Men's Singles Semi-Final 2 Bowls World Indoor Championships


Men's Singles Semi-Final 2

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Take one game at a time. I am confident in my ability. If I can

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play my best I am hard to beat. Nobody plays better than Alex

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Marshall, six times world singles champion, a game away from winning

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an incredible seven titles. Two years since he last lost here.

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Today, he faces Robert Paxton in the semifinal of the world indoor

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singles championship. COMMENTATOR: Just tremendous, what a

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bowl. Hello, and welcome to semifinal

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Saturday of the world Hello, and welcome to semifinal

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championships. Behind me, there is a full house, just waiting to find out

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who will make it to the final on Sunday.

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The draw sees Alex Marshall, six times champion, against Robert

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Paxton. David Gourlay, former champion,

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against Player of the Year in 2015, Nicky Brett.

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Six world singles titles is evidence of why Tattie is widely regarded as

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the king of Potters, in sublime form this week which is why it is hardly

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surprising given he loves this venue.

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It feels great, getting to the semifinal in the singles. I won't

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worry about it too much. My form is good. I just hope I can take that

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form into the semifinal against Robert. I don't put too much

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pressure on myself. Seven is not in my mind at the minute. Two massive

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games to go. I have been here set 18 years, I love the place. The

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quarterfinal -- it has done so much for bowls and I have to thank them

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for what they have done for bowls in general. I love the surroundings, I

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love the carpet. A lot of the players know this has been a happy

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hunting ground for myself, let us hope it continues.

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You know, for the players who are left in, there are four terrific

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players, anyone can win it. It comes down to who plays best on the day.

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If I can carry my form on from the quarterfinal, into the semifinal,

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then I will be happy. I have not played Robert too often,

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the most recent was in Blackhill, two years ago in the final. I played

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fantastic. It is always good to get one over somebody you have not

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played often before. Robert, he will be after his

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revenge, I am sure it will be a classic game and I hope it is good

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for the spectators. What about his opponent, Robert

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Paxton is in the semifinals for the first -- fourth time in his career.

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Seeded number four. Today may be the moment to bring him some pleasure.

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The crowd are all set, the players are set for the semifinal. Let us

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join our MC to introduce the players.

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Thank you. This world number four is suddenly on top of his game,

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Thank you. This world number four is his fourth appearance in the

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Thank you. This world number four is semifinal, ladies and gentlemen,

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And now to one of the finest all-round bowlers on the

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international circuit, hoping to make his eighth final, six times and

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defending world indoor singles champion, ladies and gentlemen, Alex

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Marshall Really a great atmosphere inside

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this famous arena at Potters. A reminder to send us your tweets and

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tell us who you think will win the semifinal today. In the commentary

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box, former three-time champion Andy Thomson and the BBC's David Corkill.

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Hello, an interesting walk on, Alex Marshall looking at home already.

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The question for us is can he carry on from the quarterfinal where we

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think he was in absolute 100% maximum he can play.

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I agree, David, can he turn on that form again. Robert is a class tear

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and could beat him here. Robert will be challenged in this.

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Alex Marshall knows just how well he can play. He openly admitted that

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was the best he has ever done here in the quarterfinal. Any of the

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years he has won, he feels he was at his absolute best.

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When he is like that, no one can touch him.

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I agree 100%. He needs to produce that form again. Always quite

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difficult two days running to keep such good form.

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We shall find out very shortly. Immediate adjustment to the second

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bowl. REFEREE: One inch past.

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Robert doesn't look like the look of the first one, trying to get around

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it. It might just get caught. More than happy to move to the forehand

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and use Alex's last bowl. REFEREE: Five inches past jack high.

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Not an easy choice of shot here for Alex.

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The shot clock is running down, now it is three seconds.

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Not like him to get that close. This is a difficult one.

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He properly doesn't want to be running through his third delivery.

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-- probably. It is early days to go looking at

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the weight shot. Robert, just trying to beat his own

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bowl. Anything behind the jack to the next red would be good. That is

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handy. So much tactics when it comes to the

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flat green game. It is different. A good tactical battle between these

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two players. Yes.

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They know how to play all the shots. As I say, this is quite a hard task

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for Alex in the first end to score the shot.

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It was always going to be a good second touching the green bowl. He

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had to get past it and drop off his own bread. Still, two good bowls in

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there. -- red. Making it awkward for

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Robert. Robert playing the safer backhand.

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It is not running. There could be a single in doubt.

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Semifinal still played nine ends over two sets. That will extend to

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11 ends each set in the final. And the usual three and a if needed. --

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end tie-break. REFEREE: Jack length 28 and a half

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metres. Robert Paxton was going very strong

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last year. Two titles. By the time he came into the quarterfinal, he

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just wasn't able to repeat the form. Alex Marshall was so good in that

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quarterfinal. You just wonder can he repeat it?

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Not easy to do. I would agree, David. With all sportsmen, it is

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difficult to keep that peak performance every single day.

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Here we go, that is perfect. REFEREE: One green. Quarter of an

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inch short of jack high. Quarter of an inch gap.

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Alex Borg than happy to play the backhand to see if he can drop it

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down. If he comes inside and get the jack, he could get a double, he is

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very close. -- Alex is more than happy. The bowl

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didn't drop, don't believe it. A superb bowl really.

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I thought he had made the squeeze when he hit the jack onto the green

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bowl and transferred the forward motion. He is shaking his head.

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He knew it was a great bowl but unfortunately the jack rebounded

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back to the green. I don't know if Robert is trying to

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block out the forehand on but it is certainly not running.

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The same bowl from Alex, trying to wrest Robert's shot bowl.

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He is close again. Better this time. He has got this

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perfectly. It just held beautifully.

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Fantastic shot. Look at the position he has left

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Robert in. He has no position, he had to cope to remove at least two

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of the red bowls, difficult to get all three.

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-- has two hope. A little on the wide side, he had to get around the

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green ones. Well, three touches to Alex, is

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there a possibility to get a fourth, it looks awkward.

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Easier to score another shot. That is what he will be aiming for,

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try to make sure the four... He is close to this. Absolutely brilliant.

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Only the second end. REFEREE: Four shots, Alex Marshall.

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He created that, Robert was lying the shot, it was Alex who made the

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four out of it. It might take a while to take all

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the chalk from those bowls. First bowl, no shot clock involved.

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Always nice to be able to stand there and take the chalk from the

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bowls. It looks quite good, a good feeling.

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It makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

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There is always a slight psychological battle going on out

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there. A lot of players don't like to lift the bowl and take the chalk

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off before they click it. -- bowl it.

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The shot clock has brought that into focus.

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Both players have chosen here to lead on different hands, did --

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interesting to see how this develops into a different tactic as the game

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progresses. Robert on the back, Alex on the forehand.

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Alex looking to add 18 inches onto his previous delivery.

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Robert looking to come around short on to the jack. Just need to run a

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little bit. Just lacking the weight. The back position is covered by the

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red bowl, if Robert Gates adventures with the last delivery...

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No danger for Alex here. The deepest green bowl rests as a fullback. It

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looks to be lacking pace here, not running.

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He could close down the shot if he touches the red one. It is gone.

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Well, if Robert is going to play this, he will have to be very

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fortunate to get the right connection.

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Before that bowl was turned down, he had got a shot, now he is looking to

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get that front bowl and push it in, that is difficult. He might decide

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to draw this. Or he might decide to take a gamble.

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The Red Bull could also take the bread bowl out. Play the forehand,

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the shot Alex was trying to play. Down to two seconds on that

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delivery. He need this one to pull back very

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fast now. A great effort. Good weight. Just

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held out slightly. REFEREE: One shot, Alex Marshall.

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The school is 5-1 after three ends. -- score.

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Always a packed house. Quarterfinals, semifinals, final. It

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is always busy before that, to be fair.

