Bowls ace ends indoor season in style

The 16-year-old Egerton Park Indoor Bowls Club member booked his place at Nottinghamshire's Rushcliffe Bowls Club in late November by finishing fourth in a 32-strong under-18 Southern region field at Wey Valley Bowls Club in Guildford.

He may not even get the chance to finish the business though as the finals co-incide with the under-18 Commonwealth Games in Australia for which he has been invited to attend an England trial on a date to be announced.

Father Stuart snr said: "He did well: the standard was very high. He's had a better year than last year but not won a lot. His bowling has generally improved though."

The scheme, now in its second year, takes in a format far removed from the traditional head-to-head combat, as competitors are required to complete a range of skills which focus on control and judgment rather than match-play prowess. Stuart, who has previously played in the National Indoor under-25s finals, pinched the last slot out of 32 participants for the finals with a score of 97 points which was only seven adrift of the winner.

The teenager previously finished runner-up in the first round among a similarly sizeable field at Denton Island in February. His next action comes in the form of a trial for the prestigious Middleton Cup at the weekend.