Bowls SA set to capitalise on Australian Premier League success

BOWLS SA is set to roll out its answer to Twenty20 cricket across Adelaide in a bid to attract a new generation of players to the sport.

Fast-paced bowls set for SA roll out

BOWLS SA is set to roll out its answer to Twenty20 cricket across Adelaide in a bid to attract a new generation of players to the sport.

Buoyed by the success of the fast-paced version of the game used at the inaugural Australian Premier League in Queensland last month, the governing body believes shorter games will broaden bowls' appeal and provide a financial boost for local clubs.

Bowls SA general manager Mark Easton said the speed and excitement of the one-hour, 10-end matches, instead of the traditional 25-end format, had changed viewers' perception of the sport.

"We can now promote the game in a quick-snap format like Twenty20 cricket ... and we can now expose this product to bring people to clubs," Easton said.

"Ideally we'd like to see every club pick it up in some format across the board in years to come."

Adelaide Endurance, Bowls SA's franchise in the six-team, week-long APL, shocked most observers by finishing second with a team made up entirely of SA-based players.

Easton said the success of the side, combined with the positive exposure the new format received, could be used to attract new members to clubs.

"We couldn't ask for a better result after going there as complete underdogs.

"We went into it to build a profile within our state and now we've got four people of profile we can go on to market the sport of bowls."

Easton said it was generally a three-year process for clubs to take beginner players to a competitive level.

However, he believed the shortened version would encourage novices to pick up the game more quickly and easily.

He said Payneham Bowling Club had already expressed interest in starting a competition based on the condensed format early next year with weeknight games running from 5pm to 8pm.

"It's an offering that will fit people's lifestyle," he said.

"It's covering another base to bring people to clubs and make them strong.

"Also bringing people to a shortened version (of the game) boosts the social aspect of it."

Bowls SA plans to capitalise on the success of the APL by offering Endurance memberships next year and encouraging bowls fans to travel to Queensland to support the team.

Long-term, Easton said he would like to see matches played on a home and away basis at iconic venues such as the Adelaide Casino to promote the sport to a wider audience.

"There's evidence we could fly teams in and out and have a city-based competition.

'We're investing in this product to create a pathway."