Adelaide Endurance set for this month’s Australian Premier League lawn bowls tournament
ADELAIDE Endurance will face a deeper international field and the weight of expectation as it bids for glory in lawn bowls’ answer to Twenty20 cricket.
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ADELAIDE Endurance will face a deeper international field and the weight of expectation as it bids for glory in lawn bowls’ answer to Twenty20 cricket.
The Messenger Community News-sponsored franchise shocked most observers last year when it narrowly lost the final of the inaugural Australian Premier League to home side Brisbane Gold.
Less than a month out from the second edition of the $100,000 tournament, coach Faye Luke says her side is up for the challenge.
“We’ve almost got to start all over again because last year we were the underdogs but now it’s a different ball game after how well we did,” Luke, 64, says.
“The games are so quick that you don’t have any time to have a chat you’ve just got to get in there and fly by the seat of your pants.”
The APL features shorter games, coloured uniforms and player substitutions.
Matches are broadcast live on Fox Sports.
This year’s tournament, which will again be held at Brisbane’s Club Pine Rivers from November 18-21, has attracted Commonwealth Games medallists Alex Marshall (Scotland) and Ryan Bester (Canada).
Adelaide will also face two new franchises, Gold Coast Hawks and Murray Steamers.
“It’s such a completely different concept that going up there last year was a bit of an adventure,” Luke says.
“It was great to come up against the absolute cream of the crop ... but for it to work out so well was like a fairytale.”
Simon Dorr replaces West Lakes’ Mark Haines in the Endurance line-up this year.
The Modbury skip will play alongside Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Wayne Ruediger (Grange) and recently crowned national Champion of Champions Scott Thulborn (Adelaide).
Luke, the only female coach in the eight-team competition, spent July and August managing the Australian bowls team at the Glasgow Games.
The Littlehampton resident hopes lessons learnt observing the world’s best bowlers will benefit her side.
“We just need to concentrate on getting the basics right and sometimes slow it down a bit to get our breathing right.
“Last year, the likes of Scott hadn’t played in front of TV cameras before ... so I’m sure all the players will grow again throughout the tournament.
“I believe we can match it — we did it last year so why not again.”
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