Sideline Sid - Sports blogger Sideline Sid is a local sport fanatic. Not only is he a classic rugby bloke but he has views, opinions and knowledge on all sports played in the Bay of Plenty.

In a unique coincidence, the two shortened versions of our national summer and winter games are being played at Blake Park at the Mount this Sunday.

First up is the Bay of Plenty Rugby Provincial Sevens, followed later in the afternoon by the NZ Cricket Twenty20 match between the Northern Knights and the Otago Volts. While the shortened versions of both games attract large crowds – they come from different spectrums of the sporting world.

Rugby Sevens was conceived well over 100 years ago when the legendary Ned Haig came up with the shortened version of the game as a fundraising initiative for the Melrose Rugby club in Scotland.

Bay of Plenty has a special affinity with the Melrose Sevens, which has been held for 127 years. In April 1992 a Bay of Plenty team played in the Melrose Sevens in Scotland. The tournament was then considered the pinnacle world event of the Sevens game.

Coached by current New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens, the Bay side emerged triumphant, defeating Kelso 17-12 in the tournament final. The Bay team returned the following year only to be beaten in the tournament final.

In contrast, Twenty20 cricket was dreamed up as a purely commercial venture less than a 20 twenty over per side game in order to combat dwindling crowds and reduced sponsorship.

The first official Twenty20 matches were played in June 2003 between English county associations, with the Surrey Lions winning the inaugural Twenty20 Cup.

This Sunday, locals and holidaymakers alike, will get the opportunity to see some of the stars of both games on display at Blake Park. At the sevens the Bay of Plenty always likes to throw the ball around and will have plenty of home crowd support.

Leading the way for the Bay are likely to be NZ Sevens players, Zar Lawrence and Toby Arnold. Look out for Tauranga Sports flyer Matt Hodson who is making a return to rugby after injury last season.

As the Sevens is winding down – the big hits will be underway just a few yards away at the Bay of Plenty Cricket Oval. One Northern Knights player that could really set the game alight against the Otago Volts is a rising star of New Zealand Cricket.

Nineteen year old Kane Williamson, who has graduated through the Bay of Plenty Cricket age group pathway, is being tipped to be the next Martin Crowe. He has been in sparkling form in recent days blasting an unbeaten century just before Christmas.

Also in action for the Northern Knights will be the Bay's two latest Black Caps – Daniel Flynn and Trent Boult, who are both integral members of the Knights line-up.

The local Bay talent on show doesn't stop with Kane and the Black Caps pair. For the last decade Graeme Aldridge has made his mark within the Knights ranks. While recognised as one of the best first class bowlers in the country, he has smashed a century for the Bay.

With Jono Boult and Te Ahu Davis on the fringe of the Knights ranks, the Bay players are likely to have a big influence on the Twenty20 encounter at the Bay Oval.

Seeya at the game/s.