1st XI vs Oakmere (a)
Date/Time: Sat 30 May | 12:00pm
Preview: Upton 1st XI are back on the road this weekend as they travel to Oakmere, a ground that holds good memories from the club’s 2024 title-winning campaign. Oakmere were one of the sides pushing Upton hard that season before eventually finishing fourth, and they have again made a strong start this year, currently sitting fourth in what is proving to be a very compact division. Upton are boosted by the return of skipper Tom Marsland following the birth of his son, Reuben. Everyone at the club sends their congratulations to Tom and partner Rhian on their fantastic news — with many already tipping Reuben to be the club’s 1st XI wicketkeeper by 2044! The side sees one further change, with Luke Camden returning to the XI for this weekend’s fixture. Oakmere will be keen to respond after suffering defeat to NE Cheshire last weekend, having been bowled out for 127. With both sides aiming to keep pace near the top of the table, another competitive encounter is expected as Upton look to string together back-to-back league wins.
League Position: Upton – 8th (61pts) | Oakmere – 4th (79pts)
Leading Run Scorers: Upton – Luke Camden (126) | Oakmere – Sevriano Cupido (177)
Leading Wicket Takers: Upton – Phil McGowan (16) | Oamere – Matthew Holland (19)
Previous Meeting: 10 August 2024: Upton won by 74 runs having posted 249 (Chris McArthur 74) and bowled Oakmere out for 177 (Phil McGowan 3-15)

2nd XI vs WIDNES (H)
Date/Time: Sat 30 May | 12:00pm
Preview: Upton 2nd XI return to home soil this weekend as they take on Widnes, looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat away at Didsbury last Saturday. There is just one change to the Upton side, with Luca DiStefano returning to the team following his recent involvement with the 1st XI. Neither side has enjoyed the start to the season they would have hoped for, with both Upton and Widnes recording just one victory from their opening six league fixtures. As a result, both teams will see this as an important opportunity to gain momentum and begin climbing the table. Widnes arrive at Upton on the back of a seven-wicket defeat to Brooklands. After posting 169, they were unable to defend their total as Brooklands reached the target in the 37th over. With both sides eager to kick-start their campaigns, an entertaining and hard-fought contest is expected as Upton look to make home advantage count.
League Position: Upton – 9th (43pts) | Widnes – 11th (38pts)
Leading Run Scorers: Upton – Darren Warburton (152) | Widnes – Billy Webb (169)
Leading Wicket Takers: Upton – Tom Wood (13) | Widnes – Noor Sarwari (9)
Previous Meeting: 16 July 2022: Match drawn with Widnes posting 262-3 and Upton 225-8 in reply (Ian Potter 48)

3rd XI vs Heaton Mersey 2nd XI (a)
Date/Time: Sat 30 May | 12:00pm
Preview: The 3rd XI are looking to keep the pressure on the top two in what is shaping up to be a fiercely competitive division. Just 14 points separate the top five sides, with this weekend’s opponents, Heaton Mersey 2nd XI, sitting four points above Upton after both teams have enjoyed strong starts to the campaign, winning four of their opening six matches. Upton are boosted by the return of several players to the squad, with Ian Potter, Gavin Byrom, Patrick Waring and Johno Fairclough all coming into the side ahead of an important clash. Heaton Mersey find themselves in good form themselves following a narrow 13-run victory over Cheadle Hulme last weekend in what proved to be a closely fought contest. With both teams firmly in the mix near the top of the table, another competitive encounter is expected as Upton look to close the gap and strengthen their promotion push.
League Position: Upton – 5th (90pts) | Heaton Mersey – 3rd (94pts)
Leading Run Scorers: Upton – Dave Stewart (151)| Heaton Mersey – Ayz Cheema (171)
Leading Wicket Takers: Upton – Luke Williams (12) | Heaton Mersey – Shahzad Afzal (16)
Previous Meeting: This is the first meeting between the two sides

4th XI vs IRBY 4th XI (H)
Date/Time: Sat 30 May | 1:00pm
Preview: Upton 4th XI continues their campaign this weekend as they welcome Irby in what will be the first meeting between the sides since the 2022 season. That year saw Upton finish third in the table, while Irby ended the campaign in seventh place, and both teams will be eager to build momentum as the current season begins to take shape. Upton head into the game having made a solid start, winning four of their opening six fixtures, while Irby have picked up two victories so far — one of those coming via a concession. There are four changes to the Upton side from last weekend, with Sean Lynch, Gary Docherty, Ian Bruce and Steve Smith all coming into the team. Irby will be looking to bounce back after a difficult outing last week, when they were bowled out for just 69 by Chester County Officers before suffering a seven-wicket defeat. With home advantage on their side, Upton will be hoping to produce another strong performance and continue their positive start to the season.
League Position: Upton – 2nd (87pts) | Irby – 8th (54pts)
Leading Run Scorers: Upton – Phil Wood (281) | Irby s – Kevin Jackson (89)
Leading Wicket Takers: Upton – Stephen Redfern (11) | Irby – Sam Mills (13)
Previous Meeting: 20 August 2022: Upton won by 138 having posted 193-5 (Joe Collister 90*) and then bowling Irby out for 55 (Dec Delaney 3-9, Jack Presswell 3-16)