Cricket: Cross-town rivalry looms in battle of the bridge

Cadets allrounder Ben Christensen will be a key player in tomorrow's battle with Mount Maunganui at Blake Park.

There are few bigger battles in Baywide cricket each season than the Tauranga Harbour Bridge clash between Carrus Mount Maunganui and Element IMF Cadets.

The intense rivalry between the two teams resumes at noon tomorrow at Blake Park, Mount Maunganui.

Revenge will be on the agenda of defending Williams Cup titleholders Mount Maunganui, after losing a war of attrition to Cadets in the Baywide Cup competition. The first meeting between the two sides was played at Cadets headquarters at the Tauranga Domain during October.

Cadets lost the toss and were asked to bat first on an early season grass wicket. They were 72/3 when Sean Davey was caught for 47. Cadets skipper Scott Steward posted a handy 25 runs as Cadets were dismissed for 130. Nick Smith, Tony Goodin, Dale Swan and Chris Atkinson were all rewarded with two wickets.

Mount Maunganui lost their first wicket with just three runs on the board with Ben Musgrave top-scoring with an unbeaten 41. Englishman Lou Brook announced his arrival in the Western Bay of Plenty taking 3-23, with Northern Knight Jono Boult also grabbing three wickets as Mount Maunganui were bowled out for 117.

Eves Realty Greerton will want to cement their place in the top four against Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College at Pemberton Park tomorrow.

Greerton skipper Shane Wineti is a more than handy middle order batsman able to pile on the runs and is a useful change bowler. The Greerton bowlers are sure to target Charles Williams and Tim Clarke, who have both been in sterling form with the bat in the Williams Cup.

New World Te Puke will want to keep their unbeaten start to the 2016 Williams Cup intact when they play Bay of Plenty Indians at Smallbone Park in Rotorua. Both teams have several youngsters in their line-up who have been putting their hands up for rep selection and will want to continue their good form in the Western Bay verses Rotorua match-up.

Draw: Bay of Plenty Indians v New World Te Puke, Smallbone Park; Eves Realty Greerton v Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College, Pemberton Park; Carrus Mount Maunganui v Element IMF Cadets, Blake 4; Bayleys Central bye.

Williams Cup Points:

Carrus Mount Maunganui 18, Element IMF Cadets 18, New World Te Puke 18, Eves Realty Greerton 12, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 6, Bayleys Central 0, Bay of Plenty Indians 0.