The head to head Attrill Cup match-up at Ferguson Park on Sunday between current title holders Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty (Mount Maunganui/Te Puke) will continue the intense Battle of the Bridge rivalry between the two representative sides.

Long time friendships are forgotten in the annual contest between the representative teams from opposite sides of the Tauranga Harbour Bridge.

File photo.

While both sides finished last season's competition with two wins apiece, Tauranga were handed the long time Bay of Plenty sub-avocation trophy as they had beaten the Western Bay Combined team in round two.

In last season's encounter the combined side batted first and were dismissed for 191.

Te Puke Club skipper Mitch McCann top scored with a neat half century.

Past New Zealand Under 19 player Sean Davey did the damage with the ball returning 3/19, with last season's Bay skipper Jono Boult grabbing two wickets.

Joe Carter, who was a team mate of Sean Davey in the NZ Under 19 team, led the way to the Tauranga victory with an unbeaten 89.

Another to make his mark with the bat in the Tauranga victory was Tom MacRury who finished with 40 runs credited to his name.

Eastern Bay of Plenty will be after revenge against Rotorua after a comprehensive defeat last year.

However, this time the Eastern Bay side has home advantage at Rex Morepeth Park.

Last year the Eastern Bay representatives were removed for 140 with the home side ending the match with a six wicket victory.

In addition to the fight for the Attrill Cup, the Bay of Plenty sub-association encounters double as trial matches to select Bay of Plenty team to compete in the ND One-Day tournament to be held in Taupo in three weeks' time.

Attrill Cup October 13

Tauranga v Western Bay of Plenty, Fergusson Park3 (Umpires – Ross Ladyman & Bill Irvine)

Eastern Bay of Plenty v Rotorua, Rex Morepeth Park (Umpires – Rod Newton & Tony Simpson)

Points Table: Tauranga 3 (net run rate + 1.222) Western Bay of Plenty 3 (net run rate -4.880) Eastern Bay of Plenty 0 (net run rate + 1.222) Rotorua 0 (net run rate – 4.880)