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This venue, I've never seen it less than three quarters full for any

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match. Just finding this line, this weight,

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superb in this direction. It is almost like he doesn't have to

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think about the line, his full concentration on getting the weight

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right. Like putting the bowl down a chute.

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It hones in on the jack. Good reply, Robert. Very good reply.

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REFEREE: The gap is two and a half inches past jack high.

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He is close again. Backhand and now on the forehand.

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Super. Three touches in this direction the last time, two now. A

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bit of talk going on, indicating it is a touch. -- chalk. This is what

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the spray chalk is for. Robert Paxton played Alex Marshall

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in the final one year, and Alex was absolutely outstanding, blew him off

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the carpet. Very similar pattern developing

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here. Beginning to think, oh, no, not again.

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What have I done to deserve this question mark I think he scored

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about three shots in that final and, to be honest, he played well.

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He will be starting to think, Alex, please go for a walk just to let me

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in to this match. The world number four we are talking

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about. Exactly.

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I think it is Bobby just a draw here for Robert.

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-- probably. The strike doesn't look on.

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Just has to get down onto the jack. Close, this time.

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Well played. Outstanding bowl. Absolutely brilliant.

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One is to green. Roberts Bird delivery coming in,

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touches the jack. Hold onto one. -- Robert's delivery. Just thinking

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Alex may try to tap this. You get the other option. Again, either he

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gets into this one, he has a chance of coming back onto the jack.

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That is what he is indicated with his hand. Move the jack backwards.

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A third option if he really wants to play it, down the forehand to edge

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the bowl off. He is playing that backhand so well.

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He is. Less chance of giving a double away.

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It is the backhand, to move the jack back up the green.

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Just need to hold. Can't believe he has missed it.

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I think Robert would do well to walk away from this.

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Quite right, Robert. Take the one, be happy.

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That is what Alex was looking at. He had to work very hard for that

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single. Once again, Alex Marshall getting

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that first bowl in. This is struggling.

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The problem is if you know you are going to miss your second bowl, Alex

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will be all over it. She certainly is. With Alex putting

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the opening close bowl, it adds a little bit more pressure to Robert's

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shot which is probably why am Robert can't leave himself having to play

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wonderful bowls to get out of trouble. Otherwise he will be quick

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at losing this set. It is a good one here.

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Leaving himself in trouble. In three matches, Alex is ahead 2-1.

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Not quite sure if they played here, I don't recall them playing here.

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2009. Right. Alex won 2-0, 10-5, 6-5.

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That actually turned out to be a very good bowl.

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Certainly has. Probably now just a draw for Robert. It wasn't meant to

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be there but it suddenly turned out to have a value.

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-- certainly. to have a value.

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down has got a value attached to it. I agree. The short bowl was

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down has got a value attached to it. meant to be there but it has

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down has got a value attached to it. out to be a good blocker. Robert

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looks to be under with this, I don't think it has the weight, he might

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give another away. It could be three. Oh, yes, it is

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indeed. Alex will be back onto his favourite forehand. And drop that

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in, the second four of the match. And no way back for

:27:53.:27:56.

in, the second four of the match. though there are

:27:57.:27:59.

in, the second four of the match. I agree. The way this man is

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playing. 18 inches to draw another. I would expect him to add.

:28:10.:28:12.

playing. 18 inches to draw another. Here it comes. The crowd are

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starting to clap already. Four it is. Robert takes the jack away

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quickly, move on. Ominous signs for Robert, really.

:28:30.:28:38.

9-2. That side of the rink, backhand towards us, forehand away from it,

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he is absolutely deadly. Yes, he is finding it well.

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We talked about early tactics, I am sure Robert had a plan to play one

:28:48.:28:52.

side. However, I think he will have to be forced onto Alex's side. Alex

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is getting a free run on his favourite sides. He is experienced,

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he will know what to do. There we go. Once again. Just can't

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stay away from that jack in this direction.

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Starting to run out of words to describe the performances Alex is

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putting in here at the moment. I think when someone is playing

:29:34.:29:42.

well, you really have to accept the fact it is the way Alex can play,

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the big question was, could he repeat his performance in the last

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round. At the moment, he is doing exactly that.

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balls he certainly has. 24 hours ago it was exactly the same. This is

:30:00.:30:07.

just phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. You have to have a very

:30:08.:30:16.

good short-term memory. Robert thinking about attacking this. He is

:30:17.:30:21.

on the draw. But you still have to do it. That hand eye coordination is

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not easy to get right every single time. At the moment it is working

:30:28.:30:32.

for Alex and working very well. Robert is making the corrections.

:30:33.:30:36.

Alex is already there in front of him. Once again lifts looks a head

:30:37.:30:42.

that is difficult for Robert to scoring. -- this looks airhead. Just

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dropping behind the jack. -- just dropped in.

:30:53.:31:07.

Well, it is not behind budded shamrocks the Bulls. -- but it

:31:08.:31:22.

shamrocks the bowls. Two choices for Alex. The blocker at the front

:31:23.:31:30.

beside the green, which is the only shot Robert Harris to hit it or go

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deep. Just leave it as it is. He is 9-2 in front. I do not think Alex

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needs to go near this. Three shots here and he has definitely won the

:31:48.:32:00.

set. Not on this end. Robert needs to get him. He is not going to draw

:32:01.:32:08.

another one behind the jack, Izzy? -- is he? I would not be one bit

:32:09.:32:16.

surprised if he was trying that. Well, Robert... This is not easy.

:32:17.:32:27.

Even if he hits it there is no guarantee he will take any off.

:32:28.:32:40.

Playing the four, I think that was the only way he could score here.

:32:41.:32:50.

Very difficult. He has given it a good goal. Just holds off on the

:32:51.:32:51.

forehand. It is nothing new for Alex. But

:32:52.:33:10.

Robert has held -- felt this pain before. It is just difficult to make

:33:11.:33:21.

a case for Robert. He has two change the hand. Change the length. Get a

:33:22.:33:27.

hold of the jack. It is not easy, Robert. He could always hide Alex's

:33:28.:33:30.

bowls extract that might work. --! Alex just going for cover. He does

:33:31.:34:38.

not need any more shots on the head. Just trying to match Robert's balls.

:34:39.:34:51.

Robert needs to score two here to keep this game, to keep this set

:34:52.:34:59.

going. Good try here. Well played. Good ball. Keep in the rink, just

:35:00.:35:11.

try to change things around. He will not win this opening set, Robert.

:35:12.:35:49.

Alex will be quite happy to see that one go there. He needs to score a

:35:50.:35:57.

double to keep this set going but it has gone too wide and heavy. He

:35:58.:36:01.

draws one. He has done it again. This is

:36:02.:36:37.

getting outrageous. Robert is in the drive. Get the frustration

:36:38.:36:44.

getting outrageous. Robert is in the Robert. Good strike. There was

:36:45.:36:48.

getting outrageous. Robert is in the little frustrating. -- frustration.

:36:49.:36:56.

However, gets the opening set. This is what happens when you get a

:36:57.:37:01.

player in top form. To be fair and eager make you get any of the

:37:02.:37:06.

player in top form. To be fair and ten playing at their best, the

:37:07.:37:08.

opposition has not got a hope, really. No. The way Alex is dying at

:37:09.:37:17.

the moment is unstoppable. Robert cannot do anything. Alex is closing

:37:18.:37:23.

the ends down every time. He has got to try to score and change the

:37:24.:37:24.

length. Full jack length. Alex has been

:37:25.:37:50.

playing very well every jack length. A strange old game. You can lose the

:37:51.:38:26.

first set comprehensively and sneak the next one by one shot. The match

:38:27.:38:34.

is level. That is what Robert will be trying to do. Alex is aware of

:38:35.:38:41.

that. He has to keep his form up. He will not let go of this. Quite often

:38:42.:38:47.

the player who wins the first set has a dip for the first end or two

:38:48.:38:56.

in the second. The more experienced players know how to counteract that.

