While the 2025 season was a tough one for both of our women’s hardball sides, they showed huge fight and character to ensure they maintained their divisional statuses for the 2026 season.

The 1st XI knew that without overseas star Sunette Viljoen-Louw it would be a little tougher for them in Division 1 of the Essex Premier League than it had been the previous summer, but they put in a good performance to open the season at Hutton. While they eventually lost by five wickets there were runs for youngsters Harri Goodey, Felicity Russell and Keya Shah which was a positive sign for the season ahead. Russell and Shah were in fine form again a week later, with Shah claiming 4-23 and making 19 not out and Russell scoring an excellent 66, but despite those performances, and Paige Roche also finding form with the bat, Colchester & East Essex claimed a 37 run victory. The heaviest defeat of the season came a week later at Wanstead & Snaresbrook when runs for Russell and captain Zoe Quested couldn’t stop the home team romping to a big victory, but Upminster got off the mark a week later against Woodford Wells at Upminster Park. Roche and Quested both smashed half centuries before Lois Gable and Georgia Hayes added late runs as Upminster piled up 277 before Gable (5-3) and Shah (3-32) ran through the Wells batting as they were rolled out for 76. Unfortunately, the first half of the league campaign concluded a week later with a heavy loss at Bishop’s Stortford. Coco Thomas’ 14 was top score for Upminster as they went on to lose by nine wickets. That left Upminster in fifth position in the six-team table at the halfway stage of the season.

The 100 competition began in early June with two wins courtesy of concessions from Hutton, but either side of that the squad took part in the European Cricket Series event hosted by our neighbours Hornchurch at Harrow Lodge Park. Upminster were joined in the event by Hutton and Gunnersbury, and they welcomed back a former star as Sunette Viljoen-Louw returned to the Upminster squad for the games which were held over two weekends. The first day was severely disrupted by the weather and it ended with Gunnersbury very much on course to take the title, but the following weekend Upminster found their form. They beat Hutton in an early morning contest before beating Gunnersbury thanks to 87 not out from Viljoen-Louw. It meant the evening game between the two sides was effectively a title decider, with Gunnersbury holding the advantage at the start of the match in terms of points and net run rate. The favourites made a competitive 122-4, despite two wickets for Lauren Plumb, but Viljoen-Louw went on to make an astonishing unbeaten century, from just 34 balls, to take Upminster to victory. Unfortunately, despite winning with more than an over to spare Upminster just failed to overhaul Gunnersbury’s net run rate and had to settle for the runners-up spot. The competition was great experience and great fun for everyone involved and the side will hopefully be invited to return next year.

Back in 100 action, and there were two heavy defeats to Colchester despite runs for Roche and wickets for Plumb in the first game of the day, and it was a similar story a week later at Wanstead where the home side picked up two wins, but youngsters Goodey, Shah and Gable all impressed with the bat and Coco Thomas was in fine form with the ball. Upminster kept alive their hopes of 100 glory the following weekend as they won both games against Woodford Wells at Upminster Park. Goodey and Roche starred with the bat in the first game of the day before Gable produced a stunning four wicket spell to seal the victory, and then the fun really started in the second contest of the afternoon. Dani Cox made 31 for the home side before Roche smashed 124 not out from just 49 deliveries and Goodey clubbed an unbeaten 70 from 31 deliveries as Upminster piled up 239-2. Shah then nabbed 3-1 as her side won by a remarkable 191 runs. The two wins meant that Upminster retained an outside chance of topping the 100 table with one weekend to play, but in the end their two games with Bishops Stortford were washed out and results elsewhere meant Colchester & East Essex took the title with Upminster ending in fifth.

Back in Division 1 action and Upminster came up against a Hutton side inspired by Sophie Wilson. Wilson made 127 not out to take her side to a convincing win and leave Upminster looking over their shoulder at the wrong end of the table. However, a week later at Castle Park Zoe Quested’s side took a huge step towards survival with their best performance of the season to beat Colchester & East Essex. All of Upminster’s attack bowled well with Gable the pick of the bunch, claiming 4-36, as Colchester were bowled out for 145. Roche (30) and Goodey (55*) put together an excellent partnership to start the Upminster reply, and despite a couple of wobbles Russell and then Gable helped Goodey see their side to a seven wicket win. There was a defeat to Wanstead a week later in a high scoring encounter at Upminster Park, despite runs from Goodey, Russell, Gable, Quested and Thomas, and Division 1 status for 2026 was secured over Bank Holiday weekend when Woodford Wells were forced to concede the penultimate game of the season. The season concluded with a defeat against champions elect Bishops Stortford, but not before Upminster gave them an almighty scare with Keya Shah producing one final lethal spell with the ball (3-27).

It all meant Upminster ended fourth in the table and they will hope that their young players can push on in 2026 and help them climb up the division. Gable and Shah starred with the ball throughout the season and caused problems to all of the opposition batting line-ups while Roche, Goodey and Russell piled up the runs in all formats. With all-rounders Thomas and Quested also enjoying solid seasons there are lots of positive signs for next year. Shah and Russell were rewarded for their excellent seasons with places in the squad for the Nick Browne Testimonial Match where they were able to showcase their skills.

