Cults won the Twenty20 Turriff Cup, and Crathie are promoted to Grade 1 following the completion of Saturday’s fixtures in the Aberdeenshire Grades.

In finals’ day of the Cup competition Cults put out previous holders Mannofield in the semi-final, before going on to beat St Ronald in the final, Javiad Masud taking three wickets and former Anchorians’ captain Chris Forbes two, as the Allan Park side defended a total of 128 from their twenty overs. Man of the match awarded to Richard Munro (Cults)

In the day’s outstanding Grade 2 fixture, postponed from May due to the unavailability of Crathie’s ground, the home side beat Academy to edge past Queens Cross/Stoneywood-Dyce in the race for the second promotion spot, captain Andy Shore steering his team home with an undefeated 36.  Academy’s 10-point haul was however sufficient to confirm their Grade 2 status for a further season and relegate Fraserburgh to Grade 3.

The remaining game at the top of Grade 3 between champions Knightriders and 2nd Methlick was again washed out; and will now hopefully be played next weekend.

The Surprising outcome of the weekend was in the final of the Aberdeenshire cup between Grade 1 Champions Bon Accord and bottom of the table Gordonians. Gordonians choosing to bat first set a target of 271 for 8 off their allocated 40 overs led by the powerful batting from Chandra Mouli (106) top scoring and support from Indika Yahathugoda (61), in response Bon Accord started well, but were soon behind the required run rate, despite a measured innings by Brian Veldsman (42) and some lusty blows from Tauqeer Malik (43) could only manage to reach 223 before being bowled out by the Gordonians side. Man of the Match awarded to Chandra Mouli.

Bon Accord are the champions of Thistle Sports Grade 1 for another year, as they beat Mannofield in the final full round of league fixtures, and Cults were unable to force victory against Stonehaven, allowing Ellon to move temporarily into the runners up spot. However with Cults still having to play Banchory after four previous attempts and Kintore after three the Allan Park side are still likely finally to finish second. At the foot Gordonians are definitely relegated, despite drawing against Kintore with 12-year old Aaron Grayson taking the wicket of his father Dave as his first Grade 1 victim, with Banchory now destined to accompany them as, following their draw against St Ronald, even a win over Cults would not be capable of lifting them above Grammar FPs, with Manofield, Kintore and St Ronald also all now mathematically safe for a further season.

In Grade 2 Inverurie are promoted as champions, while Queens Cross whose game was voided must wait to see whether Crathie win their outstanding game against Academy to sneak past them into second spot. Academy need 3 points from that final game to finally send Fraserburgh down to Grade 3. As the re-scheduling of this fixture was due to ground non-availability rather than weather, and the clubs have already met, should next Saturday’s fixture be washed out then the fixture will be void and Queens Cross will go up and Fraserburgh will go down.

In Grade 3 Knightriders and 2nd Grammar have claimed the two promotion spots, but which two of Dunecht, 2nd Banchory and 2nd Ellon drop down will depend on the rescheduled game between the bottom two, who have yet to meet this season, and are now scheduled to do so on September 10th.

Victory for 2nd Knightriders over Turriff means that they have completed the league-cup double in Grade 4, with the other league newcomers Huntly edging out the Haughs based side for the third promotion spot to Grade 3, created as a result of Anchorians withdrawing from Grade 2 before the season started.

While it may have come too late to win them the league, an innings of 140 from Sreedish Devadas, backed up by an undefeated 78 from Ally Gill, saw Cults chase down Bon Accord’s total of 258 in a high-scoring game at the Links to close the gap on the league leaders. In the race to avoid relegation meanwhile Kintore recorded a vital win against St Ronald, while Banchory, with former skipper Wjahat Ali featuring, fell agonisingly short of forcing victory against a Mannofield team also in the lower part of the table.

In Grade 2 with Methlick out of action Queens Cross beat Crathie on a severely under-prepared wicket at Harlaw to leapfrog the Balmoral Estate club into second place, while a rare win for Academy at the Duthie Park saw them close the gap on Fraserburgh at the foot of the table. The future of cricket at Harlaw, other than on an artificial pitch, must now be in severe doubt, placing further pressure on the limited other facilities available. League leaders Inverurie comfortably beat a Cults-Artisans side who this time last year were themselves challenging for promotion.

