The powerhouse Warilla Bowling Club has launched Illawarra into the lucrative Premier League competition in Queensland in November.
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The Illawarra Gorillas have taken over from Adelaide Endurance, after a deal was struck with Warilla last week.
And the Gorillas are set to become an instant Bowls Premier League force, having named five-time World Cup winner Jeremy Henry, 2015 Australian Open winner Aaron Teys and Scottish international Kay Moran on the roster. It is the sixth time the BPL has been held, with 20 hours of live competition broadcast on Fox Sports, starting on November 14.
“It’s a great concept, it’s going to be really good to play,” Henry told the Mercury.
“It’s all come about very quickly, but we’ve kept the squad local, so hopefully there’ll be plenty of support here at home with it being on TV. Hopefully we can be pretty competitive.”
Gorillas coach Wes Falconer believes winning the title in their first outing is a possibility.
“We have three in-form international players in the team and we’ll be gunning for the title,” Falconer said.
“I’d expect that come semi-final time the Gorillas will be in the mix and have the class and experience to go all the way.”
The Gorillas will take on the Brisbane Pirates, Gold Coast Hawks, Melbourne Roys, Murray Steamers, defending champions New Zealand Blackjacks, Perth Suns and Sydney Lions, with other squads to be released in coming days.
The BPL was established as a high-tempo league, with a number of tactical features, including a ‘power play’ end, doubling scores on a nominated end, as well as the use of reserve players and a 70-minute match window.
There are 14 rounds, each team playing twice, before the top four move into the finals. Bowls Australia chief exectuvie Neil Dalrymple welcome the new team.
“We’re very pleased to announce that Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club have joined the BPL competition as the Illawarra Gorillas,” Dalrymple said.
“They represent a very strong bowls region in NSW and we feel that their inclusion in the BPL will be a very positive one for the competition.”
City chasing champs double
Wiseman Park-Wollongong City are on the verge of a stunning Zone 16 championship double.
Luke Cocksedge and Shane Garvey qualified for the Champion of Club Champion pairs last weekend at Kiama Bowling Club.
The Wiso’s pair had advanced past Dapto Huntley’s Ray Connell and Brad Whitford (21-13) in their opening match, then through to the semi-finals by beating Corrimal’s Russell Taylor and Kevin Ireland.
Host club representatives Danny Keenan and Geoff McIntyre ensured a tight battle, before Cocsedge and Garvey won through 22-17.
They will meet Oak Flats duo Lupco Brglevski and Paul Woods in the decider on Saturday.
Brglevski and Woods outlasted Towradgi’s Peter Bonsor and Guy Vozza in their semi-final, winning 22-15.
The showdown comes after young talent Dylan Skinner qualified for the Champion of Club Champions singles final.
Skinner will meet Woonona’s Jim Tully on Saturday.
