Division 1 - WBOPCA's top grade. Eight teams including: Baaj 1st XI, Element IMF Cadets 2nd XI, Mount Maunganui 2nd XI, Te Puke 2nd XI, Katikati, United Indians 2nd XI, Greerton 2nd XI, and Pāpāmoa 2nd XI.
- T20 Competition commences Saturday 12th October 2024
- 50 Over Competition commences Saturday 2nd November 2024
Division 2 - Eight teams including: Baaj 2nd XI, Tauranga Boys College 2nd XI, Mount Maunganui 3rd XI, Element IMF Cadets 3rd XI, Hawks, United Indians 2nd XI, Sher E Punjab,
- T20 Competition commences Saturday 12th October 2024
- 50 Over Competition commences Saturday 2nd November 2024
Division 3 - Nine teams including: Grasshoppers, Albion, Mount Maunganui 4th XI, Pāpāmoa 3rd XI, Tauranga Boys College 3rd XI Blue, Tauranga Boys College 3rd XI White, United Indians 3rd XI, Bay Blasters 1, and Baaj 3rd XI
- 40 Over Competition commences Saturday 19th October 2024
Division 4 - Nine teams including: Bay Blasters 2nd XI, Danphe, Tauranga Boys College 4th XI, Pāpāmoa 4th XI, Element IMF Cadets 4th XI, Greerton B's, Katikati B's, Baaj 4th XI
- 40 Over Competition commences Saturday 19th October 2024
Any team who does not electronically submit a Captain’s report by 6pm on the Tuesday following the match will be deducted 2 points.
Click on the link below for the Captains report
Here is a copy of a team sheet you can download and print for your games:
Division 1 and 2 T20
COMPETITION SUMMARY
16 teams are split into two pools of 8 teams (based on seedings from the 2023/24 50 over season but avoiding two teams from one club being in the same pool).
Pool A: Mount Maunganui 2nd XI, Baaj 1st XI, Sher E Punjab, Katikati, United Indians 2nd XI, Tauranga Boys College 2nd XI, Element IMF Cadets 3rd XI, Hawks 2nd XI
Pool B: Element IMF Cadets 2nd XI, Baaj 2nd XI, Hawks 1st XI, Pāpāmoa 2nd XI, Greerton 2nd XI, Te Puke, United Indians 1st XI, Mount Maunganui 3rd XI,
Games/rounds will be played on the following dates:
1 & 2 - Saturday 12th October
3 & 4 - Saturday 19th October
5 & 6 - Saturday 26th October
7 - Thursday 28th November or Thursday 12th December (dependent on ground availability)
Semi Finals
Blake Park - Sunday 26th January 2025 - 10:30am
Game A = #1 from Pool A plays #2 from Pool B
Game B = #2 from Pool A plays #1 from Pool B
Pool qualifiers are decided on the highest ladder points average following the final round robin game. In the case of equal points, the teams tied will be differentiated on a) net run rate, b) who beat whom in the round robin, and c) most wickets taken, calculated on an average per game basis.
If a semi final cannot be played due to weather, the higher ranking team from the abandoned game/s will progress directly to the final.
Final
Bay Oval - Sunday 26th January - 3:00 pm
Winner of Semi Final game A plays the winner of Semi Final Game B.
In case of the final not being played the winner of the Division 1 and 2 T20 competition will be team in position in #1 of Pool A or Pool B with the highest net run rate.
Division 1 and 2 T20 Competition Playing Conditions
Division 1 and 2 T20 Draw and Ladder
Division 1 and 2 50-Over Competition
COMPETITION SUMMARY
Division 1 and Division 2 will each have 8 teams.
Qualification for Divisions 1 and 2 is determined by standings in the 2023/24 competition and the associated promotion/relegation rules from that season - for further information on competition standings from the 2023/2024 WBOPCA season please read this document.
All matches will be played in a 1-day, 50 over format.
In each grade, the tournament shall consist of two, seven match, round-robin series followed by semi-finals, and a grand final.
Round 1
7 matches to be played on the following Saturdays:
2nd November, 9th November, 16th November, 23rd November, 7th December, 14th December and 11th January (No fixture on November 30th due to a venue shortage).
