Long-time rivals face off in B grade opener

Cricket Player. Photo/Thinkstock.

Western Bay B grade cricket kicks off tomorrow with the first round of the B grade title.

Defending champions Grasshoppers take the first step to winning back-to-back titles when they meet arch rivals Wanderers at Mitchell Park. The two have had some epic battles with no quarter likely to be shown or given.

Albion and Greerton will square-off on the artificial surface at Ferguson Park, while Katikati will host Cadets at the Uerata Domain.

Mount Maunganui, who have entered a Masters side in the second echelon title race, have the bye.

Katikati and Sangha (Raavi) CC enter round four of the reserve grade competition with unbeaten records. Baywide McNaughton Trophy holders Katikati have made an impressive start to the competition, with the form book suggesting another win against Sangha (Anna) CC at Ferguson Park.

Brody Gilroy, who was one of the stars of Bay of Plenty age group cricket last season, is top of the bowling list with eight wickets, while fellow Katikati team member Joe Atkinson has the most catches, with four.

Sangha (Raavi) CC have been no less impressive in their start to the season. Tomorrow they travel to Te Puke Domain to meet the home side. Sangha first XI batsman Gargandeep Singh Gargan is top of the batting honours with 134 runs and Te Puke will need to get him out cheaply to boost their chances.

In other reserve grade match-ups, Mount Maunganui will be favoured to defeat Greerton at Ferguson Park, with the Cadets and Tauranga Boys' College game likely to go down to the wire.

WBOPCA draws, November 2

Reserve grade: Sangha (Anna) CC v Katikati, Ferguson1; Greerton v Mount Maunganui, Ferguson3; Te Puke v Sangha (Raavi) CC, Te Puke Domain; Cadets v Tauranga Boys' College, Ferguson 2.

B grade: Albion v Greerton, Ferguson 4; Katikati v Cadets, Uerata Domain; Grasshoppers v Wanderers, Mitchell Park; Mount Masters the bye.

WBOPCA reserve grade points: Katikati 50, Sangha (Raavi) CC 50, Greerton 49, Mount Maunganui 48, Te Puke 29, Tauranga Boys College 26, Cadets 24, Sangha (Anna) 18.

WBOPCA reserve grade honours

Batting: Gargandeep Singh Gargan (Sangha (Raavi) 134 runs.

Bowling: Brodie Gilroy (Katikati) 8 wickets.

Catches: Joe Atkinson (Katikati) 4.