Cricket: Geyser City look for redemption in Plate competition

Geyser City bowler Matt Mitchell, (centre) celebrates a taking a wicket for his side. PHOTO/ FILE

Geyser City's attention is now firmly turned towards the WBOPCA Plate competition that starts this weekend.

The Rotorua side face a tough first test away against Mount Maunganui tomorrow after recently being knocked out of the running for the Reserve Grade Championship rounds.

Elsewhere in the first round of the Plate, Katikati are at home to Cadets at Uerata Reserve, while Aquinas College win by default against R&A Sangha.

Meanwhile, in the top tier of the WBOPCA, the pressure is on Greerton to win their remaining two rounds of the qualifying competition to keep their semifinals hopes alive.

With teams carrying their first round points into the Championship, Greerton finished third in pool two, meaning they must beat Tauranga Boys' College away on Saturday and also defeat season competition front runners Lake Taupo CC the following weekend, to remain in contention.

There is also plenty to play for in the Great Lake region, where pool winners Lake Taupo CC are at home to Eastern Bay of Plenty contenders Whakatane United.

And defending champions Te Puke will almost certainly book a semifinal berth if they dispatch Sikh Sports at Fergusson Park.

WBOPCA Western Bay of Plenty reserve grade
Saturday

Championship: Sikh Sports v Te Puke, Fergusson 2; Lake Taupo CC v Whakatane United, Owen Delaney Park; Tauranga Boys College v Greerton, Blake 3.

Carryover points: Lake Taupo CC 60, Whakatane United 49, Te Puke 45, Sikh Sports 35, Tauranga Boys College 31, Greerton 18.

Plate: Mount Maunganui v Geyser City, Blake2; Katikati v Cadets Uretara Domain; Aquinas College win by default from R&A Sangha.

Carryover points: Geyser City 60, Katikati 45, Cadets 42, R&A Sangha 32, Mount Maunganui 28, Aquinas College 22.

B Grade: Albion v Mount Maunganui Colts, Fergusson 1; Mount Maunganui v Singh XI, Blake4; Wanderers v Grasshoppers, Gordon Spratt Reserve; Tauranga Boys College thirds the bye.

Points (provisional): Wanderers 24, Singh XI 24, Tauranga Boys College 18, Mount Maunganui 18, Grasshoppers 12, Albion 6, Mount Maunganui Colts 0.