:38:57.:39:00.

A bit of work to do here. That is amazing what the averages of

:39:01.:39:18.

there. Alex Marshall averaging four shots. Three shots, probably. That

:39:19.:39:30.

is too much really. Simple mathematics, I suppose. Four ends

:39:31.:39:40.

is too much really. Simple has won, you cannot afford to lose

:39:41.:39:44.

one full house. Losing two almost guarantees you will lose the set.

:39:45.:39:54.

This is a better end for Robert Paxton. The contact avid solid. I

:39:55.:39:59.

think it might just be one. Sandra McLeish, Aramark, just saying

:40:00.:40:12.

measure for a shot. They can only give an opinion.

:40:13.:40:39.

Sandra has quite rightly called this a close shot. It is a matter of

:40:40.:40:42.

opinion. It is probably fair to say this has

:40:43.:40:56.

been Alex's worst end of the game. He needs to hurry with this. The

:40:57.:41:03.

inside of the green ball... Another little foot or two on that, that is

:41:04.:41:10.

what he needed. Robert, are you going to take a chance? Draw

:41:11.:41:16.

another? Draw another. Very hard to remove that red ball.

:41:17.:41:35.

Very difficult. He wants to get off to a decent start. The chance for a

:41:36.:41:45.

double. He did have a score at the opening end in the first set. Not

:41:46.:41:54.

the jack. He has been a bit unlucky there.

:41:55.:42:01.

He was always going to have the shot. One in, one out.

:42:02.:42:18.

Another day you hit your own ball fairly solid and you might even

:42:19.:42:27.

score three. A better end from Robert.

:42:28.:42:44.

27.5 metres. It is not a big variation of the length. Get the

:42:45.:42:51.

opening ball in, Robert, that would help. A change to Alex's forehand

:42:52.:43:01.

side. That is a good move. Once again Robert forced into

:43:02.:44:01.

playing a really good second ball. Good ball. Robert made it better.

:44:02.:44:44.

That is a pity. He wanted to get in to the inside of the green and red.

:44:45.:44:54.

Roll off them. That was a chance. The difficulty here is you do not

:44:55.:45:00.

expect Alex to mess with both of these two. His previous delivery was

:45:01.:45:06.

three feet through. I would expect this to be closer.

:45:07.:45:22.

A click of the fingers suggests it is heavy. Not quite. It needs to

:45:23.:45:32.

drop in. If it had have dropped it was definitely number two.

:45:33.:45:56.

Definitely giving this one a chance. Yes, that is it. A good result.

:45:57.:46:03.

Perfect play. We'll Alex try to draw or play the

:46:04.:46:24.

running ball? A choice of shots. Alex may take a chance. He has got

:46:25.:46:31.

the position for it. No doubt about that. He is going for it. To me. He

:46:32.:46:43.

was unlucky. I thought he was just a bit inside. The question is, which

:46:44.:46:53.

one is closer? I think it is one to Robert. REFEREE: 1-shot, Robert

:46:54.:47:04.

Paxton. Did not get the best result on the

:47:05.:47:05.

run-through. I think the matter is slightly up

:47:06.:47:31.

the green. Slight change of length for Robert. -- the mat.

:47:32.:48:16.

Right Robert, second ball. This is where you need to repeat it. But the

:48:17.:48:25.

pressure on Alex. Force him to play the difficult shots. Much better

:48:26.:48:38.

with this. That is better from Robert Paxton. The second bowled has

:48:39.:48:45.

been a recovery ball or dropping them short. Does look a forehand

:48:46.:48:55.

shot. Alex is so confident on the back and side, he feels as though he

:48:56.:48:59.

could draw the shot on the wide side.

:49:00.:49:24.

Alex changing this time. A good forehand shot. He has got his own

:49:25.:49:54.

ball to use and also drop onto the green one. Double option with this.

:49:55.:50:03.

That would have been the perfect angle. Just a nickel of the ball

:50:04.:50:11.

would have sliced it into the jack. -- in Nick of the ball. That would

:50:12.:50:17.

have been a bit cruel. -- in Nick of the ball. That would

:50:18.:50:25.

better for Robert. The chance to add a fourth.

:50:26.:50:44.

that... That is where he wanted it. Play the same ball again and hope

:50:45.:50:51.

she gets inside. Or he Play the same ball again and hope

:50:52.:50:57.

this. I think he will play the same ball. He was only two feet heavy.

:50:58.:51:01.

Takes a slight pace ball. He was only two feet heavy.

:51:02.:51:03.

think he can draw this still. He likes it. He

:51:04.:51:16.

it. A better line. Brilliant. Superb. Three down, green falls in.

:51:17.:51:54.

The difference between 6-0 and 2-1. Robert Paxton is back in this game

:51:55.:51:56.

now. Encouraging signs for Robert. When you are out there playing

:51:57.:52:30.

someone of the highest quality you are just hoping for the odd mistake,

:52:31.:52:39.

a chance to build on things. Even 6-0, there is a long way to go and a

:52:40.:52:44.

lot of work to be done. Yes, he played well that last end. He has

:52:45.:52:50.

slightly changed his hand, which is a good move. Alex will be thinking

:52:51.:52:55.

how well he has played. Robert, such a talented player, he can come back

:52:56.:52:57.

into this yet. Robert, just keep working hard. Try

:52:58.:53:27.

to secure singles all the way if you can. If you are in touch, you have

:53:28.:53:41.

got a good chance. That has given Alex bit of Ashok here. Alex has got

:53:42.:53:49.

so much confidence on this forehand side, I would not be surprised to

:53:50.:53:54.

see him draw this. The running ball is on. But the way he is drawing, he

:53:55.:54:04.

will feel confident he can draw. Once again he is trotting after the

:54:05.:54:10.

ball. You cannot see him but we can. There he goes. The line was perfect.

:54:11.:54:19.

The problem here for Robert is if he leaves these two, they can be taken

:54:20.:54:24.

out. The back position is not clever. I would be trying to draw

:54:25.:54:34.

another here. I would be trying to draw a third shot. I'm with you on

:54:35.:54:42.

that. Pack the head and hope she gets a good turn-off.

:54:43.:54:52.

He tried to draw another one on the back and side. -- backhand side.

:54:53.:55:04.

That is not bad. It is a protector. If Alex was thinking about the

:55:05.:55:09.

forehand, it is not there now. I think it is only two.

:55:10.:55:18.

REFEREE: close for a third. Just a draw from Alex. He ran after

:55:19.:55:30.

his last delivery and was a yard through. It still needs to stop. He

:55:31.:55:42.

has played it. Every question that has been asked, he has the answer.

:55:43.:55:49.

Robert must be thinking, what have I got to do? Here we go, Alex, same as

:55:50.:55:58.

the last end, three down. A brilliant final delivery. Takes the

:55:59.:56:08.

shot. Sometimes there is not a lot Robert can do. He has played a good

:56:09.:56:17.

end again. He has given us a chance. A little touch on the jack would be

:56:18.:56:19.

good. He has got its! Great ball. A little touch on the jack would be

:56:20.:56:31.

Good ball to put away the disappointment of Alex drawing the

:56:32.:56:42.

shot. Just how important have these last balls being? Yes, here is the

:56:43.:56:46.

final delivery from Robert. The jack was good. He establishes a small

:56:47.:56:51.

lead in the second set. These games have been pushing on.

:56:52.:57:18.

The one thing we do get occasionally asked about is if two balls were

:57:19.:57:23.

equidistant from each other, what happens? There is no score for

:57:24.:57:29.

either player. It is the same if two bowls are touching the jack. Does

:57:30.:57:36.

not happen too often but it does happen.

:57:37.:58:02.

REFEREE: half inch past. Robert Paxton is fighting hard. Digging

:58:03.:58:09.

deep. As all good players have to do to

:58:10.:58:47.

get to the semifinal of the world singles, you are not going to let it

:58:48.:58:51.

go easily, are you? You have to put everything into it. Robert is now.

