LOOKING FORWARD – LOOKING BACK

The 2021/22 Western Bay of Plenty Cricket season in October 2021,  will kick off with a record number of 27 teams taking part in Reserve and B Grade competition.

It is interesting to go back fifteen years to the 2006/07 season, which see’s a massive (nearly) one hundred per cent increase in team numbers spread over the two competitions, in the last 15 years.

This year’s entries sees 11 teams to fight out the Reserve Grade trophies, while a record 16 B Grades sides will split into two pools of eight teams, to qualify for the championship and plate title deciders.

The Reserve Grade competitions will see a lot of familiar faces with ten of last season sides backing up in the new season. Katikati have rejoined the Reserve Grade ranks, with a name change to United Indians from the side that were formerly known as Sikh Sports.

The B Grade competition has expanded by four sides. Te Puke and Greerton, has rejoined the B Grade competition after a few seasons in the wilderness, with Te Puke entering two teams of Indian ethnicity under the Green and Gold banner. New recruits in the Bay Blasters and Katikati Singh XI, will also draw on the Western Bay of Plenty Indian community for players.

United Indians will be in the sights of the other ten contenders, after they took out the WBOPCA Reserve First Round and Championship titles under their former name of Sikh Sports, last season.

Hawks CC B Grade side, made a spectacular debut taking out both legs of the B Grade competitions, with victories in the First Round and Championship title deciders. One name missing from B Grade combat this season, is Wanderers who were established over a decade ago, winning a number of B Grade titles.

Going back a decade and a half, Mount Maunganui took out the Reserve Grade Championship with Cadets grabbing the First Round honours. Papamoa dominated the B Grade competition winning the season-ending Championship and sharing the First Round crown with Mount Maunganui. 

Individual 2006/07 Reserve Grade honours, resulted in Cadets Peter Albut posting 576 runs and Brendan McMahon from Mount Maunganui smacking the grades highest score of 158. Reserve bowling honours, were taken out by Greerton's Scott Drabble, who still trumbled the ball over in Reserve competition last season, with 36 wickets. Otumoetai College James Meyrick, 8/30, remains as a benchmark eight wicket bag in Western Bay of Plenty cricket.

B Grade honours saw two Papamoa players take top billing, with Mike Lowndes posting 519 runs and Rob Ferarri who is another to still be going round last season, grabbing 38 wickets.

Looking Forward - WBOPCA 2021/22 Entries

Reserve Grade: Aquinas College, Tauranga Boys College 2nd XI, United Indians (formerly Sikh Sports) Katikati, Te Puke, Papamoa, Hawks, Sangha Raavi XI, Cadets, Greerton, Mount Maunganui.

B Grade: TBC 3rd XI, TBC  4th XI, Katikati, Te Puke Blue, Te Puke Green, Katikati Singh XI, PapaOMA’s, Albion, Grasshoppers, Sangha Anna XI, Cadets, Bay Blasters, Hawks, Greerton, Mount Maunganui, Mount Maunganui Inanga. 

Looking Back – 2006-07

TCA Reserve Grade 2006/07: Cadets, Tauranga Boys College, Otumoetai College, Te Puke, Greerton, Mount Maunganui.

TCA B Grade 2006/07: Grasshoppers,  Papamoa, Albion No 1, Albion No 2, Greerton, Cadets, Te Puke, Mount Maunganui.

Championships 2006/07

Reserve Grade Championship: Mount Maunganui - First Round: Cadets

B Grade Championship: Mount Maunganui & Papamoa - First Round: Papamoa

Individual Honours

Reserve Grade

Runs: 576 Peter Albut (Cadets)      Highest Score: 158 Brendan McMahon (Mount Maunganui)

Wickets: 36 Scott Drabble (Greerton)      Best Bowling: 8/30 James Meyrick (Otumoetai College)

B Grade

Runs: 519 Mike Lowndes (Papamoa)       Wickets: 38 Rob Ferrari (Papamoa)