Tasmania adopt the Murray Steamers
Bowls Tasmania will support defending APL champions the Murray Steamers in APL03 commencing November 10 at Club Pine Rivers Tasmania might not have a franchise in the Australian Premier League but that isn’t going to stop the apple isle throwing their support behind a franchise in APL03.
Choosing a team was no easy task, taking into account team line-ups, franchise locations and previous results, Bowls Tasmania Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Van Asch said Tasmania is proud to jump on board defending champions the Murray Steamers.
“As Tasmania doesn’t have an APL team we thought it was time for Tasmanian’s to take up and support an existing team in the competition and we are proud to be supporters of the only regional team in the competition, The Murray Steamers,” said the steamers newest fan.
“It was great to watch the Murray Steamers do such a terrific job last year and we’ll be cheering for them to claim back to back honours in APL03.
“The Murray Steamers have a terrific line up of players again this year and we’d love to maybe host them for an event here in Tasmania down the track.
“Tasmania always has a great turnout of players attend the Men’s and Women’s respective Moama Pairs tournaments each year and they always love attending the Moama Bowls Club, so we’re wrapped to be cheering them on this year.”
APL’s star coach Zane Milkin-Laurie of the Murray Steamers was thrilled to hear Tasmania were going to throw their support behind his chargers.
“It’s great to have the state of Tasmania behind us, being a regional team we didn’t have a capital city behind us last year but managed to gain support from diverse range of areas so to have Tasmania behind us this year will give us some additional support throughout the event which is great,” said the APL02 winning coach Milkin-Laurie.
“Tasmania probably have a similar rivalry that we hold against cities like Melbourne and Sydney, being the only regional team in the competition we take up a good following from those outside the capital cities wherever they may be; and also I’d like to think we played an exciting brand of bowls last year and will be an interesting team to support this year once again.
The Murray Steamers have replaced Alex Marshall MBE with former world singles champion Safuan Said of Malaysia, whilst their big guns from last year, Australia’s number one ranked male bowler Ryan Bester and Moama Bowling Club champion Michael Walker will form a formidable side in APL03.
Milkin-Laurie says he is confident that his international chargers and APL02 star Walker will provide plenty of entertainment for their Tassie supporters and will be strong contenders for back-to-back titles.
“Tasmania can expect an exciting and competitive team for them to follow over four nights of competition,” said Milkin-Laurie.
“We will certainly be aware of their support and will look to represent them well; if we can be entertaining and competitive I’m sure the Tasmanian supporters will throw their support behind us.”
It’s not just Tasmania getting in the APL spirit, the BCiB Sydney Lions will have the added support of bowlers in the ACT and the Northern Territory will be getting behind the Messenger News Adelaide Endurance in their quest to turn two runner-up performances into an APL03 title.
For more information on the third instalment of the Australian Premier League visit the website www.australianpremierleague.com.au
Don’t forget you can catch all the live action on Fox Sports from 5pm each night of play; APL03 commencing on November 10 and finals will take place on November 13.
Story courtesy of Bowls Australia
