4-26) bowled well during the Benfleet innings of 167, but Upminster struggled in reply and only Armes made a significant contribution as they were bowled out for just 95. The team returned to winning ways the following week at Wanstead, with six bowlers all taking at least one wicket to help bowl out the home side for 72. Upminster lost two early wickets at the start of their reply, but sisters Semon and Johnson combined in an unbroken third wicket stand of 61 to take their side to an eight wicket win. A week later Frenford inflicted a heavy defeat on Green’s side with a commanding performance at The Drive. The title chasing home side piled up 327-1 in their innings, and despite a defiant innings from youngster Price it was a tough afternoon with the bat for Upminster as they were bowled out for 78. There was another defeat a week later, but this one came in a thrilling contest against Orsett & Thurrock. Six Upminster batters made double figures as they battled to 133-9, Green top scoring with 21 not out, and Orsett then fell to 35-5 and 101-9 in reply with Plumb taking 4-24. However, Orsett’s last pair somehow steered their side to a one wicket win in a game which was a great advert for the league. There was another narrow defeat on the penultimate weekend of the season, with a 19 run loss against Kelvedon. Kelvedon piled up an imposing 255-7 but Upminster responded brilliantly with the bat. Hayes and Coco Thomas put on 111 for the first wicket and Price and Claudia Brunt then continued the good work as Upminster looked for a while like they may record a famous victory. Price ended 65 not out but Upminster fell just short on 236-5. The season finished on a high-note for Upminster with a remarkable win against Billericay. Johnson and Green were the only Upminster batters to make double figures as their side were rolled out for 87, but Upminster didn’t give up hope. Maisie Briggs, Green and Plumb tore through the Billericay line up to skittle out the visitors for just 39 as Upminster won by 48 runs to sign off the season in style.

Armes topped the batting aggregates with 161 runs while Hayes, Johnson and Price also made more than 100 runs during the league season. Captain Green led the way with the ball with 16 wickets, alongside Plumb who also picked up 16, while Armes claimed 15 and youngster Price showed her all-round ability with six.

3rd XI/Softball Squad:
For the Softball squad the season had a glorious ending as they claimed the Ballerz Blast title, edging past Frenford in a tense final at Writtle. With the light fading and nerves jangling Upminster’s last pair of Alex Semon and Jess Priestly kept calm to see their side to a 13 run win. Earlier in the season Upminster had topped their group in the Blast, winning seven of their eight games, before going on to beat Chappel and Wakes Colne in the semi final.

Their success in the Blast capped a brilliant season for the Softball side in which they also reached Finals Day of the Essex Softball Series, held this year at Springfield, eventually finishing in third place (over 40 clubs took part in the competition in 2026). The squad were superbly led throughout the season by Jami Armes, and Jami was supported by a loyal group of players who showed huge commitment, travelling all around Essex and East London for their matches, and being great ambassadors for the women’s game.

A number of the Softball squad also got their first taste of hardball cricket this season with the Women’s 3rd XI entering the new Elev8s competition. Upminster finished third in their five team group, with two wins and two losses, but most importantly it was great to see more women giving hardball cricket a go which bodes well for the future of women’s cricket at the club.