Day 1 Bowls World Indoor Championships


Day 1

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It is January and we are in Hopton-on-Sea so it must be time for

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the 2014 world indoor Bowls championship at the Potters Leisure

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Resort. Said back and relax as you get the ball rolling for seven days

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of live action. -- setback. Hello and welcome to day one of our

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coverage of the biggest Bowls tournament in the world. As ever,

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the best players will be in action throughout the week hoping to pick

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up those titles. Last year was all about the visiting tartan army as

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Scotland's finest were crowned kings of the Bowls Castle. With the

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success in the singles, men's pairs and mixed pairs, Alex Marshall, Paul

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Foster and Stuart Anderson returned home with plenty to smile about and

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they are back for more of the same. If I could win a title again this

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year, it would be a good step in my career. Being a double world

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champion would mean the world. This is the big one everybody wants to

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win. Hopefully we can go one better than last year in the singles. I

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have definitely got one title left in me. I am still competing at a

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very high level and the confidence is there. That is definitely an

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opportunity for another title. The English challenge fails to go past

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the semifinals in 2013 and they will be looking to bounce back. The

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ambition for this year is to win the world singles title. There are some

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talented players here but I can beat anybody if I play well. Stage one is

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to win round one, stage two is to be here in the semifinals and then to

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complete stage three is to win the title. And never right of the Welsh

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resolve as they have a few former champions hoping to lift the trophy

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once again. I was the last Welsh winner in 2000. Hopefully it will be

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our year. You have to try and perform and hopefully get a bit of

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luck along the way. England's Rebecca Field is the offending

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women's champion having been crowned Queen of the indoor game a year ago.

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If I play well enough and play how I can play, there's no doubt I can win

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again. This year 's challenge could come from teenage star Katherine

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Rednall. Or from Alison Merrien. She swept away Karen Murphy in the first

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round. So we are set for another incredible week of Bowls and if it's

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anything like the excitement served up last year, we are in for a

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blockbuster. later on Stuart Anderson will begin

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his defence of the singles title but first up it is Alex Marshall and

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Paul Foster going for an unprecedented fourth straight

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success in the men's pairs. The 2011 world indoor pairs

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champions, who successfully defended their world title. Pairs champions

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for the third successive year. Paul Foster and Alex Marshall. It is very

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pleasing. Especially to defend the pairs with Alex Marshall. We are

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both relaxed and enjoying our Bowls. Paul Foster is the best player in

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the world and we make a formidable pair.

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So it's Paul Foster and Alex Marshall up against Greg Harlow and

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Nick Brett. We are almost set for action so it's time to hand over to

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Richard beer. Hoping to lift these coveted -- trophies for the first

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time in their career, your appreciation please for Greg Harlow

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and Nick Brett. APPLAUSE And defending this title for the

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fourth year in succession, your appreciation please for Paul Foster

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and Alex Marshall. It is time to join our commentators,

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Andy Thomson and David Corkill. If Foster and Marshall were to win this

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the fourth time, how big an achievement would it be? It would be

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massive. The modern game is different with this portable rink

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and the standard of play around is very high so it would be a massive

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achievement. It took them seven or eight years to win the first one but

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now they are very difficult to beat. When you look at it, you've got four

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players on the provisional ranking list showing the top six. You've got

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four of the very best on show today. Used only have. This is a hard one

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to call. I agree with you, for top players. Really looking forward to

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this one. The usual situation into

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ballplayers, the first players lead and alternate Bowls. I really feel

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Paul Foster and Alex Marshall will have to be on top form. I talked to

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Paul yesterday and he thinks this will be their toughest test. I would

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agree. Two good opening Bowls by Nicky Brett. He has been playing

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superb. Paul Foster is also playing well.

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Over the last few years in particular we had a situation where

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we've seen Paul Foster taking over that mantle of Alex Marshall as the

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best player on the circuit at the moment. He has four world titles and

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Alex has five. Paul Foster has won all the other events as well. Alex

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has said this is his favourite venue and Youghal was played well here.

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Alex is playing exceptionally well. I suspect never Ball required here

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for Greg Harlow to get into this because those two balls are

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vulnerable. A slight correction from Greg. You would expect him to make

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it with this one. It is looking good. This will be a heavy shot now

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by Alex Marshall. He will be driving into this. Alex going to have a look

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at the head. It looked good all the way. Made the adjustment. Really, he

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has to come right in there. Damage limitation. There is a chance of

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pushing the ball into the head and taking something of. It is a

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forehand drive. Through the red Bulls. He match catch something. He

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would be happy to take one or two out. Three down. He would be happy

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to reduce the count to one here. Not a full driver. Controlled

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weight. He's chasing it. It must close. -- it must be close. A big

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start for the English pair. The value of the lead getting in.

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Exactly. Nicky Brett's opening two balls all week have been excellent.

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That is what Alex Marshall may be up against. I am sure Paula have a say

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in this as well. -- Paul will have a say.

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Some players don't actually play outdoor bowls. Greg Harlow is one of

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those players. He is specifically an indoor player. Nicky Brett plays

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bowls all the time. He loves the game. He plays all formats of the

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game. Mixed bowls, club Bowls. He just loves the sport. I don't think

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he'll be in the Commonwealth games though. He is out of favour with the

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outdoor selectors. I think he is too good a player to leave out.

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Greg will be looking for a little touch on the jack.

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Alex Marshall's wife, Diane, provides flat -- family support for

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this final. She's always there to watch her husband play.

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This looks close. We are waiting for Nicky Brett to make a noise. Yes.

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Well played. That is going to be no easy run for anybody in this match.

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I would expect this to be fairly similar end at end. All players

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playing well. You don't expect many loose ends. Alex Foch onto the

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forehand and he is very close. He needs to Harriet passed his own

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bowl. -- Harry it passed. Slightly under. This might just

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block Alex out. It certainly doesn't help him. He can probably still get

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around it. Alex is aware that his ball will swing around the shortest

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green bowl. Just a draw. Alex likes the look of this one. If

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he gets onto the green bowl, he could make three above this. Well

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played! The Empire coming on to measure. --

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the That is the sort of quality we

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expect out of this match. All players are playing well. A great

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bowl by Alex. 3-2, keeps the game tight.

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24, this is a short length. Poulter does favour a shorter length. --

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Paul. Both players favouring different

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hands. Nicky Brett has favoured the forehand and Paul Foster the

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backhand. A good reply. If you are a touch quick on that

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hand it will go past. Greg and Nicky still holding the

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one. This one has got a bit of work to

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do. Alex clicking his fingers which

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suggests it's probably heavy. A chance year for Greg. -- a chance

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year. This quality of much has to go down as a space shot opportunity. He

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would expect to draw another here. It just needs to bend. It's holding

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up. There was a little touch on the red ball and I still think it is one

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to green. That forehand just sticking a little

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bit and not coming back to the centre. That has got as much to do

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with the 24 metre jack. That will be the Scottish tactic because Nicky's

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bowls will be slightly less bias. It was Nicky's ball that counted. Back

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to his favourite length. 27 and a half.

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He is allowed one bad bullet game. -- one bad bowl a game. He won't

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have many. A lovely easy action by Nick Brett.

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This one needs to stop. Didn't make the correction.

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That is certainly looking better. It will be interesting to see if Greg

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plays the forehand in this direction. I will put my mortgage on

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Greg definitely not playing the forehand. He is not overly keen on

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the forehand. This will be a backhand draw. And yet almost

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everyone would think it's a forehand draw. It is just what the player

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fancies and I have played with Greg a lot and he does favour his

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backhand. And I would expect him to be close. He is on a good track.

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It's all a matter of the weight now and here it comes.

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That one looked good all the way. It was all about weight. He did not

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want to move the jack. Alex is the same. He likes his backhand. This is

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all about pace to get that. Slightly heavy. It is in a good place.

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It would be ideal if he could get past the jack with this. This is not

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far away. Well played, Greg Harlow! Absolutely perfect. It was perfect

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for a second but the jack has now been brought out into the open. He

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draws the shot but unfortunately moves it out and it gives Alex a

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target. It all depends now how much weight he wants to play but you

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would expect him to draw the jack through if he can get to that. It'll

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have to be very good. He could make to out of it. It is a hard shot. It

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is either a draw or a drive and I think he's going to favour the draw.

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That is the drive shot if he wants to take the two balls out. He drew a

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perfect ball on the second-hand -- second end.

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He is running after it which suggests he liked it. I think he is

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only slightly inside line with this. He is looking for the bend trailer

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back. He was so close to getting the jack. What a great effort and it was

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a very difficult shot. It was just about inch perfect. 6-2. A good

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start by the English pair. At is another loose ball by Nick

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Brett. He won't be happy with that. He is trotting up after this one so

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he must have made a correction. It is good enough. It's not that but

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it's not what he would have wanted. Nicky Brett will be slightly

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concerned. How is the wait? It looks slightly

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quick. -- weight. They are starting to struggle on the forehand side.

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And the backhand is still available. We may see different tactics as the

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game develops. Kept the line. He dominates the

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backhand, it is such a reliable hand. They will roll them in all

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day. This is just a draw for him, but he is coming up to see if the

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strike is on. He can't strike it, he will be lucky to take out one ball

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right and leave the others, but it is just a draw. I think so, just a

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yard off his last delivery. Both players are looking at this

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one. It is certainly better. It just needed a deep swing. What a ball. A

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bit unlucky, just dropped back on the jack. Second shot, I think he

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will be quite happy with that. He was two down and possibly facing a

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three down. The ball coming in, catches the jack and unfortunately

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moves it to the front ball. Still one down.

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Alex at a very wide on this, as he should be. -- out. Frightened to go

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near the head, basically. Sensible. A little discussion about what jack

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length to play. Alex is leaving it to Paul Foster and I think when you

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are playing pairs, it is so much about the lead. Just let them play

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whatever length they are happy with. That is why he said to Paul, I am

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happy to play any length. And not surprisingly, Paul has gone short.

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It was either going to be short or long. Just about making it. Jack

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length 23.5 metres. Half a metre up from the minimum length.

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On the forehand, hasn't really been totally successful on it, and

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sometimes when you are not, it is worth moving to the opposition side,

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if only to disturb them. At this length, he has decided to play the

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forehand but his form has slightly dipped. Pressure on them here to get

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a good close ball. Needs to give great something in the head. --

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Greg. It was a big bend he was looking

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for. That is better. Paul is saying to get in first,

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there is still a draw the four Greg -- there for Greg.

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Alex likes it. Just trying to beat the two red balls. Solid and drop.

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This looks like it is going to need some treatment. He won't be hanging

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back with this one. It is in the area. Great strike.

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That could be interesting, because this may be lying to shots. I think

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you have do put one on the card for somebody. It is difficult to get

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close to the jack. Not only that, no matter where Alex puts this... Is it

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one down or two den? That is the crucial question. No matter where he

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puts this, you would expect Greg to go for it. Sleeper that is what Alex

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is saying, if he goes close, then Greg will go for it -- that is what

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Alex is saying. It looks so easy, but anything within five feet would

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be enough for Greg just to draw. If he goes within three feet... Greg

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will go for the ball. Just scored a shot or get the shot

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close enough. It is well past a short one. Good enough. A couple of

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feet past the spot and that is where he has gone too. Greg will try and

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draw this now. Looks like the winner. Yes, it looks

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good. Sometimes you just have to play into the single shot and leave

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it at that. Probably got a little bit closer than he wanted to, but he

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was three down went he went to play his first ball, he turned the head

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around. It is your favourite comedy drawn drive. Closer to the them was

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comfortable, but... -- it is your favourite, the drawn drive. So keep

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some pressure on them. The jack is cast slightly further, I

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would think this will help Mickey Brett. -- Nicky. Finding the centre

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length easier with this. This is very much all about Nicky

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Brett coming back into the rhythm again. It is better and Greg will be

:40:04.:40:11.

very happy to see that. Yes, that is more like Nicky Brett. He has had a

:40:12.:40:17.

couple of ends off, let his skipper do the work.

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I lose one -- a loose one. Such grant of next, sees himself on the

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screen with his girlfriend. The lad from Croydon, what a challenge he

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has up against the defending champion -- Josh Grant is up next. I

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spoke to him earlier, he is quite confident, and drawing quite well. A

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talented player. Greg does not want to build this had

:40:57.:41:05.

any wider. -- this head clicking the fingers. It is OK.

:41:06.:41:34.

Sometimes, drawing a third is not a good idea. I think it was by

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accident. It is almost a case of leaving this open for Alex.

:41:40.:41:44.

Is he good enough to draw the shot? He certainly on a good line. It is

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all about weight. It is a great ball, well-paid Alex Marshall. --

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well played. And it has stayed up as well.

:42:02.:42:25.

Will he bend? Just didn't move the jack the way he wanted.

:42:26.:42:55.

Two or three inches to draw another. Not exactly a spare

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opportunity, but at this stage of the game, he will be thinking, I

:43:03.:43:05.

will have a go. I think he quite likes it. I don't think he has

:43:06.:43:09.

enough. It wasn't far, but it was being

:43:10.:43:23.

careful. It stretches things a bit, 11th ends to play to, four to go,

:43:24.:43:34.

three shots behind, there is time. I'm glad you reminded me, David, I

:43:35.:43:40.

had completely forgotten about that. You know all of these rules and

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regulations, there is always somebody in my here to remind them.

:43:43.:43:45.

