Teenager Tayla Bruce (Burnside) in action in the singles final at the New Zealand bowls championships. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.

Teenage protege Tayla Bruce (Burnside) fell in love with bowls when she watched the 2008 World Bowls in Christchurch.

Her parents, Richard and Kernie Bruce, are members of the Burnside club that hosted the championships and Tayla went along to watch.

''I was bored one day in the school holidays and went with them,'' she said.

''Mum told me there was a 17-year-old, Kelsey Cottrell [Australia], playing singles. I was inspired and wanted to be like them. I was hooked. I realised there were a lot more girls of that age group playing bowls.''

Bruce (18) reached the final of the women's singles at the centennial national championships in Dunedin last week and lost the final to Helen King (Victoria) 21-14.

It was her first national championships. Her quick rise through the ranks has been a feature and everyone is talking about her potential.

She is being talked about as a possible member of the New Zealand women's team for World Bowls in Christchurch in 2016.

''That would be a dream come true, but there is a long way to go.''

She admitted getting nervous before the final and it affected her play in the first half of the game. But once she settled down, Bruce made a challenging fight-back. She likes the competitive nature of bowls.

''There is a lot of skill involved. It is exciting. There is much more to the sport with different types of shots being played than I realised when I started.''

That initial experience at World Bowls blew away the stereotype of bowls as a boring sport.

Her role model in the sport is world champion Jo Edwards.

She had a year off study last year before beginning her primary teaching course at Canterbury University and this has given her more time to practise.

Bruce understands the difference between playing and training and makes sure she spends enough time on the practice green.

''You can't say yes to everything when people want you to play.''

Tayla Bruce: At a glance
Age: 18.
Home town: Christchurch.
Education: Christchurch Girls' High School.
Club: Burnside.
Record: Canterbury singles title (2013), runner-up NZ women's singles (2014), NZ under-18 rep 2012, 2013.