Time flies, and it is hard to believe that for some of our senior sides the halfway point of the season has already been reached. Both of our Women’s league sides and our two Mid Essex League sides completed the first half of their seasons at the weekend and all four have had plenty of highlights in the first part of the campaign.

WOMEN’S 1ST XI
The team remain in contention for the EWPL Division One title after a good first half of the season. An opening day concession from Woodford Wells meant Upminster took the points but missed out on an opportunity to get some early season match time under their belts, but a fine all-round performance at Castle Park a week later saw them claim the points in more conventional style. Colchester made a competitive 207-6 but a fine innings of 103 from Harri Goodey saw Upminster to a seven wicket win with plenty of overs in hand.

A low scoring thriller in late May saw the side lose out to Bishop’s Stortford despite a half century for Zoe Quested and three wickets for Alex Goodey, but the team bounced back in their next match against Billericay as they put in one of their best performances of recent seasons. Alex Goodey was in the wickets again as Billericay were restricted to 175-7 before a fine partnership from Felicity Russell and Emma Black, on her Division One debut, saw Upminster to a six wicket win. Upminster followed that result up a week later with an equally efficient performance against Wanstead & Snaresbrook. Russell made another half century and there were runs for Black and Quested as Upminster made 202-8 before Lois Gable and Dani Cox helped bowl out Wanstead for 150.

Last Sunday’s loss to leaders Hutton was a disappointing one, but the game was closely fought and Upminster showed enough to indicate that they will remain in the title race until the end of the season. The one real disappointment of the season was the EWPL 100 Cup loss to Kelvedon in May but the team came back well from this with their league performances and will very much be looking forward to the second half of the season.

WOMEN’S 2ND XI
Three wins from their first seven matches leave the side in mid-table in EWPL Division Two at the halfway point of the season. There was a brilliant start to the season with two wins from their first two games, beginning with a five wicket success at Hutton mainly thanks to an unbeaten half century from Jami Armes. That was followed up a week later where four wickets for captain Angela Green and good contributions with the bat from Alex Semon and veteran Emma Noller saw the team squeeze to a two wicket win over Benfleet.

Two tough matches followed, the first of those ending in a heavy defeat to Wanstead & Snaresbrook despite runs from Armes and Holly Minney, and the second ending in a ten wicket loss to Frenford despite a half century for Catherine Johnson and some late runs from Green. It was a different story at the start of June as Orsett & Thurrock were beaten at Coopers, mainly thanks to the efforts of Armes. The all-rounder took five wickets as Orsett were bowled out for 83 and then made 32 with the bat as Upminster won by four wickets. June did end with two losses against Kelvedon & Feering and Billericay, to leave the side in sixth place in the table, just behind Billericay and a long way clear of Hutton and Orsett & Thurrock.

6TH XI (MID ESSEX 1ST XI)
After “relegation” in 2025, the 6th XI have bounced back superbly well in the first half of the season in Mid Essex League Division Nine. Captain Craig Grote has unfortunately been injured for a number of games so far, but Matt Burch has stepped in to fill the void, and the team have put in some excellent performances. As in the last two seasons, the side has been a mix of older heads and promising youngsters, and the blend of youth and experience has worked well so far this year.

Liam Robertson helped get the league season off to a brilliant start in early May when his fine unbeaten century played a big part in a five wicket derby success over Navestock. Robertson quickly moved up the sides but without him Upminster made it two wins from two a week later when they saw off Brentwood in another derby encounter. The batting hero this time was Thomas Brabin who made 115 from just 75 balls, and with runs from Dylan Brooks, Sanjay Narbheram, Jack Butler and John French Upminster were able to pile up a huge total of 299-9. That proved too much for Brentwood, especially with Narbheram adding three wickets to his runs earlier in the day. Anay Narbheram was the star of the show with the ball at Hutton as Upminster made it three wins from three. He claimed 3-24 to help restrict Hutton to 219-5 before Brabin continued his fine form with a brilliant 77 not out as Upminster won by five wickets to go top.