-- in my ear. 23 metres, so this is about two

:43:46.:43:52.

inches above the minimum. The pairs final is, of course,

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always popular. A massive crowd in today. Large crowds, really, since

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the beginning of the Championships into the finals week. As it seems to

:44:37.:44:43.

step up a gear. Completely sold out, I believe, or not too far away

:44:44.:44:48.

from it for the rest of the week. It is amazing how the players talk

:44:49.:45:09.

to the ball. It will do nothing other than what it wants to do but

:45:10.:45:15.

you talk to it anyway. But it has to happen, you have to do it, to

:45:16.:45:21.

generate something else. Nicky is right on top of it again, keeping

:45:22.:45:30.

the pressure on. Nicky Brett takes full advantage, pushes the jack

:45:31.:45:32.

back, that is a good two. Probably the back for Alex. Personal

:45:33.:45:49.

choice again, they have been favouring the backhand, those

:45:50.:45:50.

players. Do you remember the book they

:45:51.:45:58.

produced a while ago, it was very funny, full of jokes and quips, and

:45:59.:46:08.

it was called A Load Of Old Balls, worth getting hold of a copy of it.

:46:09.:46:15.

This is a big problem now. I would expect Greg to draw another here,

:46:16.:46:30.

giving aspects problems. It is very good. Doesn't want to bring the jack

:46:31.:46:37.

out into the Open. That changed it, a little bit unlucky a great ball

:46:38.:46:48.

from Greg. Would have preferred to have left the jack alone. Gives Alex

:46:49.:46:54.

a slightly better chance. A bit of a chat about it, looking

:46:55.:47:06.

into the options, the draw and the backhand is available. Not

:47:07.:47:10.

particularly easy but a big turnover available on the forehand and it

:47:11.:47:14.

depends on what he wants to use. If you go slightly over the weight, you

:47:15.:47:18.

can be in trouble but if he can stretch the jack back into that

:47:19.:47:23.

position... It is a difficult weight, that is why they are taking

:47:24.:47:29.

their time. It is a yard on title shot, but we know how difficult that

:47:30.:47:34.

is. It brings that ball interplay, so you are looking at double

:47:35.:47:38.

situation. Certainly worth looking at it -- into play.

:47:39.:47:42.

There is another ball at the top of the screen, which you couldn't see,

:47:43.:47:51.

which is giving Alex problems. Yes, there is a ball around three or four

:47:52.:47:56.

yards short of the jack. This is a pressure ball.

:47:57.:48:07.

Inside the line, it has to have weight or it will pull across. It is

:48:08.:48:15.

not easy, it was a hard type of shot to play. Very difficult. Alex pushed

:48:16.:48:24.

the red ball, it might just be too down. -- two down.

:48:25.:48:34.

It also stopped Greg playing his favourite backhand. Yes, not as

:48:35.:48:48.

confident on this site. -- side. It looks very good. Certainly a third.

:48:49.:48:51.

And it looks like four. That really should seal up the set,

:48:52.:49:13.

even with three ends to go. 11-4, very difficult to see Alex and Paul

:49:14.:49:24.

coming back in this set. Jack length, 27 metres.

:49:25.:49:45.

It is unusual for players to come from the same club and compete at

:49:46.:49:55.

this level, but that is the case with Harlow and Brett. They have won

:49:56.:49:58.

a number of national titles together. Yes, a lot of good players

:49:59.:50:05.

have come out of that club. Obviously, the top two are accurate

:50:06.:50:09.

three and Nicky, to England skippers. -- on Greg and Nicky.

:50:10.:50:19.

Nicky is back into the groove, I think. Apart from this one! Don't

:50:20.:50:27.

say it, Andy, just don't say it! There were signs with Paul on the

:50:28.:51:04.

very short jack length that he was getting on top of things, but he has

:51:05.:51:14.

been rather inconsistent. Yes, he has, he will not be happy at the

:51:15.:51:24.

moment. Such a talented player, I am sure he will come back stronger in

:51:25.:51:25.

the second set. Playing really well, is Greg. The

:51:26.:51:54.

best player on the rink, I would say at the moment. Yes, any time he has

:51:55.:52:04.

looked as if he is in bother, he has pulled out a very big ball, either

:52:05.:52:11.

on the driver or the draw. He has been superb, the difference in the

:52:12.:52:13.

two teams, I would say. This one needs to run. At the

:52:14.:52:34.

moment, Harlow and Brett Lycett. -- lie set.

:52:35.:52:46.

Greg having a look at this, probably doesn't think he needs to put

:52:47.:52:54.

another ball into the head. Probably saying that to Nicky. It is a set

:52:55.:53:04.

lie, don't need to play the last two ends. I wouldn't go near this,

:53:05.:53:10.

especially not with the backhand, it just gives Alex a target.

:53:11.:53:17.

It is a tough shot for Alex to even get close to it, never mind get the

:53:18.:53:25.

shot. The set lie against it adds a little bit of pressure. It looks

:53:26.:53:29.

like the forehand, keep away from the head.

:53:30.:53:49.

That is good. Yes, it didn't need to be close. Probably closer to the

:53:50.:54:00.

centre line than he was hoping for, but I think he was just saying to

:54:01.:54:04.

himself, is there any chance Alex getting down and taking my two

:54:05.:54:09.

balls out, I don't want to lose a three under four? -- and 84. I think

:54:10.:54:18.

both of the players realise here, saying one is no good. Let's have a

:54:19.:54:28.

look at what is going on, trying to see... The natural shot would be to

:54:29.:54:32.

come down on the ball but even taking the green ball out and

:54:33.:54:36.

staying in its place, it is only a single and that is not going to

:54:37.:54:42.

crack it with two ends to go. He has looked at the forehand, nothing

:54:43.:54:48.

coming in that I can see. It looks to be impossible. Paula saying, "I

:54:49.:54:52.

don't know how you are going to get the shot" . Scratching his head, it

:54:53.:55:00.

doesn't look good. He's going to try and punched the green ball into it

:55:01.:55:03.

and hope that the jack moves forward, or something -- punch. This

:55:04.:55:12.

is Luke Shaw. Even Ronnie O'Sullivan would be struggling here. -- this is

:55:13.:55:15.

a snooker shot. Too wide. That is it, the first set

:55:16.:55:29.

to Harlow and Brett and deservedly so.

:55:30.:55:36.

It is comprehensive, no doubt about that. They restricted the defending

:55:37.:55:43.

champions to scoring in for ends, two and two singles. Big counts of

:55:44.:55:49.

travel and a full house of four in the first set has eased Nicky Brett

:55:50.:55:53.

and Greg Harlow into a very strong position. I was talking to Paul

:55:54.:55:58.

Foster yesterday and I was saying to him, of all the players playing, 80%

:55:59.:56:10.

will be magnificent but if any power struggles a tiny bit, the others

:56:11.:56:14.

will take over and that is what happened. Greg has made a few

:56:15.:56:18.

conversion balls, that is the difference. Paul has changed the

:56:19.:56:23.

length here, we have not had one of these, a long length. And rightly

:56:24.:56:30.

so, he has too change their tactics. -- has two.

:56:31.:56:39.

I think Nicky Brett will be happy with this length, slightly more

:56:40.:56:42.

biased ball, it won't put him off. Both players short of the target.

:56:43.:57:12.

They will adjust for the next one. Spike right Alex giving Paul a bit

:57:13.:57:16.

of encouragement. Time to get one on the top.

:57:17.:57:44.

Alex Marshall and Paul Foster are a very popular pair here, but I think

:57:45.:58:02.

you can feel the crowd with the local pair, getting behind them.

:58:03.:58:07.

Well, we are in England, so you would expect a bigger support for

:58:08.:58:12.

the English pair. I think the crowd have always been fair, they just

:58:13.:58:13.

want to see good bowls. Just a slight disturbance, so

:58:14.:58:23.

restart, change of ball. Alex has always had that lovely,

:58:24.:58:36.

smooth delivery, it hasn't changed throughout the years. . Certainly

:58:37.:58:45.

looking good with this one. He has drawn it, well played, Alex.

:58:46.:58:59.

Every time Greg has been asked a question on this backhand, he has

:59:00.:59:02.

reduced the goods. It needed the red ball to fall out.

:59:03.:59:23.

Great try. Same thing for Alex, if he can get

:59:24.:59:50.

up to the green ball I don't think it is running.

:59:51.:00:01.

Nicky has already called it, a choice of shots. Hit the target and

:00:02.:00:06.

take the red ball out or draw the shot. He's looking for the little

:00:07.:00:14.

rattler in here. I'm not convinced about that shot, because Greg has

:00:15.:00:17.

been playing this backhand so well, you feel he could draw that. But it

:00:18.:00:23.

is possible for the red balls to go in and take their own two out but I

:00:24.:00:29.

don't think it is really worth it. Nicky is such a positive player, I

:00:30.:00:32.

think he fancies the forehand runner. If you catch any ball here,

:00:33.:00:37.

you are going to take the red out. He always favours the positive shop.

:00:38.:00:48.

Dash and delete -- shot. Greg dropped away four or five inches

:00:49.:00:52.

short, I think he has listened to Nicky and will play the forehand

:00:53.:00:53.

runner. Running through it. Lots of chances.

:00:54.:01:27.

He was under the line. One shot, Foster and Marshall. It was off

:01:28.:01:36.

target but nearly got the shop. -- shot. Alex had a few chances.

:01:37.:01:52.

That jack looked about two inches out. I think there's a mark on the

:01:53.:02:11.

carpet, that's what it was. There was a little chalk mark.

:02:12.:02:26.

Paul was paying attention when he realised it wasn't on centre. He is

:02:27.:02:32.

dropping far too many balls short. That seemed to stop very quickly.

:02:33.:03:02.

Once you get into the centre of the rink, it is a slow the ball down. I

:03:03.:03:12.

think this is a lot that. -- a lot better. It is certainly a lot better

:03:13.:03:17.

than his first one. Judy Potter in her usual seat.

:03:18.:04:07.

Resplendent in powder pink,-that is called.

:04:08.:04:25.

Baby pink is just a bit stronger than that! I will take your word for

:04:26.:04:35.

it! Back to the balls. Just a draw here for Greg.

:04:36.:04:43.

He likes the look of this one. Great try.

:04:44.:05:07.

A sign of a good pay is when the lead is not in your skipper covers.

:05:08.:05:13.

He wants to be gentle with the jack. I think he is still holding

:05:14.:05:21.

onto it. Yes but he has given Greg a chance. This shot is difficult. I

:05:22.:05:35.

think you just draw it. If you touch the jacket is a bonus. -- touch the

:05:36.:05:39.

jack, it is a bonus. He must like it. Not enough. He

:05:40.:06:02.

needed a thinner edge. He had the weight.

:06:03.:06:23.

Wonderful international arena here at the Potters Leisure Resort. Paul

:06:24.:06:32.

has had enough of these 29 metre lengths. Anything shorter would be

:06:33.:06:35.

good for him. Short again. He is surprised that

:06:36.:07:08.

back. -- surprised at that. Alex will be wondering why Paul has just

:07:09.:07:12.

not founded today. Very unlike Paul Foster. Nicky has not really

:07:13.:07:23.

punished him. Alex still encouraging him.

:07:24.:07:33.

This looks a better line. It is certainly a better weight as well.

:07:34.:07:45.

That is so much better. Paul knows it shouldn't take him to balls to

:07:46.:08:00.

get there. But he has given Alex a very good chance. That is a good

:08:01.:08:06.

second. Paul just looked up and look at his

:08:07.:08:35.

watch and said, at last I've got one close! It is like having Big Ben on

:08:36.:08:42.

his wrist. I am surprised he does not fall over with the weight of

:08:43.:08:48.

that watch! It is absolutely Joe enormous! I think you need that! It

:08:49.:08:58.

might help me. This is a decent line. It just needs to hold. That is

:08:59.:09:04.

really good. Right up in front. That's what the difference is if

:09:05.:09:15.

your lead gets in. They have made a good start here. A bit of pressure

:09:16.:09:20.

on Greg. He needs to play a really big ball.

:09:21.:09:26.

He has really played this hand well. I think it is just going to go

:09:27.:09:34.

through. A great effort. It looks to be on a slightly

:09:35.:10:09.

narrower line. Not running. This might be a positive shot here

:10:10.:10:36.

from Greg. He is looking at the green ball into the head. He is to

:10:37.:10:48.

down so we can't be any worse off. Andy has been playing the draw

:10:49.:10:52.

rather well but there is an alternative on the forehand. He has

:10:53.:10:57.

got shoulder to come off. He is looking at the backhand. Either of

:10:58.:11:06.

these into the header to move the jack. They are a long way to push

:11:07.:11:18.

in. Certainly no guarantees. I think he is going to probably try and draw

:11:19.:11:19.

this. He is very close. He is very close

:11:20.:11:40.

with this. Still too down. Two to Scotland. A good effort but it is

:11:41.:11:50.

exactly what the defending champions wanted. They wanted to get off to a

:11:51.:11:53.

good start. I think Paul has abandoned the long

:11:54.:12:04.

end. Going more three quarters. Just a matter of time. It is going

:12:05.:12:52.

to make a massive difference to this match. I am sure Greg and Nicky will

:12:53.:13:02.

be a of that. A good reply from Nicky Brett. Well played.

:13:03.:13:19.

They might be a position ball already. -- they might be.

:13:20.:13:36.

