MARCUS Smith, of the Malvern Hills Indoor Bowls Club, based at Manor Park, won the area singles' title, played at Mid-Gloucester Club last Wednesday night.

He beat the current under 25s international Marc Stones of Bromsgrove 21-8 in the area final, which covers Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

The game was closer than the score suggest with Stones leading 5-2 in the early stages. A good spell allowed Smith to turn it around and lead 13-5. A series of unlucky ends for Stones then resulted in Smith closing the match.

Smith, who plays at Ledbury Bowls Club in the summer, now has to wait until April to play in the national finals at Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.