Arising from various issues over the season to date, the Management Committee wishes to remind all clubs that the names under which players are recorded in official scoring records, including results reported under Rule 20, must be (at least the initial of) their preferred forename, and their legal family/surname, as these were specified for registration with the Association under Rule 11.

Sanctions may in future be applied if this is not followed without legitimate excuse.

This weekend in the Grades, in addition to the normal league programme, sees the preliminary rounds of the Grade 1 and 2 cup competitions, as well as St Ronald travelling to Glasgow to play in the first round of the Small Clubs Cup competition.

In Saturday's league programme, table-topping Bon Accord, with home advantage, will look to preserve their hundred per cent record at the Links against St Ronald; while Cults having dropped points last time out face promoted Methlick at Lairds.  Inverurie and Ellon meet at Kellands Park in a match between two of the sides currently languishing in the lower half of the table, while 2nd St Ronald take on Mannofield at Kings College and Stonehaven entertain AGSFP’s.

In Grade 2, Banchory, fresh from their record-breaking performance against Cults Artisans, take on a Gordonians team who will be anxious to recover from their defeat by Crathie, while the table-toppers from the royal estate face the day's longest journey as they take on Fraserburgh. Promoted Crescent take on Huntly at the Duthie Park.

In Grade 3, 3rd Gordonians continue to have difficulty in raising a team against Academy, while last season's Grade 4 winners 2nd Ellon take on 2nd Kemnay-Kintore at Gordon Park, as the combined club's first string look to continue their good start to the season against 2nd Stonehaven. Of the other leading sides Portcullis take on 2nd Gordonians at Countesswells, while 2nd Knightriders entertain Turriff.

Please find attached an updated list of the umpires scheduled for the Grade 1 and Cup matches

The ACA Treasurer Ian Stephen would like to thank those clubs that have paid their fees so promptly and also gives a gentle reminder to those that have still to do.

In order to avoid misunderstandings on voice-mail, Clubs are advised to Text in scores with the format advised below and in the Grades Handbook. Also it is the captains responsibility to ensure that players names are recorded formally in the score book and not just nick names or just first names. Many thanks in advance.

1) Name, Club, and Phone Number for contact in event of any queries.

2) Fixture (home team first), Grade and Date.

3) Score (runs scored and wickets lost) of team batting first - top two batsmen (indicating if not out), best two bowlers (in order of wickets taken, and specifying any hat-tricks).  If the game was subsequently drawn, the duration of first innings (rounding up uncompleted overs).

4) Score (runs scored and wickets lost) of team batting second - top two batsmen (indicating if not out), best two bowlers (in order of wickets taken, and specifying any hat-tricks).

5) Result and allocation of points.

As part of Aberdeenshire cricket club's development program to increase participation in cricket Aberdeenshire cc are hosting "Ladies Cricket Come & Try Sessions". The evenings are open to girls of all ages/abilities, all equipment will be provided, the Scotland national team coach Kari Carswell will be leading the sessions, as will the Scotland Captain Abbi Aitken and Scotland player Fiona Urquhart who are also player's at Aberdeenshire cc. The sessions are an opportunity for the girls to participate in a growing section of the game and sample some of the fun and enjoyment in playing cricket.

Venue: Mannofield Cricket Ground, Morningside Road, Aberdeen, AB10 7FB
Date: Friday 17^th and 31^st May 2013
Time: 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Contact: Bob Buchan at b.buchan31@sky.com

Bon Accord remain the only team with an unblemished record in Grade 1 following the latest round of fixtures on Saturday. However, this was a feat they achieved away from the field of play as their game at Stonehaven became one of those to be voided due to intermittent rain, on a day when Cults, despite a half-century from Graeme Gillanders, lost to 2nd St Ronald at Kellands Park, Inverurie. The day's individual batting performance came from Amar Mayekar of Mannofield, in his side's drawn game with 1st St Ronald at Kings College, while Methlick and Inverurie drew at Lairds, and Ellon suffered a third successive defeat away to AGSFP’s.

In Grade 2 Crathie retained their 100 per cent record at home to Gordonians while Knightriders, whose game was another to be void, also remain on full points. Fraserburgh overcame Queens Cross/Stoneywood Dyce to record their first win since stepping up from Grade 3 at Harlaw; while Banchory recorded the first winning draw result under the revised points system, as Cults-Artisans failed to achieve the second innings par score required to activate draw points.

In Grade 3 Portcullis had a walkover against 3rd Gordonians while Kemnay-Kintore also remain on maximum points following their defeat of Dunecht, as do Academy following the abandonment of their game against 2nd Knightriders and 2nd Banchory following their walkover against 2nd Methlick.

