2008 Grades get under way

Weather permitting, the Grades cricket season for 2008 opens on Saturday, with a full programme of games in all four leagues following the major reconstruction of the fixture list necessitated by a broken drain on Links 5.

 

Once again the Grade 1 title is expected to be contested between Cults, Bon Accord and Kintore; with Ellon and Stonehaven also having an outside chance.  A new first in the top Grade however will be the presence of two teams from the same club, as 2nd Cults join their first eleven in the top division.  Under Rules approved in 2006, the club will be required to name six players who can appear in the first eleven only; but will otherwise be free to move players between teams, and there is much speculation how they will choose to do so.

 

In the meantime, following a third consecutive promotion, Caledonian open their Grade 1 campaign against Ellon at the Duthie Park; while in Grade 2 last season’s demoted sides, Grammar FPs and Artisans, take on promoted Crathie and Academy respectively.  Grade 2 in fact looks like again being the most closely contested, with Queens Cross and St Ronald joining the four clubs already mentioned in seeking to regain their League 1 status.

 

The return to the leagues of 2nd Gordonians and Huntly’s developmental side, Huntly Highlanders, means that Grade 3 reverts to ten sides, with 2nd Ellon and 2nd Grammar joining 2nd Banchory and 2nd Methlick in making the step up from Grade 3; while Crescent and Anchorians are the sides to drop down from last year’s Grade 2.  Portcullis and 2nd Queens Cross will look for better fortunes this season, having been demoted from Grade 3 last year.

 

In addition to the start of the league season, Sunday sees the outstanding semi-final and final of last season’s Turriff Cup Twenty20, which was washed out last September, with Queens Cross playing Ellon in the final at midday at the Links; and the winners playing Mannofield at the same venue thereafter.

 

 

 

 

Culter Curry Bon Accord v 2nd Cults (Links 4), Caledonian v Ellon Gordon (DP1), Cults Mo&Co v AAM Mannofield, Inverurie v Banchory, Stonehaven Thistle v Kintore MTM.

 

 

AGSFPs v Crathie, Academy Toco Sport v Artisans (DP2), Up Front Gordonians v Methlick, Kemnay v Fraserburgh, Queens Cross v Dominion Gas St Ronald.

 

 

2nd Banchory v Dunecht,  Crescent v Stoneywood-Dyce (DP3),   2nd Ellon v 2nd AGSFPs,  2nd Kintore v Turriff,  2nd Methlick v Anchorians.

 

 

2nd Dunecht v 2nd Stonehaven, 2nd Gordonians v Huntly Highlanders, Portcullis v 2nd Mannofield (Sheddocksley 1), 2nd St Ronald v 2nd Queens Cross (Sheddocksley 2)

 

 

 

 

Ellon Gordon v Queens Cross (Links 4) (12.30pm).

 

 

Ellon Gordon/Queens Cross v AAM Mannofield (Links 4) (3.30pm).