Foster stormed through the national competition, winning every match on his way to lifting the trophy.
His first game of the tournament was a 19-5 victory over Waikato's Lachie Blackbourne. He then defeated Tauranga's Hunter Reid 17-3 and Horowhenua's Racharn Eagle 15-4.
Foster showed his championship material in the semifinals, coming back from being seven points down with five ends to play.
Cosmopolitan Club indoor bowls president David Lynn said it could be the best comeback at national level.
Foster “got his mojo into order” and showed his class.
In the final, Foster had stiff competition from Southland's Shawn Perry but a maximum score of four on the second end gave him an early boost.
The scores tightened to one point, 7-6, as the match entered the final stages before Foster showed the class that has earned him six Poverty Bay-East Coast centre titles.
On the ninth end, he drew three great shots to go 10-6 up and picked up two more points on End 10 to go up by six points.
The pressure proved too much for Perry. Foster sealed the deal with some excellent bowls in the 11th end to go up 13-6 and secure victory with an end to spare.
The semifinals and final were televised by Sky Sport Next, with the commentators commending Foster's mental game and his excellent form on competition day.
“To be the national under-18 champion is a dream all young indoor bowlers strive for,” Lynn said.
He said the Poverty Bay-East Coast centre had invested thousands of dollars into its youth programme and it was “incredible” to see it pay dividends.
“We're getting behind the youth and young ones . . . it's not cheap.”
Foster said he was “pretty chuffed” with his win.
He enjoys playing the indoor version of bowls because the games are shorter and “don't take all day”.
It's a family affair for Foster; he's played the game for just over four years after his grandfather Bruce Easton took him to a club night.
He plays doubles with his brother Dylan and they came third at the national secondary school doubles tournament held the same weekend as his national title campaign. Their cousin Nathan Trowell won the event with Akuhata Keelan.
Trowell was the secondary school tournament MVP (most valuable player).
Foster has a very supportive family — dad Michael, mum Karyn and younger brother Dylan — and he thanked them for travelling thousands of kilometres a year to see him succeed in the sport he loves.
Foster also wanted to show his appreciation to the people who helped progress his game and coach him to where he is now.
“Thank you to Uncle Mal (Trowell) and David (Lynn) and the whole bowling community . . . without them, I wouldn't be here.”