The trend of centuries continued a week later with 13 year old Kayhan Suneel making his first senior ton in the victory over AGHAB at Campion. With Aadit Latey and Gary Carr also in the runs Upminster once again piled up a score of nearly 300 and that proved way too many for AGHAB who lost by 81 runs. There were no centuries a week later at Southend on Sea & EMT but there was a half century for Suneel and runs for Brooks and Ralph Burchell as the side once again showed their potential with the bat before two wickets from Woody Treadwell helped see Upminster to a 106 run success.

The run of wins finally ended a week later when the contest at home to Galleywood was washed out, and then there was a heartbreaking defeat at Chelmsford Super Kings in week seven. A fine all-round effort with the ball saw CSK restricted to 155-9 but it looked all over for Upminster when they slumped to 76-7 in reply. Sanjay Narbheram and Oscar Sousanna didn’t give up the fight, and their eighth wicket partnership got Upminster back in the game before they eventually lost by just two runs. It was back-to-back losses the following Saturday at leaders Hatfield Peverel where runs from Alfie Taplin and three wickets for Treadwell could not stop a five wicket defeat, but the side reached the halfway point of the season with a win over Basildon & Pitsea. The Upminster innings didn’t contain any centuries but there was a wonderful 93 from Suneel and a flamboyant 92 from Taplin off just 75 balls before Will Court marked his return to action with 61 not out from 46 deliveries in an Upminster total of 274-3. Basildon were then restricted to 217-7 in reply to give Upminster a win by 57 runs.

All that leaves the side in second place in the Division Nine table, just three points behind pace setters Hatfield Peverel and in a four-way race for the two promotion spots with the leaders, Chelmsford Super Kings and Brentwood.

7TH XI (MID ESSEX 2ND XI)
The 7th XI also moved down a division following the 2025 season, and they have made a solid start to life in Mid Essex League Division Ten.
The season started with a 21 run loss at Rayleigh, but two fine innings with the bat showed the potential of the batting line-up within the squad. Kayhan Suneel made a fine 80, and the 13 year would soon be moving up the sides, while Patrick Gulvin made his first ever century with a brilliant knock of 104 from just 79 balls.

Gulvin centuries appeared to be like London buses as we week later he was at it again, this time hitting 124 as his side piled up a huge score against Southend on Sea & EMT, with Mark Hortop and Suneel also in the runs. The Upminster total of 291-6 was way too many for the visitors who were restricted to 165-6 to lose by 126 runs. It was a tough trip to Great Totham the following week as the home side amassed 335-7, mainly thanks to 200 not out from George Davis. Upminster were all out for 192 in reply despite brilliant half centuries from two youngsters, the Oscars, Hayes and Sousanna.

Willow Herbs proved too strong in week four as they made 313-5 and Upminster replied with 209-5 thanks to Mark Hortop (95*) and Dylan Brooks (46*). Don Triggs’ side bounced back in their match with Benfleet though and picked up a much needed win. Billy Sheridan made 50 in a total of 217-8 before Chris Brabin picked up three wickets to help bowl out Benflee for 164.

The game with Rayleigh Fairview at the start of June was washed out but there was another win a week later against Ilford Catholics. Hayes starred with the ball this time taking four wickets to help bowl out Catholics for 142 before a nervy run chase followed. However, Upminster’s young side showed great maturity to secure the win by four wickets. Three wickets for Kevin Roome and another half century for Hortop couldn’t stop a heavy loss to a strong Rankins side, before the halfway point of the season was reached with a good performance but a loss to runaway leaders Horndon on the Hill. Ralph Moore made an excellent 54 and received good support from Max Bird, Billy Sheridan, Ian Twine and Harrison Simpson as Upminster posted a challenging 227 but Horndon proved too strong as they won by six wickets.

It means Triggs’ side sit fifth in the table at the halfway point of the season, and while they are 36 points off the promotion places at this stage, they are also 71 points above the drop zone and can look forward to the second half of the season with some optimism.