The time honoured Attrill Cup takes centre stage today when its current holder, Rotorua, will take up the challenge laid down by the Eastern Bay of Plenty representative team.

The Attrill Cup, which is contested by the Bay of Plenty sub-associations, is believed to date back to the early 1930s.

A 1938 Bay of Plenty Times cricket report opening paragraph simply said: 'At long last Tauranga have taken the Attrill Cup from Opotiki.”

It was recorded that the Eastern Bay side had held the symbol of Bay of Plenty Sub-Association cricket for seven years, which puts the start of the Attrill Cup around 1931.

Last season the Attrill Cup changed hands on two occasions.

In the first challenge, East Bay United took the trophy from a combined Te Puke and Mount Maunganui representative team.

The following weekend Rotorua won the long-time Bay of Plenty Cricket trophy defeating the Eastern Bay representatives.

After spending the winter at the Rotorua Cricket headquarters at Smallbone Park, the Rotorua side will put the Attrill Cup on the line at Smallbone Park on Sunday.

Last weekend's McNaughton Trophy semi-finals, have resulted in a rematch of last season's final stanza – where Mount Maunganui defeated Katikati, to lift aloft in triumph the symbol of Baywide Reserve Grade cricket superiority.

At the Uerata Reserve in Katikati, the home side removed Rotorua Central for 125 and then got home with three wickets in hand. Katikati bowler Simon Turnbull took six wickets with Matt Earl anchoring his team's innings with a gritty 51 runs.

Mount Maunganui reached the final after a trip to Taupo where they won an entertaining contest against the Tokelau Cricket Club side.

Attrill Cup 11 March 2012 @ Smallbone Park, Rotorua

Rotorua v Eastern Bay of Plenty

McNaughton Trophy Semi-Final Results 4 March 2012

Rotorua Central 125 (Simon Turnbull 6/26) lost to Katikati 126/7 (M Earl 51)