Tara Murray and Oliver Lees
Sunbury-based Melbourne Extreme have matched it with some of the best bowlers in the world at the Bowls Premier League competition this week.
Participating in the competition for the first time, Extreme were unlucky not to finish higher than they did after some unlucky results. The side missed finals.
Speaking on day four of the five day event, Club Sunbury co-ordinator Lloyd Iaccarino said it had been a really good event for the club.
He had previously likened the BPL to the T20 Big Bash cricket competition, as a model of the game designed to appeal to a younger demographic and a television audience.
Each side played each other twice, before a final series including four teams decided a champion.
“There have been some seriously good players from around the world playing,” Iaccarino said.
“It has been relentless. We are 2-10 in tie breakers [after the first 15 matches] which has been the difference. We seem to play really well in the two sets and they’ll [the opposition] have a good result to force a tie breaker, where we’re not having any luck.
“The team is playing really well, it’s just one or two inches in it.”
The Extreme team consists of Sunbury’s own Carla Krizanic, along with Glasgow Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Matt Flapper and Ali Forsyth, who was part of the BPL3 winning team.
Krizanic said in the lead up to the event that she was looking forward to the tournament.
“It’s a really fun event, the alternative format, added fast paced fun, short sets and tie breakers at one end,” she said.
The team is coached by Kelvin Kerkow.
Iaccarino said that being the club’s first season in the competition, they would take a lot of lessons from this event.
The club had approached Bowls Australia to join the competition, and were ultimately selected to compete when the Melbourne Roys withdrew.
“It’s the 14th edition of the event and some of those teams have been together for 13 events,” he said.
“The team has had to learn how to work together and get to know each other’s games.
“The biggest challenge has been COVID last year, which restricted them training together.
“They’ll get better next time.”
The side will play in national events in April and May.
Iaccarino said finally being able to get out there and compete at one of these events had been massive for the club.
“A number of supporters have come down from Sunbury to watch,” he said.
“It has been an absolute brilliant week, We are so proud to represent Sunbury here and the players are doing great.