All matches to be played with a 4-piece 156g red Club Match ball (or better).
Round 2
7 matches to be played on the following Saturdays:
18th January, 1st February, 8th February, 15th February, 22nd February, 1st March and 8th March (No fixture on January 25th due to Anniversary Weekend).
All matches will be played with a 4-piece 156g white Club Match ball (or better).
Competition points from Round 1 will be carried forward to Round 2.
Finals
Semifinals - Saturday 22nd March (Reserve Day - subject to ground availability and scheduling requirements)
Game 1 = Winner of Game A v Winner of Game D
Game 2 = Winner of Game B v Winner of Game C
Should any of these fixtures be washed out due to poor weather, the higher qualifying team will automatically progress to the final.
Finals
Division 1 Grand Final - Saturday 29th March (Reserve Day - Saturday 5th April)
Venue TBC
Division 2 Grand Final - Sunday 30th March (Reserve Day - Sunday 6th April)
Venue TBC
Promotion/Relegation
There will be no mid-season promotion or relegation.
At the end of the season, a promotion/relegation process will take place again for next season, where;
- The team that wins the Division 2 final will be offered promotion to Division 1.
- The team that finishes top of the Division 2 table will also be offered promotion to Division 1
- If these two teams are the same, the team that is second on the Division 2 table will be offered promotion.
- Upon the winner of the final accepting promotion, the team in position 8 in Division 1 will be relegated.
- Upon the other Division 2 team accepting promotion, the team in position 7 in Division 1 will be relegated.
- If only one team from Division 2 accepts promotion, only the team in position 8 will be relegated.
- If neither team from Division 2 accepts promotion no one will be relegated.
Division 3 and 4 40-Over Competition
COMPETITION SUMMARY
Division 3 and Division 4 will each have 9 teams.
Qualification for Divisions 3 and 4 is determined by standings in the 2023/24 competition and the associated promotion/relegation rules from that season - for further information on competition standings from the 2023/2024 WBOPCA season please read this document.
Each division will play two full round robin 40-Over competitions as follows:
Round 1 - 19th Oct, 2nd Nov, 9th Nov, 16th Nov, 23rd Nov, 30th Nov, 7th Dec, and 14th Dec.
Each team will have one bye weekend in Round One and this will be known before the season begins.
There will be no promotion or relegation after Round 1.
All points from Round 1 will carry over to Round 2.
Round 2 - 11th Jan, 18th Jan, 1st Feb, 8th Feb, 15th Feb, 22nd Feb, 1st March, and 8th March.
Each team will have one bye weekend in Round Two and this will be known before the season begins.
Reserve Day - Saturday 15th March shall be reserved as a date when any fully prior washed out round may be replayed. In the case of no washed out round, teams may schedule friendly fixtures with the WBOPCA Competition Manager.
Semi-Finals - Saturday 22nd March as outlined in playing conditions point 20 below. Reserve Day - subject to ground availability and scheduling requirements.
Finals - Saturday 29th March as outlined in playing conditions point 20 below. Reserve Day - Sunday 30th March.
End of Season Promotion/Relegation
In Division 4…
The team that wins the final is offered promotion to Division 3 for the 2025/26 season.
The top qualifier in Division 4 after Game 7 of Round 2 is also offered promotion to Division 3 for the 2024/25 season. If the winner of the final is also the top qualifier, the promotion will be offered to the next highest qualifier.
In Division 3…
The teams in places 7 and 8 on the standings table after Game 7 of Round 2 will be relegated to Division 4 for the 2024/25 season, so long as the team or teams being offered promotion from Division 4 accept this.
Should only one of the two Division 4 teams accept promotion, this will give the team in 7th place in Division 3 a reprieve from relegation.
Please click here to access WBOPCA's Terms and Conditions containing the Senior Code of Conduct - WBOPCA Terms and Conditions
To submit a Judiciary complaint/report, please scan the QR code to the left, or click the link here - WBOPCA Senior Judiciary Submission 2024/25
The home team is responsible for the care of any grass wicket prior to a match. WBOPCA expectations are:
- That every effort is made by the home team to sufficiently cover grass wickets from Friday evening onwards (regardless of the pending weather forecast). This is because events other than rain can damage a wicket, such as irrigation accidently turning on during the night. Failure to do this resulting in an abandoned match will lead to the forfeiture of competition points for that round. The away team will be awarded maximum winning match points in this case (12).