2nd Banchory were able to raise only 8 players and went down comfortably against league leaders Knightriders at Sheddocklsey, while Crescent’s win against Reid Cup winners 2nd Methlick gives them renewed hope of avoiding the drop at the expense of Dunecht or 2nd Ellon. With Stoneywood-Dyce being held to a draw by Gordonians, 2nd FPs returned to form against Dunecht in a game switched to the Cowdray Esate.

In the game between the two top sides in Grade 4, 2nd Knightriders drew first blood as they comfortably beat Kemnay in the final of the Johnston Rose Bowl; and will hope to make it a league-cup double when they take on Turriff in their re-scheduled final league game next weekend. Portcullis rounded off their season, and recent return to form, beating 9-man 3rd Gordonians.

Much to everyone’s relief Friday’s overnight rain relented just soon enough to permit play to be completed in the majority of Saturday’s league games in the Aberdeenshire grades.

With Cults’ game against Kintore one of those to be washed out, Bon Accord to another step towards retaining their title with a comfortable win over Stonehaven, while Ellon closed the gap in the race for second place following defeat of St Ronald. Banchory slipped closer to relegation following their defeat by Grammar FPs, who may now have done enough to retain their top flight status for another season, while Gordonians remain bottom despite a draw against Mannofield at the Links.

In Grade 2 Inverurie look to have secured the title and condemned Academy to an early return to Grade 3 following their win at Kellands Park; but Queens Cross and Methlick remain locked together in second place having each taken 16 points from their draws against 2nd St Ronald, for whom K Imran scored a century, and Caledonian, for whom H Saraswat reached the same landmark. A rare win for Fraserburgh hoists them critically above Academy in the race to avoid the drop.

In Grade 3 Knightriders continue to look odds on for a second successive promotion, but the race between Stoneywood-Dyce and 2nd Grammar for second spot remains as close as ever, the Peoples Park side having fulfilled a game more. At the foot meanwhile 2nd Ellon must seek another date for their washed-out game against 2nd Banchory, who themselves are now in trouble having been unable to raise a team against 2nd Gordonians for Sunday’s postponed fixture.

In Grade 4, where most teams have now completed their league programme the destiny of the league title and the third promotion spot will now depend on the outcome of the postponed game between 2nd Knightriders and Turriff on August 27th, with Kemnay now assured of promotion though not yet the title, while Huntly could be edged out of promotion by the Haughs-based side.

Much to everyone’s relief, with the aid of a few early finishes, the threatened weekend rain held off just long enough for Saturday’s card of fixtures in the Aberdeenshire Grades to be completed, and to avoid a further log jam of games needing to be re-arranged.

In Grade 1 there were few surprises, with Gordonians’ Grade 1 status now hanging by a thread as they were beaten by 6 wickets by second-bottom Grammar FPs at Rubislaw, with Bon Accord and Cults recording routine victories in the upper half of the table. There was a major surprise upset at the Gordon Park however, as five wickets and a half-century from S Rane saw Mannofield take a major step towards Grade 1 safety with victory over Small Club Cup winners Ellon, despite four wickets from Richard Greenfield for the home side.

At the top of Grade 2 Inverurie’s grip on the title was further strengthened following their defeat of Caledonian; but the race for the second promotion spot could go right to the end of the season with Methlick and Queens Cross both dropping points to Crathie and Cults-Artisans respectively. Academy beat Fraserburgh, but maybe too late to avoid occupying this season’s one relegation spot.

In Grade 3 Knightriders, despite supplying three triallists to St Ronald, look on course for a second successive promotion as they beat 2nd Gordonians at Countesswells; but all three of Dunecht, Crescent and 2nd Ellon are still fighting to avoid the drop at the bottom.

