2 days of sunshine has taken the moisture out of most of the grass pitches, but it’s made no difference to Lairds as Methlick again face a probable wait for their ground to go from soaking, to wet, and then hopefully to dry. No Grade 3 match there tomorrow.
In Grade 1, early league leaders Cults go to Inverdee to face one of the pre-season favourites Master Blasters. Master Blasters include Gaurav Lenekar who played for Stoneywood Dyce in SPCU Division 1 last season. Bon Accord will be looking to bounce back from their narrow defeat against Cults as Inverurie come to Harlaw. The visitors will be under the captaincy of Jordan Thom, another captain for John Jessiman to add to a long list of skippers he will have played under! The 2 promoted teams meet over the wall as Aberdeen Grammar take on Banchory who won when the 2 met in their encounter at Rubislaw last season.
Grade 1 champions Gordonians are on the artificial at Countesswells as they start their campaign against Crescent. Ashfaq Bashir is the new Gordos captain and they include Jay Bhalani who returns after a post Covid sabbatical. Aberdeenshire Cup winners Knight Riders start their season without Somu Kumarasamy and Sivaganesan Palaniappan as Mannofield visit them at Links. Ali Gohar could do some damage with the bat for Mannofield after transferring from Cults, although comparative veteran Will Anderson could be one of the favourites to notch up the first Grade 1 century of the season, that’s if Fazal Awan doesn’t get there first.
Grade 2 leaders 3rd Aberdeen Grammar will look to build on beating their 2nds as Methlick travel to play them at Inverdee. Nick Gray skippers Fraserburgh as 2nd Grammar drive up the road. Paddy Obank debuts for the Broch.
Ross McKenzie takes on the captaincy as Portcullis open the season against 2nd Knight Riders at Duthie Park. Promoted sides 2nd Master Blasters and 2nd Gordonians play the first league match at St Margaret’s. The new grass pitch will be a complete unknown and batters will have to be watchful. Grampian will be on the A96 to Huntly, the latter along familiar lines and hoping Emily Henderson can get back amongst the wickets.
New team Aberdeen Tigers make their Grades debut at Ellon who have the experience of Messrs Barrett, Veldsman, Webb and Davies in their ranks as they look to return back to Grade 2. 2nd Grampian also find themselves in an unfamiliar position in Grade 3 and they start at Balmoral against Crathie. The hosts include the prolific Lloyd Belton. Stonehaven welcome 2nd Mannofield to Mineralwell Park and new teams 2nd Banchory and 2nd Fraserburgh are at Burnett Park.
Aberdeenshire start their SPCU North East Championship season at home to newly promoted St Modans. Calum Howard will have to juggle playing in the match with the grounds duties, and Pranav Saravanan returns to the Aberdeen scene after a spell at Arbroath.
Stoneywood Dyce open their season with a trip to Freuchie, and Gordonians are at Countesswells against promoted Dundee High. Aman Arora captains a Gordos side that includes the revitalised Sree Devadas and new signing Sai Sawan Kumar from Stoneywood Dyce.
It’s a family day out to Perth as Andrew Petrie and 2 sons are in the Huntly XI. Huntly will do well to beat what has been an ever improving Perth Doocot side.
2nd Forfarshire include ex Scotland captain Ryan Watson alongside Greg Chambers who has transferred from Falkland. They take on Strathmore, who include Majid Rasheed, at Forthill.
The Eastern Premier League kicks off with Meigle hosting near neighbours Arbroath who have recently signed former Stoneywood Dyce players, Hayden Laing, Shaun Wolmarans and Lennard Bester, the latter after a short stay at Forfarshire. James Girolami and Hasseb Kiyani move up a level as they join Meigle from SPCU teams. Former Stoneywood Dyce captain Jamie King has joined the Forfarshire title push and they go to Royal High Corstorphine. Du Preez Stander is another SDCC player on the move as he has transferred to Stewarts Melville. They host Falkland. EPL champions Grange are at Watsonian, and it’s another Edinburgh derby as Carlton, who now include Scotland international Chris McBride, go to Heriot’s.
The Scottish Cup gets underway on Sunday. Stoneywood Dyce are at home to Arbroath and Aberdeenshire are also at home against Greenock.