FPs had lined up with 4 changes from the winning team from last week with Sam Knudson, James Lord, Aly MacDonald and Kieran Whyte returning.

James Lord took the new ball with Jerry Moir and after a tight opening spell, Lord struck to bowl Walker for 2.  Moments later he also clean bowled McRitchie who had not settled at all and fell for a duck.  Lord’s opening spell of 6 overs were accurate costing just 16 and his replacement Sam Knudson was also on the mark, striking twice in his 3rd over, first bowling Flett for 8 before having Stuart take a smart catch at point to remove Viegay for 2.

Stuart replaced the super economical Moir and after being hit for six first ball, he settled into his work and clean bowled Goking for 5.  Kintore then managed to keep FPs at bay for a long spell before Stuart clean bowled Cowie for a duck before retiring Davidson hurt first ball.

He was joined by Eagles in the attack and after 4 probing overs, Eagles struck twice, first to remove the opener Thomas for a well played 31, stumped by yards by wicketkeeper Morrison and then having Ross caught for a duck by Stuart at silly point.

Stuart picked up a 3rd wicket bowling Parry for a duck and MacDonald finished things off bowling Ramsay for a duck with his 4th ball.

A score of 63 all out in 34.4 overs was well below par and was due to a strong bowling and fielding performance but also due to Kintore’s hugely depleted squad.  Bowling figures were Lord 6-0-16-2, Moir 9-5-6-0, Sam Knudson 6-2-14-2, Stuart 8-3-19-3, Eagles 5-18-2 and MacDonald 0.4-0-0-1.

With the rain falling steadily FPs began their innings but after 14 balls the players left the field at 6 for no loss and with weather showing no signs of improvement, there was no choice but to call the game off as void.

FPs now turn their attention to the double header at Crathie in the league and cup next week, which are likely to present the toughest tests to date this season.

Ten cricket members are playing both before and after lunch. Dallas Moir will be disappearing in the afternoon and Ann Hopkin and Chris Clelland will be joining the Texas Scramble. The tee times and groups look like this:

• 9.31 D. Moir(10), Ferro(14), Eagles(10)
• 9.38 Morrison(24), MacDonald(24)
• 9.45 Fraser (14), Stuart(14), Budd(21)
• 9.52 J. Moir(9), Wilson(14), Hopkin(21)

For the afternoon Scramble teams, based on tradition, equity and Eagles over confidence about his team’s victory are:

• 14.32 Fraser, Stuart, Morrison (total 52 -> 5.2)
• 14.39 Clelland(21), MacDonald, Wilson (59-> 5.9)
• 14.46 Unlucky visitors insinuated between us
• 14.53 Ferro, Budd, I Hopkin (56-> 5.6)
• 15.00 A. Hopkin (36), J. Moir, Eagles (55-> 5.5)

All players to have 2 or is it 3 counting drives (for debate at lunch).

Both openers looked in good touch and they forged a solid opening partnership of 46 before Aman bowled Budd for 23 with a ball Budd elected to leave clipping the top of off stump.  This brought Dallas Moir to the crease and he should have departed for 2 when attempting a big shot he could only top edge a simple chance to the bowler. Unbelievably, Kessell could not gather it, but in the confusion, the ball was thrown up to the strikers end to run out Lord by yards in shambolic manner for 18, leaving FPs 60 for 2.

Moir was joined by his twin brother Jerry and they set about the Academy attack in a rapid 89 run partnership, with Dallas passing 50 with a huge six, one of 3 he hit. This was to be his last scoring shot however, as he top edged Rasman and was easily caught at the wicket for 54, having hit 7 fours and 3 sixes. Youles came in at 5 on the back of some good form but could only muster 4 being bowled by Rasman, to reduce FPs to 171 for 4.

This soon become 175 for 5 as Jerry Moir who had also recorded a 50 was caught off the bowling of Aman for a well played 58. James Lord and Muthu both came and went and it was left to Morrison and Fraser to push the total past 200 to declare at 202 for 7 off 42 overs.

FPs bowling effort started brightly as Moir soon had Academy 4 for 1, bowling Afai first ball with a fine delivery. There was then a real lull in proceedings as Academy moved cautiously to 35 after 12 overs. Tomkins replaced Lord and instantly made a breakthrough, having Liptrott caught in the gully by the juggling Muthu for 15. Moir having taken 1 for 4 in 7 overs was replaced by Stuart in the attack but it was Tomkins who continued to collect the wickets, having dangerman Sunny caught and bowled for a duck to leave Academy 38 for 3.

Roshan and Aman then build a good partnerhip, taking the score past 100 with FPs becoming increasingly desperate for a wicket. Their wish for a wicket was answered by a fine catch by Skipper Morrison running back from mid off. Aman looking to hit Tomkins for six, could only get a big leading edge allowing Morrison to turn and make good ground to take a diving chance to dismiss Aman for a well played 53. Tomkins struck again in his next over catching Roshan off his own bowling for 35. Tomkins continued his great work in his 10th over having both Stewart and Ashin caught at first slip by Jerry Moir leaving Academy 117 for 7. Tomkins could not add further to his tally endding with 12-0-48-6.

FPs by this time had Moir back in the attack and he was joined by Youles as FPs sought the 3 wickets needed for victory. Kessels was leading a charmed life as twice he was put down at mid on off Moir, Stuart the unfortunate fielder on both occasions. With game seemingly heading for a draw, Youles gave FPs hope as Kessels chipped an easy catch to Dallas Moir to leave FPs needing 2 wickets in the last 7 overs.

There was were a number of extremely close calls with Moir appearing to have Mahesh plumb LBW only for the umpire to bizarrely rule it was not out as he could not see any of the stumps. As has often been the case this season, it appeared little would be given and when Morrison appeared to have FPs reject Naeem caught at mid off from Stuart’s bowling it was ruled bump ball despite Morrison being 35 yards away and the pitch being wetter than a bank holiday weekend.

