Greerton’s big weekend

Eves Realty Greerton faces one of the biggest weekends in the clubs history this Waitangi Weekend.

Squaring off with long-time rivals Carrus Mount Maungauni in the Williams Cup title race on Saturday they must then back it up for the second day in a row at Pemberton Park, in the ND Club Champs Final.

Revenge will be on the agenda of Mount Maunganui, who sit at the top of the Williams Cup standing, after being beaten by Greerton in the Baywide Cup title decider in mid-December.

Mount lost the toss and were asked to bat with the early ascendancy lying with the Greerton bowlers, before Mount keeper Tim Clarke dug deep to post his sides top score of 69. Mount Maunganui were dismissed for 202 which set the Greerton side a good challenge.

Greerton made a reasonably patient start to their run chase. The arrival of Cam Neal at the crease changed the momentum of the game, as he blasted the ball to the boundary, including five big sixes.

Greerton needed 30 odd runs for victory, when Neal was bowled out for 48, with Brett Hampton getting then home for a six wicket win with an unbeaten 44.

While Whakatane United sit without a win after three rounds of the Williams Cup, they gave Greerton a good run for the money last weekend before the Western Bay team prevailed.

However, the visitors to Smallbone Park in Rotorua will have to contain Central skipper Jason Trembath who has been in peak form with bat and ball in Baywide competition this season.

BOP Indians put up a spirited performance against Tauranga Boys' College, before the encounter was called off last weekend.

Bay of Plenty master blaster Bharat Popli anchored his sides turn at bat with a hard fought 105.

But the Rotorua based side faces a big challenge this weekend, when they travel to play Element IMF Cadets at the Tauranga Domain. Cadets who have won multiple Williams Cup titles in the last two decades, usually produce their A game when playing at home.

Current Williams Cup titleholders City Sports Bar Te Puke, who sit in second equal place on the standings, have plenty of motivation to defeat Tauranga Boys College at the Te Puke Domain.

Victory will take them firmly towards a top four playoff place while defeat would put their title defence in some doubt.

However, the Tauranga students don't surrender easily and with player/coach Mark Orchard in good form with bat and ball, they could provide Te Puke with a real battle for winning honours.

Williams Cup (Baywide Premier) Draw February 7

Central v Whakatane United, Smallbone Park; Element IMF Cadets v BOP Indians, Tauranga Domain; City Sports Bar Te Puke v Tauranga Boys College, Te Puke Domain; Eves Realty Greerton v Carrus Mount Maunganui, Pemberton Park.

Williams Cup Points Table

Mount Maunganui 18, Cadets 12, Te Puke 12, Central 6, Greerton 6, Tauranga Boys College 0, Whakatane United 0, BOP Indians 0.

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