As the grades cricket season enters its final two months, speculation is mounting as to whether Bon Accord will go through the league season with an unblemished record, and make a clean sweep of all the trophies for which they are eligible.  Their victory over closest rivals Cults in last weekend’s only scheduled game between the two sides in the league – play having been washed out on the opening day of the season – means that they now have a healthy 20 point percentage lead at the top of Grade 1; and they are unlikely to be troubled this weekend by Gordonians, whom they have already defeated in both the Small Clubs and Turriff cups as well as the league this season.

Cults meanwhile face a potentially tricky trip to play Stonehaven at Mineralwell Park; while Ellon, who have moved above Cults into second place meantime, host Mannofield at the Gordon Park.  Inverurie travel to Banchory, while bottom side St Ronald take on Kintore, who are surely due a run of good results after an indifferent run of league form earlier in the season.

At the top of Grade 2 leaders Grammar FPs should prove too strong for a struggling Artisans side; while a close encounter is anticipated between second-placed Crathie and third placed Queens Cross.  Methlick and 2nd Banchory will look to maintain contact with the leaders away to 2nd  Cults and 2nd Kintore respectively.

Anchorians continue to dominate Grade 3, but could face a stiff test of their promotion credentials against 2nd Ellon; while 2nd placed Gordonians face third-placed Crescent in another game affecting the top of the table.  In the lower half of the table, Turriff – yet to record a win this season – play Dunecht; while Kemnay, having recorded a second win last weekend against 2nd Stonehaven, will hope to repeat the feat against Academy.  Only half a percentage point meanwhile separates the three sides at the top of Grade 4, with 2nd Grammar taking on Portcullis in the day’s key fixture.

Sunday sees Ellon pitted against Queens Cross in the outstanding quarter-final of the Turriff Cup.

CINNAMON GRADES (Umpires sponsored by Shahbaaz Tandoori)

SATURDAY JULY 4th

GRADE 1

Banchory v Inverurie, Culter Curry Bon Accord v Ritson Smith Gordonians (Links 4), Ellon Gordon v Dana Petroleum Mannofield, Dominion Gas St Ronald v Kintore (Kings College), Stonehaven Thistle v Cults Mo&Co.

Artisans v AGSFPs (DP1), Crathie v Queens Cross, 2nd Cults v Methlick, Fraserburgh v Caledonian, 2nd Kintore v 2nd Banchory.

GRADE 3

Academy v Kemnay (DP2), Anchorians v 2nd Ellon (DP3), 2nd Gordonians v Crescent, 2nd Methlick v 2nd Stonehaven, Turriff v Dunecht.

GRADE 4

2nd AGSFPs v Portcullis, 2nd Dunecht v Huntly Highlanders, 2nd Mannofield v Stoneywood-Dyce (Sheddocksley 1), 2nd Queens Cross v 2nd St Ronald.

SUNDAY

TURRIFF CUP QUARTER-FINAL

Ellon Gordon v Queens Cross.