A brilliant double

Llanelli's indoor bowls carpet is fast and tricky, reminiscent of the Welsh club's famous international fly half, Phil Bennett.

His place amid the legends of rugby union is not open to doubt and 30 years after he plied his trade, nobody can dispute either that Alison Merrien is not a bowling magician.

Yesterday, on a golden day for Sarnian bowls, she secured her third British Isles indoor singles championship and did so alongside her fellow islander, Lianna Bichard, who just one rink away won the British under-25 women's title for the first time.