ON THE MAT:

IT WAS a topsy-turvy start to the pennant season as the star-studded Paradise Point Dolphins stood out as the only club to win two from two.

The match of the day in Round one against Tweed Heads Ospreys last Saturday turned out to be a real fizzer with star recruits South African international Eric Johannes and England import Adam Liddell skipping winning rinks for Paradise Point against Ben McCall and Glen Pitts to win overall by 31 shots.

Sam White and Tweed’s Paul Girdler played out a close rink to win by one shot but definitely not a good start for the Tweed Ospreys on their home green.

Paradise Point lined up against Southport on Sunday in round two and won by 10 shots on all three rinks but were behind for most of the match.

Eric Johannes defeated Geoff Hawken 17/16 – Adam Liddell won 19/11 over Peter Elder and Sam White fought back from 2/19 down to win 21/20.

Top coast club Paradise Point has its sights set on winning a unique double having won the Bowls Super Challenge Gold in March.

The only club to win both matches on the double header weekend, Paradise Point heads the table on two wins from five clubs all on one win each.

Burleigh Heads took full advantage of slow starters in South Tweed Sharks and won on Saturday by three shots in the only upset of round one.

Helensvale Hawks had the bye on Saturday and without top skipper Mark Casey, played Broadbeach Bulls on Sunday in round two and won on all three rinks by 11 shots.

On Sunday, Tweed Heads took out their loss on Burleigh Heads away from home and won by 21 shots in a complete reversal of form.

How hard is it on tipsters when the Ospreys lose by 31 on Saturday and then win by 21 on Sunday against Burleigh who beat the Sharks?

Round three matches on Saturday are: Helensvale v Paradise Point, South

Tweed v Musgrave Hill, Tweed Heads v Tugun, Southport v Burleigh Heads, Broadbeach Bye.

• Bowls Australia announced some big changes in store for the Premier League – including a second event, a name change and the addition of a female player in each team.

“In a coup for the sport of bowls, Bowls Australia has announced there will be an additional $100,000 Australian Premier League staged each year – although the competition will undergo a name change moving forward,” a representative from Bowls Australia said.

“The event, formerly known as the Australian Premier League, which is approaching its fourth staging at Brisbane’s Club Pine Rivers in November, will also be held across the ditch, with Auckland, New Zealand, chosen as the host venue for the fifth event in February 2017.

“As a result of the additional international leg, the competition has been rebranded, and will now be known as the Bowls Premier League.”

BPL is moving forward by introducing females playing in each side and playing in NZ on Live TV, which can only increase interest in the sport.

More information go to www.lawnbowlsnews.com