Surrey's Paul Coleman celebrated his call to the England side for the Indoor Home International Series on Teeside in March by moving through to the last 32 of the World Singles at Potters yesterday.

Surrey's Paul Coleman celebrated his call to the England side for the Indoor Home International Series on Teeside in March by moving through to the last 32 of the World Singles at Potters yesterday.

The 27-year-old from the Wey Valley club enjoyed a comfortable 8-2, 7-2 victory over Welsh qualifier Gareth Wills winning 12 of the 16 ends and maintaining control of the contest throughout both sets. It also proved the shortest game of the competition so far lasting just 71 minutes.

Coleman later revealed: "I have already been capped outdoor so was delighted to be handed my indoor debut after last month's trial in Northampton. It was a fine first outing here for me and I have to be pleased with the way I played and the manner of my victory."

Looking forward to a plum last-32 tie with former world champion and number five seed Andy Thomson a week today, Coleman let slip: "It is my 28th birthday the day after I face Andy so there are no surprises for guessing what my ideal present would be.

"The man is a legend in our sport and I can't wait to lock horns with him."

Lincoln's Danny Brown ensured a good day for English survivors of the gruelling PBA qualifying process by recovering from losing the first set to pip Margate teenager Kieran Moss at the post - 5-11, 10-3, 2-1, after a tiebreaker.

Brown has won English national titles in pairs, triples and mixed fours and admitted: "My friends joke that my record in team events is first class but it is good to be making a name in my own right for once!"

Brown, who is back in action in the World Pairs today with clubmate James Heath against Scotland's Commonwealth Games gold medallists Paul Foster and Alex Marshall, will meet 1990 title holder John Price in the second round next Monday.

Moss, at just 18 the youngest player in the competition, revealed: "Despite losing I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would love to return to Potters in the very near future."

Ireland's Noel Graham and Clifford Craig recorded their second World Pairs victory in 24 hours to ensure they could take their place in the competition proper. The Belfast duo were 11-6, 8-6 winners over Israel's Ray Sher and Amir Yaron and Graham joked: mind surviving the play-offs we feel as if we have won the event already!"

On a more serious note Craig added: "We were told the Irish qualifiers would have to endure two play-offs here because our PBA membership is so low yet 80pc of our opponents back home are internationals and we had to beat 2004 winners Jeremy Henry and Ian McClure in the Irish final to reach this stage."

Craig went on: "We now meet 2005 champions Mervyn King and Kelvin Kerkow and can't wait. Noel doesn't play indoors competitively at present so his form here has been a real bonus. The more games we have the better."

County Antrim's Steve Moran capped a superb day for the Irish late last night when he upset the charismatic Devonian Danny Denison.

Moran edged a hard-fought contest 8-7, 8-9, 2-0 after a match tiebreaker against one of the most controversial figures in English bowls to set up a clash with No 14 seed Mark McMahon.

Number five seeds Robert Weale and Jason Greenslade of Wales moved through to the quarter finals after a facile 12-0, 10-4 win over Springboks Theuns Fraser and Nick Ruisling.

In Monday's late match Welsh veterans John Price and Steve Rees, seeded eight, survived a scare before seeing off the challenge of Kiwis Ken Walker and Paul Girdler 8-8, 6-5 to set up a pairs quarter-final against champions David Gourlay and Billy Jackson on Friday.