The penultimate round of games in Grade 4 saw 2nd Knightriders and Kemnay remain principal contenders for the top spot and a potential league-cup double , as 2nd Kintore were again unable to raise a side, and Kemnay defeated 2nd Mannofield at Sheddocksley. Turriff were put out for just 17 however by a resurgent Portcullis at the Duthie Park; while teenager Jordan Squire again top-scored for Huntly in their defeat of 3rd Gordonians.

All Sunday matches were rained off.

There were important wins for Gordonians and Grammar FPs at the weekend as Banchory and Mannofield slipped closer to the Grade 1 relegation zone.

At Countesswells Chandra Mouli recorded an undefeated century to see Gordonians home against previously second-placed Stonehaven, after Darri Peerless had earlier taken four of the visitors’ wickets; while at Rubislaw Ali Bakshi and Vijay Vijapur combined to dismiss St Ronald for 82, after the home side had themselves been dismissed for just 103. Association Vice-President Phil Gill again topped the batting for Cults in their defeat of Mannofield at the Links.

Elsewhere Bon Accord strengthened their chances of another league-cup double with a comfortable win over Kintore in the league and a walkover versus Grammar FPs, while Ellon warmed up for their Small Clubs Cup final with Davies, Barrett and Arora all recording half-centuries as they rattled up 218 against Banchory.

In Grade 2 Inverurie remain on pole position, another fine all-round performance from George Hadden seeing them to victory over Crathie, while with Queens Cross having a free day, Caledonian took advantage winning a close encounter against Cults-Artisans at the Allan Park, and Methlick also kept in touch with the leaders, as Fraserburgh’s poor run of form continued at the East Links. Dheeraj Goyal recorded an undeated 100 in 2nd St Ronald’s defeat of Academy

At the top of Grade 3 Knightriders were held to a creditable drawn by 2nd Ellon; but 2nd FPs’ chance of promotion received another knock as they were dismissed for just 18, despite a promising debut from schoolboy Justin D’Costa (3 for 31); and Crescent again went down to defeat by 2nd Stonehaven, despite a solid all-round performance from Nathan Thangaraj; and there was victory at last for Dunecht over 2nd Gordonians. An undefeated 28 from Ian Leask was insufficient to deprive 2nd Banchory of victory over Stoneywood-Dyce.

In Grade 4 an innings of 92 from M Farooq saw Portcullis to an unexpected victory over Kemnay, while 83 from 14- year old Jordan Squire and four cheap wickets from 11-year old Connor Shorten saw Huntly’s youngsters to victory over 2nd Kintore; and Turriff were denied victory with the 3rd Gordonians’ last pair holding out at Countesswells, after the visitors’ Ian Smart had earlier top-scored with 73 in their total of 211 for five from 45 overs

The gulf in class between the top and bottom of Grade 1 was again demonstrated at the weekend as, having been put in by Gordonians, league leaders Bon Accord rattled up a total of 334 from 40 overs, Fazal Awan becoming just the second batsman after Alex Keith against Ellon in 2003 to record a double century in league competition. Taqueer Malik and Nawaz Mirza then combined to dismiss the visitors for just 80 at the Links.

With Ellon also beating Cults, and St Ronald also further denting Stonehaven’s early season form with 128 from R. Haider, it was a good day all round for the current champions; while a last-over win for Grammar FPs over Mannofield, and victory for Kintore over Banchory, means that the lower half of the table remains as tight as ever as the season enters its final third.

At the top of Grade 2 Inverurie’s seemingly unhurried charge towards regaining their Grade 1 status received a further boost, following defeat of Fraserburgh while with Queens Cross and 2nd St Ronald both being held to draws, Adrian Saward recording an undefeated 108 for Methlick at King’s College, Caledonian made up further ground following their win over Crathie, K.Kumar taking a hattrick in his return of 6 for 34 for the home side at the Duthie Park.

In Grade 3 2nd Grammar’s chance of taking the league title received a knock when they were unable to raise a team against Knightriders; while Dunecht and 2nd Ellon both recorded useful draws, Dunecht’s Somi Kumaraswamy taking two wickets in the penultimate over to set up a tight finish against 2nd Banchory. Despite scoring only 41 2nd Stonehaven ran out 4-run winners in a low scoring match at Lairds.

