Upton v Denbigh
Upton’s pre-season started back in November in a cold Birkenhead Park indoor facility, and finished at the weekend in the glorious sunshine of Neston's Station Road ground. Playing in a three team T20 competition with the hosts and North Wales Premier team Denbigh. In the first game we took on the North Wales side with captain Matt Smith winning the toss and electing to bowl.

With all 4 front line 1st XI seamers taking a break before the season started, the much improved Sol Turner took the new ball with Lancashire Thunder left armer Sophie Morris. Upton started well and, in the field, looked sharp, Turner getting an early break through thanks to a sharp catch from Marsland behind the sticks.

With the run rate kept in check, Dave Williams came on and further tightened the screw taking two wickets, with Lee Dixon coming on to finish the innings bowling some tidy death overs.

It’s worth highlighting two excellent run outs from Darren Warburton in the ring, and a superb run out from long on from Luke Camden.

Denbigh made 116 off 20 - a score captain Smith felt confident we could chase down.
Tom Marsland and Tom Woods opened the innings and got off to an absolute flyer . Marsland with a strike rate of 200 getting a blistering 40. Woods and Darren Warburton continued to score well, Woods playing a beautiful straight drive for 6 just before falling for 30.

Ex Neston player Camden on his return, joined Warburton and played with real control as we knocked off the score inside 15 overs both ending 21 not out.

Solid first part to the day and taking the pre-season tally to 2 from 2

Neston v Upton
In the second game, Upton faced a new look Neston 1st XI following the arrival of several new players for the 2025 season. Again, Upton bowled first as the good weather had attracted a very good pre-season crowd. Neston flew out of the blocks as the impressive Matthew Strong took to the Upton bowlers clearing the fence three times in his early onslaught. Strong fell to Dixon's slower ball caught well by Matt Smith on the fence.

Neston set a good platform and looked to kick on in the second half of the innings. New recruit from Northop Ben Beaver got a run a ball 33, meanwhile impressive junior Zak Rogers tucked into the Upton attack ending up on 63 not out. Only the ever-dependable David Williams with 1/19 managed to avoid some lofty blows.

In response, Dan Owen and Luke Camden faced up to the new ball, the latter looking in fine touch against his old teammates getting 38 (30). Smith came in looking full of confidence after last week’s knock against Wallasey but fell for 10. When Dixon was run out for 17, the innings had the potential to fall away as a clump of quick wickets left Upton 106/7. Enter Sol Turner who for the next 11 balls bludgeoned the ball to all parts of Parkgate. His 29 off 11 brought a more respectable end look when Upton finished on 145ao off 17.5 overs.

No shame in defeat, holding our own for large parts against a full-strength Premier league outfit. All that took part will take some very positive moments into week one after a good pre-season.

Massive thank you to the Neston Committee for staging the game and the fantastic hospitality after the game. Onto Haslington next week start the Division 2 campaign.