Osprey Stewart primed for another tilt at the BPL
Tweed Heads Ospreys star Chloe Stewart is thrilled to be returning for yet another tilt at the Bowls Premier League (BPL) when the tournament commences in Moama next week.
The 27-year-old was unavailable for November’s BPL16 due to work commitments with SParms, as Kira Bourke assumed the duties at Club Pine Rivers.
Stewart, a three-time champion at the event, has fond memories of the BPL and hopes that the Club Tweed franchise can lift a record equalling fourth trophy.
“I’m really excited, I missed the last one in November which was disappointing but I put my work commitments first,” she said.
“I’m keen to get back out there with the guys again and hopefully we can have more success because we’ve always done pretty well at the BPL but we’ll see what happens.”
Stewart will rejoin reigning MVP Corey Wedlock and four-time champion Aaron Teys as the trio look to win a third title as a team.
The Ospreys have missed the finals at the two previous editions of the tournament, with their most recent venture into the elusive Friday finals night coming on the Murray River border town a year ago at BPL14.
Stewart’s squad is one of only two franchises to reach the finals in the past two events in Moama, which gives the Right at Home Jackaroo confidence ahead of the week-long extravaganza.
“It does give you a little bit of confidence but each BPL the competition gets tougher and tougher and teams are working out what they can do and working on their strengths,” she said.
“I think it will be tough again but with the the runs on the board we know that we can do it, so hopefully we can carry that in.
“If a few little things go our way as well that will always help but we’ll see.”
A fourth title would put Stewart and Wedlock into rarified air, with only three other players in Teys, Aron Sherriff and Karen Murphy having completed the quadruple.
Hoisting the trophy once more would mean the world to Stewart considering the fierce challenges that each franchise faces throughout each BPL.
“It would be amazing, it feels like it’s been a little while now since BPL13,” she said.
“I think with so many good teams playing and so many good players involved another title would be unbelievable so we’ll go out there and give it our best shot.”
BPL17 will be contested next week at Moama Bowling Club, from February 20-24, 2023, with 24 hours of live broadcast on Fox Sports, Kayo and Sky Sports NZ across Tuesday to Friday evenings from 4pm-10pm AEDT, 3pm-9pm AEST.
