Cricket: Cup at stake in battle of the bridges

Te Puke Club skipper Mitch McCann top-scored with a neat half century. Photo / Joel Ford

The Attrill Cup match between titleholders Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty will continue an 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.

Tauranga are made up of players from Greerton, Otumoetai Cadets and Tauranga Boys' College while Western Bay of Plenty comprise players from Mount Maunganui and Te Puke.

Both sides finished last season's competition with two wins apiece but Tauranga were handed the trophy as they had beaten the Western Bay combined team in round two.

Last season, the combined side were dismissed for 191. Te Puke Club skipper Mitch McCann top-scored with a neat half century. In reply, Joe Carter led the way for Tauranga with an unbeaten 89.

Meanwhile, Eastern Bay of Plenty (Whakatane) will be after revenge against Rotorua following a comprehensive defeat last season, when they were removed for 140, and the home side took a six-wicket victory.

The matches double as trial games to select the Bay of Plenty team to compete in the Northern Districts one-day tournament in Taupo in three weeks.

Attrill Cup draw for Sunday: Tauranga v Western Bay of Plenty, Fergusson Park (umpires: Ross Ladyman and Bill Irvine). Eastern Bay of Plenty v Rotorua, Rex Morpeth Park (umpires: Rod Newton and 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).