The countdown to the Versatile Williams Cup playoffs has begun, with just six points separating five of the nine teams, with five weeks remaining before the semi-final action.

There will be plenty of interest in the encounter, at Alice Johnston Oval at Papamoa, between the home side and Generation Homes Lake Taupo.

The team from the Bay of Plenty Cricket extremities is currently sitting in second spot on the standings. Victory over the Western Bay side would propel them closer to cementing a top-four playoff berth.

Lake Taupo have two game winners in their ranks who could severely trouble Papamoa. English visitor Nafis Shaikh has belted 146 runs in the opening four rounds of the Williams Cup, with Roger Urbahn taking 12 wickets.

Papamoa lurk outside the current top four and with home ground advantage will want to stop the Lake Taupo team in their tracks.

Alan Arora has been one of the form bowlers of the season long Baywide competitions, with a six wicket bag in his statistics. His good form with the ball. saw make his Bay of Plenty senior representative debut against Hamilton last weekend.

Bond & Co Mount Maunganui, will be favoured to defeat Sanford Wall Lawyers Central Indians, when they pay a visit to Blake Park on Saturday. The Mount side are chasing their second Baywide trophy of the cricket year, after locking away the 2023 Bay of Plenty Cup in their trophy cabinet.

Craigs Tauranga Boys College host Element IMF Cadets at Nicholson Field with Craigs Geyser City at home at Smallbone Park against Flying Mullet Te Puke.

There is a big weekend of cricket ahead of eight Bay of Plenty Reserve Grade sides who will contest the BOPCA McNaughton Trophy quarter-finals on Sunday.

The McNaughton prize, which dates back to the 1980s, is open to all Bay of Plenty Cricket reserve grade teams.

Current McNaughton champion, in the Baaj Sports First XI, will square off with United Indians at Fergusson Park. An Eastern Bay of Plenty XI will host Hawks at Rex Morepeth Park in Whakatane.

Mount Maunganui will play Greerton at Blake Park with Cadets meeting the second Baaj Sports team.

BOPCA Versatile Williams Cup February 10 2024

Craigs Tauranga Boys College v Element IMF Cadets, Nicholson Field; Craigs Geyser City v Flying Mullet Te Puke, Smallbone Park; Papamoa v Generation Homes Lake Taupo, Alice Johnson Oval; Bond & Co Mount Maunganui v Sanford Wall Lawyers Central Indians, Blake Park; Greerton the bye.

Versatile Williams Cup Points Table: Greerton 19, Lake Taupo 16, Mount Maunganui 16, Te Puke 13, Geyser City 13, Central Indians 11, Cadets 10, Papamoa 8, Tauranga Boys College 3.

BOPCA McNaughton Trophy February 11 2024

Mount Maunganui v Greerton, Blake Park; Eastern Bay of Plenty v Hawks, Rex Morepeth Park; Baaj Sports v United Indians, Fergusson Park; Baaj Sports2 v Cadets, Fergusson Park.