Alex does not need to go near this. Paul's all is touching and Nicky's

:13:37.:13:48.

all about the quarter of an inch. That means it will be a draw for

:13:49.:13:52.

Nick Brett. He is normally quite accurate with

:13:53.:14:25.

his forehand runners. That is what Greg has asked for.

:14:26.:14:32.

He is on target. Great strike. On the response, start over again, as

:14:33.:14:45.

Greg said. I thought he might have drawn that because he was so close

:14:46.:14:51.

with his first ball. I agree. He just needed to touch the ball but it

:14:52.:14:56.

now becomes a two ball singles between Alex and Greg.

:14:57.:15:18.

He is certainly very wide. Right on the edge. A good weight. Still room

:15:19.:15:37.

for Greg. He is on the front inside edge of the matter to hold the ball

:15:38.:15:39.

up as long as possible. -- the mat. The bowl will stay as long as

:15:40.:15:59.

possible on the line. There is something disturbing him. It was

:16:00.:16:09.

just in his island. -- his eye line. Greg realises he has to go very wide

:16:10.:16:29.

to keep his ball up. It needs to stop. The extra weight is holding

:16:30.:16:33.

it. This looks too wide. He has gone

:16:34.:16:59.

off. Side ditch. That is the problem with the eager swinging ball. You

:17:00.:17:07.

really have to go very wide on the re-spot. His first ball was three

:17:08.:17:15.

inches away. Slightly wide and it goes off. It has left the door open

:17:16.:17:24.

for Greg. This looks better. It certainly does. They are on the card

:17:25.:17:55.

in the second set. A long way to go. Seven ends. Even in a tight game,

:17:56.:18:10.

you are talking about potentially 25 ends, that is usually enough to

:18:11.:18:13.

separate layers. Yes, normally at this level. The Scottish pay will be

:18:14.:18:20.

happy now they have started this set better and they are playing better

:18:21.:18:24.

balls. They will feel as though they are back in the game.

:18:25.:18:56.

Nicky quickly moves his hand. It needs to stop though.

:18:57.:19:26.

It certainly looks fit again. -- had. That is more like Paul Foster.

:19:27.:19:43.

Does Greg Harlow try and draw it off orders he come through it? He has

:19:44.:19:48.

played the backhand so well in this direction. I think this is just a

:19:49.:19:54.

draw. At that was a lovely ball I Paul Foster. If he starts to get

:19:55.:20:02.

into its form it's going to be very difficult for the English pair to

:20:03.:20:09.

hold them off. Greg is playing the forehand. It is a runner then,

:20:10.:20:15.

surely. I am slightly surprised. He has played the backhand so well on

:20:16.:20:22.

the draw. He has got it. Very good ball.

:20:23.:20:35.

A great strike from Greg but Alex has got about 15 inches here. Paul

:20:36.:20:49.

is not sure if he has pushed through this. If Greg puts this one on the

:20:50.:21:01.

nose of it, it will be a really good recovery. Massive recovery if they

:21:02.:21:04.

score a two-year. Paul is already applauding this

:21:05.:21:34.

bowl. Well played Greg Harlow. That is exactly what the hearings are all

:21:35.:21:41.

about. -- that is exactly what good hearings are all about. Greg Harlow

:21:42.:21:50.

has been the player of the game so far. This is close. It is just

:21:51.:22:02.

whether it gets back in time. It held out slightly. Halfway up, they

:22:03.:22:10.

both thought that was going to make it. A big turnaround in that end. By

:22:11.:22:29.

that man. A lot of this match has been down to the recovery bowls by

:22:30.:22:35.

the skippers. Greg Harlow has been winning that particular area.

:22:36.:23:52.

Good lead bowls. The shop is against Craig. -- the shot.

:23:53.:25:07.

A couple of feet, that was all. He could give the shot away here and

:25:08.:25:26.

actually still be better off in some respects. I would agree. They could

:25:27.:25:33.

probably try and put another ball in there. He is going to try and draw

:25:34.:25:40.

and hopefully not move the jack. He is better of a losing one rather

:25:41.:25:44.

than the potential of losing three or four.

:25:45.:25:52.

Too frightened to go near it. You can't blame them.

:25:53.:26:08.

Alex thinks it has finished in a good race but I don't think it has.

:26:09.:26:17.

There is still room around the ball. If you can remove that all, you are

:26:18.:26:23.

talking about bringing it through to hear. If the jack moves across into

:26:24.:26:28.

this area, you've got four shots and not only that, then the short ball

:26:29.:26:38.

is hampering him. I don't know if Greg is looking at a drive here. I

:26:39.:26:47.

think it is just a draw. Greg was so close with his opening delivery. You

:26:48.:26:58.

sort of know that Nicky is such an attacking player and Greg has to

:26:59.:27:03.

think to himself, I have to be strong enough here to play

:27:04.:27:10.

mailshot. -- strong enough to play his own shop. -- shot. He is too

:27:11.:27:26.

heavy. It will get back. -- it won't get back. I am surprised Alex is

:27:27.:27:33.

going down to play this. There is no way he is going near this head. Even

:27:34.:27:43.

my own favourite Highland drift would be too risky year. Just take

:27:44.:27:47.

the one. He is on the line to draw. Paul is

:27:48.:28:09.

saying, what are you doing? That was courageous. He could have easily

:28:10.:28:18.

given three away. He was confident enough to draw another. A big crowd

:28:19.:28:28.

here as expected. The perfect venue. Best venue in the world to play

:28:29.:28:36.

bowls. That is what they all say. All the facilities available and big

:28:37.:28:48.

crowds. And a bracing walk down the beach to build sand castles! Wear

:28:49.:29:01.

you down there this morning? No chance!

:29:02.:29:32.

Still an intriguing game. You just feel this is going to go to a

:29:33.:29:42.

tie-break. It is looking slightly that way.

:29:43.:30:12.

This looks good. This looks like the winner. Well played. Not an easy

:30:13.:30:22.

hand, the forehand. But very playable. Here we see Nicky Brett

:30:23.:30:33.

changing to the forehand. He plays the perfect draw. He makes it look

:30:34.:30:40.

easy. I have watched a lot of people practice but it's probably 80-20.

:30:41.:30:46.

People favour the backhand. This is just a draw here from Alex. This has

:30:47.:30:52.

to have very good weight. Perfect line, finding centre ring.

:30:53.:31:09.

He can still draw this on the backhand, it is Greg's favourite.

:31:10.:31:25.

I don't think he has quite got the pace. Just inside. Two feet, mate.

:31:26.:31:48.

Alex running after this one. Yes, it is a lot closer. It needs to hurry

:31:49.:31:57.

to get past the green one. He is dropping shot.

:31:58.:32:04.

It was a risky one, but your weight was good last time.

:32:05.:32:12.

This is not easy for Greg to score another, but he would be the shot

:32:13.:32:17.

away, so this this the confidence. -- this is for. I don't think he is

:32:18.:32:35.

running. He is going to drop shot. Keeps things nice and tight. The

:32:36.:32:41.

England players are still in good shape at the moment.

:32:42.:33:06.

Good starter. The Rumford home in the last four ends one pair looking

:33:07.:33:47.

for a tie-break, the other looking to be champions.

:33:48.:34:18.

A bit of a problem, because any lengthening of the jack and the red

:34:19.:34:28.

is in the perfect position. Nicky would have wanted that one slightly

:34:29.:34:39.

further. Just slightly through. Weight was nice.

:34:40.:34:50.

Greg will probably favour the forehand here. Greg waiting for Alex

:34:51.:35:04.

to come up. The 100 metres sprint therefore Alex. -- there for Alex.

:35:05.:35:13.

These players know each other so well, they can have a little bit of

:35:14.:35:17.

a lap in between but it is serious stuff. It is very competitive on the

:35:18.:35:19.

rink. The forehand draw. They should get back. That is a

:35:20.:35:41.

stonking ball. It really is perfect, he could not have walked

:35:42.:35:44.

down and put it in there any better. Exactly what it wanted. It

:35:45.:36:02.

is still draw rubble, four inches. -- drawable. He is looking at the

:36:03.:36:18.

heavy shot. It is the easier shot, I think. I am happy with that, on

:36:19.:36:23.

YouGov. If it catches the centre ball, the plant, both the balls will

:36:24.:36:28.

go. He's catching the middle of the shortest green ball, in the centre.

:36:29.:36:41.

Very close. He has got the jack. Great strike. A real bonus as well,

:36:42.:36:52.

because the jack point forward off the green ball, they will have a

:36:53.:36:57.

response, which will favour red. -- a re-spot. This isn't particularly

:36:58.:37:06.

easy, slight pressure on this one. He has been drawing so well, Greg, I

:37:07.:37:08.

would expect him to draw this. Taking his time. He has pushed it

:37:09.:37:39.

out wide, it is a good line. Also do -- it is all to do with weight. Well

:37:40.:37:48.

played, Greg Harlow. It is a big, big ball. It is not just the fact he

:37:49.:37:56.

has managed to get the shot, it is where the shot is. But there is a

:37:57.:38:04.

possibility here. There is a ball which is a toucher for red. If he

:38:05.:38:19.

gets the drive, get the jack, you are talking about running that green

:38:20.:38:22.

ball off the rink, which brings in this red one and this red one, and

:38:23.:38:30.

there is already read in the ditch. Speak what I think Alex will be at

:38:31.:38:37.

this. Jack gives him the shot, the drive gives him the shot. He has got

:38:38.:38:44.

a toucher in the ditch. The chance of scoring three shots out of this.

:38:45.:38:51.

He has also got to seconds, so if he does remove his closest ball, it

:38:52.:38:54.

still won't matter -- two seconds. It looks wide, missed the chance. He

:38:55.:39:08.

knew right away it was on the wide side. It has to go down as the

:39:09.:39:17.

chance. Not a particularly easy one, but he would have been disappointed

:39:18.:39:22.

to be that far away. Alex Tidwell, he was at least two down when he had

:39:23.:39:27.

his first strike, -- Alex did well. Still keeps the set tight.

:39:28.:39:41.

Jack Lynch, 25.5 metres. -- jack lengths. The

:39:42.:40:23.

14 or 15 inches away, so still room here for Paul. You certainly

:40:24.:41:05.

wouldn't want to get caught on that but he's not prepared to move on to

:41:06.:41:11.

the forehand. 16 inches, he feels he can draw around.

:41:12.:41:19.

It looks good. It is a shoulder for Greg to rest on.

:41:20.:42:05.

He is asking it to keep running. He gets past that one. On another day,

:42:06.:42:15.

he just clips that and it falls away. Nicky Brett will be happy with

:42:16.:42:20.

that. Chlorine to get down, the weight

:42:21.:43:03.

looks lovely -- clawing. No reaction from Paul, Paul feels it is against.

:43:04.:43:07.

We slightly favoured green from our rings. Yes, I think it is. The rings

:43:08.:43:19.

are very accurate. The camera is right over the top of the head, it

:43:20.:43:24.

is all down to expertise at the end of the

:43:25.:43:29.

The backhand is slightly blocked out there, so an awkward one, I don't

:43:30.:43:58.

know where the best place to put this one is. Drawing beforehand,

:43:59.:44:02.

just trying to get in amongst the reds, just in case? -- the forehand.

:44:03.:44:09.

It is very difficult, because it is also tight. It gives Alex a chance

:44:10.:44:11.

if he takes it wider. He is having a real go at this. Oh,

:44:12.:44:28.

no. He has fallen back on the red. That is so unlikely. It has given

:44:29.:44:34.

the shot away. If it was close, and it surely is not close now, that is

:44:35.:44:40.

so unlucky for Greg. It has to be read now. Yes, a massive difference,

:44:41.:44:52.

definitely one to read. -- red. You can play this with confidence on the

:44:53.:44:57.

high side, just a little drop in. Desperately unlucky for it to go

:44:58.:44:58.

wrong. Anything on the jack, I'm going to

:44:59.:45:11.

be giving a shot away. I think there is a case are just taking the one,

:45:12.:45:18.

Alex, here. One up, two to go, if you score another single, you are

:45:19.:45:21.

two up going into the last end. Highline drift.

:45:22.:45:29.

Try a wee draw, then. If I fall back on the jack, that is a problem.

:45:30.:45:41.

Once again, I'm going to predict Alex to be short. I just don't think

:45:42.:45:49.

he should be going near this. One shot, I think, is quite good here.

:45:50.:45:56.

It is all about your own confidence, but they don't play this forehand

:45:57.:46:04.

very often. Maybe it is better just not to go near it.

:46:05.:46:11.

I am quite good at these predictions now. You are getting better,

:46:12.:46:18.

absolutely. That was one not to bother with. I think Nicky will see

:46:19.:46:21.

that Greg has been desperately unlucky. Greg may question whether

:46:22.:46:29.

they should have gone near that. If you give the shot away in a

:46:30.:46:33.

situation like that, it is never easy. Alex had a hard shot to

:46:34.:46:38.

actually get the shot back, so it could be quite crucial, that.

:46:39.:47:17.

In the run for home, the last two ends, Scotland looking for the three

:47:18.:47:27.

end tie-break, England looking to win it. Good match, have enjoyed

:47:28.:47:36.

this one. Yes, I thought it would be a good match. It probably won't win

:47:37.:47:53.

the shot, but it does win the battle at the moment. I expect that to be

:47:54.:47:55.

beaten. It is all that pace this time. Big

:47:56.:48:10.

swinging ball, it will drop back, got to be close.

:48:11.:48:22.

