Element IMF Cadets, who have won the Williams Cup nine times in the past 19 years, laid down the gauntlet to the other challengers when they beat defending titleholders Mount Maunganui by 83 runs last weekend.
This Saturday the perennial Williams Cup heavyweights meet long-time rivals City Sports Bar TePuke, who are the only other unbeaten team after two rounds of the 2014 title race. Te Puke also has plenty of Williams Cup history, having won the Baywide silverware on a record 14 occasions dating back to 1939.
Last weekend two Cadets recruits played a big part in their victory over Mount Maunganui. Christian MacDonald and Chris Norton both grabbed three wickets apiece, with MacDonald taking his three bowling scalps at a cost of just 6 runs. Cadets stalwart Nick Earl anchored the Cadets win over the Mount with an unbeaten 71.
Te Puke has a well-balanced line-up, with Tai Bridgeman and Mitch McCann both closing in on 300 runs for the Baywide season. They also have a strong bowling team, with Bay reps McCann and Jeremy Bates along with Richard Turner and Raminder Singh who took 4/17 in last weekend's win over BOP Indians.
Another long-time rivalry will play out when Eves Realty Greerton and Mount Maunganui square off at Pemberton Park. The two Western Bay sides have won the last two editions of the Williams Cup, with the Mount triumphing last season and Greerton taking out the 2012 trophy.
Both teams, who suffered defeat last Saturday, will be strengthened by the return of their Bay of Plenty representative players after Hawke Cup duty last weekend. Skipper Pete Drysdale along with Tim Clarke, Tony Goodin and Dale Swan return to the Mount, while Greerton welcome back Brett Hampton, Cameron Neal and Tommy Clout.
Whakatane United, who posted a convincing victory over Tauranga Boys' College last Saturday, will go head-to-head with Central who are coming off an upset away from home victory against Greerton. If both sides field their top line-ups at Smallbone Park in Rotorua, play could go down to late in the afternoon before a result is declared.
The winner of the Tauranga Boys' College clash with BOP Indians at Nicholson Field will give the winners their first points in the 2014 Williams Cup.
Williams Cup (Premier Baywide) Draw, February 1: City Sports Bar Te Puke v Element IMF Cadets, Te Puke Domain; Eves Realty Greerton v Mount Maunganui, Pemberton Park; Tauranga Boys College v BOP Indians, Nicholson Field; Central v Whakatane United, Smallbone Park.
Points: Element IMF Cadets 6, City Sports Bar Te Puke 6, Mount Maunganui 3, Eves Realty Greerton 3, Central 3, Whakatane United 3, BOP Indians 0, Tauranga Boys College 0.
