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

It's been hard work being a Greerton Cricket Club supporter over the years.

While the club's first XI have always enjoyed their cricket with a rare passion, Bay of Plenty Cricket silverware had spent little time in the club's trophy cabinet, unlike other Western Bay clubs such as Cadets, Mount Maunganui and Te Puke.

The future looked bright for Greerton after annexing the Baywide big prize of the Williams Cup in 1984 and 1985.

However, the trophy cupboard was bare until the Williams Cup was delivered back to the Pemberton Park clubrooms in 2012, interspersed only with the Baker Cup (Tauranga Cricket Association Trophy) around a decade ago.

But when the Williams Cup was won three seasons ago, it brought several extremely promising players from the Tauranga Boys College first eleven to the premier team to join the clubs stalwarts who play for Greerton.

The turning of the tide came last season, however a couple of falls at the final hurdle brought none of the three Baywide trophies that were on the line.

Just a solitary point behind Mount Maunganui in the race for the Baywide Champion of Champions Hart Family Trophy told the tale of getting right into contention for all three trophies – but not getting the cigar.

Victory in the current season Baywide Cup, which concluded just before the holiday season break in play, was just the start to two dramatic victories last weekend.

Having been given a cricket lesson in the first round of the 2015 Williams Cup by Te Puke, who had also beaten Greerton in the Williams Cup title decider last year, victory in last Saturday's match-up with Mount Maunganui at Pemberton Park was vital.

The Mount side batted first and led by a majestic 111 not out from Mount skipper Pete Drysdale, and the visitors set Greerton a good-sized target in reaching 229/6. The Mount bowlers grabbed the early momentum in Greerton's turn at bat, and at 132/6, had the home side on the ropes.

Needing 18 runs in the last two overs, the match went down to the wire with Greerton snatching the winning run on the last ball of the game. Skipper Shane Wineti played a real captain's knock top scoring with an unbeaten 81, with keeper Kent Hodder in good touch posting 41 runs.

Bay bowler Campbell Thomas also played a big part in the Greerton victory with a more-than-handy 23 runs.

With less than 24 hours rest, the Greerton first XI backed up on Sunday morning in the final of the ND Club Championships with the Eric Petrie Cup at stake, with the winner advancing to the National Club Champs finals in April.

Maungakaramea, who were representing Northland in the title decider, batted first at Pemberton Park and were dismissed for 175, with three overs remaining in their turn at bat. Greerton pace bowler Dan Spencer grabbed five wickets for 45 runs while skipper Shane Wineti and Cam Neal also did damage with the ball, taking two wickets apiece.

In reply, Greerton were in early trouble at 47/3, before Brett Hampton and Cam Neal came together. The pair put on an 80-odd run partnership until Neal was removed for 51, which included six fours and three sixes.

A towering six onto Fraser Street from Hampton sealed the Bay of Plenty sides' four-wicket win with the Greerton master blaster finishing on an unbeaten 71.

In his victory speech, Greerton captain Shane Wineti said the premier team players were mates on-and-off the field and played for each other through thick and thin.

The team now has their sights on winning the 2015 Williams Cup, before representing ND and Bay of Plenty with pride at the National Club Champs at Cornwall Park in Auckland.