Pirates storm to title
THE Brisbane Pirates have been crowned as Bowls Premier League champions for the second time in eight seasons at their Club Pine Rivers home.
Gold Coaster Kelsey Cottrell joined Michael Breen and Scottish legend Alex Marshall to defeat Murray Steamers in straight sets in a tense finale.
Having already been defeated by the table-topping Steamers in the semi, the Pirates were forced to qualify for the final via the preliminary final, where they defeated the Melbourne Roys in a tie-break.
An electric Club Pine Rivers home crowd appeared to spur on the Pirates in the final, with spearhead Marshall turning it on much to the locals’ delight.
The Gold Coast Hawks team of Georgia White, Nathan Rice and Aron Sherriff fell agonisingly short of the finals by margin after finishing equal with fourth-placed Perth Suns on wins and sets differentials.
Steamers star Ryan Bester (Broadbeach) was crowned tournament MVP, while the Pirates’ Cottrell was arguably the best-performed female.
The Pirates pocketed the $25,000 winner’s purse and will now set their sights on BPL09 when the event returns to the Naenae Bowls Club in Wellington in February 2019.
■ BURLEIGH’S Jake and Grant Fehlberg, Tweed’s Brendon Wilson and I represented the Bowls Queensland Presidents XII team in the Anzac Test Series to defeat the Australian Defence Force 3-0 in their annual series.
■ BOWLS Gold Coast Tweed celebrated their 80th Birthday yesterday at Tweed Heads.
The District Association was started by the Southport, Burleigh and Tweed Heads/ Coolangatta 80 years ago.
District president Brian Marshall thanked all past presidents, board members and life members for their contribution over the years and support.
Max Jaffray was awarded the district representative player of the year.
■ BEAUDESERT claimed the South East Queensland Division 4 Pennant title at Coolum Beach. Gold Coast Tweed will be taking on NSW Zone 1 this Sunday at South Tweed.
Five lots of five-a-side events will take place between the associations including Open, under-25, 30-59s, over-60s and bowling arm categories in men and women.
■ CLUB Helensvale have won the Gold Coast Tweed Over-50s Midweek Challenge.