Cup finalists Kemnay and 2nd Knightriders beat Turriff and Portcullis respectively to remain on course for two of the three available spots available for promotion from Grade 4.

Meanwhile Ellon march on to the Final of the Small Clubs Cup (to held at Glasgow Accies cc on 31st July or 7th August) as they comfortably beat Dollar.  

There were no major surprises in the Aberdeenshire Grades at the weekend as torrential rain washed out 100 per cent of Saturday’s scheduled league programme.

Fortunately the fine weather at the end of April, when the teams previously met or one side scratched, means that all fixtures are void; and none needs to be rescheduled

An already-disrupted programme was thrown into further chaos at the weekend as cloudbursts on Saturday morning washed out a number of league fixtures for the second time; as well as a further attempt to decide the Mannofield v Bon Accord Aberdeenshire Cup Quarter-final on Sunday. With availability of Sunday pitches at a premium, and the Links temporarily out of use due to occupation by the travellers, some elasticity on replay dates on league games requiring to be replayed is likely to be required; and will add to an already-heavy agenda at Monday night’s meeting of the Association Committee.

Meantime, ironically Mannofield were not able not only to complete but record victory over Kintore in their game switched from the Links, while Stonehaven lost further ground in second place, being held to a draw away to Ellon.

In the only game of the day to be completed in Grade 2, again in the North East, Queens Cross/Stoneywood improved their chances of regaining their Grade 1 status with victory over Fraserburgh; while 2^nd Methlick were able to take benefit of their artificial strip to beat Dunecht at Lairds; and Kemnay strengthened their chances of promotion with victory over Huntly.

Stonehaven’s previously unblemished record at the top of ACA Grade 1 came to an end as they were defeated by Banchory in a high-scoring game at the Burnett Park, Phil Potter’s undeated 126 for the home side cancelling out skipper Alistair Milroy’s earlier 102 for Stonehaven. Bon Accord meanwhile saw Ellon collapse from 100 for four to finish 117 all out, as S Ahmed claimed six wickets for 9 in seven overs at the Links. Cults also won fairly comfortably, Masud Javaid taking five wickets as Gordonians were bundled out for just 76 at Countesswells, an undefeated 38 from Graeme Gillanders steering the Allan Park side to victory. St Ronald beat Mannofield to ease their relegation fears, while an undefeated 44 from Colin Laird helped Kintore to a morale-boosting win over Grammar FPs.

At the top of Grade 2 Methlick played out time against table-topping Inverurie, while Cults-Artisans completed the double over 2^nd St Ronald who conceded 50 extras to their total. Closest game of the day however came at the Duthie Park, as with seven runs required to win from the final over Abdullah Afridi dismissed Ronnie Valentine from the game’s final ball to see Queens Cross/Stoneywood to a 2-run victory over Caledonian, following an earlier innings-saving knock from Neil Wright. On the adjacent pitch Crathie proved too strong for an Academy team struggling to re-adjust to life in Grade 2.

With the sun once again on their backs, the cricketers of the Aberdeen Grades were at last able to complete a full programme of fixtures on Saturday after what for many had been a fortnight of enforced absence. With the wickets still soft after so much recent rain however, it was a day on which bowlers largely predominated, with no centuries being recorded and several low-scoring matches resulting.

In the day’s top game honours finished even at the Allan Park, as both Cults and Bon Accord recorded maximum batting points but were unable to take the wickets necessary to force victory, allowing Stonehaven to extend their lead at the top of the table following a comfortable win over Grammar FPs, Clive Hinchcliffe and Russell Balsillie each contributing three wickets. First blood in the weekend’s two encounters between Ellon and Gordonians meantime went to the Gordon Park side, as five wickets from Richard Greenfield saw the visitors dismissed for a paltry 93; while Mannofield and St Ronald gained some relief in the lower half of the table with victories over Banchory and Kintore respectively, S Rana joint top-scoring and taking four wickets in the game at the Links.