The way Alex and Greg have been playing, you think they could fit

:48:23.:48:31.

their generic for balls inside that. Stay away from the jack. Unlucky.

:48:32.:48:47.

Very unlucky. -- four balls. Paul has asked the forehand, I think Alex

:48:48.:48:51.

fancies the backhand. That is why he is going to have a look. I can see

:48:52.:48:55.

why Paul is thinking about the forehand, simply because that is the

:48:56.:48:58.

shot that Greg is going to be playing. I reckon I am faster than

:48:59.:49:11.

you expect this time, it is Greg's time to run up.

:49:12.:49:35.

That is what Greg will be looking for.

:49:36.:49:47.

He is asking for a yard on, Nicky, that is hard. You are asking for

:49:48.:49:55.

perfection. Accurate three nose as well it is a difficult shot. Speaker

:49:56.:50:01.

three he needs to bowl inside the normal draw line with an extra two

:50:02.:50:12.

or three weight. -- feat in weight. That is a great ball, a wonderful

:50:13.:50:18.

ball by Greg Harlow. He didn't have the extra weight to lift the ball,

:50:19.:50:26.

but he had the perfect draw. Close for two, mate. And that is crucial.

:50:27.:50:32.

It was a cracking ball, pushed the red, lifted it up and it dropped

:50:33.:50:36.

back and the jack was moved. And that was the difference with Alex

:50:37.:50:40.

Marshall not getting in with his first delivery. Alex is certainly on

:50:41.:50:52.

the backhand now. I don't think Alex and Paul would be very disappointed

:50:53.:50:58.

at dropping a one here, David, but two makes a massive difference going

:50:59.:51:05.

into the last. Losing one, yes, they will still have to win the last end.

:51:06.:51:09.

A big ball, this. The jack is available on the

:51:10.:51:21.

backhand. If he gets it right, he could pick up three or four shots.

:51:22.:51:28.

It looks narrow. Well, actually, the weight wasn't too bad at all, it was

:51:29.:51:36.

very close. It was under the line. I think he has to be very careful. If

:51:37.:51:40.

it is two, it is almost better walking away from it, because you

:51:41.:51:45.

can come in on the forehand and drop his own ball away. If they favour

:51:46.:51:54.

two, they can afford to lose one on the last end. The defending

:51:55.:51:58.

champions are looking per to shot, then, that is a whole lot of

:51:59.:52:04.

difference. -- looking for two shots. That is what Nicky is talking

:52:05.:52:10.

about. He is saying on the high side, you are looking to bring in

:52:11.:52:17.

the outside ball. -- off the outside ball. I would say you are better off

:52:18.:52:20.

leaving it at two. He's playing the backhand. This has

:52:21.:52:35.

to be very wide. And he is very wide. I don't think he is going near

:52:36.:52:45.

this! That is the Highline drift shot but he hasn't pushed through it

:52:46.:52:53.

and that is very sensible. Most of the players do favour two.

:52:54.:52:59.

That is not going through, I'm going to put two down on my card. I agree.

:53:00.:53:28.

Two shots. A little cushion here for the

:53:29.:53:58.

English pair, who could afford to lose one but not two. Jack length,

:53:59.:54:13.

28.5 metres. So Paul Foster and Alex Marshall, as defending champions,

:54:14.:54:16.

playing in red all the way through the event. And Nicky Brett and Greg

:54:17.:54:22.

Harlow in green. The fact that they have managed to

:54:23.:55:00.

stay using the same colour bowls all through the pairs... That is OK,

:55:01.:55:07.

good start. I think Alex is quite happy about the ball behind the

:55:08.:55:12.

jack. I think that is why Paul deliberately made sure he was up

:55:13.:55:20.

with this one. Nicky, again, a touch is required. That is never going to

:55:21.:55:26.

be lost. He is better there. You are always better there than in front of

:55:27.:55:27.

it. Try and drop a little bit. Just a

:55:28.:55:38.

draw, draw the shot and hit the jack, it's a bonus.

:55:39.:55:49.

You are close here, Paul. He is, you can see Alex saying it. He has got

:55:50.:55:59.

it. He has the jack, definitely. Not only that, he has made two out of

:56:00.:56:09.

it. Greg is having a look at this head, to me, it is a simple backhand

:56:10.:56:14.

draw. It looks forehand but it has to be backhand for Greg. Very

:56:15.:56:20.

pensive, the defending champions. This large crowd have really enjoyed

:56:21.:56:27.

this. It has been a wonderful game. Not always the bowling, Andy, but

:56:28.:56:33.

the tension. And this man has certainly been the best player on

:56:34.:56:37.

the rink. Can he draw to win the game?

:56:38.:56:42.

It is on a wide line. It is all about pace. I think it is too heavy.

:56:43.:56:52.

It looks quick, no way it is getting back. Can't blame him, you're not

:56:53.:56:58.

going to get anything if you are short. It is a set line against at

:56:59.:57:08.

the moment. What does Alex do? Get a back touch in.

:57:09.:57:36.

That one is holding off as well. Greg doesn't really want to change

:57:37.:57:43.

the line very much, the cheque is still inside. Still have two thirds

:57:44.:57:52.

if you want to ride it appear. Nicky, no! If I was Greg here, I

:57:53.:58:03.

would be telling him to draw the shot on the backhand. He has played

:58:04.:58:08.

that so well. It takes one ball out, he has then got 18 inches to draw

:58:09.:58:12.

the shot, I would think he will draw it. He will draw the shot. The thing

:58:13.:58:20.

is, if Greg pops one in there, it is going to be hidden out of the way,

:58:21.:58:23.

it is going to be almost impossible for Alex to get a hand, whereas Greg

:58:24.:58:28.

is saying, if I take the back one out, there is too much space.

:58:29.:58:33.

Exactly, that is why it should be the backhand draw. I know that Nicky

:58:34.:58:41.

loves the little runner, but for me, this has to be the draw. The

:58:42.:58:48.

backhand draw. Nicky is looking at coming down here on the forehand,

:58:49.:58:54.

the ball out here, or this ball out, but that space is just too big.

:58:55.:59:03.

Exactly. Utah never delete you are talking about 18 inches in front of

:59:04.:59:09.

the jack, 18 inches behind the jack -- you are talking about. There is

:59:10.:59:13.

also the forehand draw, but I'm going to go back to Greg playing the

:59:14.:59:22.

backhand draw so well. He could draw it on the forehand, the jack is off

:59:23.:59:25.

centre towards the forehand, so it helps it a little bit. I don't think

:59:26.:59:29.

he likes the forehand down here, on the draw. I think sometimes you have

:59:30.:59:35.

to just say to your partner, "I really fancy playing this" . So

:59:36.:59:42.

undecided, that is not a good sign, I don't think. Really taking his

:59:43.:59:47.

time over this one. A little tap on the arm. Well, Nicky quite rightly

:59:48.:59:55.

has encouraged him. Greg has chosen his shop. Once a skipper decides

:59:56.:00:02.

what to do, you have to give him 100% backing. You cannot keep that?

:00:03.:00:12.

In the mind -- you cannot keep that question mark in the mind. I'm not

:00:13.:00:19.

sure I agree with this one. Playing the runner. He has taken one away.

:00:20.:00:37.

It's too far. If there had have been a definite

:00:38.:00:51.

three against them... I still don't think that was the right shot. He

:00:52.:00:58.

did the best he could with it. Took the one out. Pressure on Alex here.

:00:59.:01:07.

It seems quite easy in the commentary box to draw within 18

:01:08.:01:10.

inches, but there's a lot of pressure on this.

:01:11.:01:20.

There are very few people you would want on the matter more than Alex

:01:21.:01:28.

Marshall. My money would be on Alex to draw another here. Forcing us

:01:29.:01:32.

into the tie-break. He's definitely drawn another. Will

:01:33.:01:59.

it drop? It hasn't, it stayed up! That is dramatic. It looked good all

:02:00.:02:07.

the way. Alex Marshall and Paul Foster tightening.

:02:08.:02:16.

What a dramatic finish that was. He couldn't believe it.

:02:17.:02:27.

That length and distance, it looked an absolute certainty that ball

:02:28.:02:31.

would have dropped back. It's a lovely wide angled bowl

:02:32.:03:02.

coming in here to make the three early draws for Greg Harlow.

:03:03.:03:11.

Another opportunity for the full house this time. Drops in, makes the

:03:12.:03:15.

four. This was all very close, right up to

:03:16.:03:32.

the 10th end. Harlow drops the jack back for the double. That gives him

:03:33.:03:36.

the comfort of an extra shot. This bowl, will be looking at this for a

:03:37.:03:40.

long time. It looked absolutely perfect on the swing. No one knows

:03:41.:03:45.

how on earth that bowl didn't drop back into win the second set.

:03:46.:03:55.

Very comfortable in terms of the ens one. 10-7. They were always a little

:03:56.:04:09.

bit in front, the English pair. I'm standing next to this year's

:04:10.:04:22.

champions. Congratulations to both of you.

:04:23.:04:27.

Nicky, first of all it must be nice to get your name on that trophy,

:04:28.:04:34.

especially against those two guys who have dominated it for the last

:04:35.:04:40.

three years. Very nice. These boys are top class. They've shown it year

:04:41.:04:46.

after year. It's nice for us to eventually get it. You came out

:04:47.:04:49.

swinging, you were right on the top of your game. We have to be. Three

:04:50.:04:56.

years in a row, it looked like they could win six in a row, they are

:04:57.:05:01.

that good. We know that we had to play a plus. You've got the

:05:02.:05:09.

microphones on today, we could hear some of the discussion on that last

:05:10.:05:15.

bowl. What was the thinking? I leave the thinking to him! You took a long

:05:16.:05:22.

time to decide what you wanted to deliver. The choices were to draw

:05:23.:05:26.

the shot and it probably would have been the better shot have I have

:05:27.:05:30.

been successful, but the margins were small. The option was to take

:05:31.:05:35.

one out and draw the last bowl. All the way down the green we thought

:05:36.:05:39.

he'd drawn it and it just held off and failed. It must be somebody up

:05:40.:05:45.

there shining down for us. Another thinking question about, what were

:05:46.:05:50.

you thinking when Hattie delivered that final bowl? Can somebody else

:05:51.:05:56.

play it? The guys in the commentary box were saying if there's anyone

:05:57.:06:00.

you want to deliver that it would be Tattie. How are you guys going to

:06:01.:06:07.

celebrate tonight? Very quiet. The mixed singles start tomorrow, so it

:06:08.:06:12.

will be a quiet celebration. If you believe that! It's not what your

:06:13.:06:17.

wife has been saying up in the gallery! Your champions, Greg Harlow

:06:18.:06:19.

and Nicky Brett. The applause just dying down for a

:06:20.:06:36.

second but soon it will rise again, because it's time for the trophy

:06:37.:06:41.

presentation. It is presentation time. Will you

:06:42.:06:45.

please welcome your presentation party, the director of strategy for

:06:46.:06:51.

Just Retirement, Mr Peter Borlee, along with the chief executive of

:06:52.:06:55.

the world Bowls tour, Richard Madison.

:06:56.:07:02.

First to receive their runners-up cheque, your appreciation for Alex

:07:03.:07:06.

Marshall and Paul Foster. Now to the winners, receiving a

:07:07.:07:31.

Langham glass goblet each, a check and the title of the 2014 Just

:07:32.:07:46.

Retirement World, Champions, Greg Harlow and Nicky Brett.

:07:47.:08:05.

They have finally gone and done it, ladies and gentlemen. The 2014 World

:08:06.:08:18.

Indoor Pairs, champions, Greg Harlow and Nick Brett.

:08:19.:08:28.

Congratulation to Greg Harlow and Nicky Brett, enjoying that willing

:08:29.:08:40.

feeling here. Someone else who knows that feeling very well is the

:08:41.:08:43.

defending men's champion, Stewart Anderson.

:08:44.:09:33.

Only four men in the last 35 years have managed to successfully defend

:09:34.:09:44.

their men's title. So Stewart Anderson, can he become the fifth?

:09:45.:09:51.

Winning the title last year was the pinnacle of achievement for the

:09:52.:09:55.

28-year-old. He comes from Ayrshire, a club which has a rich history of

:09:56.:09:59.

producing top-class players, including six world champions, both

:10:00.:10:04.

men and women. We caught up with Stewart as he prepared to defend his

:10:05.:10:05.

crown. The famous one was Hugh Duff in the

:10:06.:10:20.

indoor singles. I was not to see him play, it was a bit gutting for

:10:21.:10:30.

myself. I'm still currently an international player at this time

:10:31.:10:35.

and moment. We have the winners bored, I'm lucky enough to be on it

:10:36.:10:43.

as singles champion. We come to one of the stars of the club, Carrie

:10:44.:10:52.

Maclean, she won it at the age of 15. She went on and won the world

:10:53.:10:57.

under 25 ladies singles at the age of 15 again. It's phenomenal for the

:10:58.:11:02.

club and it's great for herself as well. The talent we've got in the

:11:03.:11:08.

club is brilliant. It's good for the community here. Carrie McLean,

:11:09.:11:16.

certainly a name to watch out for. Comparisons between Carrie and

:11:17.:11:19.

