BPL18: Monday recap
Two franchises have concluded the opening day of the 18th edition of the Bowls Premier League (BPL) undefeated after a scintillating afternoon at Club Pine Rivers.
The defending champions in the Moama Steamers picked up right where they left off in February by enjoying a trio of close victories over the Adelaide Pioneers, Tweed Heads Ospreys and Tasmania Tridents.
Having won both sets against the Pioneers, the Steamers were tested after letting a 4-0 lead slip against the Ospreys, who tied the opening stanza.
Tweed then gained a monumental score in a power play to rectify a 0-6 deficit in the second to lead 8-6 before Aron Sherriff converted a huge power play of their own to win the set 14-8.
Moama would tie the first set against Tasmania in the following match, with Sherriff securing a two on the final bowl to save the result.
He, Ryan Bester and Cassandra Millerick would win four of the five ends in the second to end the day on top of the table.
After finishing ninth in February, the Gold Coast Hawks commenced this edition in brilliant fashion by going unblemished in the first three rounds.
The Club Helensvale franchise notched up a brilliant win over the Perth Suns in the opening round before overcoming a tied first set against the Pioneers to take down the South Australian squad in the second.
Nathan Rice, Kelsey Cottrell and Brett Wilkie faced the Sydney Lions in the concluding match of the afternoon, and after taking the first exchange 7-5 the trio dropped the second 0-19 to be forced into a tiebreak.
From there it was all Gold Coast, ensuring their place in the top two heading into Tuesday’s action.
Home franchise the Moreton Bay Pirates finished the day in third with two wins and a loss, as did the Tridents, who enjoyed a successful day by halving their win tally of BPL17 in just three matches.
The Melbourne eXtreme sit fifth with one win and two losses, as do the Lions, Melbourne Pulse, Ospreys and the Suns.
Adelaide remains the only team without a win heading into day two.
View the BPL18 Monday results HERE
View the BPL18 ladder HERE
BPL18 runs from November 13-17, 2023, at Club Pine Rivers with live streaming on Bowls Australia’s YouTube channel, as well as live broadcasts from Tuesday to Friday from 4pm until 10pm AEST on Fox, Kayo and Sky Sports NZ.
