Adelaide Endurance set for tomorrow’s Australian Premier League lawn bowls start
ADELAIDE Endurance will launch its bid for Australian Premier League lawn bowls glory with an opening round clash against New Zealand Blackjacks tomorrow.
ADELAIDE Endurance will launch its bid for Australian Premier League bowls glory with an opening round clash against New Zealand Blackjacks tomorrow.
The match begins a run of 14 preliminary round games in three days for the Messenger Community News-sponsored team in the $110,000 tournament at Club Pine Rivers, Queensland.
Grange skip Wayne Ruediger played a key role in helping the Endurance to the final of the inaugural event last year before going down to Brisbane Gold in the decider.
The 37 year old said the experience of playing live on Fox Sports and dealing with shot clocks and player substitutions would stand the Bowls SA franchise in good stead.
“It’s a fantastic concept, a fantastic tournament and it was great fun being part of it last year,” Ruediger said.
“But once you reach the final you want to win it, you don’t want to run second.
“Now we know what it’s all about we can go up there and hit the ground running and hopefully go as well if not better than last year.”
The APL, including expansion teams Murray Steamers and Gold Coast Hawks, will see eight sides go head-to-head daily in fast-paced, 10-end matches.
Ruediger said concentration early in games was the key to qualifying for Friday’s finals.
“There’s two new teams and they are both very strong so it’s going to be even tougher.
“With this style of game you’ve got to start well from as soon as you step on the green.
“You need to play smart and last year we made a few mistakes.
“We’ll have to be playing our best just to make the finals and then have a bit of luck go our way.”
Ruediger has enjoyed a stellar year, winning a bronze medal with the Australian fours side at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The Andrews Farm resident was confident of more honours at the APL alongside last year’s tournament MVP Scott Thulborn and new recruit, Modbury’s Simon Dorr.,
“These two other boys are fantastic players so we’re going to go up there and have some fun and give it a real crack,” he said.