Stewart's outstanding junior talent is coming through the same club are

:11:20.:11:23.

inevitable. The club manager and junior coach remembers the current

:11:24.:11:26.

world singles champion taking a little enticing into the club during

:11:27.:11:33.

his formative years. When he first walked in the door he was a bowler

:11:34.:11:42.

outside. But you knew he had natural talent. When he first came in, he

:11:43.:11:47.

found was a totally different game from insight outside. It's more of a

:11:48.:11:53.

game of skill inside. He had to polish it. He had to learn to just

:11:54.:11:58.

work at it, a wee bit harder to finally train his skills. I always

:11:59.:12:03.

said to him years and years ago, just play your bowls the way you

:12:04.:12:09.

can, let them do the talking and it will take you around the world.

:12:10.:12:14.

That's what has happened. I lost my very first game. I was ready to

:12:15.:12:21.

chuck it will stop she tried to turn me around and keep me going. Now I'm

:12:22.:12:26.

the current world champion, it's all down to Margaret. Stewart still has

:12:27.:12:30.

a love of the outdoor game and may well feature in Scotland's

:12:31.:12:34.

Commonwealth Games team in Glasgow 2014, but right now his main focus

:12:35.:12:39.

is indoors, and his defence of the title he was so overwhelmed to win

:12:40.:12:45.

last year. To play the final with that crowd, it gives you goose bumps

:12:46.:12:48.

going back, knowing you are the world champion and has had a great

:12:49.:12:53.

year. I can't believe a year has gone past already. I'm really

:12:54.:12:57.

excited. There is no more pressure on me, I'm always laid-back and I

:12:58.:13:01.

don't mind the challenge. There were over 100 people here when I came

:13:02.:13:05.

back will stop all the people shouting and screaming when I walked

:13:06.:13:08.

in the door. It was lovely to see them. No doubt all Scottish progress

:13:09.:13:16.

in the tournament will be again cheered on by the members here,

:13:17.:13:21.

where the Bowls club is very much the heart of the community. But the

:13:22.:13:24.

people here know the unassuming lad from just down the road in the

:13:25.:13:29.

village will be trying his very best to uphold the club's proud tradition

:13:30.:13:35.

once again. He will watch every bowl that is played and televised, we

:13:36.:13:39.

will watch the repeats and cheer him on. We would be totally delighted to

:13:40.:13:43.

bring him back next year as the world champion. The previous two

:13:44.:13:48.

world singles champions, Paul Foster and Andy Thomson, have gone down at

:13:49.:13:52.

the very first hurdle when it titles were defended in 2012 and 2013

:13:53.:13:58.

respectively. But as always, Stewart is taking a relaxed and

:13:59.:14:02.

philosophical approach to the tournament. Don't underestimate his

:14:03.:14:06.

ambition. The first year I went in I was an underdog. I still feel like

:14:07.:14:13.

that. But if I walk out and play against Paul Foster and Alex

:14:14.:14:16.

Marshall, I still feel an underdog. I still feel I can beat them.

:14:17.:14:28.

The defending champion, Stewart Anderson, is hoping to fill the last

:14:29.:14:31.

remaining spot in the last 16. I've been joined by Andy Thomson.

:14:32.:15:11.

The two guys warming up, Stewart Anderson and Josh Grant. In the last

:15:12.:15:14.

couple of years we have seen the defending champion, and I hate to

:15:15.:15:19.

bring it up, going out in the first round. Tiller there's a lot of

:15:20.:15:22.

pressure coming as defending champion. Myself and Paul Fella the

:15:23.:15:27.

first hurdle. Stewart has a tough game here. There's a lot of

:15:28.:15:32.

pressure. That is why defending champions have sometimes not

:15:33.:15:36.

produced a good performance. But it is possible that Stewart is the type

:15:37.:15:57.

of player that a lot of people could be thinking that he could have gone

:15:58.:16:00.

to the top a few years ago, people thought he was the next big thing.

:16:01.:16:03.

He lost in the final to Greg about four years ago, he came back last

:16:04.:16:06.

year and he's a talented player. I must ask you about Josh. He's 19, a

:16:07.:16:08.

shop assistant in Waitrose. He has had to play - Machtig time off work

:16:09.:16:12.

to be here today. It's a big day for him in front of the BBC cameras and

:16:13.:16:15.

up against a player of that ilk. How does he cope with it? He's from the

:16:16.:16:21.

same area. I know him very well. He's quite a calm, cool type of

:16:22.:16:26.

person. I think you will cope quite well. Josh Grant up against Stewart

:16:27.:16:31.

Anderson. That is our next match on the BBC. Making his first appearance

:16:32.:16:40.

on this portable rink is this national under 25s runner up. From

:16:41.:16:42.

Surrey, give it up for Josh Grant. Josh takes on twice a world under

:16:43.:17:16.

25s and the defending world indoor singles champion, Stewart Anderson.

:17:17.:17:43.

MUSIC: "Jump Around" by House of Pain.

:17:44.:17:56.

Fascinating game, two young players. Stewart Anderson at 28 stop young

:17:57.:18:06.

Josh Grant is only 19. I've been joined in the commentary box by

:18:07.:18:10.

world champion and many times runner-up, John Price. Thank you,

:18:11.:18:17.

David. It's an interesting clash, this one. Stewart is a young man

:18:18.:18:22.

with a lot of experience. This is a whole new ball game for Josh. David

:18:23.:18:26.

and Goliath you might say. An element of that.

:18:27.:18:35.

But sometimes when it comes to the youth side, John, you get the

:18:36.:18:41.

situation where it just doesn't faze them. Exactly. We could all go back

:18:42.:18:48.

to our younger days, you just went on the green and rolled the bowls,

:18:49.:18:53.

sometimes the more you know the more difficult it becomes.

:18:54.:19:15.

Stewart Anderson gets out of the blocks pretty quickly generally, so

:19:16.:19:21.

it will be very much up to this young man to try and hold on. Keep

:19:22.:19:28.

him under pressure. He will have a lot of support here, I feel. Yes,

:19:29.:19:32.

and he's started well. Stewart, this is what he is renowned

:19:33.:19:53.

for, he will draw a lot of close bowls, try and surround that Jack.

:19:54.:20:05.

Josh's main supporter is his girlfriend there.

:20:06.:20:16.

He's just missed his line with that. Stewart has settled very quickly.

:20:17.:20:48.

I might be tempted to have a little runner here. Yes, he's going for the

:20:49.:21:07.

runner. That looks narrow. I always felt the first end of any

:21:08.:21:39.

match, you are a bit nervous. No matter how experienced you are, it

:21:40.:21:42.

doesn't really matter. You want to get into it and you just want one

:21:43.:21:47.

bowl within five or six inches, just to take the pressure off, to settle

:21:48.:21:54.

into it. Stewart Anderson's popped three in there, missed the chance of

:21:55.:21:55.

a full house. Additional pressure, being on

:21:56.:22:05.

television for the first time for Josh. It's very easy to think that

:22:06.:22:13.

players just arrive at the portable rink and play like they do back at

:22:14.:22:16.

their home club, but it's not always the case.

:22:17.:23:46.

Stewart Anderson will be taking no risks with this young man. No place

:23:47.:24:17.

for sentiment in a portable rink when you are defending your title.

:24:18.:24:21.

You have to get in, treat him as if he is one of the best in the world.

:24:22.:24:28.

Try and get the job done. If Josh can score a few shots and keep

:24:29.:24:32.

straight under pressure, that will build the match.

:24:33.:24:48.

Just the one at the moment. Still therefore Stewart. The movement on

:24:49.:24:55.

the jack is good, but he will just draw in at the moment, just a reach

:24:56.:24:58.

and draw. Recovery boar, last delivery. --

:24:59.:25:18.

recovery bowl. Perfect line, he just didn't push

:25:19.:25:51.

it. This is the marker for this match,

:25:52.:26:18.

Alan Thornhill. Very experienced. Commonwealth Games, the outdoor and

:26:19.:26:19.

is one of the panel members. A little bit of room there. It's

:26:20.:26:53.

important for Josh to take these opportunities, he is not going to

:26:54.:26:56.

get too many loose deliveries out of Stewart.

:26:57.:27:09.

Stewart Anderson spent some time in Wales. Moved back to Scotland, spent

:27:10.:27:20.

a year or so down there and moved back to Scotland. Suddenly his game

:27:21.:27:21.

just seemed to build up again. Yes, I think Stewart is probably a

:27:22.:27:35.

Scottish boy at heart. Didn't really settle with the delights of Wales.

:27:36.:27:50.

Josh just falling a little bit short on the overcorrection.

:27:51.:28:32.

This is better, this is more like it. Stewart Anderson missed a chance

:28:33.:28:43.

to close the door. That will make him feel good.

:28:44.:28:51.

Josh has got to look at maybe applying a bit of pressure to

:28:52.:28:57.

Stewart and see what Stewart comes back with.

:28:58.:29:11.

Big effort, really good try by Stewart. He's done it again. A bit

:29:12.:29:23.

of space, but once again the last bowl delivery of Stewart Anderson

:29:24.:29:28.

gets in. Takes a shot away from Josh Grant. That's not going to be easy

:29:29.:29:29.

to beat. Doesn't waste any time on the mat.

:29:30.:29:51.

He's sticking to the forehand delivery.

:29:52.:29:56.

The last two ends have been a little bit loose, but Stewart Anderson has

:29:57.:30:15.

come in with the last delivery to make it count.

:30:16.:31:13.

Well, a bit unfortunate. It slid across the face of the jack.

:31:14.:31:38.

That's another good ball from Stewart. Well, Josh is having a go

:31:39.:31:52.

at this. Always on the right side though. That's the problem he is

:31:53.:31:56.

going to face if he does start attacking. If you are missing, you

:31:57.:32:02.

can get yourself in a lot of trouble against somebody of Stewart's

:32:03.:32:07.

capability. He will be in a heap of trouble, there is no doubt about

:32:08.:32:10.

that. It is fine if you are hitting well, but once it starts going

:32:11.:32:16.

wrong. Stewart put another one in behind. So the problem here for Josh

:32:17.:32:24.

now, he has gone with the second ball really. There is no difference

:32:25.:32:27.

in position so you would think well, he will go again. At the back of his

:32:28.:32:38.

mind he is thinking "If I miss again, I would be at a four." Well,

:32:39.:32:45.

that's a good hit. Well played. APPLAUSE

:32:46.:32:51.

He came in after it as well which is good. I will give him good credit

:32:52.:32:58.

for that because he was, he could have easily gone back and he decided

:32:59.:33:03.

that's the right shot to play. He ditched the jack. Plenty of nerve.

:33:04.:33:10.

Oh, absolutely. He is giving it a good go. Oh, I

:33:11.:33:34.

don't believe it. Right up to the edge.

:33:35.:33:39.

APPLAUSE And Josh was thinking to himself, "I

:33:40.:33:45.

have got a chance here." The shot is against him and to be truthful with

:33:46.:33:48.

you, it is going to be a hard bowl to beat that, John. You can see it

:33:49.:33:53.

on the drive, it would be worthwhile going for it. He is playing, it,

:33:54.:33:55.

Dave. Great ball. A great shot. Well

:33:56.:34:09.

played. Clean as a whistle! APPLAUSE

:34:10.:34:17.

The 19-year-old is on the card. Always good to see. It should settle

:34:18.:34:24.

him down a little bit. A couple of great bowls there, John? Yes, a

:34:25.:34:33.

gutsy performance. Two good hits. He will be feeling good now. His heart

:34:34.:34:37.

will be beating a little bit faster and he will be chuffed. That could

:34:38.:34:41.

be the catalyst to put a few balls on the jack.

:34:42.:35:03.

That's the idea. Longer jack lengths.

:35:04.:35:25.

And Stewart's dad Billy comes down to watch him and an excellent baker,

:35:26.:35:41.

I think it is fair to say, John. He usually has a tin of goodies for

:35:42.:35:47.

folks here in the background. We will have to order a few doughnuts

:35:48.:35:52.

and get some in the commentary box. A couple of hot cross buns. There is

:35:53.:35:57.

no chance, mate. Those back there will have eaten it all!

:35:58.:36:04.

You are forgotten about up here. We have got jelly babies so we can't

:36:05.:36:12.

grumble. I love my jelly babies. Stewart is in again. That's the

:36:13.:36:18.

problem Josh will face. Stewart is monotonous on the draw and he will

:36:19.:36:23.

crowd the jack. You need to be matching him really, David. Yes, it

:36:24.:36:28.

is all about weight with this one. He has good line. He pushed over it

:36:29.:36:31.

and Stewart has to cover those. Stewart, anything past the jack here

:36:32.:36:59.

is good. He could be in a situation of allowing a third shot. A good

:37:00.:37:05.

looking line. Here it comes. Yes, there is the cover ball. Maybe a

:37:06.:37:11.

little bit further required. A jack is possible to go now, but you know,

:37:12.:37:16.

what do you do here John? Do you play a similar ball? Do you take the

:37:17.:37:21.

risk? I think he has got to be tempted to play just through this

:37:22.:37:28.

and hope that he gets the jack. You could leave it short and you think

:37:29.:37:33.

well, that's no good, is it? Well, he is going for it on the other

:37:34.:37:36.

side. If he misses, he will certainly lose a four. It is in the

:37:37.:37:41.

area. Good connection. Oh well played. Very well played. That's a

:37:42.:37:46.

good connection, Dave? Very good connection. Three down to four up by

:37:47.:37:51.

the looks of it. He will be wishing that had been the last bowl. I think

:37:52.:37:57.

he picked the right shot there. He played right through it. It was a

:37:58.:38:04.

bigger target. He played it well. I would expect Stewart to draw second

:38:05.:38:09.

anyway. He will not be looking for the shot. That really would be a

:38:10.:38:16.

bonus. Yes, so he is certainly wide enough, there is no doubt about

:38:17.:38:19.

that. It is all on the weight now. How is his weight? If he is quick,

:38:20.:38:28.

he is in trouble. Oh, he just caught the ball. If that was past the ball,

:38:29.:38:32.

