ROYSTON bowler Matt Coppen is celebrating after winning the All England under-25 title. The 16-year-old travelled to Worthing at the weekend to represent Hertfordshire after winning the county title – and won all five games to take the national championsh

ROYSTON bowler Matt Coppen is celebrating after winning the All England under-25 title.

The 16-year-old travelled to Worthing at the weekend to represent Hertfordshire after winning the county title - and won all five games to take the national championship.

The format is two sets of nine shots with a play-off of three ends in which only one shot is counted on each end.

Coppen, who left Meridian School in July to study at Cambridge Regional College, played two rounds on Saturday followed by the quarter-final on Sunday, at 10am, and the semi-final at 1pm.

He was in action again at 4pm in the final against reigning champion, Mark Dawes, of Bolton BC.

The final proved a tight affair, with Coppen winning on a tie-breaker.

A delighted Matt said: "I never expected to do so well.

"It was my first time at Worthing, and I was just pleased to get through the first game.

"I never expected to win any of my games, and to beat an England international in the final is fantastic."

Coppen will represent England in the British Isles Championships in Scotland next year, where he will face bowlers from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Jersey and Guernsey.

He can also expect to receive a place at the England trials next season.

With the bowls season nearly over, Coppen has a few club competitions left before the game moves indoors at Hitchin.

Royston BC press officer Brian Pepper said Coppen had made the whole club proud.

He said: "This is no mean achievement at the age of only 16 years old.

"It is a very proud moment in the Royston Bowls Club history.