BPL09 to round out the summer of Bowls

by Bowls Australia on December 17, 2018

For those still riding the high of BPL08, fear not, with the next instalment just around the corner as the sport’s flagship entertainment format returns to New Zealand.

The ninth edition of the Bowls Premier League (BPL) will again be held at the state-of-the-art Naenae Bowling Club in Lower Hutt, Wellington from February 25-28, following a successful running of the event at the $6.25 million regional venue in April, 2018.

Eight teams will battle it out for the $25,000 winners purse, most recently claimed by the Brisbane Pirates who clinched BPL08 in front of an electric home crowd at Club Pine Rivers in November.

Hometown heroes the New Zealand Blackjacks see the return of international star Shannon McIlroy at the expense of Ali Forsyth, while there are minimal changes to the teams elsewhere.

Ellen Ryan and Ben Twist return from international duty to again suit up for the Moama Murray Steamers and BCiB Sydney Lions respectively, while Matthew Lucas is handed the coaching reigns at the Club Helensvale Gold Coast Hawks.

#BPL09 will be broadcast LIVE into primetime to both Australian and New Zealand audiences on Fox Sports Australia (from 4-9pm AEDT) and Sky Sports NZ (from 6-11pm NZDT), while the day sessions will be streamed live via the Bowls Australia Facebook page.

BPL09 Team Lineups:

Brisbane Pirates – Alex Marshall, Michael Breen, Kelsey Cottrell, Dave Edwards (Coach)
Club Helensvale Gold Coast Hawks – Aron Sherriff, Nathan Rice, Georgia White, Matthew Lucas* (Coach)
Asahi Illawarra Gorillas – Jeremy Henry, Aaron Teys, Kay Moran, Wes Falconer (Coach)
Moama Murray Steamers – Ryan Bester, Michael Walker, Ellen Ryan*, Wayne Turley (Coach)
Blundstone Melbourne Roys – Aaron Wilson, Barrie Lester, Carla Krizanic, Ian Ewing (Coach)
New Zealand Blackjacks – Shannon McIlroy*, Seamus Curtin, Jo Edwards, Richard Girvan (Coach)
Blooms The Chemist Perth Suns – John Slavich, Shane Knott, Kristina Krstić, Pieter Harris (Coach)
BCiB Sydney Lions – Ray Pearse, Ben Twist*, Karen Murphy, Steve Glasson (Coach)

(* denotes new playing or coaching member)