October not only brings daylight saving, but also the start of the much-anticipated new cricket season.

In the past couple of weeks cobwebs have been dusted off bat and ball, in readiness for the start of the new Bay of Plenty cricket year this Saturday.

In the last Baywide cricket term not one premier team dominated, with the three pieces of Baywide silverware being shared amongst three Western Bay teams.

Otumoetai Cadets made the early running in the Baywide ranks winning the first past the post Baywide Cup with an unbeaten record.

A twenty-seven year drought between Williams Cup victories, ended for Tauranga suburban club Greerton when they squeezed home against Cadets, in the Baywide title decider at the BOP Cricket Oval during March.

A new competition that was to be played when players were away on representative duty was the inaugural T20 championship.

Two teams who didn't have players in the Bay senior men's side battled out the final – with Tauranga Boys College defeating Rotorua Central in the title decider.

The first competition to kick off this Saturday is the Baywide Cup, which will see eight Bay of Plenty premier teams chasing the first piece of Baywide silverware.

Defending Baywide Cup titleholders, Otumoetai Cadets, finished top dog in Baywide Cricket last season being awarded the champion of champions Hart Family Trophy.

This weekend, Cadets kick of their title defence with a match-up against BOP Indians on the artificial surface at Ferguson Park.

They will again be led by Bay skipper Jono Boult.

While the formbook would suggest that Cadets should have little trouble with the Rotorua visitors, the Rotorua team possess a bowler who made a big impression last season.

Jayvant Dhanjee produced the best bowling figures in the Williams Cup grabbing six wickets for just 32 runs.

Baywide heavyweight's Mount Maunganui has had a change in the teams on field leadership, with club stalwart Mark Divehall in charge for the first time.

Divehall is a hard-hitting batsman who has a number of centuries to his name and is sure to lead his side from the front.

Mount Maunganui is at home on the Blake Park artificial surface to East Bay United. hile the Eastern Bay team sometimes runs hot and cold, when Alex Yates is in the groove with his bat the boundaries provide a big target for the dashing batsmen.

Te Puke, who holds the record of Williams Cup victories over the years, has assembled a team that could trouble the favourites this season.

Charles Williams who likes to put bat to ball with real enthusiasm has joined the team and will assist Pete Swan with his coaching duties, with Tai Bridgeman-Raison again captaining the side.

The Te Puke contenders have a tough first up challenge, when they travel to square off against Rotorua Central at Boord Park artificial in the Sulphur City.

While Central have fallen off the pace in the last couple of seasons, the return of Bay representatives Jason Trembath and Ben Blackett will really strengthen the Rotorua team.

The Greerton and Tauranga Boys College game has been deferred for a couple of weeks with Tauranga Boys on tour in Queensland.

BOPCA Baywide Cup Premier Draw October 6

Otumoetai Cadets v BOP Indians, Ferguson artificial; Mount Maunganui v East Bay United, Blake Park artificial; Central v Te Puke, Boord Park artificial; Tauranga Boys College v Greerton – to be played at a later date.