In Grade 2 Inverurie remain in pole position, John Jessiman taking four for 11 as Cults-Artisans were dismissed for just 57; while 2^nd St Ronald comfortably beat Fraserburgh, and Queens Cross/Stoneywood-Dyce beat Crathie with a further three wickets from 12-year old Abdullah Afridi.

Knightriders continue to maintain their hopes of a second promotion with an emphatic ten-wicket defeat over 2^nd Banchory at the top of Grade 3, while a solid all-round performance from Ken Hutcheson and an undefeated 29 from Ken Montgomery suggested a better second half of the season might be in prospect for 2^nd Ellon as they overcame 2^nd Stonehaven at Mineralwell Park. Despite a top score of 43 from 15-year old Hamish Ritchie the Stoneywood-Dyce total was insufficient as 2nd Gordonians comfortably reached their target. Crescent held on to draw against 2^nd Methlick.

At Grade 4 level this year’s final of the Johnston Rose Bowl will be contested between Kemnay and 2^nd Knightriders, Liam and Jordan Thom combining to dismiss Portcullis at the Duthie Park, with Prasanth Maniyan turning in a match-winning all-round performance against Turriff at Sheddocksley.

Steady rain meant that just one game was completed in the Grades on Saturday as Methlick beat Caledonian at Lairds in Grade 2; while the top division was for the second successive week completely washed out

Play was however possible in the Bon Accord Cup on Sunday where, down at the Links, the Academy total (161 off 39 overs) proved too big an ask for the Broch visitors as they were skittled out for 34 with the Academy Captain Steve Derrett taking a haul of 7 for 11 of the Fraserburgh wickets. Over at Alan Park the Caledonian visitors were rolled over for just 41 runs, a total, which the Cults-Artisans home side easily reached, with much of the bowling damage done by John Thomson taking 4 for 17 of the Caledonian scalps. Out at Kellands Park an undefeated century by Robert Swiergon ably supported by Grant Jamieson (86) for the Queens Cross/Stoneywood-Dyce side visitors proved just enough as they won by 8 runs despite the efforts of Garry Coutts (89) and Trevor Norval (31) for the Inverurie home side. The semi-finals will now see Crathie take on Cults-Artisans and Academy take on Queens Cross/Stoneywod-Dyce side on Sunday 31st July. In a re-arranged fixture the Grade 4 side 2nd Knightriders travelled up to Huntly setting a total (154) with new boy Navneeth Venkatesh stating his arrival to grades cricket with an undefeated 55, but with Craig Howard finding form with an undefeated 71 steered his side to victory, ably supported by Steve Shorten (21 not out) as Huntly won by 6 wickets. If weather permitting the finals of this year’s Thistle Sports Sevens will go ahead at the Duthie Park on Monday and Wednesday, with Bon Accord looking to continue their undefeated record for a twelfth season in this most instant form of the game.

Steady lunchtime and afternoon rain meant that the entire Grade 1 and 2 programmes in the Thistle sports were void at the weekend.

In the lower divisions however the players are obviously made of sterner stuff, as Crescent and Stoneywood-Dyce both braved the rain at the Duthie Park to gain victories over 2^nd Stonehaven and 2^nd Banchory respectively, while Knightriders also consolidated their position at the top of the table away to 2^nd Ellon at the Gordon Park. For Stoneywood-Dyce young spinner Abdullah Afridi recorded a hattrick, while Richard Swabey took 6 for 17 for Crescent.

Play was also possible on the artificial track at Rubislaw where P Benneti finished undefeated on 96 as the home side ran out winners over 2^nd Methlick; while in the only game of the day to go ahead in Grade 4, Ian Smart went one better, scoring 106 as the Haughs-based side beat 3^rd, Gordonians. The other three Grade 4 games all fell victims to the weather

Weather permitting, the remaining group matches in the Thistle Sports Sevens will be played out on Monday and Wednesday, while the Grades Select travel to Huntly in the second round of the mPower Three Copunties for the right to meet Strathmore in the semi-final the following week.

