Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

An electrifying innings from an Aquinas College batsman on Saturday, reinforced my view that Western Bay of Plenty senior grade cricket provides a significant pathway for promising teenage cricket talent.

Coming in at four, Benjamin Parlane anchored the Aquinas College First XI victory over Papamoa, with 126 off 98 balls, in an innings that contained fourteen four's and six big heaves over the boundary.

Western Bay of Plenty Cricket was established in 2010, with the amalgamation of Mount Maunganui/Te Puke and Tauranga Cricket sub- associations, and Western Bay junior cricket.

While Bay of Plenty Cricket administers premier club and representative cricket in the region, Western Bay Cricket provides the senior grassroots game, where players can find their place in a cricket environment that caters for their individual aspirations in the great game.

A dual WBOPCA objective is to deliver a pathway from junior cricket to the senior game.

New Zealand Sport has a current problem with teenagers dropping out of athletic activity in favour of more sedimentary activities.

Elite cricket youngsters are relatively well catered for, with a defined NZ Cricket pathway that can lead to premier club cricket, the professional game, and beyond.

Western Bay of Plenty Cricket addressed the issue of teenage drop-off from the local game by expanding secondary school participation in senior men's grade cricket.

Aquinas College, joined the Tauranga Boys' College Second XI in Reserve Grade competition, several seasons ago.

The mixing of the secondary school teams within senior men's competition has benefits on both sides of the fence.

Senior cricket players are reminded of the virtues of the 'Spirit of the Game', while the students learn about earning the respect of players with a wealth of cricket knowledge.

Ben Parlane bridged that gap in spades last weekend. He withstood the pressure of the Papamoa bowling attack, in taking the attack to his opponents in commanding fashion.

A Western Bay of Plenty Cricket review at the end of last season resulted in a new format of four divisions to replace the former Reserve and B Grade competitions.

Twelve teams, including Tauranga Boys' College second eleven and Aquinas College, entered the revitalised WBOPCA Reserve Grade, where serious competition is the major focus.

WBOPCA Division One, Two and Three, provides 40 over cricket in a slightly more relaxed atmosphere, where enjoying the game is as important as winning.

Tauranga Boys' College have entered their third and fourth XI's in Division One and Two respectively, with the Aquinas College second team playing in Division Three.

In addition, Mount Maunganui College continues their long standing relationship with the Mount Maunganui Cricket Club, integrating their promising players within the ranks of the Mount sides.

Few local sports would have enjoyed the growth of WBOPCA senior men's teams, which has doubled in a decade.

The introduction of five secondary school teams into Western Bay grade cricket, coupled with the phenomenal growth of ethnic Indian teams and other Asian players, has seen a record 34 WBOPCA teams in action each Saturday this season.

The number of youngsters who push on to play senior premier cricket (and beyond), will be a major indicator of the continued achievements of grassroots cricket in the Western Bay of Plenty, in coming seasons.