Cricket: Must-win games feature of lower grades

Cadets batsman Grant Manners, middle, sits third in the all-time Bay of Plenty appearance listPhoto / John Borren

With the clock ticking down to the WBOPCA Reserve and B Grade Championship play-offs, there is plenty of interest in the middle of the standings where there are must-win match-ups tomorrow.

Multiple Reserve titleholders Mount Maunganui have slipped down the ladder to sixth. They must win this weekend to keep their title aspirations alive and will face another former Reserve heavyweight. Cadets, who sit comfortably in third place, won't surrender without a dogfight and a battle royale could take place at Fergusson Park.

Two former Bay of Plenty representative players could play a big hand in deciding the outcome of the game.

Cadets batsman Grant Manners sits third in the all-time Bay of Plenty appearance list and the Cadets stalwart is still a force to be reckoned with in the middle. Mount Maunganui bowler Steve Charman had an outing for the Mount Reserves a couple of weeks ago, taking three wickets, and if he fronts tomorrow could really trouble the Cadets batting line-up.

Sikh Sports are another to sit outside the top four and also face a big challenge in Katikati at home at the Uretara Domain.

Katikati won the inaugural WBOPCA Shield in the pre-holiday season competition and lurk just a few points behind championship frontrunners.

R&A Sangha, the defending champions, also lead this season's title race with an unbeaten record. They will be favoured to beat Te Puke at Fergusson Park to keep their unbeaten run intact. Greerton take on Tauranga Boys' College 2nd XI at Pemberton Park.

Two former champions sit at the top of the B Grade ladder. Grasshoppers and Mount Maunganui have established a six-point break over Greerton, Cadets, Singh XI and defending champions Wanderers.

Grasshoppers square off with the Singh XI, Greerton meet Katikati on the artificial surface at Waipuna Park, Mount Maunganui should prove too strong for Albion, with Wanderers meeting Cadets.

Reserve grade, 12pm: Mount Maunganui v Cadets, Fergusson 2; Greerton v Tauranga Boys' 2nd XI, Pemberton Park; R&A Sangha v Te Puke, Fergusson 3; Katikati v Sikh Sports, Uretara Domain.

B Grade, 1pm: Grasshoppers v Singh XI, Mitchell Park; Greerton v Katikati, Waipuna 1; Albion v Mount Maunganui, Fergusson 1; Wanderers v Cadets, Fergusson 4