It is rare that a league title goes to the last weekend with 3 teams still in contention, but Grade 1 is totally up for grabs. The big game is at Links where a win for Knight Riders against Crescent will secure them the title for the first time ever. Crescent had been level on points with Bon Accord in second place, but with one win apiece in their head to head games, Crescent were ahead by virtue of having secured one more bonus point than Bons in the game they had lost. That position has however changed, with the win by Crescent over AGSFPs in June being reversed due to Crescent playing an ineligible player. The Grade 1 table has been updated to reflect this, but depending on results, this table on Saturday evening may be a provisional version.
Bon Accord will be waiting to leapfrog into the top spot should Knight Riders lose, assuming they can beat Mannofield at Mannofield. Bons are close to full strength and had a bit of a warm up as to what to expect at Mannofield after their Aberdeenshire Cup triumph. Shire may have options to use some of the juniors who have featured regularly for their SPCU side, but the experience of Bons usually comes to the fore on the final day of a season.
Master Blasters go to Countesswells to face Gordonians without their skipper Ajay Narne, and Gordos have Shaunak Bhatta behind the stumps and in form with the bat so this could be a tight match. 2nd Knight Riders have had their moments this season with Bala Balaji leading from the front with 27 wickets, and they are at Groats Road to end their season against Inverurie. Inverurie looked in deep trouble at the wrong end of the table earlier in the season, but the consistent batting of Trevor Norval with 772 runs at an average of close to 60 has been the platform for their continued resurgence. AGSFPs bow out of Grade 1 at Allan Park against Cults having been unable to recover from the loss of players over the winter. None of their regular batters have averaged over 25, and none of their regular bowlers have taken wickets at an average of less than 25, a fatal combination!
Only one game in Grade 2 and that is the clash between Fraserburgh and Ellon at the Broch. Ross Wade joins the Ellon bowling attack which seems to be without Ben Webb, and Fraserburgh are without Michael Watson and Alan Rennie. Grade 2 will complete on the 10th as the Grampian games have been rearranged due to the Onam Festival.
The Grade 3 teams wrap up their season with the promotion spots already settled. Methlick will look to round off an unbeaten league season as they welcome 2nd Gordonians to Lairds. Adam Veersema will be looking to get his hands on the Grade 3 batting trophy as he carries an average of 135.25 into the game. Gordos add Ryan Davis, Alex Hounsome and Tanish Kirodian to their batting line up.
2nd Methlick are not at full strength as they head to Sheddocksley to face 2nd Siyapa. Whilst the pitch at Shedds can be a great leveller, 2nd Siyapa should cement their hold on the runners up position. The much awaited match on Sunday between 2nd Siyapa and Methlick is off due to the expected disruption caused by the Tour of Britain cycling race. That probably saves the teams having to make a weather related decision anyway.
The SPCU will be hoping that Meigle prevail in the play off against Gala to replace Arbroath in the Eastern Premier League. Meigle take a team packed with experience to the match being held at Freuchie.