West Lakes claim 2020 BPL Cup in thrilling final

by Lachlan Williams on February 25, 2021

The 2020 BPL Cup final will go down as one of the best yet, with South Australian team West Lakes too good for Soldiers Point.

Not much could split the sides all game, with West Lakes pinching the first set with a narrow 5-4 win, before the NSW club fought back to take the second set 2-4.

The tie-break was one that won’t forgotten anytime soon.

With Soldiers Point holding shot and just one bowl to come, the match and the title rested on the shoulders of West Lakes skipper Craig Mills.

A pin-point accurate drive with his final bowl was enough to clear the Soldiers Point shot bowl and make West Lakes the first South Australian club to win the BPL Cup in its short four-year lifespan.

Mills said he drew back on previous experience to cope with the occasion.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have been in that situation a few times in some big games,” he said.

“You’ve just got to block out what you’re playing for and go through the shot routine and dumb it down.

“You get some, and you don’t get some. At least we were in with a shot with the last bowl.”

Despite falling short of a win, Soldiers Point’s Warren Shipley was recognised as the Most Valuable Player in the decider for his efforts.

The final concludes a drawn out 2020 BPL Cup campaign that was planned to take place at Club Pine Rivers last November, but postponed due to COVID.

The event was moved to coincide with #BPL12 at Moama instead.

Mills said the BPL Cup experience was “fantastic” for he and his team, and said clubs should follow suit and get involved.

“To get to this facility at Moama in front of the crowd and the other BPL guys is amazing,” he said.

“I recommend it to anyone who hasn’t played in it yet, do yourself a favour and you never know.”

Clubs can now get involved in the 2021 instalment of the BPL Cup, with host club registrations for qualifying rounds now open.

2020 BPL Cup Final

West Lakes def Soldiers Point 5-4, 2-4, 1-0

MVP: Warren Shipley (Soldiers Point)