Effort to lure back over-35 cricketers

The Baywide over-35 cricket league is making a return this summer in a bid to get retired players back into the game.

The over-35 league starts tomorrow afternoon with five teams entered including Rotorua, Cadets (Tauranga), Te Puke, Opotiki and Mount Maunganui.

Rotorua begin their season tomorrow at the Tauranga Domain where they face off against Cadets.

Rotorua will field a combined team of former players from a number of Rotorua clubs, some of which no longer exist.

Bay of Plenty Cricket manager Mark Webb said the new league had been established to get former competitive club players back into cricket.

"Many players drift away from the game on retirement from club cricket and it is hoped the new Sunday league will see former players re-establish links with Bay of Plenty clubs," he said.

The Opotiki representatives will play at home at the Waioeka Domain where a sole Bay of Plenty representative fixture was played against Poverty Bay in 1962.

Mount Maunganui, Te Puke and Cadets - who are all long-time Western Bay clubs - have seen former members and a few new recruits answer the call to duty to play in the Sunday league.

Rotorua will play their home games at Smallbone Park.

Opotiki sit the first round out with a bye.

BOPCA over-35 draw:

Round one, tomorrow

Cadets v Rotorua, Tauranga Domain; Mount Maunganui v Te Puke, Blake1; Opotiki Optimists bye.

Round two, February 17

Te Puke v Rotorua, Te Puke Domain; Opotiki Optimists v Cadets, Waioeka Domain; Mount Maunganui bye.

Round three, March 3

Te Puke v Opotiki Optimists, Te Puke Domain; Rotorua v Mount Maunganui, Smallbone Park; Cadets bye.

Round four, March 17

Opotiki Optimists v Mount Maunganui, Waioeka Domain; Cadets v Te Puke, Tauranga Domain; Rotorua bye.

Round five, March 24

Rotorua v Opotiki Optimists, Smallbone Park; Mount Maunganui v Cadets, Blake1; Te Puke bye.