:58:52.:59:03.

The forehand looks odds-on favourite to turn the jack.

:59:04.:59:11.

I do not know if he is shaping up for a heavy ball here.

:59:12.:59:23.

He looks narrow. He will not hold up that line. No damage done. I think

:59:24.:59:32.

it was more the weight than anything else. He probably would have held

:59:33.:59:37.

the line with another five or six feet on it. Another opportunity for

:59:38.:59:45.

Alex. Alex still playing the backhand. Still confident he can

:59:46.:59:50.

draw around the balls. It looks under. Yes.

:59:51.:59:58.

Again, no damage done, if anything he might protect his own bowl a

:59:59.:00:04.

little bit. Still a draw, though.

:00:05.:00:10.

I think some players would be running at this.

:00:11.:00:17.

Quite a good forceful shot in here. But too wide and heavy.

:00:18.:00:22.

Alex's last bowl forced him a little.

:00:23.:00:30.

There is an opportunity for the extra shot here for Alex. The way

:00:31.:00:37.

things have been going today, he will draw this.

:00:38.:00:42.

Deciding to change to the forehand for his final delivery.

:00:43.:00:51.

He knows he can play right up to the green bowl and drop in.

:00:52.:00:57.

Falls in, it scores two. The last bowl, he knew he wasn't

:00:58.:01:14.

going to leave Robert anything. 3-3 at five ends, the spare shots he

:01:15.:01:19.

has picked up have been considerable.

:01:20.:01:22.

has picked up have been Certainly have. A lot of good last

:01:23.:01:23.

bowls, Alex has. Once again,

:01:24.:02:03.

reliable forehand, exactly knows where to go on it. End after end.

:02:04.:02:16.

Roberts has been matching himself well in this set.

:02:17.:02:26.

He has with this bowl. Dropping away.

:02:27.:02:32.

REFEREE: Inch and a half. A very small gap. Behind?

:02:33.:02:43.

No, it is exactly jack high. Not just going to make it but it is

:02:44.:03:10.

a protector. Forcing Robert onto the backhand

:03:11.:03:17.

side now. REFEREE: Eight inches. He can afford

:03:18.:03:21.

to be positive here. He would be very unlucky to take his

:03:22.:03:23.

own bowl out, put it that way. It was positive, but always on the

:03:24.:03:46.

high side. Coming to a good home. Alex knows

:03:47.:03:54.

that. Robert has a good bowl on here. He might decide to go deep

:03:55.:03:58.

himself. I think he will.

:03:59.:04:30.

Robert will be looking at all the angles here. The shot really is the

:04:31.:04:39.

attacking shot, to bowl onto the jack.

:04:40.:04:44.

Very unlucky to remove his own bowl out. If he clips it, he could slice

:04:45.:04:49.

it out but he would be very unlucky. This is a positive shot on the

:04:50.:04:56.

backhand. There is the positive shot. If he

:04:57.:05:00.

does get it and brings it right out into the open, that is good. At the

:05:01.:05:06.

moment, it will be very difficult. Those two back bowls are pretty well

:05:07.:05:09.

matched. If he is slightly under, he could

:05:10.:05:16.

remove both red bowls as well. Play this with a difficult weight,

:05:17.:05:19.

that will never hold up. That is so hard to play. Five feet

:05:20.:05:28.

of weight. You might get it, Andy, but you will probably get it less,

:05:29.:05:35.

maybe three or four times if you are lucky.

:05:36.:05:39.

You have to be more positive on the backhand to play that shot.

:05:40.:05:45.

Terribly frightened of removing his own. I think he will be very unlucky

:05:46.:05:54.

to take it out of the head. Once again, Alex making sure he is

:05:55.:05:57.

beyond the jack. Another one in position.

:05:58.:06:03.

If you hit this, and it goes wrong, you will be in trouble.

:06:04.:06:08.

Now, the last delivery, he might not be so adventurous. One down is not a

:06:09.:06:12.

disaster. This is where tactics coming. The

:06:13.:06:17.

psychological aspect of the game. He is forcing Robert into playing a

:06:18.:06:22.

very hard shot here. Simply by putting the position bowls in. It is

:06:23.:06:32.

understandable. Those two bowls from Alex, by doing that and keeping it

:06:33.:06:36.

on the high side, the jack, he left him with nothing.

:06:37.:06:42.

Robert was happy to be one down there. He knows the set is tight.

:06:43.:06:44.

Still with chances. I don't think I've ever seen Alex

:06:45.:07:11.

Rob so much chalk from the bowls. We will be able to reveal how many

:07:12.:07:15.

at the end of the game. I suspect there are a few.

:07:16.:07:36.

Forehand and backhand he has been very happy on. When he is moved to

:07:37.:07:43.

play good bowls on the other side, but most players have a favourite

:07:44.:07:48.

start off on the side of the rink. This is good from Robert.

:07:49.:07:55.

Unlucky. A good try. Just wanting to snaffle that up.

:07:56.:08:23.

Now, Robert, turning it into the jack would be a real bonus.

:08:24.:08:34.

Backhand draw. He is close here, very close. He has got it. Depends

:08:35.:08:44.

how far it bounces. On a club green, you would hit that and run up close

:08:45.:08:48.

to it. On the Portable Rink, it floats to the top very quickly.

:08:49.:08:54.

A good bowl. Excellent bowl. A shot down. Trail is the jack, lies two. A

:08:55.:09:04.

bit of room for Alex. Asking Alex some questions.

:09:05.:09:10.

I think he was really put off with that movement in the crowd.

:09:11.:09:54.

There is a chance here for Robert. A bowl on top of the jack, Alex

:09:55.:10:02.

struggling to score. He wants this really close.

:10:03.:10:09.

No problems with this one, got away nice and sweet. Has he got enough to

:10:10.:10:32.

carry him? I think he has got enough to get

:10:33.:10:39.

second. Reasonably happy with that. That is a good effort. Second bowl,

:10:40.:10:46.

the best Robert can do is a double. Not a time to lose a loose four.

:10:47.:11:05.

Three touches, going from number four.

:11:06.:11:16.

Any prizes that this year, David? Just as well because he has made the

:11:17.:11:20.

four. Well played. There was in the past.

:11:21.:11:23.

There was in the past. REFEREE: Two shots, Robert Paxton.

:11:24.:11:37.

There we go, final delivery, final touch.

:11:38.:11:43.

More importantly for Robert, that puts him in a much better position.

:11:44.:11:50.

Looking to score here. Possibly forcing a tie-break.

:11:51.:12:26.

It is going to be an interesting last two ends here.

:12:27.:12:33.

It certainly is. Alex will be try to get over the line quickly, doesn't

:12:34.:12:38.

want this to go to a tie-break. He certainly doesn't want to go to a

:12:39.:12:43.

tie-break. The danger of the tie-break if it takes two really

:12:44.:12:45.

tie-break. The danger of the good bowls or really a lucky one.

:12:46.:12:51.

REFEREE: One inch past. Allowed to do that with a shot clock

:12:52.:13:32.

in play, he has to make it back in time, though.

:13:33.:13:36.

in play, he has to make it back in little bit on the

:13:37.:13:37.

in play, he has to make it back in will come around into a very good

:13:38.:13:45.

back position. He hasn't missed too many on the forehand.

:13:46.:13:51.

The tactics for Robert is to try to draw the winner, try to secure a

:13:52.:13:58.

single on this end. Worst case scenario really is dropping a one

:13:59.:14:00.

com he doesn't want to drop two. Looking at this one. It is a bit

:14:01.:14:21.

heavy. Robert loses a single. Looking to win the next hand, if he

:14:22.:14:27.

manages to get the shot, it gives him a buffer. That will apply to

:14:28.:14:32.

