Game of the weekend (just) came at Nutter Lane where the 3rd XI returned to winning ways with a one run win over Wanstead and Snaresbrook. It is a ground where the 3s have enjoyed many exciting matches over the years, and this one will live long in the memory for those involved. Upminster were asked to bat first and their innings was built around a second wicket stand of 122 between Dan Simpson and Rob Mack. Mack made 41 before becoming one of three victims of Stephen Ramdial, while the captain went on to make a brilliant 92. Upminster's innings fell away somewhat in the later overs, but a total of 207-8 on a tricky pitch looked like a solid one at the halfway stage. Wanstead made a fast start to their reply before Tom Young and Michael Jones brought Upminster back into the game. Pranav Nair made 59, but when he fell the Wanstead innings also fell away somewhat, and they fell from 121-3 to 180-8. Neil Patel held things together for the home side and the last over arrived with the home side nine down and just four needed for victory. Enter Jones, who restricted the batters to two runs from the first five deliveries and with the last pair attempting to scramble a single from the last ball to secure a tie Harry Lawes kept his nerve to run out Joel Morris-Ley and give Upminster a famous win.

Jack Hayward and Aedan Daly were the heroes for the 5th XI as they won by one wicket at Walthamstow. The two men both picked up two wickets during the Walthamstow innings, and along with Ewan Lowrie (2-22) and captain Aalok Latey (3-13) helped to bowl out the home side for just 118. That total may not have seemed a winning one at the halfway stage, but it looked like a huge one 90 minutes later as Upminster fell to 68-8. Hayward and Patrick Gulvin gave Latey's side some hope with a ninth wicket stand of 21, but the home side were still very much the favourites when last man Daly arrived at the crease and thirty were still needed. However, the two youngsters showed great patience and determination and with just one ball to spare they saw their side to a brilliant one wicket win.

While those two games resulted in nerve jangling wins, the Women's 2nd XI were on the other end of such a result on Sunday at Walthamstow. Lauren Plumb picked up two wickets for Upminster, and there were also wickets for Caitlin and Kara Smith and Daisy Middlemiss as the Stow made 159-6 from their 30 overs. Emma Noller (37) and Alex Semon gave Upminster a solid start in reply, but the Stow bowlers kept the pressure on and the run rate began to climb. Plumb (41*) continued her recent good form with another good innings, but with 45 needed from the last three overs and then 23 from the last, Upminster's race looked run. However, Plumb and Kara Smith didn't give up hope and with the home side feeling the pressure the game was still on with eight runs needed from the final two deliveries. The Upminster batters could only scramble three however, to lose by just four runs.

The 1st XI moved very much into the promotion race on Saturday with a three wicket win over Harold Wood at Upminster Park. Wood made a blistering start, reaching 81-1 in the 14th over of their innings, but fine spells once again from JJ Smuts (1-25) and Shafiq Rahman (4-42) helped to get Upminster back into the game. Wood still looked in good shape at 175-4, but Jamie Green (3-31) and Rahman ran through the lower order to dismiss the visitors for 210. Taqi Abbas and captain Craig Perrin both made half centuries for Wood. Upminster skipper Pulkit Gupta fell early in the Upminster reply, but Jeevan Singh, promoted up the order, and Smuts put together an excellent second wicket partnership. Smuts was adjudged LBW for 44 but Singh reached his half century as Upminster moved to 117-2. Singh eventually fell for 57 but Aki Rahman, Shafiq Rahman and Gus Siggins all made contributions to move Upminster towards victory, and although there were some late nerves, Nehal Butt and Adam Quested saw their side home with more than five overs to spare.

There was also a derby win by the same margin for the 2nd XI, as they overcame Hornchurch at Harrow Lodge Park. Both sides were missing a number of regulars, and the home side fell to 48-3 before the Barnacles, Gary and George, rebuilt with a stand of 112. Ollie Peck (3-33) led the way with the ball for Upminster, while there were also wickets for John Curtis, captain Billy Wright and the returning Scott Fisher. Stu Connor made 30 at the top of the Upminster order, and he and Zoran Suneel put Upminster into a good position, but at 54-3 and then 123-6 the game could have gone either way. Peck made 22, from just five deliveries, to put Upminster back in control, before youngster Joseph Brooks and Fisher, whose all round performance will surely see him come permanently out of retirement, saw Upminster home with plenty of time to spare.

The 4th XI suffered a loss against Frenford 3s at Coopers. Opener and captain Amir Ashraf made 120 from 132 balls for Frenford as the visitors made a fine start to their innings. Furqaan Molvi then added 57 as Frenford posted 244-4. Dylan Mansell (2-39) was the pick of the Upminster attack. Matt Ingleson, captain for the day in the absence of Ian Munn, made 39, but 3-16 from Uwais Molvi kept Frenford on top as Upmister fell to 94-6. Dave Brown didn't give up the fight though, and made a run a ball 52 to help ensure Upminster batted out their overs, but they ended well short on 194-8.

57 from club stalwart Karim Govani wasn't enough to stop the 6th XI falling to defeat against Orsett and Thurrock. An early finish looked on the cards with Upminster at 73-7 but Govani batted superbly, even smashing three maximums ,and with support from Harry Coles and Ollie Dignam, Upminster were able to post 141-9. Govani also picked up a wicket in the Orsett reply, that of Henry Medhurst for 61, but unfortunately it was the only one Upminster claimed as they fell to a nine wicket loss.

George Sheridan produced one of the performances of the weekend for the Mid-Essex XI against Chignal. 13 year old Sheridan batted for two hours to make a brilliant 80 from 110 balls, and with captain Craig Grote making 30 and youngsters Lewis Munn (21*) and Ralph Moore (30) also in the runs Upminster posted 204-8. Sheridan also picked up a wicket in the Chignal reply, alongside Thomas Waters and Tom Larke (2-55), but half centuries for Martin Clarke and Shivakumar Moolimani saw Chignal to a six wicket win.