Rollin' Thunder (TV series)


Rollin' Thunder is an Australian television show currently broadcast on Fox Sports. The program showcases matches from The Australian Bowling Cup, a newly developed ten-pin bowling tournament held at Oz Tenpin Epping in Melbourne, Australia. Featuring two matches per episode, the tournament will showcase 18 of Australia's best bowlers in a baker style triples format which will see both female and male bowlers feature in six teams, culminating in the grand final to determine the overall winners.
The debut season aired from December 2017 on the free-to-air channel 7mate, with teammates George Frilingos and Jarrod Langford winning the inaugural event.
The second season aired over a two-week period from 10 December 2018 on Fox Sports channel 506.

2017 Tournament

The inaugural tournament in 2017 was recorded on 14 October 2017 at Tenpin City Lidcombe in Sydney, Australia, and premiered on 7mate on Sunday 3 December 2017. Sixteen bowlers competed in the event, who were separated into eight teams of two people. Teams were then split into two even pools, which resulted in each team playing three matches in the qualifying rounds. The 2017 tournament aired across seven episodes, with each episode featuring two matches.
The series reached over 694,000 viewers in metropolitan and regional TV markets over its seven-week run. The show was presented by Peter Psaltis, who commentated alongside Paul Delany and Daniel Webb, with guest commentary appearances from Jason Belmonte.
The following teams were named:
Pool APool B

  • Jason Belmonte & Sam Cooley
  • David Porto & Matt Riley
  • Rebecca Voukolos & Emma Walsh
  • Blayne Fletcher & Sean Bowling
  • George Frilingos & Jarrod Langford
  • Bec Whiting & Bec Martin
  • Glen Loader & Lachlan Merchant
  • Ashley Warren & Chris Castle

    • Season 1 (2017)

    Episode No.AirdateMatches
    1
    3 December 2017
    		Match 1: David Porto & Matt Riley vs. Rebecca Voukolos & Emma Walsh
    Match 2: Jason Belmonte & Sam Cooley vs. Blayne Fletcher & Sean Bowling
    2
    10 December 2017
    		Match 3: George Frilingos & Jarrod Langford vs. Ashley Warren & Chris Castle
    Match 4: Glen Loader & Lachlan Merchant vs. Bec Whiting & Bec Martin
    3
    17 December 2017
    		Match 5: Jason Belmonte & Sam Cooley vs. Rebecca Voukolos & Emma Walsh
    Match 6: Blayne Fletcher & Sean Bowling vs. David Porto & Matt Riley
    4
    24 December 2017
    		Match 7: Bec Whiting & Bec Martin vs. Ashley Warren & Chris Castle
    Match 8: George Frilingos & Jarrod Langford vs. Glen Loader & Lachlan Merchant
    5
    31 December 2017
    		Match 9: Jason Belmonte & Sam Cooley vs. David Porto & Matt Riley
    Match 10: Blayne Fletcher & Sean Bowling vs. Rebecca Voukolos & Emma Walsh
    6
    21 January 2018
    		Match 11: George Frilingos & Jarrod Langford vs. Bec Whiting & Bec Martin
    Match 12: Glen Loader & Lachlan Merchant vs. Ashley Warren & Chris Castle
    7
    28 January 2018
    		Grand Final: David Porto & Matt Riley vs. George Frilingos & Jarrod Langford

    2018 Tournament

    The 2018 tournament was recorded on 10 November 2018 at Oz Tenpin Epping in Melbourne, Australia, and is scheduled to premiere on Fox Sports from 10 December 2018. Eighteen bowlers will compete in the event, after being separated into six teams of three people, each representing an Australian state and bowling centre.
    The show will be presented by Peter Psaltis, with expert commentary from Chris Commane and Jeanette Baker.
    The following teams were named:
    Team NameBowlersTeam Sponsor
    NSW Hot Shots
    Jason Belmonte, Bec Martin, Blayne Fletcher
    Orange Tenpin Bowl
    QLD Rollin' Thunder
    George Frilingos, Alexia Hicks, Jarrod Langford
    Caboolture Bowl
    VIC All Stars
    Adam Hayes, Dena Buxton, Terry Wenban
    Wyncity Morwell
    NT Cyclone
    Rebecca Voukolos, Matt Clague, Shaun Dunn
    Planet Tenpin
    NSW Strike
    Glen Loader, Min Hee Kym, Jordan Dinham
    Tenpin City
    VIC Kingpins
    David Porto, Jayden Panella, Nick Davis
    Wyncity Point Cook

    Season 2 (2018)

    Episode No.AirdateMatches
    1
    10 December 2018
    		Match 1: NSW Strike vs. NT Cyclone
    Match 2: VIC Kingpins vs. NSW Hot Shots
    2
    11 December 2018
    		Match 3: VIC All Stars vs. QLD Rollin' Thunder
    Match 4: NSW Hot Shots vs. NT Cyclone
    3
    12 December 2018
    		Match 5: NSW Strike vs. VIC All Stars
    Match 6: VIC Kingpins vs. QLD Rollin' Thunder
    4
    13 December 2018
    		Match 7: VIC All Stars vs. NSW Hot Shots
    Match 8: NSW Strike vs. QLD Rollin' Thunder
    5
    17 December 2018
    		Match 9: VIC Kingpins vs. NT Cyclone
    Match 10: NSW Hot Shots vs. QLD Rollin' Thunder
    6
    18 December 2018
    		Match 11: VIC All Stars vs. NT Cyclone
    Match 12: VIC Kingpins vs. NSW Strike
    7
    19 December 2018
    		Knockout Final: VIC Kingpins vs. NSW Strike
    Qualifying Final: VIC All Stars vs. QLD Rollin' Thunder
    8
    20 December 2018
    		Preliminary Final: VIC All Stars vs. NSW Strike
    Grand Final: QLD Rollin' Thunder vs. VIC All Stars