Platinum Pacific Reclad Mount Maunganui laid down the gauntlet to the other BOP Cup contenders last weekend when they defeated Element IMF Cadets to become the only unbeaten team in the competition.

The Mount Premier side, which is the defending BOP Cup and Baywide champion of champions, looks to be on track to win both pieces of silverware this season.

In a competition where the first past the post (on average points per game) grabs the glory, the Mount team appear odds-on favourite to grab the BOP Cup for the third successive season.

This Saturday, the Mount Maunganui charge for victory will face a real challenge when they visit Te Puke Domain to meet Ultimate Motor Group Te Puke.

Te Puke coach Peter Swan has revitalised his team's passion for cricket, with the side having won six of its last seven encounters.

Last weekend, Te Puke skipper Tai Bridgeman-Raison returned to form with a bang to carry his bat with an unbeaten 128 runs.

Second placed Eves Realty Greerton, which has what could be a competition-deciding showdown with the Mount in three weeks, should defeat BOP Indians in Rotorua.

Last weekend Greerton showed real resolve to bowl out Tauranga Boys' College when they were within sight of victory.

Long serving medium pace bowler Murray Jarvis, who has taken 21 wickets in Baywide play this season, always makes life difficult for the opposition batsmen.

However, Greerton won't be taking the match as a ‘given' with the BOP Indians side having posted two wins in the BOP Cup.

Prashant Dhanjee leads the BOP Cup bowling leader board with 13 wickets that include a five-wicket bag.

In Rotorua, a local derby takes centre stage when current Rotorua one-day titleholders Dawson Insurance Eastern Pirates square off against iTCo Central.

With this being the last occasion that the two sides meet this season – bragging rights will be on the line, along with the BOP Cup points.

Tauranga Boys' College will defend the iTCo Challenge Trophy at Nicholson Field against East Bay United.

Last season the Eastern Bay side relieved Tauranga Boys' of the BOP cricket challenge trophy, with the visitors sure to be keen to repeat.

The game at the Tauranga Domain between Cadets and Rotorua Boys' High will round out the weekend Baywide schedule. While Cadets will be hot favourites to take out the encounter, Rotorua Boys' upset the applecart last weekend, defeating Central.

BOP Cup 26 February 2011

Element IMF Cadets v Rotorua BHS, Tauranga Domain; Ultimate Motor Group Te Puke v Platinum Pacific Reclad Mount Maunganui, Te Puke Domain; Dawson Insurance Eastern Pirates v iTCo Central, Smallbone Park; BOP Indians v Eves Realty Greerton, Boord Park; Tauranga Boys' College v East Bay United, Nicholson Field.

Points Table (points average)

Mount Maunganui 20, Greerton 17.25, Cadets 16.5, Te Puke 15.5, Eastern Pirates 14.3, BOP Indians 11.5, Central 10.25, Tauranga Boys College 10.25, Rotorua BHS 6.75, East Bay United 4.75.