Team Isle of Man’s Caroline Whitehead has said its never too late to take up bowls after making her Commonwealth Games debut at the age of 65.

Whitehead was speaking after her third women’s singles match at the Glasgow games on Friday.

Encouraging everyone to give the sport a go, she said: ‘Just start whatever age you want to start.

‘I mean, I was late on in life when I started bowls, and at my age, I never thought I would end up at the Commonwealth Games.

‘But don't let age be a barrier to anything. If you set your your stall high, go for it and who knows where you’ll end up.’

Playing in front of the Princess Royal, Whitehead said she was pleased with her performance in Thursday afternoon’s 2-0 defeat to South Africa’s Bridget Herselman.

She said: ‘I feel I played very well. It's probably one of the better games I've had.

‘My bowls were more consistent than they have been in previous matches, and yeah, as you say, it was a bit nip and tuck.

‘If my bowl had dropped in at the end, there we may have gone to a tie-break. But that's bowls for you.’

The island’s bowling contingent have been in action for the majority of the games, in both the singles and pairs competitions at the SEC.

The atmosphere at the city centre venue has been one of the Games’ main talking points, with a DJ, pyrotechnics and a ‘shot clock’ just some of the features that have raised the tempo and pulses of spectators.

Whitehead admitted its slightly different to playing at the National Sports Centre’s indoor rink: ‘It’s very different to playing anywhere, with the action from all the rinks being streamed somewhere.

‘The rink I was on today was being televised as well. You are aware of it, but you just have to block it all out when you're out on the green.’