I think he would have been drawing it. I think he would have been

:38:33.:38:37.

drawing it as well. He missed the green. Stewart will have a look. One

:38:38.:38:43.

green. Well, he has done well so far. He

:38:44.:39:16.

has been under a bit of pressure, but he is playing good recovery

:39:17.:39:22.

shots is Josh Grant. He is only three behind. And five ends played.

:39:23.:39:27.

He just needs a couple of descent ends and all of a sudden, he is

:39:28.:39:28.

right there. Well, that's better. He made the

:39:29.:40:31.

adjustment. You just feel he is not far off playing a really steady game

:40:32.:40:39.

here. Stewart has loosened up a little bit.

:40:40.:40:49.

A nice easy delivery from Josh. Nothing too complicated there. A

:40:50.:41:00.

good line in. Yes, he is trying hard. This should drop back in for

:41:01.:41:10.

another shot. APPLAUSE

:41:11.:41:14.

Still more than enough room for Stewart Anderson.

:41:15.:41:25.

Yes, that's number one. Well, that gives him an opportunity. He was in

:41:26.:41:40.

a lot of trouble. I just wonder will he have a little pop at the bowl

:41:41.:41:51.

bearing in mind his success with the running bowls.

:41:52.:41:58.

That looks wide. As soon as you put the extra weight on there is just no

:41:59.:42:07.

chance of it getting back. That's the hard shot, John, isn't it? He

:42:08.:42:14.

was just over a yard of weight, but he doesn't get back on the higher

:42:15.:42:16.

line. This is a nice draw for Stewart. He

:42:17.:42:35.

could add another here. It takes him away again. Well, that's a definite

:42:36.:42:40.

spare shot opportunity. Plenty of room. There it goes. Sliding in. Not

:42:41.:42:45.

a problem. APPLAUSE

:42:46.:42:54.

He is going to get the odd loosish end with a young and inexperienced

:42:55.:42:57.

player and you have to take advantage of those, John, but

:42:58.:43:01.

claelically, we are talking about four ends where we have had single

:43:02.:43:04.

shots scored, that's tight stuff. So it is a nervous first end and it was

:43:05.:43:08.

a little bit loose in the last, but apart from that, if he can keep it

:43:09.:43:19.

nice and tight. I always think defending champions are a bit

:43:20.:43:24.

nervous anyway. Yes, it is never easy coming back to defend a title

:43:25.:43:28.

and Stewart would have wanted a good start and really this is a good

:43:29.:43:32.

start from him. It is a comfortable start. He has got a five shot lead.

:43:33.:43:42.

He would be happy with this. He is getting the first bowl in more often

:43:43.:43:45.

than not. A good start by Stewart Anderson.

:43:46.:44:27.

Well, that wasn't intentional. I think he was trying to get past the

:44:28.:44:35.

red ball. Well, that's what I'm saying, Stewart Anderson came out

:44:36.:44:38.

and packed it in. He grouped the three balls together, but hasn't

:44:39.:44:44.

really done that since. Josh really needs to get himself going with the

:44:45.:44:48.

first two bowls. That's more like it. That's t idea.

:44:49.:44:57.

-- that's the idea. Well, you play a similar bowl. No

:44:58.:45:47.

danger. A good green. This goes again. Big

:45:48.:45:54.

effort. Well, that's surprising from our

:45:55.:46:20.

angle. Yes. It is often quite hard to tell. Stewart Anderson is a quick

:46:21.:46:35.

player. Well, if you can miss the front one or push it in, he has got

:46:36.:46:48.

a chance. That was harsh on the young man.

:46:49.:46:53.

That was a long way away that bowl and to finish there and through a

:46:54.:47:01.

gap as well, John. He wasn't intending that. Stewart is a good

:47:02.:47:06.

sportsman. That's bowls for you! Stewart will always acknowledge

:47:07.:47:09.

that. There are some players you play against and you usually find

:47:10.:47:15.

them at the club that will never acknowledge a fortunate bowl, but

:47:16.:47:19.

the top players always do and Stewart is a gentleman on the rink.

:47:20.:47:25.

I think Josh you are inside the line with this. Unlucky to lose a single.

:47:26.:47:34.

It can be a cruel game. Yes, small margins. A tough old game. Well,

:47:35.:47:59.

girlfriend Nicola is not saying too much to mum.

:48:00.:48:48.

That's a good reply. Well done. Two great bowls from both players.

:48:49.:49:07.

You can't imagine the jack ending up where it is, John, you know after a

:49:08.:49:14.

bowl like that and it actually made it somewhat harder. A big wide draw

:49:15.:49:25.

here so he will drop back. This is pretty close as well. Yeah, it is a

:49:26.:49:30.

good bowl there. He is trying to push his own green

:49:31.:49:52.

bowl. Well, that was a good effort on that side with that weight. Well,

:49:53.:49:56.

a front plant would have been perfect, but unfortunately, he

:49:57.:50:02.

didn't get back in again. That's a good bowl at the back. A really good

:50:03.:50:10.

try with that weight as well from Josh. Stewart might just leave this

:50:11.:50:20.

and drop around the back. Well, it is a set lie situation. So point in

:50:21.:50:27.

being brave and going chasing shots when you don't need them. Positions

:50:28.:50:32.

far, far better. A good effort again, David. Same

:50:33.:51:10.

thing. Oh, that's a really good try. Very unfortunate. A solid

:51:11.:51:14.

connection. It is such a hard shot and he played it so well. And

:51:15.:51:17.

nothing for it. He has got a sense of humour and he

:51:18.:51:34.

can still laugh about it! I don't think he has seen too much amusement

:51:35.:51:41.

in it. He is just accepting the fact that it is not going his way at the

:51:42.:51:51.

moment, but it could well change. A good bowl by Stewart. That's about

:51:52.:51:56.

as much as he could do really. I think he is going to play it again.

:51:57.:52:00.

Same bowl and hope that it dips the extra inch or two and get the bowl

:52:01.:52:05.

out solid and stay himself. He needs a double. One shot is no good, but

:52:06.:52:11.

it is a bit of a practise shot for him.

:52:12.:52:23.

Well, he is having another good go at this. A slight correction. Lovely

:52:24.:52:32.

weight for the job. A difficult shot.

:52:33.:52:59.

Well, it wasn't a walk over for Stewart. He had to play some good,

:53:00.:53:09.

steady bowls. Josh Grant contributed to the set. He is going to have to

:53:10.:53:16.

be a bit mor consistent. Josh is having to play too much recovery

:53:17.:53:20.

bowls if you like. Too many weighted deliveries to get himself out of

:53:21.:53:21.

trouble. Yes. A good bowl again. That's a better

:53:22.:54:17.

start. As I was saying, John, it is all

:54:18.:54:46.

about just that little bit of extra pressure if Stewart misses one bowl

:54:47.:54:50.

he is suddenly two or three down instead of having lots of room to

:54:51.:54:54.

draw. This just sneaks in front of the red and it has. It is a number

:54:55.:55:05.

one. That's very good. He is asking a question of Stewart here because

:55:06.:55:09.

this man is more than capable of delivering. You have got to do that.

:55:10.:55:12.

You have got to put him in a position where he has got to recover

:55:13.:55:17.

and he played a good end, Josh. This looks a little bit over played. Now

:55:18.:55:22.

suddenly Stewart is going to have three or four against him with the a

:55:23.:55:26.

last bowl and that can make you a bit nervy if you face two or three

:55:27.:55:28.

of those. A good line again, Dave. It is all

:55:29.:55:53.

about weight. He could be very close again here. Needs to run. He is

:55:54.:55:59.

going to be a little bit unlucky. Well, unfortunately that's going to

:56:00.:56:05.

give Stewart a shoulder. Josh knows that himself. He was very unlucky

:56:06.:56:11.

with that. That was a good delivery and just didn't get enough ben.

:56:12.:56:15.

Another six inches of bend and he is in the way, but he just left that

:56:16.:56:25.

angle off that bowl. We just had a delivery of Christmas cake and

:56:26.:56:37.

biscuits in the box here. It is one of our few guilty pleasures, John.

:56:38.:56:45.

That's all. Well done, Stewart. Yes, he is going for the runner, four

:56:46.:56:49.

against. Well, he looks like he is inside. He might take one or maybe

:56:50.:56:55.

two away. Yes, he managed to get two away. Damage limitation.

:56:56.:57:02.

APPLAUSE That's a good end for the young man.

:57:03.:57:04.

A good start to the second set. He is starting to operate a bit

:57:05.:57:45.

better now with the first delivery. A very good ball by Stewart

:57:46.:58:04.

Anderson. Stewart Anderson provisionally

:58:05.:58:36.

number ten. He is equal with Jason Greenslade in the World Tour world

:58:37.:58:45.

rankings group, just behind you John. Yes, it is all very congested

:58:46.:58:50.

in the middle part. It is nice to be fighting for the Champions League

:58:51.:58:53.

spot rather than fighting for the relegation. I have been there a few

:58:54.:58:56.

times in recent years. You could be there with Swansea the way things

:58:57.:59:01.

are going? And Stewart is looking to improve his ranking position. Two

:59:02.:59:05.

great bowls again there. This looks like it will be a little bit of

:59:06.:59:08.

weight from Josh. He has been very good with the weight shot.

:59:09.:59:25.

He doesn't waste any time. In the area, Dave. He gets a good run

:59:26.:59:34.

through. Well played. That was the perfect way to play it. Just getting

:59:35.:59:41.

off the ball and stun the weight out and carry through. He played well.

:59:42.:59:45.

Yeah, a good shot. Stewart has to do it again. This is

:59:46.:59:56.

looking good. And in front. A bit of a choice,

:59:57.:00:14.

does he draw and try and keep it tight, so if he loses anything he

:00:15.:00:20.

only loses a single, or does he go again and take the bowl out and

:00:21.:00:23.

leave it to Stewart to have to draw the shot? I think he might be

:00:24.:00:32.

tempted to go again. Even if he gets into the jack it's not a problem, if

:00:33.:00:34.

he gets it off the rink. Running bowl and getting back down

:00:35.:01:00.

again to dead weight is difficult at the best of times, but in the

:01:01.:01:04.

portable rink you really need a lot of experience to play that shot. You

:01:05.:01:09.

will think that Stewart will probably get in with this one. He's

:01:10.:01:13.

got the line and wait, I'd expect him to draw another.

:01:14.:01:26.

No mistake. Two beauties from Stewart Anderson.

:01:27.:01:39.

You've almost got two sections of singles play. The first section with

:01:40.:01:46.

the first two and then the second section. He played a really good

:01:47.:01:48.

end. Stewart is shaking his head, as if

:01:49.:03:18.

he thought that one was absolutely the same as the previous delivery

:03:19.:03:22.

but it doesn't always work out that way.

:03:23.:03:27.

This looks lovely line Stewart Anderson. Not quite. Good grouping,

:03:28.:04:03.

though. Stewart Anderson doesn't go for the

:04:04.:04:29.

big drive, he is conservative, he draws well. Think about the game.

:04:30.:04:37.

Is very good bowl. It was a good end. That's the beauty. I quite like

:04:38.:04:49.

the look of this loud as well. First time the rink and he's given a good

:04:50.:04:51.

account of himself. Absolutely. What a bowl! Josh looking to score a

:04:52.:05:36.

potential two shots in this end and suddenly sees it taken away from

:05:37.:05:42.

him. There's not a lot you can do about that, when somebody plays a

:05:43.:05:48.

bowl as good as that. There's not many people who can take a bowl as

:05:49.:05:50.

good as that! Had to be there, had to give it a

:05:51.:06:10.

chance. Opportunities abound for both

:06:11.:07:34.

players. That's good stuff. A very good reply, good quality game at the

:07:35.:07:39.

moment. Some good shots with the running bowl.

:07:40.:08:03.

I think he thought he was closer than that. He had a very good line

:08:04.:08:08.

in. For Josh, he really needs to be

:08:09.:08:30.

playing the same bowl, rather than adjust anything.

:08:31.:09:14.

Nothing easy about this one. He's not happy about it. Didn't push it

:09:15.:09:21.

through. I think his line was pretty good, he

:09:22.:09:29.

just didn't push into it. It may not be in but it's a very

:09:30.:10:12.

good bowl. It is in. The rings say it's a very,

:10:13.:10:25.

very close. A decent line. If he runs he's got

:10:26.:10:38.

to run on that line. Big effort. That's the first real break in the

:10:39.:11:23.

match. A little gap of four shots now. He will be looking to power on

:11:24.:11:27.

the next couple of ends. A little bit of space here, Josh can

:11:28.:12:05.

get in with the first bowl, he needs to score this end. Stewart's dad,

:12:06.:12:08.

he's looking a little concerned. A quick thank you to Billy, the

:12:09.:12:22.

shortbread is wonderful! Much appreciated. He never fails at any

:12:23.:12:25.

event, does he? He is a good lad. The usual trap, isn't it? You try to

:12:26.:13:12.

correct and you over correct. Stewart could close the door here.

:13:13.:13:23.