The season's first individual landmarks of centuries and a hat-trick were recorded at the weekend on a day when Ellon's grip on their Grade 1 title received another knock, as Mannofield edged to victory by two wickets at the Gordon Park, after promising innings for the home side from former Kintore and Bon Accord players Satyamurthy Guruwadayarahalli and Brian Veldsman. Both Bon Accord and Cults meanwhile maintained their hundred per cent records following their games at the Links and Allan Park, despite a five-wicket haul from Inverurie's Garry Coutts, and 1st St Ronald won out over their Second string at King's College, thanks to another half-century by Rehan Haider. Debojyoti Barman recorded the season's first hat-trick in Cults' defeat of Stonehaven for whom Jonathan van der Ruit contributed another four wickets. AGSFP’s just clung on to draw against Methlick at Rubislaw.

In Grade 2 a century from Tariq Butt on his return to Queens Cross saw the home side run out victors over Banchory; but an undefeated 114 from Gordonians' Phanidar Prattipati was not enough to set a winning total against Huntly for whom Liam Ferguson and Alex Brooks both recorded half-centuries.  The outcome of this match will however again be subject to possible protest relating to player ineligibility. Crathie's good opening to the season continued, with Bob McAra netting a further seven wickets as Cults-Artisans were shot out for just 20; while Crescent won the battle between two of the promoted sides at the Duthie Park, with a century from Abrar Ahmed; and Knightriders recorded another win over Fraserburgh.

In Grade 3, Kemnay-Kintore, anchored by a half-century from Gareth Prosser, beat 2nd Ellon; while a century from Sandy Richards saw 2nd Banchory overcome the combined clubs' second string at Burnett Park. Dunecht recorded a convincing win over 2nd Stonehaven led by an all round performance from former Academy captain Steve Derrett, while Portcullis maintained their sound start to the season defeating 2nd Mannofield, and Amar Mirashi was another among the wickets, taking seven for 10, as Turriff beat AGSFP’s 3rds at the Haughs. Wins for Academy over 2nd Gordonians and 2nd AGSFP’s over 2nd Methlick completed the day's card.

Please note that all matches against the Huntly u15's have been cancelled. Details of possible changes will be announced ASAP.

The 125 ACA Grades History book is available at £10.00 (uk postage included). Please email Ian Stephen or call 07775 817753. Please make all cheques payable to "Aberdeenshire Cricket Association" and send to 18 Beechill Gardens, Aberdeen, AB15 7QH

Grades cricket resumed at the weekend with a virtually full programme in all three leagues.

Perhaps the day's major upset was the defeat of last season's champions Ellon by newly promoted 2nd St Ronald in a game which had to be switched to Ellon following an erroneously-marked pitch at Sheddocksley. There were no such problems however for Bon Accord as they convincingly beat the other Grade 1 newcomers, Methlick, at Lairds; while Stonehaven showed their traditional early form beating St Ronald firsts at Mineralwell Park with a solid all-round performance from J van der Ruit. Wins for Cults and Mannofield completed the programme in the top division.

In Grade 2 Crathie found matters more to their liking following last season's struggles in Grade 1, as a five-wicket haul from Bob McAra saw them to victory against newly promoted Huntly; but Crescent were unable to mark their return to the Duthie Park, losing to Gordonians. Queens Cross, anchored by a knock of 60 from Mark Lambley beat Cults-Artisans at the Allan Park, while Caledonian were unable to raise a team against Fraserburgh, and Knightriders took the honours, away to Banchory.

In Grade 3 new look Kemnay-Kintore first XI got their season off to a promising start against 2nd AGSFP’s at Rubislaw, while Portcullis won the meeting of the other newly promoted side Turriff on the re-opened square at DP2. 2nd Kemnay-Kintore logged the day's only draw against 2nd Methlick, while 3rd Gordonians overcome their club's 2nd eleven in a foretaste of the first round of the Reid Cup, while league newcomers 3rd AGSFP's lost to Academy at the Links.

Please find 2 attachments of some International Games of interest.... 

The Charge for Clubs with home fixtures at the Links and Sheddocksley this season is £21.30 per game, payable on the day at Sheddocksley or the Linx Ice Arena.

This fee covers access to toilet facilities but not changing accommodation.

The charge for the two Duthie Park pitches is £33.50 per game, which is payable to the Association – it was easier to make a single contract for the Association for the 4 clubs based there – and will be re-invoiced by the Association to the relevant Clubs at the end of each month.

For Harlaw, Groats Roads and Rubislaw, the Council will invoice at the end of each month.

The Grades Handbooks are now available and will be distributed either by post or weather permitting, for the city based clubs, by members of your ACA committee over the weekend during your matches. So lookout for your committee member bearing gifts. Please address all queries to Ian Stephen via email or by calling 07775 8177753