Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine 2019

Former Pupils’ Section Remarkably, however, the season began with a match going the full length at Gordonians, but dropped catches and the loss of key wickets at vital times were to cost us the game whilst setting the tone for the season.

The following weeks (and months) brought similar heartache despite valiant batting and bowling performances from some of the team, as losses against Methlick (where skipper Mike Nattrass scored the first 50 of the season for the club) and then 2nd KnightRiders (where Sam Knudson avoided a century - 98) were close run things. This was then followed by a defeat by Ellon (who scored a Grades record total but were then frustrated by Tom Murray’s resolute batting) and a frustrating loss to Super Kings (who suddenly found a couple of star players, Ben Frizzel scoring a 50 in his only game of the season). The game against Siyapa promised much, Aman Sood scoring an aggressive 88, but FPs could not find a victory and the same outcome occurred again against Aberdeen Super Kings where Mike Nattrass somehow took a 5 for.

At the this point of the season FPs looked be at serious risk of relegation back to Grade 3, but with four games to play against teams we had run close all season, there was still confidence a couple of wins would come and a miracle would be in reach. This would have been enough to keep us up due to the quirk of only one team being relegated. Unfortunately, the away trip to Fraserburgh did not make the start of the much desired and required change of result. Ian Johnston having transport and communication issues meant that the 2s travelled hoping he’d picked up Rajaa Monnapillai, and was on the way only to be told on arrival that they’d broken down and, eventually, that they wouldn’t be joining their comrades at all, leaving FPs heavily under strength.

2nd Knights at home was again a close run affair, but no one seemed able to hang around to add the runs required to make it a challenge beyond their batsmen and relegation was all but confirmed.

However, with that pressure off, the team found a new lease of life. With an away trip to Stonehaven (last year’s runaway Grade 3 winners) FPs batted first and amassed a decent total of 202. After a steady start in reply, skipper Nattrass kept faith with opening bowler Farhan, which was repaid by him taking a couple of quick wickets. Sean Harrower came on for Rajaa Monnapillai and had an early impact, working in tandem with John Eagles, having three batsmen caught by Nattrass (2 x Harrower, 1 x Eagles) and another caught by Rajaa (off Eagles).

Agha Haider was brought on to mix things up again, taking 1 for 14 from his seven overs, and was followed by Mike Nattrass, clean bowling a schoolboy to reduce Stonehaven to 80-odd for 8.

What followed neatly summed up the 2nd XI season – as the destructive number 10 threw caution to the wind (and bat at ball) striking a series of mighty blows to swing the momentum back their way, as suddenly more and more wides were given to assist the two set batsmen. Eventually, after Harrower came back into the attack, the number 10 was caught at cow corner and was followed by 55