The opening round of the time honoured Williams Cup Baywide championship produced an explosive start at the weekend with the defending champion removed for just 67 runs.

Batting first at home at Blake Park, Mount Maunganui's start to their Williams Cup defence was in tatters after they were removed for just 67 by East Bay United.

Eastern Bay bowler Joel Mathews did the damage at the top of the order taking four wickets for 34 runs, while skippers Dean Butterworth grabbed three wickets.

The Mount Maunganui top score of 21 by Nick Smith told the tale of the misery endured by the home side's batsmen.

However, the Eastern Bay of Plenty side was made to fight for victory, losing seven wickets on the way.

Pip Thickpenny top scored with 19, with Bay representative Daniel Hill taking four wickets.

Greerton made the other Williams Cup contenders sit up and take notice when they posted 301/6 against Rotorua Central at Pemberton Park.

Led by 80 runs from Craig Budd at the top of the order, the Western Bay side made a grand start to its innings.

The pace was considerably accelerated when Shane Wineti joined Budd in the 28th over.

A 160 run partnership, aided by a chanceless 110 runs from Wineti, put the home side in the box seat. The Wineti century came at better than a run a ball, and included five sixes.

In spite of Greerton bowling too many wides, Central was rolled for 96.

Dutch Academy player Sebastiaan Braat posted 4/40 with Brett Hampton also grabbing four wickets.

Pre-Christmas BOP Cup champion Otumoetai Cadets was given a shake by BOP Indians. Cadets made a grand start with openers Ben Christensen (68) and Joe Carter (24) taking control, however, the Indian team bowlers warmed to the task in hand, and removed Cadets for 160.

Two wickets apiece by Shonit Chandra and Bipul Dass and two run outs restricted the Western Bay side to a gettable total.

Indians all-rounder Bipul Dass backed up his two wickets, with his sides top score of 37, as the Rotorua visitors made a determined attempt for victory.

The Cadets bowlers tightened the screws in the second half of the innings to eventually remove the Indian team for 147.

Tauranga Boys' College, which finished last season's Williams Cup in second place, made a good start to their pursuit of the 2012 version of the Baywide title.

They set Te Puke a good-sized target on the BOP Cricket Oval, reaching 202 all out.

Boys' College teacher Charles Williams posted a half-century, with Te Puke's two Dutch bowlers of Joost Kroesen and Paul van Meekeren taking four wickets apiece.

While Te Puke made a valiant attempt for victory, the Boys' College bowlers, led by Mark Orchard (4/21) and Tom MacRury (3/41), won the battle of attrition dismissing Te Puke for 139.

Mitch McCann was the best of the Te Puke batting attack with 26 runs.

Bay of Plenty Cricket Results

Williams Cup Baywide

Platinum Pacific Reclad Mount Maunganui 67 (Nick Smith 21, Joel Mathews 4/34, Dean Butterworth 3/28) lost to East Bay United 69/7 (Pip Thickpenny 19; Daniel Hill 4/22)

Tauranga Boys' College 202 (Charles Williams 50, Tom MacRury 40, Mark Orchard 29; Paul van Meekeren 4/33 Joost Kroesen 4/46) defeated Te Puke 139 (Mitch McCann 26, J Kroesen 21; M Orchard 4/21, T MacRury 3/41, Francois Potgieter 2/13)

Eves Realty Greerton 301/6 (Shane Wineti 110no, Craig Budd 80) defeated iTCo Central 96 Kane Spiers 23; Sebastiaan Braat 4/40, Brett Hampton 4/46)

Element IMF Cadets 160 (Ben Christensen 68, Joe Carter 24; Shonit Chandra 2/20, Bipul Das 2/26) defeated BOP Indians 147 (B Das 37, Prashant Dhanjee 23; B Christensen 2/36, Campbell Wilson 2/36)

Williams Cup Points

East Bay United 6, Tauranga Boys' College 6, Greerton 6, Cadets 6, Mount Maunganui 0, Te Puke 0, Central 0, BOP Indians 0.