Bowls Premier League Wrap

Bowls Premier League Perth Suns give their best at BPL16

Anticipation was high for the Suns coming into the Bowls Premier League, BPL16 at Club Pine Rivers in November with Bowls WA owned side fielding a very strong local team.

Kristina Krstic was still riding the wave of her Commonwealth Games Gold Medal a few months earlier whilst Blake Nairn had a Gold Medal of his own having won the Covid delayed 2021 Australian Championship Singles

Joining them was the ever reliable Cody Packer who had already proved he was capable of mixing it with the best in this high octane high energy Bowls competition which has not only the best in Australia involved but some of the biggest superstars on the global stage.

Alex Marshall, Ryan Bester, Jo Edwards, Ali Forsyth, Katelyn Inch, Gary Kelly and Shannon McIlroy some on the international talent along with Ellen Ryan, Aron Sheriff, Aaron Wilson, Barrie Lester and Karen Murphy all household names in the Australia bowls scene gave viewers an absolute treat with their exceptional play through the five days.

The Suns started well winning their opening match against one of the tournament fancies in the Moreton Bay Pirates 6-5, 3-3 before a loss to Sydney and then a tie break win over Adelaide had them well placed after a solid first day of competition.

• Cody Packer, Kristina Krstic and Blake Nairn.

• Perths Suns team.

The support seemed to inspire the team with Kristina leading superbly in the first set and back up by Blake in the second but it was Packer who played some outstanding shots to steal the show from the No. 1 bowler in Australia Aaron Sheriff and his Moama teammates. The Suns shone brightly that night winning 7-4, 8-6. In the remaining rounds the Suns were always playing catch up to try and sneak into finals contention, just when they banked a win a loss would nearly always follow as they found it hard to gather momentum against such classy opposition. On Friday they knew they had to win all three matches to be a chance but suffered an agonizing loss to Tweed Heads. The Suns however did fight it out winning their last two matches against Tasmania and the Melbourne Pulse who would regroup and go on to claim the title. Whilst the Suns finished overall seventh with a 7-11 record they can certainly hold their heads up high having giving it their all through the 18 rounds of competition. The short format five end sets make for exciting play and a few good bowls by either side can make a big difference to the Bowls Premier replays are available on the Bowls Australia Facebook Page and via Kayo. outcome as the Suns found out throughout the tournament.

The second day was perhaps the downfall when they loss to Tweed Heads, Gold Coast and Tasmania none of which would make finals however a good win against the talented Moama Steamers kept them in the hunt with 3 wins and 4 losses.

The middle day proved both a disappointment and a real highlight as the Suns suffered three losses during the day with just one victory leading into the televised night session.

The Suns however saved their best with members of the supporting BPL Cup teams led by Helen Morss impersonating Kristina Krstic decked out with pony tails, glasses and of course a gold medal. • Kristina Kristic impersonators!

The next Bowls Premier League will be held in Moama from February 20-24, 2023.