FPs could not force the wickets they needed but did pick up the bonus wicket of Mahesh run out off the last ball from Morrison’s throw as Budd collected the ball and to run him out by the length of the pitch despite Naeem’s strange protests. This meant that Academy finished on 175 for 9 in what had been a good rearguard action aided by some dropped catches and some questionable umpiring.

Moir was once again in miserly form with 1 for 14 from 12, but it was Tomkins who took the bowling honours with his 6 for 48, Youles picking up the other wicket with 1 for 22 from 6.

However, it was MacDonald who hauled FPs back into the match when he tempted Findlay out of his crease to have him expertly stumped by Clelland, standing up, for a well played 23. Jerry Moir was by now into the attack after a double change and he removed dangerman Jamieson with a slightly loose delivery which Jamieson could only direct in the direction of Eagles. Initially, he appeared not to sight it, but managed to dive forward claiming a good low catch to reduce Queens Cross to 66 for 2.  They were soon 69 for 4 as first Moir had Blair Findlay caught by Clelland after a loose shot and then MacDonald had Shepherd caught by Roland Knudson at mid off for a duck.

MacDonald picked up his third wicket soon after with Russell brilliantly caught in the deep by John Lord. A diving effort on the run going to his right will be hard to beat for catch of the season. This left Queens Cross on 77 for 5 with Hutton and Murphy at the wicket.

After being beaten a number of times by Jerry Moir outside the off stump, Moir straightened his line to comprehensively bowl him leg stump for 5. Jamieson snr was the new batsman but he aimed a truly awful smash at Eagles and was stumped by yards. FPs had ideas of finishing Queens Cross off for around 100, but a useful partnership between Hutton and Bell carried the score towards 150 before Bell was caught by Knudson when Tomkins returned to the attack for 23. With his partner dismissed and batting with a runner, Hutton soon perished, bowled by Knudson for a well played 36. The innings closed on 152 when Tomkins bowled last man Taylor for 1.

Overall 152 looks a competitive score mainly thanks to the fast start and useful 8th wicket stand. James Lord was slightly off colour with 5 overs for 29, Tomkins bowled some good balls and will certainly be an asset this summer with 2 for 38 and Eagles and Knudson provided some tidy spin with 1 for 29 and 1 for 17 respectively. The star bowlers however were MacDonald with 10 overs 3 for 24 and the magnificent Jerry Moir whose 12 overs included 8 maidens as he picked up 3 for 9.

Lord opened the batting with Clelland and FPs were soon in trouble as first Clelland was caught down the leg side by Murphy off the bowling of Jamieson and then Muthu departed for a second ball duck caught by K Findlay at mid off, leaving FPs 15 for 2. Dallas Moir joined Lord at the crease and took some time playing himself in, failing to score from his first 11 balls. After 14 overs FPs had reached 27 for 2, but just 14 overs later 129 additional runs had been added as Moir got into full flow.

The introduction of Taylor seemed to be the catalyst, as Moir launched him for some enormous blows as he was hit out of the attack in 3 overs which cost 31 runs, mainly in boundaries. Kieran Findlay was next to have a bowl but threw in the towel after 1 over which went for 13. With Queens Cross clearly up against it, their captain with overs still to bowl, retired to deep mid wicket and left his team mates to try and stem the flow of runs. Next to have a crack was Blair Findlay but he was dealt with in a similar style but at least deserves credit for sticking at it for 3 overs which cost 25. The final bowler used was Bell and his 13 balls were also massacred in fine style by Moir as he conceeded 27. Moir hit the winning runs, not surprisingly a six to finish on 97 not out from 66 balls in 76 minutes.  He hit 10 fours and 7 sixes.

This also meant the stand had been 129 unbroken and Lord deserves great credit for a very fine innings at the other end, where he played the opening bowlers with great sense early on and was happy to pick off the bad balls in a very fine 38 not out which contained 5 well struck boundaries. His blunting of the opening attack certainly allowed Moir free reign to dismantle the change bowlers. It could be some time before an FPs batsman plays a more destructive innings.

Next up for FPs is a tricky home match versus old foes Gordonians.

Having lost the toss AGSFPs toiled to a total of 124 which was by vice skipper Clelland’s estimation about 30 runs short. Gourav started at a sprightly pace for St Ronald and unsettled the opening pair. With Vai keeping a tidy line from the Butchart end Grammar struggled to 41 for 2 off the first 20 overs.Budd chipped a few here and there but then took a few too many liberties with a straight one and was clean bowled by Mudie for 35 off 70 balls in 78 minutes.

The only other major contribution came from a resurgent John Youles who after a 5 ball look at the St Ronald attack proceeded to 43 in traditional Youles fashion. The Grammar innings folded after 42 overs when Morrison was bowled by Gourav who finished his 12 over spell with 2-22. Alastair Mudie was the most successful of the St Ronald bowlers with 3-40 from 9 overs

In reply Grammar kept things tight and St Ronald were 46 for 3 off their first 20 overs. A bright opening spell by up and coming youngster James Lord (1-12 off 6 overs) and the evergreen Jerry Moir kept things interesting but Vai’s appearance in the middle steadied the ship for St Ronald and his sparkling unbeaten 74 not out saw victory for the home side by 4 wickets in the 42nd over with 5 overs to spare.

The wily Eagles was again in the wickets for Grammar with 3 for 39 off 12 overs with Moir finishing with 1-19 off 11 overs.Grammar remain in second spot in Grade 2 and will hope for a return to form at the unpredictable Shed next Saturday against lowly Artisans.

Meanwhile St Ronald top the league with five wins from five games.