Weather permitting this weekend should see a resolution to most of the outstanding league issues in the Aberdeenshire Grades, with the final full Grade 1 to 3 programme on Saturday being followed by a number of re-arranged fixtures on Sunday.

At the top of Grade 1 Bon Accord have effectively already secured the title, irrespective of the outcome of their final two games against Stonehaven, on Saturday, and Inverurie, next month; while at the foot it will again be the two promoted clubs – Gordonians and St Ronald – who drop back into Grade 2.

At the top of that league meanwhile it seems fairly certain that Grammar FPs will go up as champions; but any one of Queens Cross, Methlick or 2nd Cults could go up with them, depending on the results of their last two games.  Artisans meanwhile look favourites to go down with 2nd Kintore.  Saturday’s games between Grammar and Methlick, and Queens Cross & Caledonian will therefore be crucial.

In Grade 3 it looks like Anchorians and 2nd Gordonians to claim the two promotion spots, with Crescent meantime in third spot; while at the foot it looks like Kemnay to go down with either Dunecht or Turriff.

2nd St Ronald could snatch the league 4 title, and secure a league-cup double, if they win their outstanding game versus 2nd Grammar, who themselves headed the table for much of the season, although 2nd Queens Cross, the current league leaders who have finished their programme, probably have done enough still to go up, even if only in second spot.

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.

One consequence, though doubtless unintended, of the weather disrupted start to the current Grades season has been an effective extension of the six-game window within which players can, with Management Committee approval, move between clubs.  This practice seems to have increased markedly over the past two seasons, with one Grade 4 side alone already having lost four players this week and now beginning to express concern at its ability to complete the season. 

Saturday’s Grade 1 programme meanwhile sees top sides Bon Accord, Cults and Kintore all looking favourites to take full points off lower-placed opposition; while St Ronald will hope to kick start their season away to Inverurie.

In Grade 2 Crathie face the lengthy journey to Methlick, while at the opposite end of the spectrum Grammar FPs travel the 100 yards to face near neighbours Queens Cross, and Fraserburgh entertain Artisans.

2nd Gordonians’ game in Grade 3 is re-located from Countesswells to Sheddocksley, because of the School sports, with 2nd St Ronald taking on Stoneywood-Dyce in Grade 4 at the same venue; while the second strings of Queens Cross and Grammar cross with their first teams to play at Rubislaw.

Sunday sees the opening round of the Turriff Cup with Cults facing Kintore in the tie of the round, while holders Mannofield have a bye, and Bon Accord travel to Banchory.

CINNAMON GRADES (Umpires sponsored by Shahbaaz Tandoori)

SATURDAY

GRADE 1

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

GRADE 2

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

GRADE 3

Academy v Turriff (DP2), Crescent v Dunecht (DP3), 2nd Gordonians v Anchorians (Shed 1), Kemnay v 2nd Methlick, 2nd Stonehaven v 2nd Ellon.

GRADE 4

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

SUNDAY

TURRIFF CUP TWENTY20 Round 1

Banchory v Culter Curry Bon Accord, Cults Mo&Co v Kintore, Methlick v Ritson Smith Gordonians, Stonehaven Thistle v Dominion Gas St Ronald.

One consequence, though doubtless unintended, of the weather disrupted start to the current Grades season has been an effective extension of the six-game window within which players can, with Management Committee approval, move between clubs.  This practice seems to have increased markedly over the past two seasons, with one Grade 4 side alone already having lost four players this week and now beginning to express concern at its ability to complete the season. 

Saturday’s Grade 1 programme meanwhile sees top sides Bon Accord, Cults and Kintore all looking favourites to take full points off lower-placed opposition; while St Ronald will hope to kick start their season away to Inverurie.

In Grade 2 Crathie face the lengthy journey to Methlick, while at the opposite end of the spectrum Grammar FPs travel the 100 yards to face near neighbours Queens Cross, and Fraserburgh entertain Artisans.

2nd Gordonians’ game in Grade 3 is re-located from Countesswells to Sheddocksley, because of the School sports, with 2nd St Ronald taking on Stoneywood-Dyce in Grade 4 at the same venue; while the second strings of Queens Cross and Grammar cross with their first teams to play at Rubislaw.