He's stayed on the high side of the jack. The front bowl dropping down

:13:24.:13:28.

as well. Two problems now for Josh. Stewart making a run for home. If he

:13:29.:13:44.

gets this end he is in a strong position. He could just draw this

:13:45.:13:52.

off and turn the jack around the corner.

:13:53.:14:04.

It's a great effort, it really is. Drop back... Great bowl.

:14:05.:14:18.

I'm not sure he's made the shot. The marker feels it's very close.

:14:19.:14:50.

Stewart, you don't want the jack but if you hold to the bowl and drop

:14:51.:14:57.

back you could make three. That's a beautiful delivery!

:14:58.:15:08.

Josh didn't do anything wrong with his delivery, Stewart just came in

:15:09.:15:12.

and aced him. Life is tough! He will play for it now down the

:15:13.:15:27.

backhand, push into it, bowl on to bowl on the jack.

:15:28.:16:20.

The damage has been done. This is a long way back for Josh Grant.

:16:21.:16:57.

There are a few questions being asked of Stewart Anderson at the

:16:58.:17:03.

start of the second set. He responded strongly, he played a

:17:04.:17:08.

couple of really good ends. Get two troubles. He's made the break. Four

:17:09.:17:13.

ends to go, seven shots up. The last two ends have been a big

:17:14.:18:15.

blow for Josh. The lad hasn't done too much wrong really. No, he's

:18:16.:18:21.

played some excellent bowls, he played a brilliant third bowl

:18:22.:18:25.

against second shot. He lost the three out of nothing really.

:18:26.:18:33.

It looks like it might be dropping a little bit. It has. Again, he's a

:18:34.:18:41.

good line bowler, he's getting the line. He's played three bowls that

:18:42.:18:48.

have made the centre line, but he's just missed out on his weight.

:18:49.:19:09.

The score doesn't suggest how close it's been. Often the case.

:19:10.:19:22.

Another great bowl again, monotonous when he's in this kind of form. To

:19:23.:19:34.

be fair, he's had a bit of room in this match on a number of ends, but

:19:35.:19:39.

he's come up with the big bowls to come up with the big counts as well.

:19:40.:19:41.

This isn't easy for Josh. Well played, that's a great bowl.

:19:42.:20:00.

Big smile. Goodlad well done. When you play a last bowl like that

:20:01.:20:45.

it shows you have kept your nerve. We've seen some very experienced

:20:46.:20:49.

international bowlers just crash out there. This young man is keeping his

:20:50.:20:53.

nerve. Doesn't look like there's too much that will fluster him. He's

:20:54.:21:00.

played some really good bowls, some good conversion shots as well.

:21:01.:21:03.

There's lots of potential here. He will be more than pleased with his

:21:04.:21:07.

first performance on the portable rink. He's just unfortunate to catch

:21:08.:21:11.

somebody of the calibre of Stewart Anderson on good form.

:21:12.:21:18.

Stewart is good, he will crowd that jack, make it very difficult for you

:21:19.:21:25.

to score more than a single. That's what makes him so dangerous, the

:21:26.:21:26.

ability to close out ends. I wonder if Stewart Anderson will be

:21:27.:22:39.

tempted to run this now. It looks like a good target.

:22:40.:22:47.

He shaved it! I wonder what Josh is going to do here. At 9-3, does he

:22:48.:23:01.

put one in again and hope that it finishes a foot short? I'd gamble

:23:02.:23:04.

and go again. He needs to drop back. I'm a little

:23:05.:23:21.

bit surprised. It is a good bowl, but I'm a little bit surprised. I

:23:22.:23:26.

thought he might have tried to block it. Stewart will go again.

:23:27.:23:34.

He needed Stewart to miss that to give him a real chance in the set.

:23:35.:24:06.

He made two goes at it. I think if Josh had kept his forehand, even if

:24:07.:24:10.

he'd been a foot short scoring in the line, there's always a chance

:24:11.:24:14.

that if Stewart had hit that ball, it might have locked in the green

:24:15.:24:18.

and taken Stewart away. It was just too open, Stewart wasn't going to

:24:19.:24:19.

miss twice. You've got to hope that somebody

:24:20.:24:30.

strikes that they don't get that perfect connection. He played a

:24:31.:24:31.

really good end again there. You would have expected him to have

:24:32.:25:39.

adjusted. This one goes on the jack. Well... It's a little bit too

:25:40.:25:44.

late, unfortunately. Josh will be thinking, why did I go with this

:25:45.:25:48.

length jacket at the start of the match?

:25:49.:26:00.

He's looking good again. That's a third, but again, the door is still

:26:01.:26:07.

slightly open. If that had been in front of the jack it would have been

:26:08.:26:09.

different. It looks like second bowl. That's

:26:10.:26:31.

enough because if it keeps Josh to one shot, the match is over.

:26:32.:26:44.

This is a difficult shot. He needs more than two, really.

:26:45.:26:54.

He does, but it looks like he's just trying to draw it to me.

:26:55.:27:04.

It looks like it's just the one shot. If it is, they will shake

:27:05.:27:08.

hands. Yes, conceded, Joshua. The best he

:27:09.:27:43.

could do was call four shots on the last end to make it a draw. Stewart

:27:44.:27:48.

Anderson negotiates the 19-year-old from Croydon and send him home. But

:27:49.:27:53.

a good defence of his title, and he's into the second round.

:27:54.:28:01.

It was always going to be a tough draw for young Josh to get past the

:28:02.:28:08.

defending champion. It certainly was. He pitted himself well,

:28:09.:28:13.

particularly in the second set. He hung in there. Stewart finished him

:28:14.:28:18.

off with some really good bowls. Stewart was really in good form

:28:19.:28:22.

here. I think he will take confidence for the rest of the

:28:23.:28:27.

tournament. This was coming into the first end will stop we thought this

:28:28.:28:29.

could be very difficult. Even when he wasn't on target,

:28:30.:28:41.

sometimes Lady luck smiles on you when you are the defending

:28:42.:28:42.

champion. And moving into the second set, if

:28:43.:28:53.

you see how this bowl turns around. Josh, again, line, possibly two

:28:54.:28:59.

shots. Josh left with very little to play

:29:00.:29:10.

here except to try and rest the ball off. Just didn't have the weight. It

:29:11.:29:16.

is one shot to Stewart Anderson and he is through to the second round.

:29:17.:29:23.

Josh, I will concede you first of all. This is a new experience for

:29:24.:29:29.

you, playing in front of the cameras on the BBC against the defending

:29:30.:29:38.

champion. How tough is that? Quite tough, took me a while to settle

:29:39.:29:40.

down. I thought I played well in the second set. It was tough.

:29:41.:29:49.

What have you learned from this experience? This carpet is tough,

:29:50.:30:01.

so, yeah. We wish you the rest of -- Best of luck, you're only young, you

:30:02.:30:04.

got time off work to come here. Before we talk about you, a bit

:30:05.:30:08.

about your opponent today and the talent he has. Yes, he can play

:30:09.:30:17.

bowls and he got forced to play over the weight, he had learnt to play

:30:18.:30:20.

not those shots. He is young, he will be back here soon enough. I was

:30:21.:30:27.

young here as well, the same as Josh. He will learn. I was speaking

:30:28.:30:34.

to Andy Thomson, the last couple of men's champions have gone out under

:30:35.:30:37.

the first round, are you glad to get that under your belt? I must admit I

:30:38.:30:43.

was nervous coming onto the green, it took me four or five ends to

:30:44.:30:48.

settle into my game. I was hoping it was not three in a row! Only four

:30:49.:30:53.

other men have defended their title successfully in the last four

:30:54.:30:56.

years. Does the weight of history ever enter your mind? I am just

:30:57.:30:59.

looking forward to Wednesday now against rot. -- against Rob.

:31:00.:31:07.

Congratulations, Josh, hopefully there will be more for you in years

:31:08.:31:12.

to come here at otters. Well done to both of you.

:31:13.:31:17.

Well done to Stewart Anderson, he is through to the last 16. Up against

:31:18.:31:22.

him, we will find out who he plays, we will look back on the other last

:31:23.:31:27.

16 match still act banding. It was between the former world champion

:31:28.:31:31.

and Commonwealth champion Robert Weale against Michael Stepney, who

:31:32.:31:40.

had to come to a tough qualifiers. We will pick this up in the

:31:41.:31:47.

tie-break and once again, David Corkill is in the commentary box.

:31:48.:31:51.

And alongside him we had Andy Thomson.

:31:52.:31:56.

Robert Weale, seeded 16th of this world indoor singles championship,

:31:57.:32:05.

really needs to win this match. He has dropped down to provisional 18th

:32:06.:32:11.

for the season. The qualifier, Michael Stepney, from Scotland, from

:32:12.:32:19.

Elgin. He won the first -- he won the first set comfortably, Robert ,

:32:20.:32:27.

and now it is all too late for as Michael Stepney came back.

:32:28.:32:41.

In tie-break situations, it only takes one good one or one lucky one

:32:42.:32:50.

to win it for you, Dave. It is the way tie-breaks work, it is not a the

:32:51.:32:54.

naked shots, you just have two when the end so the rules are slightly

:32:55.:32:59.

different. -- you just have to win the end. They are not bad bowls, not

:33:00.:33:01.

close enough. Michael Stepney has really worked

:33:02.:33:32.

his way into the snatch. He was blown away in the first set. -- into

:33:33.:33:40.

this match. Robert Weale was very consistent, but he had come back

:33:41.:33:46.

strong, still not operating with his first bowl but the recovery bowls

:33:47.:33:49.

have been good. He had been particularly good with the third

:33:50.:33:55.

bowl. That was a good second bowl then, Robert needs to react to this.

:33:56.:34:05.

A tighter line by Robert. It is in the area.

:34:06.:34:22.

A portable rink, the jack bounces quite a lot. On some normal club

:34:23.:34:28.

carpets, the jack almost touching itself to the bowl. -- the jack

:34:29.:34:38.

almost attaches itself. He is looking for a good bowl to drop

:34:39.:34:44.

back, he is high and wide. It is still useful. Three red, you only

:34:45.:34:53.

need one. So what does Robert do, though the auger on the re-spot?

:34:54.:34:59.

Probably the re-spot position, so anywhere where that last green bowl

:35:00.:35:05.

is, or go past the re-spot. Cover the green bowl. I think Michael will

:35:06.:35:13.

probably run the gamble. He is slow on the mat, Robert, and that time

:35:14.:35:20.

clock is coming down. Two seconds, plenty of time! Not even close! If

:35:21.:35:27.

the hooter goes off, you certainly hit. He has covered almost

:35:28.:35:35.

everything now. He has got the re-spot covered, he maybe could have

:35:36.:35:38.

done with a little more on that to have the best back. A big question

:35:39.:35:46.

being asked here now. There is probably still enough room to draw

:35:47.:35:47.

the shot. Time out called. Mike has three

:35:48.:36:08.

time-outs remaining. He has got three bowls in the end, a good

:36:09.:36:15.

cobble bowl. -- cover bowl. You campaign the percentages onto the

:36:16.:36:18.

jack and try to run it all the way through the gap if you can. You

:36:19.:36:22.

would have to be lucky on the bounce to get that.

:36:23.:36:32.

It did not go right, because the jack is now off the confines of the

:36:33.:36:37.

rink, it will go onto the re-spot position. It is the first end to

:36:38.:36:43.

Robert Weale. He needed the jack all the way through. It depended how it

:36:44.:36:51.

bounced. You had to get through a lot of bowls, a lot of timber there.

:36:52.:36:55.

He was a little bit unfortunate. A good strike.

:36:56.:37:02.

It is never certain to get the results, though.

:37:03.:37:13.

We are back to Robert Weale's favourite position, 26.5 metres.

:37:14.:37:21.

Using the mat on this backhand, the shorter jack linked, to allow the

:37:22.:37:28.

all to pull back into the centre of the rink.

:37:29.:37:35.

It is all the way back in again. That is a very good open up my

:37:36.:37:49.

Robert. -- are very good opener by Robert.

:37:50.:38:29.

That is good, that is really good. I think if I was Michael now, I would

:38:30.:38:36.

be tempted to tap that. He has got to go with that one. He has got to

:38:37.:38:41.

go into it quickly. He is in the area by the looks of it. He was

:38:42.:38:48.

having a good look on the way down but the forehand just hold of. He

:38:49.:38:53.

just started it little white, a lot of weight on that.

:38:54.:39:09.

He is going for the blocks, he has got the re-spot fishing covered,

:39:10.:39:16.

probably. That is good, a really good blocker. He may be would have

:39:17.:39:27.

liked it to be a bit shorter. He did well to find the centre, a good

:39:28.:39:30.

bowl. It is always a gamble when you play a bowl like that, if you do not

:39:31.:39:34.

make the centre line, you could give the guy a target. If he is looking

:39:35.:39:44.

at the re-spot, you have got a few. Really, I think he needs to be

:39:45.:39:47.

crunching the jack in this sort of area to try and bring it out to

:39:48.:39:51.

this. If he gets it absolutely right, it will be going into there

:39:52.:39:57.

and it brings another bowl into play at the bottom. That is the way to do

:39:58.:40:06.

it. You have got all of the options covered there!

:40:07.:40:34.

I would go a little bit deeper than the green bowl myself now. I would

:40:35.:40:41.

as well. He has got everything covered. Anything at the back of the

:40:42.:40:42.

rink. Where are you going with this? He is

:40:43.:41:03.

all right. That is pretty good, actually. He had not covered to be

:41:04.:41:13.

truthful. It is a bowl to save the match for Michael Stepney.