Alex Marshall as well. If he can gain a double, he can afford to lose

:14:33.:14:34.

a single in the last end. There is a chance here for Robert. I

:14:35.:14:57.

think it is just a draw, David, nothing trails or drives, just a

:14:58.:15:02.

draw. The hard shot is to pull the jack back. If he goes looking for

:15:03.:15:10.

the tight line, it will whip across. He has to be confident with the

:15:11.:15:12.

weight here. He likes this. It has two reach.

:15:13.:15:21.

Oh... His other green bowl has actually dropped which has taken

:15:22.:15:26.

about six bowls that to happen. No one was near it.

:15:27.:15:31.

That is unusual. Rare. It is a bonus. Normally you would

:15:32.:15:36.

see that if someone was walking around, looking at measures, but no

:15:37.:15:43.

one was within five feet of that for a long time. Suddenly, it dropped.

:15:44.:15:55.

And that does make a difference. It put Robert Paxton two up on the

:15:56.:15:59.

last end. The danger for Alex, and he had to

:16:00.:16:03.

be very careful, he could just drop on the bowl. If he gets the inside

:16:04.:16:08.

edge and runs through the gap, it could lead more. I do think he will

:16:09.:16:13.

do anything other than draw. He will take his chances in the last end. He

:16:14.:16:18.

plays this forehand so well. He has the back position of course. He has

:16:19.:16:23.

been drawing so well, you think, I have got to draw this.

:16:24.:16:28.

He has also played a lot of big last bowls on the draw. There is too much

:16:29.:16:35.

risk in attacking this. Forehand draw.

:16:36.:16:41.

Is he saving the best till last again? Down this line, he just loves

:16:42.:16:48.

this forehand. He just needs to tap his own bowl for it to drop.

:16:49.:16:56.

Unbelievable. What happened was that the forward motion was transferred

:16:57.:16:59.

through the Red Bull onto the green, fell back again onto the other Red

:17:00.:17:04.

Bull, and transferred to the back one.

:17:05.:17:08.

Still sitting up there. Alex has 30 seconds but I think that is now

:17:09.:17:11.

passed. It is well out -- well up.

:17:12.:17:21.

That is why Alex is waiting. Absolutely right, you are allowed 30

:17:22.:17:25.

seconds of forward movement of the bowl to drop. In this situation, you

:17:26.:17:29.

certainly couldn't walk away from that.

:17:30.:17:35.

Alex was within his rights to delay kicking the bowl is in. You can't

:17:36.:17:40.

blame him. It took so long for Robert's bowl to drop.

:17:41.:17:42.

That was a surprise. Alex needs to score two to make the

:17:43.:17:55.

final. Robert, anything less and it is a tie-break.

:17:56.:18:03.

All credit to Robert Paxton fighting back in this match. He was really

:18:04.:18:11.

under the cosh in the first set, 12-3 come he didn't play the last

:18:12.:18:14.

two ends. He has come back very strong on the second.

:18:15.:18:26.

Staying with the long jack length, the length Alex Marshall has been

:18:27.:18:33.

really doing a lot of damage. I think it is also Robert's

:18:34.:18:38.

favourite length. I would agree, if your opponent is getting sat in the

:18:39.:18:42.

than you, you should try to change it. Once again, it is Alex in first.

:18:43.:18:54.

I think the jack is on the T every single end. No variation. If any

:18:55.:19:04.

variation, it is where the mat has been placed. This is short which is

:19:05.:19:10.

not good. Under pressure now because Alex will count two.

:19:11.:19:13.

Should have been aiming for the same bowl as his last. Keep matching the

:19:14.:19:19.

red roles. That short one will also hamper any

:19:20.:19:23.

drive he might need to get out of trouble.

:19:24.:19:27.

Exactly. This is a loose one from Alex.

:19:28.:19:32.

That is under. What is going on out there?

:19:33.:19:35.

That is not counting. Very unusual. I would expect Robert

:19:36.:19:44.

Paxton to draw the winner with this bowl.

:19:45.:19:48.

I know there is pressure out there, Andy, but these two have been here

:19:49.:19:54.

so often, particularly Alex. This is very important for Robert,

:19:55.:20:05.

he has two, at the very left, beat the back bread bowl, it is looking

:20:06.:20:08.

like it is heavy. I think he will catch the red, this

:20:09.:20:12.

is going to be good enough. APPLAUSE

:20:13.:20:19.

Still 15 inches behind the jack so there is still room for Alex to draw

:20:20.:20:23.

the winner. He is not out of the woods yet. I

:20:24.:20:29.

expect Alex to draw this shot. Then, the pressure really will be on

:20:30.:20:30.

Robert. It is looking good. The shot bowl

:20:31.:20:53.

coming in. In by some distance. A little bit less weight. Last time he

:20:54.:21:00.

tried that he dropped a yard short. The pressure on this bowl from

:21:01.:21:04.

Robert. It needs to be within six inches.

:21:05.:21:14.

He is close. He is encouraging it. It is already starting to pump the.

:21:15.:21:25.

He knew he was close, he knew he had a great chance. That last bowl will

:21:26.:21:29.

force Alex into playing a very hard shot.

:21:30.:21:37.

He kept it late. A brilliant bowl. Fantastic bowl. He

:21:38.:21:42.

knew if he failed, he was probably going to lose the game.

:21:43.:21:48.

Robert's shot bowl. The going to lose the game.

:21:49.:21:53.

there is another front bowl in front of that top of the screen, a red one

:21:54.:21:59.

beyond that which is awkward to negotiate.

:22:00.:22:10.

Fairly difficult I think to score two.

:22:11.:22:15.

The top red one is the problem, Andy, because Alex would really love

:22:16.:22:19.

to get into that bowl but he has to shave the front one with perfect

:22:20.:22:23.

weight to do it. The backhand shot, he has to carry the jack and trail

:22:24.:22:27.

it across to the red. The forehand looks the favourite.

:22:28.:22:32.

Certainly be the forehand. I think this is a low

:22:33.:22:35.

Certainly be the forehand. I think target here. This will be difficult.

:22:36.:22:41.

The front bench makes it very hard to get around. It is possible,

:22:42.:22:46.

though, he has a very strong bias bowl and where he is standing on the

:22:47.:22:51.

front edge of the mat, it will help this bowl get back.

:22:52.:22:58.

It looks under. I am not surprised, to be truthful

:22:59.:23:01.

with you. It is tie-break.

:23:02.:23:05.

A very hard shot, Alex knew that. It is tie-break.

:23:06.:23:08.

All credit to Robert Paxton. It is tie-break.

:23:09.:23:13.

match by winning the second set, 7-4.

:23:14.:23:18.

A major effort. Yes, he dug deep, did Robert.

:23:19.:23:28.

Better bowls in the second. Alex, bubbly not as dominating as the

:23:29.:23:32.

opening set. It was all about this man. He has upped his performance.

:23:33.:23:53.

Tie-break. The rules change yet again. REFEREE: 28.5 metres.

:23:54.:24:08.

Just when the end. Still going for the long jack length.

:24:09.:24:15.

Alex hasn't changed this all game. To be fair, Roberts has been happy

:24:16.:24:16.

to stay with it. -- Robert. This is forcing Robert on the

:24:17.:24:34.

backhand, he had not played many bowls well on this backhand, a

:24:35.:24:36.

cardinal called him bowls well on this backhand, a

:24:37.:24:37.

short, that is where the problem is. bowls well on this backhand, a

:24:38.:24:50.

He has always been under all high. You really want to get in first, in

:24:51.:24:52.

a tie-break end trying to You really want to get in first, in

:24:53.:25:00.

really good touching bowl. I am surprised actually with Robert, I

:25:01.:25:03.

thought he might have stayed with the forehand.

:25:04.:25:05.

thought he might have stayed with He has been playing the forehand

:25:06.:25:08.

more in the second set. I don't think he has mastered the back.

