ROYSTON bowler Matt Coppen will represent England under-25s against Wales next month after being called up to the indoor bowls team. The 18-year-old is included after impressing the selectors during a trial two weeks ago. It is his first call-up to the En

ROYSTON bowler Matt Coppen will represent England under-25s against Wales next month after being called up to the indoor bowls team.

The 18-year-old is included after impressing the selectors during a trial two weeks ago.

It is his first call-up to the England junior indoors team, although last year he was called up to the junior outdoor team and helped them win the home international championships against Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

If he impresses against Wales he should get the chance to play in the indoor bowls' equivalent of the home international championships in January and complete the British double.

A bricklayer by trade, Matt will be representing Hitchin indoor club Riverain against Wales.

He is also a member of Royston Bowls Club where he competes in outdoor competitions during the summer months and he believes he is a better outdoor player.

He said: "I was very pleased to hear I'd been called up, I really wasn't expecting it.

"I got into the outdoor team last year and I think I'm a better outdoor player. I spend more time playing outdoors through the year than I do indoors.

"I'm fairly young but there are other players in the squad of a similar age and I hope that I play well.

"The Wales game is a one-day match and there is a series against all of the other British teams in Scotland in January which I hope to be part of.

"Playing in the same competition for the outdoor team was brilliant."

Matt has had plenty to cheer about these past 18 months.

In June 2007 he defeated Guernsey's Matt le Ber to win the British Isles under-25s single championships in Edinburgh, and in July this year he was crowned the outdoor singles county champion and also won the pairs title with Peter Adams.

The England under-25 junior international against Wales is for the Bernard Talfer Trophy and takes place at the City and County of Swansea IBC on Sunday, November 23.