Teenage bowler reaches national final

The 17-year-old, who booked his place in the finals by virtue of winning the Sussex area qualifier, won four matches in the finals of the under-25s event at Beach House Park, Worthing.

He was eventually beaten 10-7, 10-6 by Mark Dawes (Lancashire), 22, who became the first player to win the title indoors and out in the same year.

"I was delighted," he said. "I was a bit surprised to get that far, but I know I've got it in me. I was hoping just to get to the quarter-finals and once I was in the final I was quite nervous. But I was pleased with how I played in the final and I'm pretty sure I will get an England trial because the selectors were there."

Holland, who also appeared in the finals of the same event three years ago and has twice featured in the indoor finals, enjoyed a pair of routine straight sets victories in his opening two matches against opponents from Wiltshire and Essex on Saturday.

He tasted a similar margin of victory in his quarter-final against an opponent from Cambridgeshire on Sunday before edging out a Somerset player 2-0 in a three-end tie-break after their semi-final had ended a set all - Holland took the first set 13-4, but lost the second 7-8.

"I've got another seven years in this age group," continued Holland, who is a member of Rosemount Bowls Club in Hastings and Egerton Park Indoor Bowling Club, "and I just hope I can keep on doing it now."