Additional Grades Handbooks are now available at £3.00 including uk postage. Also available, the 125 ACA Grades History book at £10.00 (uk postage included). Please email Ian Stephen or call 07775 817753. Please make all cheques payable to "Aberdeenshire Cricket Association" and send to 18 Beechill Gardens, Aberdeen, AB15 7QH

With Isolated showers and the temperature plummeting well below this summer sport; in Grade 1 Ellon visited neighbours Kintore who they bowled out for 83 with most of the damage inflicted by R. Greenfield (6-21) ably supported by S. White (3-19) and comfortably reaching their target with 7 wickets in hand (85-4). The Alan park side Cults, visited Banchory where new boy R. Maghani (5-26) restricted the home side to 122 which the visitors comfortably overtook with the batting performances from S. Devadas (51) and K. Laghate (66). Last years champions Bon Accord hosted newly promoted Queens Cross who are still finding their feet in Grade 1 as they crashed out at 39 with bowling from Messrs T. Malik (4-25) and N. Mirza (2-3). The other promoted side AGSFP’s also suffered defeat as they were skittled out for 61 by a strengthened Stonehaven side with bowling by new boy G. Vanderrout (6-22) ably supported by C. Hinchcliffe (3-15). The Inverurie v Mannofield encounter was washed out as the rain flooded the pitch at Inverurie.

The opening weekend of the new Grades cricket season saw Cults, Ellon and Mannofield recording Grade 1 victories, as last year’s champions Bon Accord were held to a nail-biting draw by Stonehaven.  There was also an opening weekend’s victory for Grade newcomers Knightriders.

For Cults Graeme Gillanders made a welcome return to the colours, top-scoring with an undefeated 66 as the Allan Park side recorded a comfortable win over promoted Queens Cross, while a century from skipper Andy Win and three wickets for Fazal Awan were just insufficient to see the Bons to victory at Mineralwell Park.

A high-scoring encounter at the Gordon Park saw the home side knock off a total of over 200 to beat Inverurie; while Mannofield recovered from a shaky start to beat Banchory at the Links, and Grammar FPs gained an encouraging draw at home to Kintore.

In Grade 2 Caledonian overwhelmed promoted Crescent in the quickest result of the day, while Gordonians showed signs of perhaps better things to come against Methlick, and St Ronald hung on to beat a strong Cults Artisans outfit.

In Grade 3 Gordonians made it two wins out of two for the day as they comfortably beat traditional rivals 2^nd Grammar, while 2^nd St Ronald emulated their Firsts with a daw against Ellon at Sheddocksley.  Stuart Kennedy recorded the day’s highest score (140) in Methlick’s defeat of 2^nd Queens Cross.

In Grade 4, as well as Knightriders win over 2^nd Dunecht there were opening weekend wins for Stoneywood-Dyce over Huntly’s Development XI, and for Portcullis away to Kemnay at Bogbeath Park.  School commitments meant 2^nd Mannofield were unable to fulfil their game against Turriff.

As a backup measure in future should the Results Hotline Service (07910 279627) fail, please call Shona on 01224 319004. Once again, we apologise for any inconvenience caused. Many thanks.

Ahead of the news season, the Officers of the Association thought it might be helpful to offer a brief review of the Rules affecting player eligibility, as they stand following the changes made at last year’s AGM.

Firstly and most importantly, players can only take an active part in any fixture provided they have been registered before they take the field.  This can be done by message on my Answering Machine (01224 822835) and followed up by an updated copy of the club’s Registration List at the start of the week.

While individuals can be registered by any number of clubs, they can PLAY for only one club unless one of the sub-sections of Rule 13 applies.  Rule 13(a) allows players from Clubs whose First Elevens are in Grade 2 or below to play up to two games on a trial basis for a Club whose First Eleven is in a higher grade; but the consent of the donor club must have been secured, and both clubs must have advised the Association Secretary in advance.  Rule 13(c) allows players to transfer;  BUT ONLY IN THE FIRST SIX WEEKS OF THE SCHEDULED SEASON, ONCE LETTERS HAVE BEEN LODGED BY BOTH CLUBS, THE TRANSFER HAS BEEN SIGNED OFF BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE PLAYER HAS LODGED (AND HAD RECEIPTED) AN ADMINISTRATION FEE OF £25. ANY OUTSTANDING DEBTS TO THE PREVIOUS CLUB MUST ALSO HAVE BEEN SETTLED.  Players who move under either of these Rules may not appear for two different teams in the same Cup Competition in the same season.  New players, who have not previously played this season, may be registered at any time – but it is the responsibility of clubs before they register any player to check s/he has no outstanding debts from the previous season – failing to check is no defence.

Home Clubs playing at Duthie Park are advised that the cost per Game has now increased to £20. All Payments are to be submitted to:
THE BOOKING OFFICE, BEACH LEASURE CENTRE, BEACH PROMENADE, ABERDEEN, AB24 5NR

Thistle Sports would like to advise all Grade 1 teams that due to a mix-up with the ordering of the next level up ball (Dukes Royal Crown A) as agreed at the ACA Grades Meeting, the manufacturer, has supplied the ball 4 levels up (Dukes County International A – rrp £35).

Despite a magnificent 157 from Michael Leask the home side, Stoneywood-Dyce, failed to secure victory in this pre-season friendly.  Aberdeen Grades Select 264-6 (Vijay 62, B.

Please find attached Draw for the Thistle Sports 7's.