Element IMF Cadets Sit Two Wins Clear of the Williams Cup Chasers

Posted: Thursday, 28 February 2019

Action Continues This Saturday

The Williams Cup playoff’s format, that rewards the top two qualifiers with two bites of the cherry, means that the qualifying competition is likely to go down to the wire with three rounds remaining.

Element IMF Cadets who sit astride the current Williams Cup standings, two wins clear of the chasing pack, have almost certainly booked a berth in the playoffs.

Cadets skipper Jono Boult is certain to be eyeing the top spot at the end of the qualifying competition, which not only earns two chances of making the title decider, but has the extra bonus of a home semi-final on offer.

This Saturday (2 March 2019) will provide the Tauranga Domain based side, with their biggest challenge of the 2019 Williams Cup title race, when they square off with defending Williams Cup titleholders Eves Realty Greerton, at Greerton’s home base at Pemberton Park.

Greerton hit a speed bump in their first Williams Cup outing, when they were given a cricket lesson by Bayleys Central Indians, being beaten by 131 runs. However they have bounced back with a 105 run victory over archrivals Mount Maunganui and a seven wicket win, against Bond & Co Tauranga Boys College.

Greerton captain Shane Wineti is the current longest serving Baywide team leader and knows all about marshalling his troops, when the pressure is applied by opposition sides.

Carrus Mount Maunganui and Central Indians are locked together on two wins apiece, with the winner of the clash between the two contenders, taking a significant step to finishing in the top two.

The Rotorua combined team will have home track advantage, with the match to be played at Rotorua Cricket headquarters at Smallbone Park. The 2007 Williams Cup champions, have had a solid season, with a fourth equal finish in the Baywide Cup and third place in the Baywide Twenty 20 championship.

Mount Maunganui has a proud record in Baywide cricket over the last five decades. Along with Cadets, they are the only two Bay of Plenty Clubs to win all three Baywide trophies, of the Williams Cup, Baywide Cup and Baywide Twenty 20 championship.

Bond & Co Tauranga Boys College and GM Painters Lake Taupo CC, will round out the Williams Cup round five action, when they meet in the Western Bay of Plenty.

BOPCA Williams Cup (Round Five) – 2 March 2019

Bond & Co Tauranga Boys College v GM Painters Lake Taupo CC, Nicholson Field; Eves Realty Greerton v Element IMF Cadets, Pemberton Park; Bayleys Central Indians v Carrus Mount Maunganui, Smallbone Park; New World Te Puke the bye.

Points Table: Cadets 24, Central Indians 12, Greerton 12, Mount Maunganui 12, Lake Taupo CC 6, Te Puke 6, Tauranga Boys College 0.

Share this page: