BPL21 preview
The Bowls Premier League (BPL) will once more return to the Victoria-New South Wales border town of Moama for another edition of the world’s most fast-paced bowls extravaganza.
In the sixth edition of the made-for-television at the Moama Bowling Club, the twelve franchises will look to build on what was a tight competition in November, where each team would finish at least one round within the top five.
Returning after becoming the most successful franchise in tournament history will be the Tweed Ospreys after an unprecedented fifth crown at Club Pine Rivers thanks to a fine performance on finals night.
The unchanged lineup of Chloe Stewart, inaugural Grand Final MVP Corey Wedlock and six-time champion Aaron Teys will take to the Murray under coach Wayne Turley OAM once more in one of the most consistent and successful combinations in BPL history.
Tweed managed to overcome the gallant Sydney Lions who were also vying for the coveted fifth title in Queensland, and the green squad will return with the same team of reigning MVP Nathan Black, four-time champion Karen Murphy AM and Brett Spurr under the guidance of Steve Glasson OAM.
Their crosstown rivals in the Sydney Saints enjoyed a magnificent debut tournament, storming home to conclude BPL20 in third position after falling to the Ospreys in a tight preliminary final where they won more ends.
Ben Twist, Dawn Hayman and Jamie Walker remain in the team under coach Gerard Beath as they strive to improve.
It was a third consecutive fourth place for the Adelaide Pioneers who once more managed to fly under the radar and jump into fifth place on the ladder.
Katelyn Inch returns after missing November’s event due to work commitments and will reunite with her longtime teammates in two-time MVP Scott Thulborn and Wayne Ruediger as coach Les Carter continues his tenure at the helm.
The Melbourne eXtreme are yet to make the finals at Moama but after a solid showing to progress to the finals at Club Pine Rivers, the team of Nick Cahill, Kylie Lavis and debutant Jack McShane, who has already shown a proclivity to perform with the highest quality at national and international level.
Kelvin Kerkow OAM returns as the coach of the Club Sunbury franchise.
After missing the finals on net sets in November, the Moama Steamers will be striving to return to the winner’s circle at home, where two of the team’s three titles have come.
Six-time MVP Aron Sherriff is back for more, as is Cassandra Millerick, with the team being joined by debutant Kane Nelson in place of the charismatic Kevin Anderson, who will once more resume the position as coach.
For the second successive event at the team’s home club, the Moreton Bay Pirates failed to progress to the finals, but with Alex Marshall MBE, Katherine Rednall and Ryan Burnett remaining a consistent unit, Ellen Falkner MBE will believe that her squad can repeat the effort of BPL19 in Moama where the Queensland outfit fell agonisingly short of a third title.
It was another case of heartbreak for the Tasmania Tridents at BPL20, spending the majority of the event within the finals positions before being pushed out in the concluding rounds.
Foundation members Rebecca Van Asch and Taelyn Male are back for the Apple Isle, with star Rob McMullen also returning as the team bids to make consecutive finals appearances on the Murray.
After a bizarre debut event for the Geelong Jets, the Ocean Grove owned franchise will look to burst out of the gates to record a maiden finals appearance.
The Jets found themselves within the top five for the majority of BPL20 but were relegated to ninth after some challenges at the back end of the competition.
Aaron Wilson, Paul Foster MBE and Jamie-Lee Worsnop are all back with coach Matt Flapper looking to guide his chargers into the illustrious Friday night lineup.
As defending champions, it was a tournament to forget for the Melbourne Pulse, who were unable to repeat the heroics of BPL15 and 16 where the squad defended the title.
Ellen Fife returns after the birth of her son to once more unite with her fellow three-time champions in Gary Kelly and Barrie Lester, with Jeremy Henry looking to guide the squad to a second straight championship in Moama.
BPL20 commenced with such promise for the Perth Suns, who sat on top after four rounds before falling away at the back end of the event.
Perth’s most capped player in Kristina Krstic and Jackaroo Carl Healey will don the orange and black along with debutant Warren Holt under coach Bill Brandsma as the Suns aim to make the finals for the first time since BPL12 in 2021.
The Gold Coast Hawks looked like a groove had been found after round eight in November following four consecutive victories after losing as many matches to start the tournament.
However, the excitement was short lived as the Helensvale franchise won just three more matches to finish the event at the bottom of the ladder.
It will be an unchanged lineup for the Hawks as former winners Kelsey Cottrell and Nathan Rice will suit up once more, as will England’s Nick Brett under coach Mark Thatcher.
BPL21 runs from February 17-21, 2025, at the Moama Bowling Club with live streaming on Bowls Australia’s YouTube channel, as well as live broadcasts from Tuesday to Friday from 4pm until 10pm AEDT on Fox, Kayo and Sky Sports NZ.
