Riverain Indoor Bowls Club in Hitchin can now boast its first English men’s national title after three of the club’s men won the English Indoor Bowling Association National Triples at Melton Mowbray.

Experienced skip Tony Webb, aged 52, led Bradley Prowle, 25, and Glenn Williams, 21, to the English crown with a 23-18 win over a triple from Bedford Borough.

The trio from Riverain came agonisingly close to the title just a year ago losing in the final 16-15 but this year after tough qualifying rounds have now emerged as English champions.

In the quarter-final they faced a trio of internationals from Torquay United and beat them 19-8 before going on to win 19-6 in the semi-final against Southampton-based Atherley IBC, winning 19-6.

They will now represent England at the British Isles Championship in Paisley, Scotland where they will take on champions from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and the Channel Islands.