#BPL14: Lions create history with memorable title win
History had eluded the Sydney Lions for years, but for the first time since BPL06 in 2017, they are champions of the Bowls Premier League.
The Lions did it the hard way, finishing third and forced to play in two elimination finals before going on to meet home-team Moama Steamers in the final.
The Steamers were the standout team all tournament, losing just four matches and finishing atop the ladder after round robin play.
Moama jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the first, before the Lions clawed back. Clutch shots from Ryan Bester and Kevin Anderson helped Moama fight back and secure the first set.
The Steamers appeared to be in the box seat in the second set, but the Lions dug deep, fighting on for a gutsy set win to force a tiebreak, the fourth from five games for the night.
With the jack potted in the ditch, it was Ben Twist who was able to take the shot, hold on and claim a memorable win for Sydney.
The victory takes the Lions to four titles, making them the most successful franchise in BPL history. It also gives Karen Murphy her fourth title, making her the equal most successful BPL player (level with Aron Sherriff and Aron Teys).
Earlier in the evening, reigning champions Tweed Heads Ospreys‘ dynasty came to an end in the first match of the night, falling short in a tie-break thriller against cross-border rivals Brisbane Pirates.
Alex Marshall showed all of his class to put the jack in the ditch then follow up and draw shot to knock the Ospreys out.
The Pirates looked to ride their form when they took on the Sydney Lions, with the match battled out into a tiebreak. Marshall looked to have drawn shot with his final bowl, but it was Aaron Wilson who upstaged the Scottish champion to save the game for the Lions to send them through to the preliminary final.
Home-town favourites and ladder leaders Moama Steamers then enjoyed a relatively comfortable win over the Adelaide Pioneers in the semi final to advance straight to grand final, with the Pioneers forced to face off against the Lions.
The sides were neck-and-neck throughout, halving both sets with yet another tiebreak required to separate them. Wilson once again stood up for the Lions, with the Sydney side sending the Pioneers packing in straight sets, and booking a spot against the Steamers in the final.
#BPL14 will go down as one of the more historic events in the competition’s history.
Aron Sherriff was crowned as tournament MVP, with Kelsey Cottrell and Ben Twist named to the first ever BPL All Star team along with Sherriff.
