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Gilfach Bowling Club captain Kristian Crocker has been named the team captain for Wales Under 27 in a Junior Home Nations tournament.

This year England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will each field a team consisting of 12 men and 12 women to take part in a six-rink international series.

Following the loss of two seasons of international play due to Covid, the age limit for both genders to be eligible for selection was raised to 27 and under, rather than the usual age of 25.

The combined Junior Home Nations event will take place at Belmont BC in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Saturday, September 17 and Sunday 18.

Kristian said: “I’m over the Moon. We had the squad trials on Sunday (July 3) and I’ve been capped for the under 25s for a few years, but it is the first time I’ve been called as captain.

“I didn’t see the captaincy coming to be honest.”

In a further triumph, Kristian was also crowned South Glamorgan Open Singles Champion on Friday, July 8, after beating Penylan’s Dai Salmon.

On July 5, Gilfach Bowling Club’s Jack and Carl Mounty beat Llanbradach’s Nathan Hurn and Rhys Jackson in the final of the South Glamorgan Open Pairs final.