IF football's Mecca is the hallowed turf of Wembley, then the bowls world equivalent has to be the 'blue carpet' at Potters Leisure resort, the current home of the world indoor bowls championship.

IF football's Mecca is the hallowed turf of Wembley, then the bowls world equivalent has to be the 'blue carpet' at Potters Leisure resort, the current home of the world indoor bowls championship.

Three of Acle's junior members have qualified this weekend to earn a place in the final of Potter Junior Tournament, and with it the opportunity to perform on the world's stage on Sunday, just prior to the world singles final itself.

Dan Mills, 12, Matthew Sparrow (15) and 13-year-old Daniel Seabourne will realise a dream when they walk out onto the blue carpet against opponents from Mid-Suffolk BC.

Their road to the final was not an easy, especially when the trio had to play an extra end, in their first round game against the White Oak team from Kent. Daniel, with the last wood of the game, bowled an exceptional drawing wood with the aid of a slight touch on a front bowl and saw his effort rest adjacent to the jack to win the game.

Against a mixed team from the City of Ely BC, after losing the first two ends the Acle trio rallied to win the next eight ends on the bounce to earn their place in the semi-finals.

Against a team from Browston, skipped by the experienced Thomas Critoph, Acle had a convincing six-shot win, thanks in the main to some exceptional lead bowling from Dan Mills.

Acle also had two other teams of juniors, competing in the same event. Edward Lambert, Lauren Siely and Lewis Moore lost in their first round game against the eventual finalists Mid-Suffolk. The other team consisted of 10-year-old Hannah Seabourne playing in her first competitive match and 14-year-olds Emily Lambert and Jade Josh. They were also unlucky with the draw and lost out the experienced trio from Browston.