Central Indians' co-captain Andrew Gibbs, pictured earlier in the season bowling out Te Puke's Kurt Lansdown. PHOTO/FILE
Central Indians' co-captain Andrew Gibbs, pictured earlier in the season bowling out Te Puke's Kurt Lansdown. PHOTO/FILE
Rotorua's Bayleys Central Indians are aiming to compete strongly for the Bay of Plenty premier trophy which starts this weekend.
Central Indians have a tough BOPCA Williams Cup first test - facing up against defending champions New World Te Puke, in the 50-over game, away tomorrow.
Te Puke lead the all-time Williams Cup title list, winning the big Bay of Plenty cricket prize on 16 occasions. The trophy was introduced in the early 1930s and has been contested annually except during World War II.
Despite Te Puke's formidable record Central Indians co-captain Andrew Gibbs is confident of securing a winning start after his team came close to two victories against their opposition in the pre-Christmas Baywide Cup.
"They are a side we feel we have been close to beating," he said. "We will respect them but the past record that they have doesn't bother us.
"We had them under pressure on both occasions previously and they were very close results. The team aim to get off to a good start and this is a game we have targeted to win."
Central Indians go into the game after finishing bottom of the table after the first BOPCA Baywide premier competition this season - picking up just two winning draw results and finishing on 25 points.
However Te Puke did not fare much better, finishing just one place ahead on 107 points.
"To the outsider it may look as if we've done quite badly," said Gibbs. "But this just isn't the case at all. Towards Christmas we really picked up our game and showed real promise. The team had some very close finishes and we're full of positivity.
"It's a shorter format of the game, which will really suit our side. I also feel Te Puke have struggled a bit this year because of inexperience and they are a very youthful side. We need to take our chances here."
Central Indians' player Himesh Gosai, pitured bowling against Te Puke when the two sides last faced each other. PHOTO/FILE
Te Puke, who beat Carrus Mount Maunganui in a rain-affected title decider at the Bay Oval last year, are hungry to retain their crown, according to captain Stephen Crossan.
"Winning last year was the first taste of success for our young side who are hungry for more in 2017," he said. "When you look at the quality of the teams who have taken part in the Williams Cup over the years, it is pretty special to be involved in a club with such a fine history.
"Te Puke has a good balance of youth and experience across the board and experience in key areas will give our young talent the opportunity to flourish. It's obviously going to be a tight contest with all six teams having the depth to win the title."
Meanwhile, Baywide Cup champions Mount Maunganui meet Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College, who finished third, at the neutral venue of Fergusson Park tomorrow.
And Eves Realty Greerton will put the Baker Cup (WBOPCA Challenge Trophy) on the line when they square off against second-placed Baywide Cup finishers Element IMF Cadets at the Tauranga Domain.
Cadets won the first Baywide Cup clash and took a winning draw from the second encounter, but Greerton at full strength could provide plenty of headaches for all the other contenders in the Williams Cup title race.
In the history of the Williams Cup, Rotorua City Cricket Club became the first name engraved on the trophy in the 1932/33 season, whilst Otumoetai Cadets have enjoyed more recent success in the Baywide competition, winning it nine times since the 1994/95 season.
New World Te Puke v Bayleys Central Indians, Te Puke Domain, Te Puke.
Carrus Mount Maunganui v Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College, Fergusson 1 Tauranga.
Element IMF Cadets v Eves Realty Greerton, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga.
Williams Cup Champions (2000 - 2015)
2016 Te Puke 2015 Mount Maunganui 2014 Te Puke 2013 Mount Maunganui 2012 Greerton 2011 Mount Maunganui 2010 Cadets 2009 Tauranga Boys' College 2008 Mount Maunganui 2007 Rotorua Central 2006 Cadets 2005 Cadets 2004 Te Puke 2003 Cadets 2002 Albion 2001 Te Puke 2000 AC United
