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.

Leaders Bon Accord face a doubleheader against last season's champions Ellon at the weekend as the two sides meet in the league on Saturday, and in the cup on Sunday in a repeat of last year's Preliminary round draw.

Elsewhere in Grade 1 Cults travel to play St Ronald at Kings College, while the two promoted clubs, 2nd St Ronald and Methlick, meet at Lairds.

In Grade 2 table-topping Crathie have a local Deeside derby at home to Banchory, while Queens Cross/Stoneywood-Dyce will hope for a recovery of form at home to Gordonians, and Knightriders may carry too much fire-power for Caledonian.

At Grade 3 level league competitions are suspended for a week, as clubs meet in the first round of the Reid Cup, the losers from which will this year get a second chance of silverware in the Johnston Rose Bowl in a month's time. Academy, Portcullis and Kemnay-Kintore will be among those expected to make progress, while 2nd Ellon face a tough task against 2nd Knightriders.

Sunday's programme, in addition to the Bon Accord Ellon encounter sees another attempt to play the Queens Cross/Stoneywood-Dyce and Gordonians in the Bon Accord cup game, which was washed out last weekend.

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Dennis Emslie, St Ronald stalwart, sadly passed away on 21st May.

Our sincere Condolences to his family. Funeral arrangements details to follow.

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The Preliminary round of the 3 Counties cup with the Grades Select v Mannofield will take place at Mannofield on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 starting at 18:00. Umpire(s) to be provided by Gordonians cc.

Grades Select 192-4 off 20 overs (B Veldsman 62no, R Haider 52, K Imran 28) Mannofield 132-2 off 16 overs (I Yahathugoda 54no, M Hays 47)

Match abandoned due to rain - replay date to be confirmed 

Following investigation of a potential breach of rule the Management Committee of the Association at its meeting on 15 May 2013 reversed the result of the match between 2nd St Ronald and Ellon played on April 27th 2013.  This was based on evidence, of which the Committee was aware, that 2nd St Ronald had knowingly fielded a player whose financial status with another club from the previous season the Committee had been informed was, at the date of the game, unresolved.  Ellon will accordingly be awarded 30 points: 2nd St Ronald will retain their bonus points less the contribution of the player concerned (18).  The player will be asked to appear before the Committee at its next meeting. 

A separate protest submitted by Ellon that 2nd St Ronald might in the same game have fielded a player ineligible for registration with the Association, but of which no more specific evidence was provided in their letter of protest, was dismissed.  All players were found both to be eligible for registration, and to have been properly registered in accordance with the Rules.  However a protest that St Ronald had breached Rule 11 by using names in the scorebook and/or reporting results which differed from those under which they were registered with the Association was upheld.  All clubs are being reminded of the requirements of Rule 11 in this regard, and that sanctions may be applied if it is breached in future without good cause.

Torrential rain once again took a hand as all games in the Grades, other than the Grade 3 encounter between 3rd AGSFP’s and 2nd Mannofield, which had previously been re-scheduled for Sunday, and the game between Academy and 3rd Gordonians for which the visitors were unable to raise a team, finished as void fixtures.  In Grade 3, with 16 teams, this means that the teams concerned will not now meet this season.  However in Grades 1 and 2, the reverse fixtures will have to be re-scheduled if washed out on August 17th 2013

THISTLE SPORTS GRADES [Umpires sponsored by Shahbaaz Tandoori]

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.

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 (Montrose Cricket Club) and Scotland player Fiona Urquhart who is a 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