Meehan, 15, said there were tears flowing everywhere after she finally took the major prize beating Queenslander Emily Bottomley 218-181 in the final of the prestigious event.

She is the first bowler from Maitland to win the title since 2002.

“I have been finalist at the Junior Sydney Cup and runner-up at the NSW junior titles and started to think was I was ever going to win one,” the Rutherford Technology High School student said

“I was in a bit of shock really when it happened. I was in tears, my mum, dad and coach were in tears and hugging me it was a great feeling.”

Meehan has been a model of consistency in her rise up the junior ranks.

Her problem has been that while she maintained her excellent form she kept on coming up against older, more experienced opponents who produced outstanding games in the finals.

At the 42^nd annual Junior Sydney Cup she took her game to a new level and seized the moments that counted.

Qualifying sixth in the qualifying block of games, Meehan moved to second in the match play rounds and faced one of her key rivals Orange bowler Alicia McFadden in her final Junior Sydney Cup in a play-off for a spot in the final against top-seed Bottomley.

Both bowlers produced outstanding 200-plus games, but this time it was Meehan who got the upper-hand beating McFadden 217-203.

“You are nervous in big games, but I just had to concentrate on my game and go through what I have trained for with my coach James Shewring,” Meehan said. “It started out fairly even, but Emily had a split and I knew if I could get a strike I could set up the win.”

Holding her nerve the 10 pins went down and Meehan proceeded to close out the game to win her first ranked title event by 37 pins.

“I have come close before but every time I made the final, my opponent would produce a fantastic game,” said Meehan who took up the sport as a 10-year-old with a friend.

“In round two of national championships final, Alicia scored a 230 which is just amazing. She is a great bowler and to beat her to make the final was incredible.

“Emily was in great form. When she got the split in the final I knew it was my opportunity and I just had to go through my routine and get the strike.”

Meehan has three more years in the junior ranks and has set her goals on going professional and bowling in the US.