:25:09.:25:15.

There are still room on the forehand side.

:25:16.:25:23.

Robert still sticking to it. I'm sure he will prove

:25:24.:25:27.

Robert still sticking to it. I'm He looks wide over this one. But a

:25:28.:25:28.

bit of work to come back He looks wide over this one. But a

:25:29.:25:38.

worry. Has it got enough? Maybe. Yes, he has. It is a jack high bowl.

:25:39.:25:46.

He can use the bowl and get onto the jack. It depends how much weight he

:25:47.:25:51.

wants to use. The choice for Alex, keep the door

:25:52.:25:56.

on the forehand will be posted on the back. I wouldn't be surprised if

:25:57.:25:59.

he tries to take this jack into the ditch.

:26:00.:26:05.

That is what he's playing, bowl or jack.

:26:06.:26:07.

Very positive. And he's in the area. Certainly is.

:26:08.:26:15.

Oh, perfect. Always looked good for the bowling

:26:16.:26:21.

jack. He hit the bowl. Take a lot of the weight off. And running through

:26:22.:26:29.

onto the jack. It is beatable. Alex's third delivery, uses the

:26:30.:26:33.

green bowl, trails the jack, finishes about 15 inches away. This

:26:34.:26:36.

can be a draw. This is the one that Robert will

:26:37.:26:51.

want to do with with, he will want to get very close to it if you can.

:26:52.:26:57.

-- do it with. I am not sure with the weight, it looks heavy to me. Is

:26:58.:27:05.

it going to drop back? It is going to be close. Favour red.

:27:06.:27:18.

That was the one to do it with when you didn't have to play your last

:27:19.:27:21.

bowl. Robert will be disappointed, he

:27:22.:27:24.

thought he was good. I would expect Alex to be shot here.

:27:25.:27:28.

That creates a big problem for Robert. It is on the high side. I

:27:29.:27:34.

think Roberts will still have room here.

:27:35.:27:41.

That is the shot bowl. Dropping in for number one, the one to beat.

:27:42.:27:45.

Absolutely anything off his last bowl and he's in.

:27:46.:27:52.

Diane is still cheery. I think Roberts would be disappointed not to

:27:53.:27:58.

draw this. Get first things right. Is it? It

:27:59.:28:13.

looks a bit on the narrow side, had to negotiate the front bowl. That is

:28:14.:28:19.

the problem, he was narrow. Oh, dear me.

:28:20.:28:29.

It looked a bit narrow out of the hand.

:28:30.:28:38.

Always on the narrow side. Alex Marshall, started favourite,

:28:39.:28:41.

sadly favourite now after winning the opening end of the tie-break.

:28:42.:28:53.

Alex Marshall will have the last bowl in this second end. And Robert,

:28:54.:29:01.

oh, dear me, he will be thinking about that last bowl for a while.

:29:02.:29:06.

Yes, had a chance to take a 1-0 lead.

:29:07.:29:13.

Is this the winner? Just need to hurry. It is very close. Yes, it is

:29:14.:30:35.

the number one. Yes, no attacking option here for

:30:36.:30:52.

Robert. Still seven or eight inches to draw. Just a drawing shot on the

:30:53.:30:59.

backhand. It was a couple of feet the last time, Andy, but pressure

:31:00.:31:08.

tells. It certainly does. Cannot afford to be too wide. Wide and

:31:09.:31:18.

heavy. He was trying to force the jack and the bowl. He has got the

:31:19.:31:23.

back position. Alex asked to take a chance. Alex will try to get a

:31:24.:31:32.

closer bowl. He has got the last delivery of Robert does decide to

:31:33.:31:33.

attack it. Yes, that is why he is just trying

:31:34.:31:58.

to get down to it. That is good. I think now we will see a weight shot

:31:59.:32:03.

from Robert. Yes, forcing Robert into playing the weight shot. It is

:32:04.:32:08.

going to be hard to actually get this jack clean, the way they have

:32:09.:32:17.

angled the balls. You would expect Robert so hit this target. However,

:32:18.:32:24.

it is not a good head. No, it is not. The ideal result for Robert

:32:25.:32:27.

would be to get onto the jack and run it all the way back. What is

:32:28.:32:34.

also possible for him to get is, if he is in the inside, the jack could

:32:35.:32:40.

bounce of the green ball and back into this position. He cannot afford

:32:41.:32:47.

to be white. Correct. I think you will be positive. He is shaping up

:32:48.:32:54.

for a draw. That is incredibly difficult. I think the way the

:32:55.:32:58.

angles were, it was difficult to run at this. You know what, he is close.

:32:59.:33:11.

What a bowl! Absolutely amazing. A really pressure bowl. Fantastic

:33:12.:33:16.

pressure bowl. Alex would normally tap his leg when the opposition

:33:17.:33:22.

plays a bowl. He is clapping that one. What a bowl from Robert Paxton.

:33:23.:33:30.

Got a shot. Alex is in a position where the back bowl is against him.

:33:31.:33:42.

It has to be a forehand runner. 100% agree with that, David. A backhand

:33:43.:33:44.

runner takes the jack over away agree with that, David. A backhand

:33:45.:33:54.

back bowl. The forehand, he has got a chance to punch a front bowl

:33:55.:34:00.

straight through and get it on the re-spot. The bowl on the left-hand

:34:01.:34:04.

side, that is the target ball really. -- bowl. Either way it will

:34:05.:34:10.

have to be a forehand Yes, forehand runner. He is looking

:34:11.:34:33.

at this. He is not getting back. There was a chance of the got the

:34:34.:34:38.

outside edge under the jack. But it is going to be a last end shoot out

:34:39.:34:43.

in this match. What a fantastic game. That last bowl from Robert

:34:44.:34:54.

Paxton was unbelievable. Superb. What a bowl. A shoot out for a place

:34:55.:35:05.

in the world singles final. Diane waiting there, nervously, I

:35:06.:35:30.

suspect. Just a little. Every right to be. I think this year there have

:35:31.:35:38.

been more tense matches. We have had a lot of tie-breaks. A lot of last

:35:39.:35:46.

end shoot out. Alex going very short with this. A big change of length.

:35:47.:35:58.

23.5 metres. He did this with Mark Dawes, changed the length. He is

:35:59.:36:04.

very good on the short jack. One of the best in

:36:05.:36:08.

very good on the short jack. One of particular distance. The rules

:36:09.:36:09.

change again on the third end. particular distance. The rules

:36:10.:36:13.

Players can nominate to destroy the end and they have to play it again

:36:14.:36:17.

in the same direction. They can nominate as often as they wish. They

:36:18.:36:22.

are actually allowed to destroy at once. And what I mean is destroying

:36:23.:36:33.

the end is you push the jack out of the confines of the rink. The

:36:34.:36:38.

re-spot do not count. But if you do not nominate and it goes outside the

:36:39.:36:42.

confines of the rink, the jack is put back onto the re-spot position.

:36:43.:36:46.

This is why Alex likes his short jacks. It is a length they

:36:47.:36:52.

This is why Alex likes his short as yet played. It is not foreign to

:36:53.:36:59.

them. They are used to playing it. But the jack has basically been on

:37:00.:37:02.

the tee all game. This is a completely new end. Still not close

:37:03.:37:08.

enough, I don't think. No. A good bowl. A foot away more or less. What

:37:09.:37:17.

Robert would give now for a front torture. I am not sure about this

:37:18.:37:24.

one. Just have to wait to see if it comes back from that wide line.

:37:25.:37:34.