The 2nd XI eventually secured their Division 2 status for 2026 after a topsy turvy season and a number of close games. They began the season with a win after Harold Wood conceded, but with Wood eventually withdrawing from the league that game was expunged from the records. A week later at Hutton the home side piled up a massive 240-1, with Anaya Shankar making 106 not out, but although Upminster never looked like winning the game they showed plenty of fight to bat out their overs and finish on 181-9 with Lauren Plumb top scoring. The following week Upminster narrowly missed out as they lost by one wicket against Orsett & Thurrock. Jemma Creswell and captain Angela Green helped Upminster battle to 118 before Orsett fell to 31-5 and 94-8. However, Orsett opener Eliza Winckless batted the entire innings to finish on 67 not out, and despite nobody else making double figures, her side scraped to the narrowest of victories. Upminster slumped to defeat in their next game against Wanstead & Snaresbrook, despite a remarkable spell of 4-2 from Shaniya Popat, and they then suffered another agonisingly close loss to High Roding at the start of June. Lauren Plumb (4-13) and Priya Somani (3-12) helped bowl out Roding for 132 before sisters Dani Cox and Jami Armes put on fifty for the first wicket in reply. When they fell Upminster wobbled, but Plumb and Daisy Middlemiss looked to be taking their side to victory. Another collapse meant six runs were needed from the last over, but Roding held their nerve to win by just three runs.

Runaway leaders Billericay proved to strong in Upminster’s next game, despite an excellent innings from Karen Burley, but Green’s side finally picked up their first win of the season when they travelled to High Roding in mid-July. Green, Emma Noller and Maisie Coles all made good contributions with the bat before late runs from Amelia Davies and Eadi French took the Upminster total to a very competitive 176-7. Plumb then claimed two early wickets to put Upminster on top before Armes (3-25) bowled her side to a 37 run victory. The return game against Hutton was washed out meaning Upminster faced a crucial looking game against Orsett & Thurrock at the start of August. Orsett opener Winckless repeated her effort from the first game as she made another half century, but with Coles and captain Green in the wickets Upminster would have been happy at halfway as they were left to chase 125 for victory. Youngster Alex Goodey then made a superb half century of her own for Upminster, but with nobody else in the top nine making double figures Orsett became favourites, and although there were some last wicket heroics from French and Somani Upminster were bowled out for 99.

With two tough games to play Upminster appeared to be facing relegation as they travelled to Nutter Lane to face Wanstead & Snaresbrook. Plumb (3-41) was in fine form with the ball for the visitors, but the Wanstead total of 180-7 looked a formidable one. Noller and Goodey got Upminster’s reply off to an excellent start, and Kara Smith (35) and Goodey then pushed on with an excellent fourth wicket stand of 93. Goodey soon brought up another half century as Upminster closed in on victory, but when she fell for 59 there were still 22 needed. However, Caitlin Smith and Green held their nerve and saw their side to a brilliant five wicket win with just two balls to spare. Upminster lost their final game to champions Billericay by six wickets, but a brilliant maiden senior fifty for Beth Libby (54) helped Upminster to pick up what turned out to be some crucial extra bonus points. Hutton beat High Roding in their final match of the season meaning Upminster climbed above Roding in the final table by an Average Points difference of just 0.13 and thus deservedly escaped relegation.

Plumb and Green led the way with the ball for Upminster throughout the season, while youngsters Somani, Coles and Popat showed much promise for the future. Goodey’s two half centuries near the end of the season were a sign of her potential, but the side did struggle for runs and that is one area where they will be looking to improve in 2026. Availability was up and down throughout 2025, and Green will be hoping for a more settled and consistent side next season, as well as hoping that the next crop of young players can come into the side and establish themselves.

The Women’s Softball Team enjoyed a hugely successful season once again with more women than ever representing the club. In the Essex Softball Series Upminster topped their group during the season before moving on to Finals Day at the Ambassador Cruise Line County Ground. Upminster eventually lost out in the semi finals but picked themselves up to win the bronze medal match and claim a brilliant third place from 41 sides across the county. The side also topped the table in the Ballerz Blast League which made its debut in 2025, but with Finals Day taking place on the same day as the Nick Browne Testimonial Match, Upminster were not able to take part. Jami Armes did a brilliant job as captain in getting so many people playing and enjoying their cricket, and the team also took part in festivals at Belhus, Brentwood and Hornchurch.

All in all, the season can be considered another huge success. With both hardball sides retaining their league status and the softball team winning so many games there is much to be positive about. With a number of youngsters preparing to play hardball cricket next season, and some of the softball squad also wanting to move into the hardball sides, it is hoped that availability in 2026 will be even stronger. With so much achieved over the last few seasons it is easy to forget that women’s cricket at the club only relaunched just over five years ago, and we hope that 2026 will be even bigger and better than 2025.