Williams Cup Preview 10th March 2018

Posted: Thursday, 8 March 2018

Three Teams Chase Last Williams Cup Play-Of Spot

Three Baywide premier teams have the opportunity to grab the last Williams Cup semi-final spot, in the last round of qualifying play this Saturday (10 March 2018).

Eve's Realty Greerton, who are sitting out the bye this weekend have already grabbed the top qualifying position, with Carrus Mount Maunganui and Bayleys Central Indians also qualifying for post section play.

A tied result between Cooney Lees Morgan and Element IMF Cadets last Saturday, opened the way for New World Te Puke, to join Tauranga Boys and Cadets in the race for the last remaining semi-final berth. If Cadets defeat Mount Maunganui they will pick up the last post section place. A Mount victory would give the winner of the TBC and Te Puke game the opportunity to continue their cricket season.

Cadets, who are the current Williams Cup title holders, have an appointment with arch-rivals Mount Maunganui at Cadets headquarters at the Tauranga Domain. Cadets, have both a match winning batsman and bowler in their ranks, who have both made the 2018 Williams Cup honors board. Joshua Bates who has migrated north from Canterbury, blasted a century against Greerton in his Williams Cup debut, with Gurwinder Singh taking a five wicket bag in round five.

Mount Maunganui has always maintained a policy of promoting promising talent from the Reserve Grade ranks, with the latest to make his mark being Logan Carr, who posted a premier half-century against Greerton. Dan Smith has made his presence felt with both bat and ball and sits in a prominent position on both the Williams Cup batting and bowling stakes.

Tauranga Boys College and Te Puke will be keeping tabs on the match at the Tauranga Domain, with the winner at Nicholson Field progressing if the Mount beat Cadets. Tauranga Boys have four Bay Development youngsters in Marcel Collett, Ben Pomare, Dominic Crombie and Iman Singh in their line-up, who could make life interesting for Te Puke.

Two Te Puke top order batsmen have been in sterling form with their willow attack weapons. Tai Bridgman-Raison posted his 13th premier century last Saturday, blasting 146 against Lake Taupo CC. The next day, Stephen Crossan posted his maiden minor association three figure score, with a neat one hundred runs for Bay of Plenty against Waikato Valley.

Victory for Central Indians against GM Painters Lake Taupo CC, would give them a chance at grabbing a coveted top two spot, with the accompanying two lives in the playoffs. The Rotorua sides run of current Williams Cup form gives them an opportunity to repeat their 2007 Williams Cup title victory.

Bay of Plenty Baywide Cricket Draw 10 March 2018

BOPCA Williams Cup

Element IMF Cadets v Carrus Mount Maunganui, Tauranga Domain; Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College v New World Te Puke, Nicholson Field; GM Painters Lake Taupo CC v Bayleys Central Indians, Owen Delaney Park; Eves Realty the bye.

Points Table: Greerton 40, Mount Maunganui 25, Central Indians 23, Cadets 15, Te Puke 13, Tauranga Boys College 13, Lake Taupo CC 5.

BOPCA Williams Cup Honours Board 2018

Batting (Centuries) 146 – Tai Bridgman-Raison (Te Puke v Lake Taupo)

103 – Joshua Bates (Element IMF Cadets) v Greerton

Bowling (Five wickets) 5/19 – Gurwinder Singh (Cadets) v Lake Taupo CC

5/46 - James Boyd (Eves Realty Greerton) v Cadets

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