#BPL14 preview
The Bowls Premier League (BPL) will once again reignite the sport into the new year following another COVID-19 mandated shutdown of bowls, with the lights, cameras and raucous crowds set to descend on the Murray for the first of three events in 2022.
Following the two enthralling tournaments at the luxurious Moama Bowling Club in 2020 and 2021, the bowling fraternity will once again bring history to the club with an expanded and longer BPL, something that has never been seen before.
At BPL14, not eight, but ten franchises will take to the green, with play to commence on Monday evening rather than the traditional Tuesday morning time.
Joining the competition will be the Melbourne eXtreme and the Tasmania Tridents, while BPL07 champions the Gold Coast Hawks make a return to the tournament.
The eXtreme will bring the bring former Melbourne Roys duo Carla Krizanic and Matt Flapper, with APL03 champion, New Zealand’s Ali Forsyth, rounding out the trio.
Right at Home Jackaroo Rebecca Van Asch will spearhead the Tridents squad and will be joined by fellow Tasmanians in Mark Nitz and Taelyn Male, both of whom are members of the state team, the Tigers.
The returning Hawks are one of only two teams that boast three former champions in its squad, with four-time winner and three-time MVP Aron Sherriff making the move from the Lions to join two-time champion and former Pirate Kelsey Cottrell and former Jackaroo Nathan Rice.
Under a new name, the Moama Steamers will be out to go one better than BPL13 where they fell to the Ospreys in the final, and coming into the team is Scot Kevin Anderson to join Ryan Bester and Natasha Van Eldik.
The Ospreys, in the middle of their very own juggernaut, enjoyed one of the most dominant tournaments in history at Pine Rivers last April, losing only one match on route to the title.
Chloe Stewart, Aaron Teys and Corey Wedlock will return for the franchise, with a look to become just the second team after the Sydney Lions to claim a BPL three-peat.
The Lions share the record of most titles with the Ospreys and welcome in former tournament MVP Aaron Wilson as the replacement for Sherriff.
Wilson joins Ben Twist and Karen Murphy, both of whom have lifted the trophy before and will be as hungry as ever to deliver a fourth championship to the franchise.
The Brisbane Pirates will look to join the Ospreys and Lions on three titles, and with the introduction of two-time MVP, Commonwealth Games gold medallist and world champion Alex Marshall, as well as Ellen Falkner and Chris Rosanes, it will make the squad one of the most difficult prospects in the competition.
The Melbourne Pulse enjoyed a brilliant campaign the last time out in Moama, finishing on top of the table and falling agonisingly close to a grand final appearance after an enthralling match with the Ospreys.
Barrie Lester, Gary Kelly and Ellen Ryan will return as they look to end Melbourne’s hoodoo at the competition.
Across the border to South Australia and the Adelaide Pioneers will also relish the opportunity to get to Moama following a runner-up performance at BPL12 in 2021.
Two-time MVP Scott Thulborn will return, as will Jackaroo Wayne Ruediger and New Zealand Blackjack Katelyn Inch as the Pioneers look to finally bring the Bowls Premier League trophy to Adelaide.
Continuing across the Nullarbor to the Perth Suns, who will bring BPL12 MVP runner-up back Ray Pearse and one of the standout performers at BPL13 in Dawn Hayman, while also welcoming back franchise stalwart, Cody Packer, who has been absent from the competition since 2020.
Following two brilliant events in 2021 and a long wait, this made-for-television event is set to be one of the most exhilarating in the tournament’s history.
The Bowls Premier League is usually staged biannually, but in 2022 there will be three events, with Club Pine Rivers set to host BPL15 in May and BPL16 in November.
#BPL14 will run from February 21-25, 2022 and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports, Kayo and Sky Sports NZ nightly from 4pm-10pm AEDT.
