YOUNG Ledbury bowler Ryan Atkins clinched the Herefordshire Men’s junior singles title.

The semi-finals and final of the competition recently took place at Weobley Bowling Club.

The first semi-final saw Atkins take on team-mate Tom Holmes and it was latter who went into an early lead taking a 9-4 advantage after eight ends.

Atkins responded by picking up five of the next six ends to reduce the gap to 11-10. The critical part of the game was from the 18th to the 21st ends when Atkins scored seven to Holmes' one to take a 17-15 lead.

Holmes kept the tie alive and came back again picked up by scoring with a one and three to lead 19-17.

However, it was Atkins who held his nerve to score a one and three to win 21-19.

The other semi-final saw Henry Watkins (Ross-On-Wye) and Dan Holmes (Ledbury) with the former winning the first four ends for a single shot each time.

On the fifth end Holmes scored a four to bring the scores level. Slowly Holmes increased his lead when he took three of the next four ends which included two three’s to lead 12-6.

Watkins responded by picking up a four but in the 14th end Holmes picked up a three to lead 16-11. The run-in was very closely fought and eventually Holmes won the game 21-15.

The final between Holmes and Atkins started very tight and after eight ends the score was 5-5.

Atkins then won the next eight ends to lead 15-5.

Holmes swapped shots with Atkins in the last few ends but was unable to close the gap resulting in Atkins winning 21-11 and crowned champion.