Following the recent indisposition of the Association Secretary, clubs are advised that the Association's Results Line will, at least for a period, be operating on an unmanned basis.

In accordance with Rule 20, clubs should continue to phone results to 01224-822835 by 8.15pm on the day of play; but are asked to leave details on the answering machine, from which they can be forwarded or accessed by remote control.  If play is continuing beyond 8.15pm, the side batting second should make an initial call before that time to advise that fact.  A 5-point penalty on the home team applies where no report has been received without good cause by the cut-off time.

The following details should be given:

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

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

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

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

5) Result and allocation of points.

If desired, a note may also be left of any highlights - major partnerships, collapses, recoveries etc.

If a match is postponed, the HOME club is responsible for notifying this: if a fixture is scratched BOTH clubs must phone to confirm.

Clubs are reminded that under a change to Rules approved at the 2008 AGM, players must be identified in reporting results using the name under which they are registered with the Association: both surname and initial should be given, as these are needed for press reports.  Occasionally, where a club has multiple players with the same surname and initial, the full first name may be required. Discretion should be used, where appropriate, also to spell out in full surnames which are unusual or have variant spellings - Macdonald, McDonald, etc - as the time available for preparing press reports does not allow the checking of all names against club registration lists.

Cricket in the Aberdeenshire Grades resumes at the weekend, with new sponsors for the leagues and the Umpires Panel in the form of the Cinnamon and the Shahbaaz Tandoori Restaurants respectively.

In Grade 1 there is an early clash between two of the top sides as Bon Accord take on Cults at the Links; while last season's Grade 2 champions Ritson Smith Gordonians start their Grade 1 career away to Ellon.  Inverurie have a home local derby against Kintore, while St Ronald who led Grade 2 for almost the whole of last season before being pipped at the post on the final day start with an away trip to Stonehaven.  Mannofield play a re-shaped Banchory side in the day's remaining top flight game.

In Grade 2 last season's two relegated sides, Caledonian and 2nd Cults, meet at the Allan Park; while of the sides to step up from Grade 3 2nd Banchory play Artisans at the Duthie Park, Methlick take on Queens Cross at Lairds in a game between two of the sides fancied to make a challenge for promotion during the season, whilst 2nd Kintore take on Crathie on a rescheduled match on Sunday 26th.

In Grade 3 promoted 2nd Gordonians entertain 2nd Ellon at Countesswells; while relegated Academy and Kemnay will hope for a recovery of form against Crescent and promoted 2nd Stonehaven respectively.