The McNaughton Trophy, which is the Baywide Reserve Grade championship, gets serious this weekend with four games spread throughout the Bay of Plenty Cricket region.

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.

Western Bay representatives Cadets will travel to the Kaimanawa Reserve in the Great Lake region to square off against Taupo Wanderers.

Traditionally the Taupo sides that make forays into the McNaughton Trophy prove very had to beat at home and Cadets could face a real challenge on the road.

Defending McNaughton champions Mount Maunganui face a real challenge to progress to the semi-finals, when they meet Te Puke at the Te Puke Domain.

The Te Puke second eleven are arguably the most improved side in the Western Bay ranks this season.

After earning the wooden spoon last season they lurk menacingly in second place in the Reserve Grade title race.

Katikati, who have been the runner-up in the last two McNaughton Trophies, also face a stern test to advance to the last four.

They must travel to meet (Rotorua) Central at Smallbone Park in the Geyser City.

The Rotorua team seems to always bring there A game to the Baywide championship and won the Baywide title in 2008.

Greerton had a warm-up for the quarterfinals when they player Geyser CC from Rotorua in a preliminary round two weeks ago.

The Western Bay side batted first and posted 271/9 and then bowled the Rotorua representatives out for 217.

In the quarterfinals Greerton are at home at Pemberton Park to fellow Western Bay side R&A Sangha.

McNaughton Trophy Quarterfinals February 17

Greerton v R&A Sangha, Pemberton Park; Central v Katikati, Smallbone Park; Te Puke v Mount Maunganui, Te Puke Domain; Taupo Wanderers v Cadets, Kaimanawa Reserve.

McNaughton Preliminary Round February 3

Greerton 271/9 (Ranjit Singh 50, Sam Brown 48, Cameron Lockett 47; Chris Nairn 2/37, Ben Dyson 2/38) defeated Geyser CC 217 (Greg Campbell 31; Rob Inglis 3/42, Paul Inglis 2/16, Sean Crotty 2/47)