Bay of Plenty Baywide Reserve Grade cricket gets its day in the sun in the next six weeks when the McNaughton Trophy takes centre stage every second Sunday until the McNaughton Final on March 17.

The origins of the Baywide Reserve Grade prize come from the donation by the McNaughton Family in Te Puke of a trophy for competition between second tier teams from the Tauranga and Te Puke sub-associations.

A number of years ago the competition was expanded to include all Reserve Grade sides in Bay of Plenty cricket.

The addition of BOP Indians and Rotorua's Geyser City has resulted in a preliminary round of play this Sunday, where the winners will advance to the quarterfinals.

However the new entrants will have no easy time in their debuts.

Geyser Cricket Club will host 2008 McNaughton champions Greerton at Smallbone Park, with the Western Bay team in good form.

The Western Bay side sit just outside the top four of the Western Bay Reserve Grade title race and are likely to present a strong line-up at Smallbone Park on Sunday.

BOP Indians will also have no easy entrance into the Baywide second 11 championship when they travel to play Te Puke at the picturesque Te Puke Domain.

While the Te Puke second team had a far from memorable time in last year's Western Bay competitions, they have undergone a renaissance this season and currently sit in second place on the standings.

McNaughton Trophy Draw

3 February (preliminary round) Geyser CC v Greerton, Smallbone Park; Te Puke v BOP Indians, Te Puke Domain

17 February – Quarterfinals

3 March – Semi-Finals

17 March – McNaughton Trophy Final

McNaughton Trophy 2013 Entries

Geyser City, Central, BOP Indians (Rotorua) R&A Sangha CC, Cadets, Greerton, Mount Maunganui, Katikati, Te Puke (Western BOP) Wanderers (Taupo)