Sydney Lions ready to roar
If you’re in Sydney on Sunday October 30, pop into the Mount Lewis Bowls Club to take on the mighty Sydney Lions at their BPL launch Bowls Premier League, formerly known as the Australian Premier League, is set to kick off at Club Pine Rivers in Brisbane from November 8 to 11 for the fourth instalment of the revolutionary televised event.
BPL04 will once again feature the mighty Sydney Lions as the only NSW based franchise participating in the $100,000 tournament and are proudly one of six franchises which have been involved since the inaugural APL01 back in 2013.
This year BPL will see the inclusion of a female in all eight franchises and it is the Sydney Lions who have secured the talents of Australia’s most capped international bowler and Hall of Fame inductee Karen Murphy.
Murphy will line-up for her third BPL alongside fellow inaugural Lion, Australian men’s singles representative for the 2016 World Championships Aron Sherriff from the Ettalong Memorial Bowls Club.
To round out the Sydney Lions entourage for BPL04 is former World Under-25 Singles Champion and newest Australian Jackaroo Ben Twist from the powerhouse St Johns Park Bowls Club.
Together this combination, along with their coach Gary Willis, will be entertaining and prove very hard to beat as they go on a quest to qualify for a maiden finals appearance after missing out by the smallest of margins in 2015.
BPL04 will be screened live on Fox Sports again this year and following the announcement of BPL05 to be staged at New Zealand’s North Shore Events Centre in Auckland from February 27 2017, the Sydney Lions are keen to take the trophy across the ditch for the first international staging of this prestigious event.
To kick start their 2016/2017 campaign, there is a fantastic opportunity to play in the unique BPL format at the Sydney Lions BPL Launch Day Tournament, to be held at Club Mount Lewis in Sydney on Sunday October 30.
With $1500 in prize-money to be won on the day, teams will play three bowl pairs over two five end sets, each team will have a super sub who must play a minimum of 3 ends per match, as well as power play ends in each set, and of course just like in BPL if sets are tied, a one end shoot out will determine the winner.
The event replicates the format of the BPL; however teams will compete with an added bonus that Sydney Lions players will be on hand to act as SUPER-Super subs for teams in game 3 with the overall winners of the day then going head to head with the Sydney Lions over two five end sets to get their hands on a bonus prize.
Australian National Coach Steve Glasson OAM will also be on hand to conduct live interviews with the Sydney Lions players during the presentations.
Special Sydney Lions merchandise will be on sale throughout the day so that you can parade your colours and support for the Sydney Lions in BPL04 and beyond.
Click on this link to download an entry form to the event; it is open to men and women, so grab two of your friends and have a crack at the fast paced format that is BPL and a chance to test your skills against the Sydney Lions.
To win free entry into this fantastic one day event, simply like Club Mount Lewis on Facebook or follow Club Mount Lewis on Twitter, and add the comment “I support the Sydney Lions” to go into the draw.
Three lucky winners who have posted the comment on the Club’s Facebook or Twitter page will be drawn and notified on Friday October 21 at 6.00pm.
For more information on the Launch Day tournament or the Sydney Lions, please contact Club Mount Lewis Bowls Co-ordinator, David Ellis.
