WORCESTER bowler Mark Atkins says he won’t be holding any grudges despite his son crushing his hopes of a maiden national finals triumph.

Atkins reached the final of the English Indoor Association Premier Threes Indoor Bowls Championship and lined up against his son Ryan.

It was the first time two members of the same family had faced each other in a national final and a proud moment for Malvern Hills Indoor Bowls Club.

With the help of two running bowls, Ryan took the first set 4-0 and then, at 3-0 up in the second set, looked poised for victory.

However, Mark conjured a great ‘take-out’ shot to tie the set three shots each.

He then went 3-0 up in the final set but Ryan showed great composure to deliver his last two bowls within 10 inches of the jack to seal the title.

Mark said: ‘’I was really pleased at the age of 52 to get to a national final and, although I was gutted to lose, I couldn’t be more pleased to lose to my son Ryan.

“He’s a great player and a top lad.”

Both Atkins had progressed from the Midland qualifier at Bromsgrove and were joined by six others from around the country, including world number one Nicky Brett.

In the finals at Erewash, Derbyshire, Ryan defeated both Andrew Easy, from the City of Ely, and Philip Last, from Ipswich, by two sets to nil.

Mark accounted for current England international David Bolt and Bill Short, also by a margin of two sets to nil, to set up a father-and-son showdown in the final.

Twenty-year-old maintenance engineer Ryan, who lives in Barbourne, clinched the world under 25s singles and mixed pairs’ crowns at the Coatbridge club in Scotland earlier this year.

Atkins, a former pupil at Bishop Perowne College in Worcester, combined with Scotland’s Carrie McLean for the pairs success.