WORCESTER'S Ryan Atkins has won the English Indoor Bowls Under 25s Singles Championship for the second time.

He is only the second person to win the prestigious competition twice alongside former world champion Mervyn King.

Representing Malvern Hills Indoor Bowls Club, Atkins qualified for the final stages at Spalding, Lincolnshire, after winning the Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset regional rounds.

In the first game he defeated Ray Nash, of the Moonfleet club, Dorset, on a tie-break and then in the quarter-final won comfortably 2-0 over Dan Cawthorne, of Gallow, Norfolk.

The semi-final saw Atkins hold the upper hand against David Bristow, of Sleaford, Lincolnshire, with a 2-0 success.

It set up a rerun of last year's final against Connor Cinato, of Kingsthorpe, Northamptonshire.

Atkins, who also plays for Vines Park Bowling Club in Droitwich Spa, was in top form and took the first set 11-2.

Cinato got back into the game in the second and led 7-2 with two ends to play.

Atkins drew well to score two shots on the penultimate end, leaving three needed on the final.

He put three bowls within six inches to force Cinato to respond and take out one of the scoring shots.

With his last Atkins drew within 18 inches and forced Cinato to look to clear the way but he missed the target for the Worcestershire ace to tie the set and claim the title.

Atkins will now represent England in next month's British Isles event in Llanelli and the World Under 25 Singles in Australia later in the year.