The battle for the Lonestar Tauranga T20 title gets back under way for the next fortnight at Fergusson Park, with the Williams Cup taking a break due to Bay of Plenty representative commitments.

Going into rounds five and six on Saturday five teams are genuine contenders for a berth in the title decider.

With two points allocated for a win, Carrus Mount Maunganui who sits on top of the standings with eight points, hold a slender one point advantage from Eves Realty Greerton and Rotorua Central.

Lurking a further two points adrift is City Sports Bar Te Puke and Element IMF Cadets.

While the third and fourth rounds of play, were seriously affected by rain, several players have made significant contributions for their sides.

Leading the batting leaderboard is Central all-rounder Jason Trembath who has smashed 148 runs with a top score of 92. Tauranga Boys' College mentor Mark Orchards sits in second place with 109 runs and a highest score of 84no.

Te Puke stalwart Stephen Crossan scored a neat century to grab third place on the standings.

Mount Maunganui all-rounder Alex Gooding, leads the way in the bowling stakes with seven wickets and best figures of three wickets for 21 runs. Fellow Mount player Dan Hill sits in second with six bowling scalps including a remarkable three wickets for just two runs.

The key match-up in the early afternoon round at Fergusson Park, is an inter-city battle between Cadets and defending Baywide T20 champions Central. There is always a real intensity when they two sides meet with no quarter asked for or given.

In other round five match-ups Greerton square off with Whakatane United, Mount Maunganui meet Tauranga Boys College with BOP Indians facing Te Puke.

Cadets will have little respite on the day, when they back-up from the Central match, with Greerton, in the late afternoon round. The two Western Bay sides have a healthy rivalry that stretches back over several decades, which could produce a real battle of attrition.

The winner of the BOP Indians match with Whakatane United will grab their first win points of the current competition. Mount Maunganui and Te Puke will resume hostilities with Central meeting Tauranga Boys College.

BOPCA Lonestar Tauranga T20

Round Five

Central v Element IMF Cadets, Fergusson3, Whakatane United v Eves Realty Greerton, Fergusson2; Tauranga Boys College v Carrus Mount Maunganui, Fergusson4, BOP Indians v City Sports Bar Te Puke, Fergusson1.

Round Six

BOP Indians v Whakatane United, Fergusson4; City Sports Bar Te Puke v Mount Maunganui, Fergusson2; Eves Realty Greerton v Element IMF Cadets, Fergusson1; Central v Tauranga Boys College, Fergusson3.

Points Table: Carrus Mount Maunganui 8, Eves Realty Greerton 7, Central 7, City Sports Bar Te Puke 5, Element IMF Cadets 5, Tauranga Boys College 2, Whakatane United 2, BOP Indians 2.

BOPCA Lonestar Tauranga T20 Leaderboards

Batting: Jason Trembath 148 runs - HS 92 (Central) Mark Orchard 109 - HS 84no (Tauranga Boys College) Stephen Crossan 100 - HS 100no (Te Puke)

Bowling: Alex Gooding 7 wickets - BB 3/21 (Mount Maunganui) Dan Hill 6w – BB 3/2) five way tie for third place.