THERE was tie-break agony for Weymouth’s Martin Puckett as he was beaten in the World Under-25 Indoor Championship bowls final, in dramatic fashion.

Despite a superb performance on the world stage, Puckett eventually went down to 19-year-old Australian Ellen Ryan, who claimed victory in what turned out to be a one-end shoot-out at the Potters Resort in Norfolk.

In the opening set, England international Puckett found himself trailing 5-3 after five ends against Australia’s Ryan, but then rallied to 7-6 up after nine ends.

But end 10 proved decisive in the opener, as Ryan picked up a count of three-shots to put herself in the ascendancy and went on to claim the first set 10-7.

And it did not get much easier for Moonfleet man Puckett, who trailed 6-3 in the second set after seven ends.

But the Weymouth ace, who beat defending champion Joe Mower in the morning session to book his place in the final, fought back in end eight and got his reward with a two-count.

He then followed it up with a single in end nine before being given a huge boost in end 10.

With Puckett holding one shot, Ryan’s final effort of the end saw her take out one of her own bowls, meaning the Dorset star picked up a three-count, to lead 9-6 going into the final end.

And while Ryan took one shot on the final end, Puckett claimed the set 9-7, as the contest went into a three-end tie-break.

Puckett drew first blood by taking the opening end as the final reached its climax but he was pegged back in the second after his final bowl failed to make contact with the jack after he elected to drive.

That set up a dramatic one-end shootout to decide the junior title, in which the Australian held her nerve to seal the crown, leaving the Weymouth talent having to settle for the runner-up trophy.