THE GAME of bowls in decline? Definitely not, judged by the magnificent two-day tournament witnessed at Palmerston when the brightest young talent from the four Home Countries locked horns for the British Isles crown.

Whether dressed in the white of England, the scarlet of Wales, the blue of Scotland or Emerald Isle green, the under-25 experts displayed all that was good about the sport: commitment, passion, determination, team spirit - and a shed-load of skill.

Take those qualities and inject them into an electrifying, noisy atmosphere at Fareham, with a few hundred supporters roaring their team's every successful wood and it is plain to see why bowls can be such an intoxicating sport, far removed from the outdated 'granddads in cardigans' image with which it is labelled by people who have never seen the game.

Would that those who scoff had dropped in to Palmerston to see first-hand the exuberance of youth at its best on the green coupled with excellent organisation by Palmerston members off it.

It was the first time Palmerston had staged the junior men's internationals. Not only did they do it very efficiently but they were blessed by a thrilling tournament that went into the final round of matches with three of the four countries still in the running for the Joyce Brimble Memorial Trophy.

Having beaten Wales and Ireland comfortably in their first two matches, reigning champions Scotland were favourites to retain their crown as the only side on four points. England and Wales were on two, with Ireland, the perennial whipping boys, pointless and out of the hunt.

England, who had trounced the Irish before losing to Wales, knew that if they raised their game and beat Scotland by at least eight shots they would pip them on shots difference. However, Wales were the dark horses. After losing to the Scots, Welsh fervour surfaced to such an extent against England that their football-style celebrations when crucial bowls hit the mark led to instructions to 'tone it down'.

The Welsh realised that if they gained a landslide against Ireland and England defeated Scotland narrowly, they could leapfrog the big two on a superior shots difference and take the crown to the Valleys for the first time.

Thus the stage was set for an intriguing final morning - and the action did not disappoint.

With England taking a stranglehold on the Scots, it was clear the title was destined for either the host country or Wales.

With 15 ends remaining, England led 68-45, giving them a shots difference of +51, and Wales were 85-38 up, making their shots difference +50. Every shot was vital but the Welsh sensed this was their day and tortured the gallant, baby-faced Irish.

As England's winning margin shrank, Wales hit the ton - and the dragon ruled as the red-shirted celebrations began.

Hampshire bowlers Paul May and Matthew Marchant played their part in England's 99-56 success against the Irish. With Victory's Marchant at lead and May of Banister Park at skip, they won 24-17 - but later went down 25-16 to talented Welsh skip Kevin Wall. The Hampshire duo were joined by Victory's Steve Robertson for the Scottish match. Robertson, last capped in 2000, was drafted in for injured number three Craig Doughty but the rink lost 18-16 to Mike Stepney.