‘Give it a go’: BPL Cup champ full of praise for competition
A recently crowned BPL Cup champion is urging clubs to get involved with the event this year, with qualifying events already under way.
Speaking on Bowls Australia’s (BA) ‘The Right Line’ podcast, City Memorial’s Neville Billington was full of praise for the event which his team were crowned champions of at Moama in February.
“To go away to an event like that, you just don’t get the opportunity (anywhere else),” he said.
Warrnambool’s City Memorial took out the 2021 BPL Cup title in a hard-fought final against Charlestown, having won their way through various qualifying rounds last year.
Billington said his team started slowly but managed to chip away to work their way to state finals, and eventually the national finals.
“(The process) was nine months because COVID pushed everything back. We had a preliminary round at Warrnambool and we lost our very first game,” he said.
“We won our next three and got through.”
The City Memorial side managed to work their way to Moama, going through undefeated at the national finals which ran alongside BPL14.
Billington said it was a thrill to see the Bowls Premier League up close.
“It was incredible to watch the players play live. To watch Ryan bester, (Alex) Marshall and these guys up close and personal is incredible,” he said.
The journey to the 2022 BPL Cup finals is already under way, with qualifying events locked in throughout the country.
Clubs interested in entering teams or hosting qualifying events should click here.
With a trip to BPL16 at Club Pine Rivers on the line for national finalists, Billington said everyone should give it a go.
“It was just amazing. The hype (the win) has created around town has just been incredible,” he said.
“Its just a good concept, it’s only an hour and the game’s over. We really enjoy it.
“I implore anybody to give it a go. In a five-end game of bowls you never know what happens. It took us five years to get there, so you’ve gotta start somewhere.”