Sunday sees the opening round of the Turriff Cup with Cults facing Kintore in the tie of the round, while holders Mannofield have a bye, and Bon Accord travel to Banchory.

Cricket in the Aberdeenshire Grades resumes at the weekend, with new sponsors for the leagues and the Umpires Panel in the form of the Cinnamon and the Shahbaaz Tandoori Restaurants respectively.

In Grade 1 there is an early clash between two of the top sides as Bon Accord take on Cults at the Links; while last season's Grade 2 champions Ritson Smith Gordonians start their Grade 1 career away to Ellon.  Inverurie have a home local derby against Kintore, while St Ronald who led Grade 2 for almost the whole of last season before being pipped at the post on the final day start with an away trip to Stonehaven.  Mannofield play a re-shaped Banchory side in the day's remaining top flight game.

In Grade 2 last season's two relegated sides, Caledonian and 2nd Cults, meet at the Allan Park; while of the sides to step up from Grade 3 2nd Banchory play Artisans at the Duthie Park, Methlick take on Queens Cross at Lairds in a game between two of the sides fancied to make a challenge for promotion during the season, whilst 2nd Kintore take on Crathie on a rescheduled match on Sunday 26th.

In Grade 3 promoted 2nd Gordonians entertain 2nd Ellon at Countesswells; while relegated Academy and Kemnay will hope for a recovery of form against Crescent and promoted 2nd Stonehaven respectively.

Following the persistent heavy rain of the past days, the Grades’ league season could well finish with a whimper rather than a bang, although key issues at the top and bottom of Grades 1 to 3 still have officially to be decided.

If rain washes out Cults’ final game of the season against Banchory, then they will automatically finish as champions for a further season without needing to bowl a ball.  Even if play is possible then provided they achieve at least 11 points they will be beyond the reach of Kintore, the date of whose game against Bon Accord is still to be finally resolved, following a joint application from the two teams to defer it to Sunday 31st, due to the football game scheduled at Pittodrie for Saturday.

Following last weekend’s semi-finals in Grades 2 and 3 this Sunday sees the semi-finals of the Aberdeenshire Cup, with Cults hoping to overturn their Small Clubs Cup defeat by Bon Accord, while Ellon and Stonehaven – both of whom are now realistically out of the league title race – will be looking to end their season on a high by getting through to next month’s final at Mannofield.

In what now looks to be a three horse race for the league title, meanwhile, Bon Accord will hope to bounce back from last week’s defeat by Ellon, and hope that their vanquishers can trip up Cults at the Allan Park.  Kintore meanwhile are at home to local rivals Inverurie, whose recent form, and arrival of an overseas amateur from South Africa, suggests they could yet escape relegation.  Caledonian look to be already be condemned, but Inverurie’s recent recovery of form and last week’s win by 2nd Cults means that Mannofield have meantime slipped into ninth position, making this week’s game between them and 2nd Cults at Countesswells vital for both sides.

Weather permitting, it will be the home sides who should enjoy the upper hand on Saturday.  Despite their loss to Inverurie last week, Ellon should carry too much firepower for 2nd Cults in a reprise of their Aberdeenshire Cup game earlier in the season, while 1st Cults will be expected to overcome a Caledonian side looking increasingly destined for an early return to Grade 2.

Perhaps the best chance of an upset comes at Castle Park, where Banchory having held Bon Accord to a draw last time out will fancy their chances of a repeat against second placed Kintore.

Having been ejected from the small Clubs Cup at the first hurdle, and lost two recent league games, Cults will be anxious to show a recovery of their traditional form when they travel to Kintore on Saturday.  Meantime their seconds will be just over the hill, attempting to extend their lead over Inverurie following the Kellands Park side’s first win of the season last week against Caledonian.

They meantime face the stiff task of playing new leaders Bon Accord at the Duthie Park, while Stonehaven – leaders of the pack until last weekend – will hope that last Saturday’s result proves just a blip, as they travel to Banchory.