- That covers will be removed in a timely manner to preserve the integrity of the grass underneath. This means if a wicket block is covered on a Friday and the match is abandoned due to weather on a Saturday, the covers will still be removed and stored on the Saturday as soon as the decision to cancel the match is made. Failure to do this resulting in wicket damage may result in WBOPCA penalising the home team by way of points deduction.
- That covers and other associated materials are treated appropriately. This means:
- Taking care not to step on the covers with spikes.
- Not leaving pegs on the grass.
- Not leaving the covers laying out on areas of outfield where they could cause damage.
- Folding and storing correctly.
To submit a complaint regarding treatment of cricket grounds or covers please email wbopca@gmail.com
Dispensation Criteria - Divisions 1 to 4 - Semifinals and Finals
Section 9.4 of the Districts Associations Senior Competition Regulations of Northern Districts Cricket Association (as copied below) applies, with amendments/clarification as follows in bold:
No player shall be eligible to play in a club final if that player has not played at least 33% of completed or partially completed available playing days (excludes abandoned days) for that team/competition (or lower) during the season (“final” is defined as any match outside of round robin matches).
For the 2024/25 season of WBOPCA 50 and 40 over competitions, this equates to 5 games. The 5 games must be played within the same competition/grade, or lower, but excludes T20.
T20 finals eligibility is considered separately to any 50 or 40 over competitions and vice versa. For the 2023/24 season of T20 Division 1 and 2 competitions, the 33% eligibility criteria equates to 2 games.
A “playing day” is determined by a date of play, not the number of games within that date.
Abandoned days which have not commenced play (or bowled a single ball) will not count towards player eligibility.
Abandoned matches which have commenced play but subsequently rained-off, will count towards player eligibility, so long as a scorecard reflective of the day’s play and players is entered into PlayHQ.
Only matches attached to PlayHQ player profiles will determine eligibility.
Players listed as ‘unsure’ within PlayHQ scorecards will not be considered as legitimate proof of playing days.
A player may play in a higher-grade final if that player has met the minimum playing day requirements at the lower grade, or through a combination of both grades.
A player who transitions from Year 13 college/youth grade cricket into club cricket at the start of a new annual year (January) shall be considered eligible if the player has achieved the required number of playing days from within the college/youth grade prior to Christmas. For WBOPCA competitions this includes any player that transitions from Division 5 or 6 (college) cricket for their school, into Divisions 1 - 4 (senior) cricket, at the start of a new year (January), not only Year 13 players.
Consideration for players returning from injury will be decided on a case-by-case basis as long as documented medical evidence is provided and the player has been a previous member of the club/school.
Dispensation may be granted to players that do not meet the requirement under reasons:
A player is unavailable for selection during the competition because of representative cricket commitments (playing, travelling, or training) for District Association (including NPL), NDCA or New Zealand. The club must provide PlayHQ scorecards (where the player in question is listed as a player on the day) to CA that the player in question was playing higher level games on the same day as the club competition fixtures during the current season. The player for which dispensation is requested must be the player directly affected by the medical reason. Dispensation will not be considered for WBOPCA finals on the basis of a player having been required to play BOP Premier cricket due to another player’s medical unavailability.
A player was registered within a team at the start of the season but can produce proof of injury which would provide reason for the player to not reach the number of matches required to qualify.
A player has transferred from a college team to a senior club team for the second half of the season, but has represented the new club within that grade already.
A request for dispensation must be submitted to the DA for approval at least four working days prior to the scheduled finals match (e.g. received on Tuesday for a Saturday final).
Dispensation requests received in less time to the scheduled finals match will not be considered.
Requests for dispensation for WBOPCA competitions must be filed using this form (to be inserted) and contain all the information necessary for consideration. Medical certificates should be emailed to wbopca@gmail.com in support of any dispensation request forms.
Eligibility rules apply throughout the grades inclusive of Twenty20, however CA reserves the right to make allowances under extenuating circumstances.
