Cricket: Pivotal role for Rotorua in deciding fate of cup

If Tauranga taste defeat tomorrow, the momentum will swing to the Mount Maunganui/Te Puke combined team who can win the Attrill Cup if they defeat Rotorua. Photo / Stephen Parker

While Rotorua have lost hope of regaining the Attrill Cup, they can still play a part in deciding who takes home the coveted prize.

Tauranga representative cricket team have one hand on the cup entering the final round, with both games being played at Ferguson Park.

Three of the four Bay of Plenty Sub-Association sides still have a chance to lift the trophy, which has been contested in the Bay of Plenty since before 1938.

One of those sides, Western Bay of Plenty, will face off against Rotorua tomorrow. If they lose to Rotorua they have no chance of winning the cup. But if they win and Tauranga lose they can win the trophy.

Meanwhile, if defending champions Tauranga defeat Eastern Bay of Plenty the Attrill Cup will remain in Tauranga until next spring.

Tauranga are the only undefeated team and they will have good cause to remember last season's final round. Just needing to beat Eastern Bay of Plenty (Whakatane), who sat at the bottom of the standings without a win, the Tauranga side fell at the last hurdle.

After bundling Tauranga out for 131, the Eastern Bay batsmen cruised to a six-wicket victory.

However, Tauranga won the long-time symbol of sub-association cricket superiority courtesy of a countback.

The big match-up in round two last weekend was the battle of the bridge between Tauranga and the combined team, Western Bay. Friendships off the field were forgotten as the two sides squared off to retain their unbeaten start to the 2013 Attrill Cup competition.

Tauranga batted first and reached 204/9, with the contributions of Tom MacRury 68 and Sean Davey 59 playing a big part in their side's 200-plus total.

In a second innings, where the advantage changed several times, the Tauranga bowlers won the battle of attrition and bowled the combined side out 44 runs short of their target.

If Tauranga taste defeat tomorrow, the momentum will swing to the Mount Maunganui/Te Puke combined team who can win the Attrill Cup if they defeat Rotorua.

Eastern Bay (Whakatane) would only win the trophy if they defeat Tauranga and Rotorua claim the scalp of the combined side.

Points table

Tauranga 6
Western Bay of Plenty 3
Eastern Bay of Plenty 3
Rotorua 0

Attrill Cup draw

*Tomorrow (11am start).
*Eastern Bay of Plenty v Tauranga, Ferguson Park one; Te Puke/Mount Maunganui v Rotorua, Ferguson Park three.