Culter Curry Bon Accord 313-9 (F. Awan 175, A. Win 49; A. Saxena 2-48, D. Patel 3-78). Cults AC&Co 64 (B. Alexander 29no, G.Milne 9; T. Malik 4-32 inc. hattrick, R. Greenfield 2-3). At Links.
 
Kintore MTM 128 (C. Laird 34, F. Summers 26; J. Torrance 3-10, P. Rourke 2-17). Dollar 131-5 (P. Garton 54, R. Anders 31; R. Balsillie 3-21). At Kintore.

Although rain meant that only two games were completed in the Aberdeen Grades on Saturday, the one match played out in Grade 1 proved to be extremely significant, Stonehaven unexpectedly inflicting a second successive defeat on Cults, to push the Allan Park for the time being off the top of the Grade 1 into fourth place below Ellon, Bon Accord and Kintore, all of whose games were washed out.

A hitherto placid tournament ended in an atmosphere of high controversy  last night, as needing six from the last ball to force their tie against Cults into an extra over, Ellon's hit was declared to have landed inches within the boundary line, putting the Allan Park side through to a semi-final of the Press & Journal against Mannofield, and relegating Ellon to the Duncan Cup playoffs next Monday against Kintore.  With emotions running high, it  looked for a moment as though players would need to be physically separated,  before both teams eventually left the field, with Ellon still indicating the possibility of putting in a formal protest to the Grades' Management Committee,  and feelings still too inflamed to enable the probable common sense solution of playing an extra over, if necessary under protest, and deciding any  subsequent protest when tempers had cooled.

Any hopes Cults had of going through another season unbeaten were firmly knocked on the head as they went down to a 119 run defeat against Ellon at the Gordon Park on Saturday.

One again it was Jonathan Barrett and Cobus Huiseman who led the way, Barrett top-scoring with 69 and taking four wickets, while Huiseman  also recorded a half-century and took three wickets, to give the home side sweet revenge for their defeat in the opening round of the Aberdeenshire Cup a fortnight ago.  The teams meet again to decide semi-final placings in the Thistle Sports Sevens on Monday evening.

Cults' defeat, though leaving them still at the top of the table, re-ignites the title hopes not only of Ellon, but also of Bon Accord and Kintore, who had no problems  in disposing of St Ronald and Grammar FPs respectively.  Queens Cross meanwhile made it three wins in a row, beating Banchory to move above Stonehaven, who lost to Inverurie at Mineralwell Park.

With Academy held to a draw by Gordonians, Mannofield strengthened their position at the top of Grade 2 beating 2nd Cults at the Allan Park, while Steve Dickie and Roy Ritchie put on 120 for the first wicket to steer Artisans to a victory over Dunecht.  Anchorians and Crescent drew, ahead of their cup quarter-final on Sunday.

In Grade 3 Methlick, with another century from Mark Woodhouse, and Portcullis both won to remain in the upper half of the table, but Fraserburgh lost to Crathie.  There was also another century for A McGeorge as Caledonian continued their recent run of form, but were held to a draw by Grammar FPs at Sheddocksley.

Mannofield claimed the first semi-final spot in the Press & Journal Trophy, while Kintore will play for the Duncan Cup, following last night's round of games at the Duthie Park.  Their opponents will be Cults A and Ellon; but who plays whom will depend on the result of next Monday's final game in Group D.

The fact that both qualifiers from Group C are already known follows the withdrawal from the Competition of Grammar FPs, and the decision of Mannofield and Kintore to bring forward their Group decider from next Monday, once both had beaten Dunecht in time (just) to allow a third game to be completed in the gathering gloom.

Mannofield, who had the advantage of batting first, put in a sound all-round batting performance to post a challenging total of 88 for four, Association joint web master Tariq Butt top scoring with 41; but despite an undefeated 42 from Colin Laird Kintore fell increasingly behind the clock as they tried to blast their way to victory.

In Group D both Cults and Ellon carried too much firepower for Methlick, to set up a Group title decider next week with Cobus Huiseman of Ellon compiling the evening's highest score as he and Jonathan Barrett combined in a 125-run partnership, before Huiseman was dismissed off the final ball of Ellon's innings.

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