There were few major surprises in the latest round of matches in Grade 1 as Cults comfortably beat Banchory at the Allan Park, with a half-century from Ed Spearman; while Queens Cross’s season of woe reached its nadir as they were shot out for just 14 by league leaders Bon Accord at Harlaw.  Kintore gained a morale-boosting win ahead of their Village Cup game in South Yorkshire with a six wicket win over Ellon, which hoisted them closer to mid-table safety, while Mannofield’s recent slump in form was reversed with a win over Inverurie at the Links, and Stonehaven edged out Grammar FPs.

In Grade 2 St Ronald, despite home advantage, lost to Caledonian with Jacques van Oorschot recording an undefeated half-century, and with Gordonians also losing to Anchorians, Methlick and Cult-Artisans strengthened their respective challenges for promotion with comfortable wins over Crescent and 2^nd Banchory.  Crathie clung on for a draw in their home encounter with Fraserbugh.

At Grade 3 level, 2^nd Kintore and 2^nd Ellon played out their long-delayed Reid Cup Quarter-Final, with the league game being postponed to a later date, a knock of 68 from K. Samy seeing the home side through by nine wickets to meet 2^nd St Ronald in the semi-final round for the right to play 2^nd Gordonians in next month’s final.  In what could well be a preview of that game meanwhile the league leaders had the better of a high-scoring encounter at Countesswells, K. Imran again leading the way for the visitors.  Academy beat 2^nd Methlick to remain in the second promotion spot.

In Grade 4 there were further wins for Kemnay and Knightriders with N. Patherikadavil notching up a century for the league newcomers; but both Stoneywood-Dyce and Turriff lost ground as their match finished in a draw.

Both Gordonians and Cult-Artisans were gifted walkovers in the semi-finals of the Bon Accord Cup which will as a result now be contested by two teams who have played only one game in the competition between them.  Stonehaven were also the latest team to be gifted a place in the semi-finals of the Aberdeenshire Cup, with the remaining Quarter-final between Mannofield and Kintore scheduled in for the County Ground next Sunday, provide National Villages Cup commitments do not again intervene.

The 125^th Anniversary Cricket Festival starts on Wednesday, when a City and Country under-17 teams meet at Banchory, followed on Thursday by a Pro-40 format game between the Grade Select and Aberdeenshire.  Both games are scheduled for a 1.00 pm start.