Oxford's Glenn Allen saw his dream of winning the World Indoor Bowls Under 25s title ended in the quarter-finals at St Saviour, Jersey, at the weekend.

Scotsman Derek Taggart, from Coatbridge, near Glasgow, proved too good for the English junior champion.

But it could all have been so different especially as Allen took the opening set in fine style and led in the next three sets.

The Oxford youngster was poised to move into a two-set lead when he raced 5-1 ahead in the second and, even after conceding a treble at the next, he added a single to lead 6-4.

The set slipped away, however, as Taggart swooped with a double and single to snatch it 7-6.

Allen again edged ahead 2-1 in the third set, but Taggart pounced with a double, treble and single to take it 7-2.

It was a similar story in the fourth set. Allen led 3-1 and then 4-3, but again fell victim to a tartan charge as Taggart unleashed a single and treble to wrap it up 7-4, clinching his victory.

Taggart then fell to Ireland's Barry Browne in the semi-finals, going down 5-7, 7-6, 7-4, 7-6, the title going to police officer Darren Burnett.

The 24-year-old from Arbroath collected the crown for the third successive year when he saw off Brown 7-2, 4-7, 7-6, 7-3 in the final.