Tara Murray
Yarraville Footscray and Deer Park will be among the clubs fielding teams in the inaugural Victoria Bowls League.
After years of planning, Bowls Victorian announced the new competition last week, which they are hoping will bring a new lot of fans to the sport.
The competition will see teams from across the state face against each other, with $20,000 for the winner. Player of the tournament will receive $1000.
It will be a five-a-side competition, with pairs, triples, singles and fours matches. Squads can by up to eight players, with three Victorian registered bowlers having to be among the five who take to the green.
The eight teams will be split into two sections, with the top two from each section progressing through to finals. The competition will be held in September ahead of the summer season kicking off.
Bowls Victoria chief executive Tony Sherwill said it’s rare that you get the chance to have regional teams playing against metropolitan teams.
“The VBL is a truly state-wide competition and it’s fantastic to see teams from the north, south, east and west of our state coming on board,” he said.
“It’s great to see our stronger clubs backing the VBL and supporting this bold new competition.
“I’m really pleased to see a female-only team, which will showcase the talent we have both here and from interstate. I have every confidence they’ll prove that our sport is the most inclusive sport people can play.”
Victorian Storm, which is sponsored by Bowls Victoria, Deer Park Club, Dandenong Pulse, Moama Steamers, Brighton Blue Devils, Gippsland Lyrebirds, Warrnambool Bulls and the Yarraville Footscray Dogs are the eight teams entered this year.
The competition might expand in the future.
Both Deer Park and Yarraville Footscray play in the Bowls Victoria premier division in the summer.
