Tauranga Boys' College keeper Alex Oakley, a late inclusion for the injured Tim Clarke, impressed on debut, taking three catches. As well as the Brian Dunning Cup and Fergus Hickey points, Bay of Plenty also wrestled back the Rigden Shield.
The trophy, dating back 66 years, was at stake every time the two rivals met but had languished in obscurity in the Bay of Plenty until Poverty Bay won last year's match. Poverty Bay asked for the shield and it was found after a lengthy search.
Waikato Valley kept Hamilton in with a chance of claiming the Brian Dunning Cup one-day title after knocking over holders Counties-Manukau.
Valley grabbed a tense two-run win at Weymouth Oval in Manurewa in the penultimate round of the competition, while Hamilton fought out an equally narrow three-run victory over Northland in Whangarei.
Hamilton had to win their two remaining matches and hope Counties lost both theirs to take the silverware off them. Counties also travel to Hamilton to challenge for the Hawke Cup from January 27 to 29.
Sunday's Bay of Plenty-Poverty Bay game was played in the shadow of the passing of well-known Gisborne sporting icon John Heikell.
Heikell was a commentator, journalist and historian, a regular sight on the rugby and cricket fields in the province, a life member of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union and Poverty Bay Cricket Association,
Last year the grandstand at Rugby Park was named the John Heikell grandstand for his contribution to the game.
He also commentated on Northern District cricket matches from Harry Barker Reserve for Sports Round-up.
He was honoured by cricket in 2009 when he was the recipient of an International Cricket Council centenary medal.
Western Bay of Plenty grade cricket resumed on Saturday with the start of a short and sharp Twenty20 competition at Fergusson Park.
The easiest victory in the early afternoon first round came in the match-up between Tauranga Boys' College and Greerton Hornets. After the Tauranga students were restricted to 117/7, the Greerton side cruised to an eight-wicket win courtesy of a half-century from Hornets skipper Sam Brown.
Katikati had a good tussle with Mount Green before going down, a four-wicket bag to Mount bowler Azza Williams helping remove Katikati for 109.
Western Bay reserve grade Twenty20:
Round one:
Katikati 109 (M Harrison 46; A Williams 4/24, S Charman 3/11) lost to Mount Green 110/6 (V Kohi 36no, S Turnbull 3/9)
Tauranga Boys' College 117/7 (D Hussey 3/15) lost to Greerton Hornets 119/2 (S Brown 52no)
Mount Gold defeated Sangha CC, Cadets defeated Te Puke Pickers.
Round two:
Mount Green 112/9 defeated Te Puke Pickers 89 (J Coutts 4/13)
Sangha CC 101/8 (P Kingma 2/12) lost to Greerton Hornets 103/6 (P Kingma 27no)
Katikati 113/9 (J Davies 30) defeated Mount Gold 110/5 (L Sharma 3/17)
Cadets defeated Tauranga Boys' College