It’s Aberdeenshire Cup Final time at last, on the same weekend as a gripping Grade 1 title race throws up some eye watering fixtures.
It’s a 1pm start at Mannofield on Sunday for the Aberdeenshire Cup Final. Both Gordonians and Knight Riders have had their last gasp wins on their way to the final, and even though Gordonians are pushing hard at the top of Grade 1, Knight Riders have been remarkably consistent lately. If both teams perform then it could be a very close encounter.
Big games all round in Grade 1 starting at Mannofield as Bon Accord have Malik back to lead their attack. Mannofield have a strong batting line up, but when push comes to shove, Bons usually step up, and Fazal Awan loves a good grass pitch.
Bizarrely, it’s an Aberdeenshire Cup Final warm up on Saturday as Gordonians host Knight Riders at Countesswells. Knight Riders aren’t quite at full strength and Gordonians bring in Ravi Mahajan and Adi Mukhopadhya to give their batting a boost.
Leaders Master Blasters are at Links to face Crescent who sit in a precarious 8th position. Both teams desperately need a win, but for polar opposite reasons.
Grampian sit in 9th position and will be throwing everything at their match at Allan Park against Cults.
AberGreen have become detached at the foot of the table and Inverurie would be favourites to improve their league position at their expense.
In Grade 2 Karan Anand is back in the Grammar team as they host Banchory at Rubislaw. Grammar have a strong bowling attack and it will be interesting to see how things go if Banchory have their full batting line up on show.
Liam Bowie and Stuart Flowerdew add their batting experience to the Fraserburgh team as they welcome Huntly. The latter have done well to achieve mid table safety, but this may be a tough ask if they hope to pick up a win.
A lot is at stake at Groats Road for 2nd Knight Riders as they try to maintain their promotion push against 2nd Grampian who have managed to extricate themselves from the relegation zone.
Portcullis go to Ellon who had a confidence boosting win last weekend.
In Grade 3 the 2 Gordonians teams are battling it out for 2nd spot in the league. Stonehaven take a very experienced side to Countesswells to play 3rd Gordonians who will need to move on from their below par performance in the Reid Cup final. 2nd Gordonians are at Inverdee to face Stoneywood Dyce who aren’t quite as strong as they were for the Reid Cup final.
In what may well be the friendliest match of the day, Crathie head to Dunecht.
The biggest match in Aberdeen on Saturday will be at People’s Park as Stoneywood Dyce and Meigle have a winner take all Eastern Premier League tie. Stoneywood Dyce will be delighted to have Andrew Maclaren and Abdullah Khalid available as they look to repeat their win over Meigle at Victory Park earlier in the season. The winners stay up, and the losers return to the SPCU North East Championship.
Nothing but pride to play for in the other EPL games as Watsonian host RH Corstorphine, Forfarshire head to Carlton, Grange are at home to Heriot’s and Falkland are at Stewart’s Melville.
It would take a bizarre set of circumstances to leave Gordonians, Freuchie and Strathmore with relegation issues in the SPCU North East Championship, but depending on SPCU promotion and relegation policy, and should Arbroath lose the Eastern Premier League play off, then a surprise may happen.
Freuchie make the long trip to Huntly, but the latter have only named 9 for now.
Gordonians are at Broughty Ferry to play 2nd Forfarshire who have been very consistent of late. Gordonians are without Mayank Bhandari and a heavy defeat could be problematic for them if Strathmore beat the visitors from Aberdeenshire. Shire do take a strong team down to Forfar and their overseas players will be looking to get runs on the board before they return to Australia.
Champions Arbroath should set up another night of celebration as they are at full strength for the visit of Kinloch.
Perth Doocot are at Falkland with all their big guns on show.