This Thursday, the Bay Oval and Blake Park will be alive with fun and laughter when 150 girls take part in the annual Western Bay of Plenty Super Six cricket competition.

The Bay of Plenty Cricket Super Six was instituted five years ago, to follow on from the girls-only cricket school visits.

In order to appeal and grab the youngsters attention, the day is about six aside teams, who play five short and sharp modified cricket matches - where having fun and enjoying the day, is more important than winning and losing.

A record 27 teams have entered for the day, from 15 schools that span the Western Bay region from Tauranga to Pongakawa. Golden Sands have really embraced the day by entering six teams.

Bay of Plenty Cricket Women's Development Officer Rebecca Yee says the competition is a culmination of all the skills and knowledge, which the youngsters have picked up in the six-week girls introduction program, delivered at the participating schools.

'They work through several focus weeks that built up to playing practice games. This Thursday is about taking the skills learnt, a further step, by playing other schools of similar ability.

"The school visits are where the girls learn about the rules and technique, before putting their new-found skills to the test at the Super Six. The experience they get from Super 6, can be then carried forward to future competitions such as the Bay of Plenty Cricket Junior NPL".

There will be plenty of prizes, for runs scored and wickets taken, given out on the day with the young aspiring players likely to return to their schools with genuine enthusiasm for the game of cricket.

2017 Super Six Schools

Maungatapu, Selwyn Ridge, Omanu, Tahatai Coast, Golden Sands, Pongakawa, Oropi, Papamoa, Greenpark, Te Puke, Tauranga Primary, Gate Pa, Pyes Pa, Matua, Pillans Point School.