Defining BPL final moments
The Bowls Premier League (BPL) is an event that has captured the imagination of bowls fans across the nation and left those in attendance and viewing on television mesmerised at the sheer skill and passion of the players and teams.
The impending BPL12 at the picturesque Moama Bowling Club, beginning on February 23, will provide the latest in a cavalcade of spectacular moments that have been etched into BPL folklore since APL01 in 2013.
That event paved the way for many stars to ply their trade in the fan-favourite made-for-television tournament that has encapsulated the minds of traditionalists and progressives alike, and created one of the most exciting branches of bowls formats around the globe.
Diving back into the BPL history books shows there’s been copious moments in finals that have defined each champion franchise in their own way.
Take a closer look at the key wins over the ages below:
APL01 – Brisbane Gold win inaugural tournament
It was new, it was bold and it was beautiful. The opening BPL, or APL as it was known back then, warmed the cockles of bowls fans around Australia and especially the home crowd at Club Pine Rivers, as the Brisbane Gold claimed the honours in the inaugural event.
Mixed with local legends and international heroes, the trio of Kelvin Kerkow, Mark Casey and Robert Wild sent the Pine Rivers faithful into raptures with their triumph over the Adelaide Endurance in the decider.
The opening stanza was unable to separate the teams, leaving the second to decide the match; down 0-4 as they were in the opening set, a piece of brilliance from Kerkow in a power play on the fourth end gave Brisbane a staggering eight shots and an unassailable lead.
The Gold fans were up on their feet immediately after the final delivery, and the raucous atmosphere that the event is known for was showcased for all to witness.
APL02 – Steamers claim honours on debut
The mighty Moama Bowling Club joined the APL in its second edition with franchise the Murray Steamers, who took the competition by storm racing through to the decider.
Alex Marshall, Ryan Bester and Michael Walker would face the APL01 runner-ups in the Adelaide Endurance and quickly asserted their dominance on the contest, obliterating their opponents in the opening set.
The second set was poised for a tight conclusion, with the Endurance leading 3-1 after three ends and nullifying the Steamers power-play with some Scott Thulborn genius, but MVP Alex Marshall sensed the occasion and launched a spectacular bowl to acquire three shots for his side.
From there on in it was the Steamers deflating their opponents and debunking a power play of their own to claim victory on debut.
APL03 – Blackjacks announce arrival on the big stage
The New Zealand Blackjacks were considered underdogs heading into the franchise’s first final against the Adelaide Endurance, who were searching for that elusive victory in the APL after two previous attempts.
Ali Forsyth, Shannon McIlroy and Jo Edwards raced through the opening set before succumbing in the second stanza without registering a single shot, resulting in the first ever tie-break in a final.
With the Endurance closer to the jack before the final bowl of the tournament, Ali Forsyth drove to perfection, launching the bare jack and his bowl straight into the ditch, clinching an epic final for the Blackjacks and sending the Endurance home in second place again.
BPL06 – Lions claim historic three-peat
Following victories over the Murray Steamers and the New Zealand Blackjacks in the finals of BPL04 and BPL05 respectively, Aron Sherriff, Karen Murphy and debutant Corey Wedlock suited up for the Sydney Lions as they locked horns with the Illawarra Gorillas in the decider.
Like the Brisbane Lions in 2003 and Hawthorn Hawks in 2015, the third win of the three-peat was as one-sided as anything, with the Harbour City franchise commanding a straight sets victory for the loss of just one shot.
With a power play in the final end of the second set and the bowls in Aron Sherriff’s hands, he did not disappoint, with a textbook drive freeing up the head before a precise roll that saw his franchise claim two shots and an unassailable lead with an end to spare, making the greatest dynasty the BPL has ever seen.
BPL10 – Debutant Ospreys take BPL by storm
The youngest team in the BPL turned heads immediately as the Tweed Heads Ospreys progressed through to the final on debut at the tournament.
Aaron Teys, Chloe Stewart and Kurt Brown were to take on the heavy favourites in the Sydney Lions, searching for a fourth franchise title, but it was far from close.
Obliterating their storied opponents in the first set, Murphy, Sherriff and Ben Twist had no answer in the second as the Ospreys sealed victory with a power play, storming to the title in the team’s first ever BPL appearance.
BPL11 – Steamers win epic on home soil
Only the Brisbane Pirates, or Gold as they were previously known, had saluted on home soil but that was all to change when APL02 heroes Michael Walker and Ryan Bester walked out for the Murray Steamers with former BPL champion Jo Edwards.
The Steamers were to play the Melbourne Roys, who were in their first final as a franchise, and the home side quickly raced to the opening set before the Roys’ mix of power and precision levelled proceedings to force a tie-break.
It looked to be the Victorian franchise’s night, but hometown hero Michael Walker had other ideas, clobbering a drive knocking the jack into the ditch with his bowl lying inches away.
Roys star Matt Flapper edged a bowl closer in the field of play, but Jo Edwards would dispatch it into the ditch leaving Aaron Wilson too much to do and a second title for the Steamers in the most dramatic final in BPL history.
BPL12 runs from February 23-26, with Rinkside Live live-streaming available on Facebook and broadcast action nightly from 5-10pm AEDT on Fox Sports and Kayo.
