BOWLS Premier League

Western Outlaws on hunt for finals

By Kelsey Cottrell

A spot in the QLD Premier League has long been a sign of club supremacy with only the strongest clubs bestowed the honour to compete.

South-East Queensland clubs have dominated the invitation list since its inception with the likes of Club Helensvale, Burleigh Heads, South Tweed Sports, Hamilton and Club Pine Rivers often lifting the trophy in what is arguably one of the strongest club competitions in the country.

But the competition is better for Queensland to have a wider representation of clubs outside the metropolitan areas.

The Down’s District had eyed off the competition as an opportunity to mix it with the best clubs, and the best players we have in this country, but also give bowlers from neighbouring country regions the exposure to an elite club competition.

When the North Toowoomba Bowls Club was taken over and competing in the Premier League was no longer a priority for the club’s new owners, aspiring top levels bowlers from the country were fortunate enough to stumble across a saviour and remain in the Premier League.

In steps the City Golf Club (Toowoomba) who have bought the Drayton Bowls Club just down the road. They saw a great opportunity to re-enter the Premier League to help lift the profile of bowls in Toowoomba and increase the bowling strength of the club which was once upon a time a very social bowls club.

“We took a punt having to qualify to get back in the league, it was a bad weekend for us with so many players out because of North vs South taking place in Mackay and a carnival in town so we had players out, but we beat Carina Bowls Club and that was the big result for us to get back into the Premier League,” said club selector Gavin Bradford.

“Once we’ve been back in the competition, the support has been awesome, and the City Golf Club in particular, has been incredibly supportive, financially assisting us to purchase marquee players and that has triggered an influx of players from further west joining Drayton Bowls Club for the chance to play Premier League with and against the best.”

Players as far west as Roma and Cunnamulla have been selected and are being exposed on a weekly basis to what top level bowls looks like in the South-East pocket of Queensland.

Mid-way through the season the Western Outlaws are still in the hunt for finals. Victories against the likes of Club Helensvale give the Western Outlaws hope they can match it with the best and continue to strive for improvement as a club.

“We think more bowlers will join Drayton Bowls Club once Premier League is finished and they see what the club, and being part of this competition has to offer,” said Bradford.

The Premier League finals will take place at Musgrave Hill on March 18th to 19th with the top five sides from both the Premier and Reserves Grades qualifying for finals.