A six team Western Bay of Plenty Secondary School 1^st XI cricket competition, has been put in place for term four of the school year, in order to keep teenage talent in the game.

Western Bay of Plenty Cricket Administrator Don Warner says in the past a good number of teenage players have been lost to the game through lack of a challenging competition.

'The introduction of the six team first eleven competition aims to give the year eleven, twelve and thirteen players competitive cricket and provide a pathway to the representative game.”

Tauranga Boys College, whose first and second elevens play Western Bay senior cricket, will add to their cricket pathway with their third eleven playing in the new Western Bay 1^st XI title race.

Eastern Bay of Plenty's Trident High School, who is traditionally strong in Schools cricket, will play in the Western Bay competition by invitation along with first elevens from Bethlehem, Aquinas, Otumoetai and Katikati Colleges.

In term one, Bethlehem College finished top of the standings in a Baywide 1^st XI competition followed by Otumoetai College from Trident and Katikati.

Bethlehem will open their Western Bay 1^st XI campaign when they host Tauranga Boy, while Aquinas will be at home to Otumoetai with Trident travelling to meet Katikati at Katikati College.

WBOPCA Secondary School 1^st XI Draw, October 27 (Home team first)

Bethlehem College v Tauranga Boys College 3^rd XI, Aquinas College v Otumoetai College, Katikati College v Trident High School.