A player may only drop down one team for the same club on consecutive playing days (i.e. from a 1st XI to a 2nd XI or a 2nd XI to a 3rd XI) regardless of whether these teams are in consecutive grades or not.
Extenuating Circumstances - Clubs with BOPCA Premier Competition Teams
If in the event that any club has a team competing in a BOPCA Premier competition final on the same day and time as a WBOPCA Division 1 or 2 final, WBOPCA will allow that club to name a genuine 1st XI team for the BOPCA Premier final and genuine 2nd XI team for the WBOPCA Division 1 or 2 final provided that both team lists are received by WBOPCA at least four working days before the respective finals day and dispensation requests are received for any players who do not meet the relevant 33% criteria as per 9.4.1.
Furthermore, should this pertain to semi final fixtures and the BOPCA Premier team does not progress to the final but the WBOPCA Division 1 or 2 team does progress to the final, no players from the original BOPCA Premier semi final team list are to be included in the WBOPCA Division 1 team list for the final, regardless of numbers of games played.
In the case of a BOP representative game on the same day as a BOPCA Premier competition semi final, WBOPCA may take this into consideration for dispensation.
Dispensation Criteria - Division 1 to 4 - General Round Robin Play
Year 10 Dispensations
Players in Year 10 at school may be eligible to play in senior competitions provided at least one of the following criteria are met:
- The participant/club/school can show evidence that the Year 10 player will be joining a team with an older sibling or parent and the family needs this support to enable them to access the game.
- The participant/club/school can demonstrate that this is the only suitable option within the club/school for a player. This may occur in situations where not enough youth players are registered within a club to field a Division 5 or 6 (college) team.
- The player has previously played in a senior cricket competition either in Western Bay of Plenty, or elsewhere, and the participant/club/school believe that Division 5 or 6 cricket would be a detrimental regression for the player (this includes any Year 9 or 10 player that played in a WBOPCA senior competition in the 2022/23 season).
- In Term 4, clubs/schools may demonstrate that a Year 10 player or players are necessary to support a senior cricket team of predominantly older players, and the Year 10 player or players will become Year 11 midway through the season, at the beginning of the following year.
- Any other explanation the participant/club/school believes that WBOPCA should consider for player dispensation may also be considered noting that WBOPCA can approve or deny dispensation at their discretion.
It should be noted that Section 9.1 of the Districts Associations Senior Competition Regulations of Northern Districts Cricket Association applies in that:
- Player safety is paramount at all times; physical, mental and environmental.
- A player active within any adult competition (regardless of age) will be regarded and treated as an adult player.
- A junior player that has been consented to play adult cricket, must abide by the health and safety regulations regarding bowling load. Bowling load limits are based on a daily workload and not per match, more information on this can be found here.
- Any junior player selected to play senior cricket must be deemed to have the ability to compete (bat/bowl/keep) at the selected level of play and therefore must not be used solely as a fielder.
Dispensation requests for Year 10 players must be completed by the player’s legal parent or guardian but may be supported by a club/school.
For 2023/24 full season dispensations (Year 9 and 10) the form below must be completed by Monday 9th October.
WBOPCA Junior Dispensation Form
Dispensations will be considered by the WBOPCA junior cricket subcommittee and participants/clubs/schools will be notified by Thursday 12th October. All decisions are at the discretion of the WBOPCA and are final.
Dispensations throughout the season must be received at least four working days prior to the players first match.
Dispensation Criteria - Parent Players
WBOPCA recognises that schools within our Senior Cricket competitions often utilise cricketing parents to mentor and play alongside their children and their peers. These parents are in a unique position because they do fit within the player development pathway that student players do and therefore are not always offered as much game time week to week, or less as their child progresses up through the senior grades. We believe that it is important for schools to continue to prioritise the student player but also for the parent player to maintain existing connections to other WBOPCA clubs. Therefore, parent players playing for WBOPCA school teams (Tauranga Boys College and Aquinas College) may nominate one other club to represent when not required by the school.
The parent player can email wbopca@gmail.com before or during the season to make their secondary club nomination and WBOPCA will support the player, school, and club to create a permit for this scenario.