Bon Accord’s perfect start to the season came to an end at the weekend as in a tense finish they were held to a draw by Banchory at the Burnett Park, with the home side just three runs short of recording a surprise win over the league leaders ahead of their Scottish Cup game away to Grange, Dave Itter leading the home side’s attempt to overhaul Bon Accord’s 38-over declaration.

Elsewhere in the top Grade Grammar FPs ran out 10-wicket winners over rivals Gordonians at Countesswells, while Stonehaven’s strong start to the season continued away to Kintore. An undefeated half-century from Graeme Gillanders anchored a return to form for Cults against St Ronald at King’s College following on their victory at second team level last weekend. A top score of 37 from skipper Graeme Johnston helped Mannofield hold out against Ellon at the Links.

In Grade 2 Inverurie, despite losing seven wickets for less than a 100 against Caledonian, ran out relatively comfortable winners against the town club, George Hadden chipping in with five wickets; while Fraserburgh recorded a morale-boosting victory over Academy; and the was a moral victory for Grades’ President Robin Taylor over his deputy as Queens Cross beat Cults-Artisans at the Allan Park. Crathie’s long return journey to Lairds finished in defeat for the Balmoral Estate side against Merthlick.

In Grade 3 2nd Stonehaven could muster only nine players as their second eleven went down to 2nd Banchory; but 2nd Grammar beat Crescent despite 45 from Nathan Thangaraj, while Knightriders continued their charge towards a second successive promotion with victory over 2nd Gordonians. 2nd Methlick were winners in their local derby away to 2nd Ellon, with Stuart Kennedy recording an undefeated 81. 79 from J Donald was insufficient to see Dunecht to victory against Stoneywood-Dyce as Colin Moir again top-scored for the home team at the Duthie Park.

In Grade 4 Huntly returned to winning ways against 3rd Gordonians, but Portcullis’s ambitions of gaining promotion received a further setback as they were bowled out for just 44 by Turriff, P Bijl taking nine of the visitors’ wickets; while Kemnay won a low-scoring game against 2nd Mannofield; but 2nd Kintore with 86 from David Grayson and 29 from Eric Davidson clung on record a draw against 2nd Knightriders.

There was no change in fortunes for Ellon Gordon at the weekend as following last weekend’s cup defeat they were again brushed aside by Bon Accord in the teams’ league encounter at the Gordon Park, allowing Stonehaven to move ahead in the race for second place following their victory over Banchory.

Mannofield recovered from a shaky start, but were unable to force victory against St Ronald at the Links, while Cults’ relative slump in form continued as they were bowled out by Gordonians in a high-scoring encounter at the Allan Park, C Mouli scoring 106 for the visitors, despite M Javaid for the home side taking four wickets and recording an undefeated half-century.

In Grade 2 Inverurie continue to set the pace as they repeated their cup win over Methlick, but 2^nd St Ronald were unable to do the same against Cults-Artisans at Kings College, the visitors squeezing home by one wicket in a tense game. Caledonian’s H Saraswat scored an undefeated 121 to dent Queens Cross’s hopes of a swift return to Grade 1.

In Grade 3 Crescent recorded a second successive win at the expense of 2^nd Ellon, while Dunecht again struggled against Knightriders. Five wickets for Stonehaven’s Bryan Snelling set up his side for victory over Stoneywood-Dyce; but Darri Peerless’s four wickets for 2^nd Gordonians proved vain as 2^nd Methlick ran out winners by 11 runs at Lairds, with Tim Duffy taking five for 36 and Stuart Kennedy scoring 92.

In Grade 4 B Selvaraj was another of the day’s centurions as 2^nd Knightriders beat 3^rd Gordonians at Sheddocksley; while 2^nd Kintore fielded four under 17s – the youngest (Jordan Davidson) aged just 7 – in their local derby against Kemnay for whom C Gray scored an undefeated 53 in his own first season in Grades cricket as the visitors ran out comfortable winners at Kintore’s Castle Road ground.