:41:14.:41:28.

Time out called. Mike has one time out remaining. That is really where

:41:29.:41:38.

he needs to be. But if he is fortunate, in that sort of area, if

:41:39.:41:46.

the bowl goes with it, he is trying to bring the jack through. If you

:41:47.:41:49.

come with the jack into that sort of area, he could stop on it. He needs

:41:50.:41:56.

a solid connection. Hope that his bowls fly through with it.

:41:57.:42:08.

This is a really tough shots to play. Trying to wrest the bowl with

:42:09.:42:16.

a forehand. It is never going to get back. That was never really going to

:42:17.:42:23.

be on for me. A good end by Michael Stepney. He has fought back very

:42:24.:42:27.

well, took it really back into Robert Weale but it is Robert

:42:28.:42:32.

Weale, number 16 in the world, who gets through this first-round match,

:42:33.:42:36.

and that he had to win, against the Scot Michael Stepney.

:42:37.:42:41.

So the line-up for the last 16 is now complete. There are eight former

:42:42.:42:52.

champions in there, and on tomorrow morning's red button coverage, we

:42:53.:42:56.

will see Jason Greenslade against Robert Paxton. How does the betting

:42:57.:42:57.

looks? Tomorrow on BBC Two, we are going to

:42:58.:43:14.

show you the final of the mixed pairs, and we are going to take a

:43:15.:43:18.

look back at how those semifinals unfolded. First up, the match

:43:19.:43:25.

between the defending champions. Let's pick this up in the first set,

:43:26.:43:30.

the eighth end and the defending champions are leading 7-4.

:43:31.:44:29.

That is threatened a half. -- a foot and a half.

:44:30.:44:42.

Keep coming, hurry in that line, hurry. Unlucky.

:44:43.:45:13.

This needs to hurry a little bit. And David Gourlay has got his work

:45:14.:45:39.

cut out once again. Very close, Paul. Very close, keep

:45:40.:46:04.

running. Up again. That is the backhand blocked right

:46:05.:46:20.

away. It is five inches short, he can come around it. Look at it in

:46:21.:46:23.

the forehand as well. David Gourlay will be looking at the

:46:24.:46:37.

options, he can clear the red bowl, he has got an available shot on this

:46:38.:46:39.

side as well. Anything at the area at the back

:46:40.:46:45.

would be good. He is close again. What a bowl! That

:46:46.:47:20.

is a great shot by David Gourlay. He is playing very well.

:47:21.:47:33.

That is going to be very hard shot to beat.

:47:34.:47:47.

Paul Foster, he can draw it in there on the forehand. The difficulty for

:47:48.:47:52.

him is, if he plays any pace on this, the jack is going to extend

:47:53.:47:56.

through and that will give David Gourlay an extra opportunity to

:47:57.:48:02.

score double. He has to keep it nice and tight, play it on the forehand,

:48:03.:48:07.

let the bowl track back on the natural bias.

:48:08.:48:14.

He is struggling for weight. It is not an easy spare shot for David but

:48:15.:48:20.

it is important. David is looking at all sorts of

:48:21.:48:33.

options to try and see if it would be easier to score an extra shots.

:48:34.:48:37.

It is really, either side will work for him. The repeat of his last

:48:38.:48:42.

bowl, or play it out wide in the forehand.

:48:43.:49:13.

Didn't push through it. It is going to be a single. Still, keep them in

:49:14.:49:19.

touch going into the last end, 7-5. David Gourlay immediately asking

:49:20.:49:34.

Eleanor Gass to put a long jack lengthy in, try and listen this up

:49:35.:49:39.

to have a chance, score a double, try and get something out of the

:49:40.:49:40.

set. That's amazing, that's a good start.

:49:41.:50:22.

Well played, Eleanor, very good start, well played.

:50:23.:50:32.

A very good opening bowl. The skipper is always happy to see

:50:33.:50:41.

anything within a foot when you are looking for a double.

:50:42.:50:51.

Two feet, same again. Can he do it again?

:50:52.:51:08.

David is just trying to get this one to stop little bit. It is better

:51:09.:51:15.

through than short. Watching this one, but it seems to

:51:16.:51:26.

be sweeping away very quickly. David Gourlay, happy to leave the

:51:27.:52:23.

forehand of Paul Foster as he tries to get between the two red bowls. A

:52:24.:52:27.

big dip needed. He has missed the chance. Surprised at that. I

:52:28.:52:37.

expected David to have... This is going to come over.

:52:38.:52:44.

Trying to get a really good close second shot. That is all he needs to

:52:45.:52:48.

win the set. As Paul just said, not close enough.

:52:49.:53:08.

I would expect David Gourlay to add another.

:53:09.:53:34.

David Gourlay can come around on the forehand, nice and wide, try and

:53:35.:53:41.

drop in on that. The backhand looks a bit sticky.

:53:42.:54:03.

This is very wide from David Gourlay. He had to be on the wide

:54:04.:54:09.

side but he has really pushed this one out, I do not think it will get

:54:10.:54:11.

back. Having taken the first set, Foster

:54:12.:54:25.

and Thomas sauntered home in the second, 9-1, and they are through to

:54:26.:54:29.

the final tomorrow. But who will they play? Bullet the Andy Thomson

:54:30.:54:36.

Greg Harlow? They shared the first two sets so we joined it at the

:54:37.:54:39.

start of the tie-break. It's good. It's good, Catherine.

:54:40.:55:42.

Well done. It looks good from number one. Just

:55:43.:56:21.

sneak in. It looks good. It is all on the. --

:56:22.:56:54.

it is all on the weight here. There it is, number one, three and

:56:55.:56:59.

tie-break, things are different. It is not keen related shots, it is

:57:00.:57:06.

just about scoring. -- it is not a keen related shots. That is a really

:57:07.:57:08.

good bowl. Andy will be looking to try and

:57:09.:57:52.

tight in this up little bit. Bring the jack between the two red bowls.

:57:53.:58:02.

He is not even bothering, which surprises me a little bit. He is

:58:03.:58:08.

going deep on the high side, in case Greg decides to have a go on it, he

:58:09.:58:16.

has covered the re-spot position. If he has a go on it, the weight... If

:58:17.:58:26.

you can get the jack back, I know there is that bowl there. He needs

:58:27.:58:36.

the two red is clean. Yes, a controlled weight.

:58:37.:58:43.

Never easy to pick out the line on the forehand.

:58:44.:58:51.

He has got a connection, but I don't think that is going to make it.

:58:52.:59:00.

They are asking the marker, whose shot, because they are not sure. If

:59:01.:59:10.

it is that close, you have to draw the shot, Andy.

:59:11.:59:20.

It could be green, cannot mess about with it. Looks like it is very

:59:21.:59:29.

close. It is not easy when things are three, four, five feet away,

:59:30.:59:30.

cannot take any risks. Got a good result out of it. This

:59:31.:59:45.

does not look right. Really does not look right. It looks under to me.

:59:46.:59:50.

Oh, it held on. Certainly very narrow, but manages

:59:51.:59:59.

to get the single. I trust you with the last bowl. It

:00:00.:00:14.

looked a little bit narrow to me but its weight was good. Takes the

:00:15.:00:15.

single. Just outside it, two feet, three

:00:16.:01:09.

feet away. This is really when you are thinking to yourself, please put

:01:10.:01:13.

one on the jack. It's still a touch over. Bend hard,

:01:14.:01:24.

bend hard. It ideally wanted to be a little bit

:01:25.:02:19.

deeper than that. Wanted to be around behind the two red balls.

:02:20.:02:32.

I don't think he's got the weight to hold this. He just dropped away. I

:02:33.:02:57.

had a feeling that was going to drop off on the inside.

:02:58.:03:50.

It looks a bit quick, it's just holding off on that backhand. Any

:03:51.:03:57.

extra weight at all and you just drop one through.

:03:58.:04:29.

Gregg, the same as? I think so, yeah. It's a bit late to change now!

:04:30.:05:23.

Absolutely no time wasted whatsoever with Katherine Rednall. Andy Thomson

:05:24.:05:38.

is trying to call this one, and there is the reason why. Right in

:05:39.:05:42.

behind the jack. That is a brilliant bowl. It looks better there but

:05:43.:05:50.

you've been playing that hand all game. It's up to you, either way. Do

:05:51.:05:56.

you think I can win it? It looks better there but... It's up to you.

:05:57.:06:04.

It's always good to be decisive when you are skipping, but the best

:06:05.:06:09.

things sometimes is to leave it, to make their own choice, whatever they

:06:10.:06:10.

are more comfortable with. Anything short of the jack on the

:06:11.:06:22.

forehand would be good. That's 14 inches, that's a very good

:06:23.:06:36.

bowl there. It's probably a good idea if Andy stays away from it and

:06:37.:06:38.

let's Greg get the shop. --. This was the perfect draw shot on

:06:39.:07:08.

the forehand from Katherine Rednall. Absolutely wonderful, right in

:07:09.:07:09.

behind it. Excellent delivery from the

:07:10.:07:25.

18-year-old from Suffolk. One of the youngest players in this event,

:07:26.:07:29.

along with one of the oldest. Andy Thomson. Now a grandfather.

:07:30.:07:45.

Whichever you feel most confident with... You don't want to hear the

:07:46.:07:53.

truth! The thing about the jack -- backhand

:07:54.:08:05.

is you always jamming the jack into the ball.

:08:06.:08:10.

What do you reckon? A man of your calibre, draw it off, mate.

:08:11.:08:39.

Well, just slightly outside. Andy must be tempted to leave this as

:08:40.:08:45.

well. He really doesn't want to leave the shoulder.

:08:46.:08:52.

A foot behind? Two bowls through. The most capped English indoor

:08:53.:09:06.

player, Andy Thomson. He comes from St Andrews in Scotland, before he

:09:07.:09:11.

moved down to London as a 21-year-old. He has to be very

:09:12.:09:13.

careful here, he doesn't want to get too close to this. She wants to call

:09:14.:09:20.

it a try and make it in front of the green bowl. That's not bad. It could

:09:21.:09:23.

be second bowl. Greg will have a good look at it, no

:09:24.:09:39.

doubt they will have a chat and debate. After five minutes they will

:09:40.:09:43.

work out just whatever you feel like playing.

:09:44.:10:00.

The only time when you are allowed to kill the end is in the last end

:10:01.:10:06.

of the tie-break. You have to nominate it, which is exactly what

:10:07.:10:10.

Greg has done, so he'll be playing heavyweight into this.

:10:11.:10:16.

An awful lot will depend on just what connection he makes.

:10:17.:10:32.

He's in with a chance. Wrong side of it!

:10:33.:10:41.

That was a very good game, great effort by Greg Harlow at the end.

:10:42.:10:51.

Very, very close with his last delivery, but it is Katherine

:10:52.:10:54.

Rednall, the 18-year-old from Ipswich and Andy Thomson, the

:10:55.:10:58.

58-year-old from London who will be playing in the final of the mixed

:10:59.:11:06.

pairs. Andy Thomson and Katherine Rednall,

:11:07.:11:13.

who at the eight team -- age of 18 is 14 years younger than the former

:11:14.:11:17.

champion. That is tomorrow and BBC Two.

:11:18.:11:22.

We've now got a chance to summarise what has happened today. Exciting

:11:23.:11:28.

day, Greg Harlow and Nicky Brett, the men's pairs champions. And fully

:11:29.:11:35.

deserved. Nicky was a little bit annoyed but he did shape up. Greg

:11:36.:11:39.

Harlow was outstanding today. I thought Alex played well. It was

:11:40.:11:46.

great to see Nicky particularly winning a trophy here. He's gotten

:11:47.:11:50.

to the semifinal stages of the singles competition, he's come close

:11:51.:11:56.

but never gone over the line. You get the first hurdle over and you

:11:57.:11:59.

feel so confident. Playing with Greg, he was on fire today. They

:12:00.:12:05.

thoroughly deserved to win it. I must ask you about Stewart Anderson,

:12:06.:12:08.

the defending men's champion. He had a good record, coming back here...

:12:09.:12:15.

He overcame that and admitted to feeling the pressure today. Yes, he

:12:16.:12:19.

knew the history of that and didn't want to be part of that elite

:12:20.:12:23.

group. Having said that, his young opponent played well but left him

:12:24.:12:27.

enough room. I think Stewart will be happy to get over that hurdle

:12:28.:12:31.

comfortably. Stewart Anderson plays Robert Weale in the next round. He

:12:32.:12:35.

has had his problems coming into this tournament. He got injured

:12:36.:12:40.

playing skittles. I couldn't believe that! As it happens, your legs did

:12:41.:12:48.

go away, that happens sometimes when you are stretching. A pretty nasty

:12:49.:12:50.

injury in the hamstring. Having said that, Robert will be a much bigger

:12:51.:12:55.

test. We got highlights on BBC Two tonight. You can enjoy all the best

:12:56.:12:57.

of the action from today. We will be back on BBC in the

:12:58.:13:03.

morning on the red button at 10am. We will also see Nicky Brett against

:13:04.:13:17.

Mervyn King in action again tomorrow. That visit from our first

:13:18.:13:21.

day of coverage here. We've crowned the first champions, Greg Harlow and

:13:22.:13:23.

Nicky Brett.

:13:24.:13:25.

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