BPL20 by the numbers
After one of the most exciting editions of the Bowls Premier League (BPL) to date, it is only fitting that an abundance of records have been set as well as a plethora of players entering the upper echelons of the event’s history books.
Let’s talk about six, Teysie
Tweed Ospreys star and three-time MVP became the tournament’s most successful player in terms of titles won with an unprecedented sixth BPL crown.
Having previously taken the trophy with the Illawarra Gorillas at BPL09, the Warilla member has been a member of each of the Ospreys wins that sees him move one clear of Aron Sherriff into the outright lead.
In addition, his teammates in Chloe Stewart and Corey Wedlock notched up their fifth titles to reach equal second on the tally.
Ospreys summit the mountain
The Ospreys now stand alone as the most successful franchise in the BPL’s history after the historic final against the Sydney Lions in which the winner would be the first to reach five titles.
What is more impressive for Tweed is that they only entered the competition at BPL10 and have won almost half of the events that they have been involved in at five from eleven attempts at 45 per cent.
MVP in first full event
Nathan Black’s first full BPL could not have gone any better, taking home the MVP title at his first real opportunity.
Having played 13 matches for the Adelaide Pioneers at BPL18 as a fill in for the ill Scott Thulborn, he joined his fellow South Australian and Alex Marshall as the only players to win the coveted award on their full-time debut at the competition.
Triple All Star
Before BPL20, only Sherriff had been a member of the All Star team on three or more occasions, but Geelong Jets star Aaron Wilson made his mark for the new franchise with his third cap last week.
The BPL11 MVP finished runner-up behind Black in the votes for the event’s best player but it was enough for his third All Star cap to go with his inductions at BPL17 and BPL19.
Dawn Hayman would also become a two-time All Star after another scintillating week to go with her cap in February.
Lions, kings of Fridays
The Sydney Lions equalled the Moama Steamers’ record of the most BPL Grand Finals after making their seventh appearance in the tournament’s showpiece match.
Sydney have won four times and lost three, but it cannot be denied that this franchise always fronts up with quality.
Most Grand Finals by player
After reaching their seventh decider, Karen Murphy AM and Teys equalled Ryan Bester for the most Grand Finals by a player, establishing their consistency and longevity at the event.
