WILTSHIRE’S Thomas Bright is aiming to sign off on his time as an England U21 short mat bowler this weekend with an almighty last hurrah.

Last year, the 21-year-old, from Devizes, captained his country in a friendly match against Wiltshire in Melksham and in January, he impressed enough at a selection event to be named U21s skipper for the 2016 season.

On Saturday, Bright and his England team travel to Carmarthen to take on Wales in their final and most competitive match of the campaign and Bright, who will be waving goodbye to U21s competition, is hoping to finish on a high.

“Back in January, we had a selection event, where everybody they thought could be captain this year played against each other on different teams in a little tournament – from whoever won, one person would be the flagbearer and the other would be the captain for the season,” said Bright, who is currently studying for a degree in history at Bath Spa University.

“Luckily, my team won. I’ve been captain for matches against Somerset and Dorset but we play against Wales every year and this is the one that we build towards.

“It’s really competitive and energetic when we play Wales because both teams want to win. When people think of bowls, they might not think that it would be energetic but when you’ve got that many young players together, it really is.

“Last year, we just lost to the Welsh, so we really want to beat them this year and get some revenge.

“Because of my age, this will be my last game, so I really want to have a last hurrah and get a win.”

Now that his U21 endeavours are coming to an end, Bright, who earned his first international call-up back in 2013, will try his hand at stepping up to the senior England squad at trials at Tamworth Indoor Bowls Club on April 30-May 1.

The Wiltshire youngster, who plays for Bromham and outdoors for Devizes, said: “I’ve never gone for the senior team before because I’ve always concentrated on the U21s but if I play to my best at the trials, hopefully I’ve got a chance.”