Doing its best. Absolutely. I think the crowd have given Robert a lot of

:37:35.:37:38.

respect, coming back into this game. A lot of players would have folded

:37:39.:37:41.

under the pressure. They certainly have. Not easy. No. But you would

:37:42.:37:51.

still expect Alex to get this. Just a slight change on his weight. Just

:37:52.:37:58.

needs to put another ten inches on it and he will draw the perfect

:37:59.:38:04.

bowl. He has got a perfect line. Has he got the weight? I do not think he

:38:05.:38:08.

is running. He hasn't but Robert will be forced into playing another

:38:09.:38:12.

good one because he cannot leave this. Either way Alex Marshall, the

:38:13.:38:17.

defending champion, will have one bowl left to stay in this

:38:18.:38:23.

championship. We may see a different bowl from Alex on his final

:38:24.:38:27.

delivery. You are right, Robert needs another one in. This has to be

:38:28.:38:35.

good. It must be good. Struggling for weight. I think he likes this.

:38:36.:38:42.

Yes. Very clever. Alex has got a shot on.

:38:43.:38:50.

It is not going to be easy but it is still available to them. The

:38:51.:38:58.

players's Lounge is starting to look very busy up there, Andy!

:38:59.:39:08.

If there is anybody going to get you out of trouble, it is this man.

:39:09.:39:15.

However, Alex Marshall is in trouble here. This is going to be difficult.

:39:16.:39:30.

The bowl there would be ideal. It is not easy. The problem for Alex is if

:39:31.:39:41.

he gets the bowl, he needs to stun onto the jack. I think this might

:39:42.:39:52.

have been worth a call here. Forehand in this direction, his

:39:53.:39:54.

favoured shot? Yes. This is hard. He is very interested. Very

:39:55.:40:10.

interested. Has he got past the front one? He is under. He is gone!

:40:11.:40:23.

Very generous applause from everyone for this match. Robert Paxton, how

:40:24.:40:27.

on earth did he dig that one out? What a wonderful performance. Robert

:40:28.:40:33.

Paxton totally outplayed in the opening set. He dug deep, hung on in

:40:34.:40:38.

the second, played the tie-breaks well. Through to the final. Alex

:40:39.:40:44.

Marshall was unbelievable in the first set. 12-3. Everybody on their

:40:45.:40:50.

feet in the international arena. Marvellous game of bowls. Tension,

:40:51.:40:56.

pressure, everything was there. An amazing game, no doubt about that.

:40:57.:41:09.

Both of these players acknowledging the crowd. There was a they would

:41:10.:41:16.

provide entertainment and did they ever. An brilliant game of bowls for

:41:17.:41:24.

an hour and three quarters. Alex Marshall getting his worst four in

:41:25.:41:30.

the set. Robert Paxton saying, I am not going to get lets you away with

:41:31.:41:33.

it. Once again Alex Marshall playing a brilliant third bowl. Again on the

:41:34.:41:39.

draw with three against him to save three. Robert, brilliant draw shot.

:41:40.:41:52.

Settles for one. And Robert playing the perfect bowl to save the set.

:41:53.:42:01.

And that was a brilliant bowl again from Robert to save the match. And

:42:02.:42:10.

in the end, that last bowl was enough to get Robert over the line.

:42:11.:42:14.

Alex just did not make it. The statistics will favour Alex Marshall

:42:15.:42:19.

a little bit because of the first set.

:42:20.:42:25.

Yes, they do indeed. Look at the ends won by Robert Paxton. That is

:42:26.:42:29.

due to the heavy scoring that Alex was making. Brilliant, brilliant

:42:30.:42:35.

game. Alex Marshall really could not do any more in defending the title.

:42:36.:42:37.

Robert Paxton through to the final. Just the most wonderful match we

:42:38.:42:48.

have witnessed. One perhaps worthy of a final. The crowd loving every

:42:49.:42:55.

minute of it. Alex, first of all, I would imagine you have not played

:42:56.:43:00.

that well and lost a match in a long time? Yes, quite right. Put under a

:43:01.:43:07.

lot of pressure but I always knew Robert was going to come back and he

:43:08.:43:11.

did that. The big change in the game was in the sixth end. I think that

:43:12.:43:18.

was a big turning point. Credit to Robert, he came back really

:43:19.:43:22.

strongly. The pride in defending your title, you must take a lot out

:43:23.:43:27.

of it? Definitely. I was happy with how I performed during the last

:43:28.:43:33.

couple of weeks. I cannot take anything off Robert. He played

:43:34.:43:36.

sensational and I wish him all the best for the final.

:43:37.:43:41.

Very noble indeed. Robert, the first set, Alex was in

:43:42.:43:48.

flying form. From the second set to the end of the tie-break, have you

:43:49.:43:51.

played better than that? I played some good long bowls to be honest. I

:43:52.:43:57.

was playing massive pressure bowls and getting myself out of trouble,

:43:58.:44:04.

which will have to change tomorrow. I would not have hesitated at a 2-0

:44:05.:44:12.

defeat. Alex was superb. He has come here to defend his title. He is the

:44:13.:44:16.

best player the world has ever seen. To get past him in the semifinal is

:44:17.:44:21.

fantastic. That is true. Everybody acknowledges what a great player he

:44:22.:44:28.

is but today is your day. You produced wonderful bowls. The crowd

:44:29.:44:32.

enthralled from start to finish. You are in your first world final on

:44:33.:44:42.

Sunday. How good is that? Very good. Obviously there was all the hype

:44:43.:44:47.

last year after the mixed pairs and the open pairs. To come back this

:44:48.:44:52.

year and reach the final is pretty good. A lot of people are excited

:44:53.:44:57.

about what is going to happen tomorrow, but having gone through

:44:58.:44:59.

what you have gone through today, what happens in the next 24 hours?

:45:00.:45:05.

How do you prepare? A bit more time on the green. I change colours

:45:06.:45:11.

tomorrow. I changed to red. A couple of hours on the green today.

:45:12.:45:21.

Congratulations on winning today. Alex, commiserations. Ladies and

:45:22.:45:24.

gentlemen, we have seen one of the most wonderful semifinals here

:45:25.:45:29.

between Alex Marshall and Robert Paxton. Robert Paxton goes through

:45:30.:45:34.

to Sunday's final. Earlier today the other semifinal took place between

:45:35.:45:39.

David Gourlay, hoping to get his hands back on the title for the

:45:40.:45:43.

first time since 1996 and make his third appearance in a world singles

:45:44.:45:50.

title final. His opponent, Nicky Brett, the man voted player of the

:45:51.:45:54.

year in 2015. He was appearing in his second semifinal. We are going

:45:55.:46:01.

to pick this up in the second set. David Gourlay narrowly took the

:46:02.:46:07.

first set 7-6. As we pick it up, David Gourlay is leading 2-1 in the

:46:08.:46:14.

fourth and. David Corkill and Greg Harlow are the commentators.

:46:15.:46:26.

A quiet little on assuming number, that one.

:46:27.:46:39.

There is a competition to see which jackets you were on the final day.

:46:40.:46:46.

That goes to charity. Many charities have benefited over the years.

:46:47.:47:25.

REFEREE: your ball is seven inches. -- hole.

:47:26.:47:40.

David just looking for a small correction. The trouble

:47:41.:47:53.

David just looking for a small that almost every bowl must

:47:54.:47:59.

David just looking for a small value. Yes, if Nick

:48:00.:48:03.

David just looking for a small control of this end. Perfect bowl.

:48:04.:48:06.

Absolutely nailed on. It is control of this end. Perfect bowl.

:48:07.:48:18.

definite double. Back can strike now possibly for David, open things up.

:48:19.:48:24.

He has to be careful of his own bowl. That is the only danger.

:48:25.:48:33.

He has to be careful of his own draw. He misses it. It comes behind.

:48:34.:48:40.

That will force Nick to cover that on the forehand. I am surprised by

:48:41.:48:48.

that. Probably only one bad connection on the red. He is running

:48:49.:48:54.

out of time out. He did not want to go up and visit the head. Hanging

:48:55.:48:57.

onto them for later the set. I think all David has probably got

:48:58.:49:22.

is draw second now. Not too many other options. The second shop would

:49:23.:49:27.

be good. -- shot. It had to be absolutely perfect.

:49:28.:49:52.

Just the two. The advantage of this venue is a lot

:49:53.:50:23.

of spectators will be staying for the weekend. Some were becoming in

:50:24.:50:35.

on day passes. But a lot will be availing of the accommodation

:50:36.:50:36.

supplied here. As I was saying before, every bowl

:50:37.:51:40.

really need a value. That was short but it is in the way of a runner,

:51:41.:51:42.

which is a problem. David would have wanted that right

:51:43.:52:04.

on the jack at this stage. A touch of the front bowl. David

:52:05.:52:40.

needs a close bowl here. That number one is looking a little bit lonely.

:52:41.:52:52.

It looks pretty good. Well, there is a little Trail shot on, there is the

:52:53.:53:06.

running ball available and two balls will probably go. It is a very

:53:07.:53:10.

narrow target. Watch this bowl dropping in. He is in a very -- Nick

:53:11.:53:18.

is a very aggressive player. He will be interested in it, that is for

:53:19.:53:24.

sure. Shaping up quite straight. Going for the two red bowls. Level

:53:25.:53:32.

in this set. He got them. David Gourlay knew the single bowl would

:53:33.:53:45.

get that treatment. He put his own ball close to it. Good conversion. A

:53:46.:53:53.

bit of pressure on this one. It is the sort of shot you can easily

:53:54.:53:54.

miss. Yes, it is not always easy to repeat

:53:55.:54:11.

the bowl. He has lost at least two here.

:54:12.:54:28.

Nick is very good at looking at measures. Two shots, Nick Brett.

:54:29.:54:40.

That little bit of daylight now. A very good conversion shot by Nick.

:54:41.:54:47.

He is hoping to defend that lead over the next couple of ends.

:54:48.:55:00.

We may get a drive this time from David. This looks inside.

:55:01.:56:54.

More controlled off the backend time. That was very quick on the mat

:56:55.:57:12.

there. It is not like him to miss two running bowls. He is in bother

:57:13.:57:26.

here, Greg, because he has only got one bowl on the rink. I don't think

:57:27.:57:32.

you will take it out what he is just trying to manufacture a result out

:57:33.:57:35.

of this. You do not want to bring that jack out. That just gives David

:57:36.:57:43.

a chance, that doors. David needs the jack clean for two. He is on a

:57:44.:57:53.

better line this time. Perfect! Massive bowl by David Gourlay. That

:57:54.:58:02.

was a set saving bowl. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. And very

:58:03.:58:03.

brave. Absolutely spot on If Nick had picked up

:58:04.:59:00.

could have defended that lead. The pushing this one

:59:01.:00:03.

sure he has sent it. Very good judge. Not much but just

:00:04.:00:05.

enough. Very good judge. Not much but just

:00:06.:00:13.

Still plenty of room for either of these guys to get in.

:00:14.:00:20.

This is good, how good is it going to be?

:00:21.:00:33.

Dropping back. Two red. Crucial and seven.

:00:34.:00:43.

Nick, definitely closer this time, doesn't need the gap, needs a little

:00:44.:00:49.

bit of something. Just slightly heavy, just a matter

:00:50.:00:55.

of a contact. These holes and gaps are very useful at the moment.

:00:56.:01:02.

David will still be trying to draw right on top of that jack. You would

:01:03.:01:09.

like to secure a really good one. He will feel those two of vulnerable.

:01:10.:01:12.

Chasing after it, a good sign. It wants to miss the green one at

:01:13.:01:25.

the front. He has narrowed down the target area

:01:26.:01:32.

very slightly. But Nick was so close with the last one, you expect him to

:01:33.:01:34.

draw it. Played some good recovery bowls on

:01:35.:01:51.

this site. You doesn't like it. It must be too

:01:52.:01:57.

heavy. The line looked good. Here it comes. Coming back into the centre

:01:58.:02:02.

of the rink. But it was a bit heavy. He gets a double. All of a sudden,

:02:03.:02:09.

from being in a one bowl away from virtually securing the set, at 8-2,

:02:10.:02:16.

it is level, two ends later. A run for home for both players.

:02:17.:02:24.

At this stage, with David having the first set in the bag, the draw very

:02:25.:02:44.

much on his side. If you can draw this set, it is enough to get him

:02:45.:02:51.

through. That one extra shot is massive.

:02:52.:03:14.

He has passed it. That is a very good bowl. At this stage.

:03:15.:04:05.

Just dropping off the front one. The way that is sitting, I don't know

:04:06.:04:12.

how close it is to the jack, it looks about an inch. David can run

:04:13.:04:17.

for cover and just leave that. Perfect bowl would be dropping in

:04:18.:04:23.

behind the jack, six inches, to try and make the double. But he can't

:04:24.:04:27.

afford to leave a shoulder therefore Nick to use.

:04:28.:04:39.

Very confident two red called. If that is two red, Nick will be

:04:40.:04:50.

playing the forehand drive straight through his green bowls into the

:04:51.:04:54.

red, break open the head. Can't afford to lose a double here.

:04:55.:05:00.

Here it comes. It must be two read him to play this shot, he needs to

:05:01.:05:03.

split the head open. There it goes, he came out of it

:05:04.:05:07.

very well. The jack will go on the re-spot. It shows the value of that

:05:08.:05:15.

money bowl, both players have been using it very well. -- running. It

:05:16.:05:24.

looks close. It is hard for us to tell.

:05:25.:05:37.

Apart from the perfect front touch, David will be hoping to get

:05:38.:05:40.

something close but not too close. Is it one or two, that is the

:05:41.:05:53.

question. The back position is good. Nick has

:05:54.:06:00.

had a good look, he has a good life. As Nick Allen said... He did say one

:06:01.:06:06.

red. Nick has a choice, does he want to draw or drive the bowl.

:06:07.:06:11.

Drive the bowl, I would have thought. That is why he is going for

:06:12.:06:17.

the draw but... Not easy. Perfect road.

:06:18.:06:28.

Probably the back position which stopped Nick from going for it. Even

:06:29.:06:44.

if he lost one, he is in with a chance of picking up a double.

:06:45.:06:55.

REFEREE: Jack length 28.5 metres. Last end, second set. David Gourlay

:06:56.:07:04.

can afford to lose a single but no more than that. If it is a double or

:07:05.:07:10.

more we are into a tie-break. Nick Brett knows exactly what he has to

:07:11.:07:11.

do. It is amazing, Greg, one bowl really

:07:12.:07:24.

that Nick Brett was away from almost securing the second set, to go 8-2

:07:25.:07:31.

in front. David Gourlay had the perfect runner.

:07:32.:07:45.

REFEREE: Four inch gap. It is a feast of bowling for this

:07:46.:08:10.

large crowd which has really been enjoying this.

:08:11.:08:15.

Brilliant match. It looks a little bit quick.

:08:16.:08:34.

Nick is certainly on an excellent road. Definitely coming in for

:08:35.:08:43.

number two. Perfect. Absolutely right on. Is it a touch? -- toucher.

:08:44.:09:07.

I think it stopped just short. REFEREE: Time out, one time at

:09:08.:09:11.

remaining. Definitely going to be a forehand

:09:12.:09:12.

drive. He is right down the middle, what is

:09:13.:09:23.

he going to get? All the way through, he was that green bolts to

:09:24.:09:27.

go into the ditch and it just makes it but there is a lot of room.

:09:28.:09:32.

The green bowl is taken away. One to read at the moment but it is a

:09:33.:09:39.

distance away. You expect Nick to beat it. The difficulty for nicks,

:09:40.:09:48.

no matter where he puts this, if David were to drive the bowl off,

:09:49.:09:55.

the match is over. -- for Nick is. I think David will play a draw

:09:56.:09:59.

wherever it finishes. He really should unless he feels confident.

:10:00.:10:07.

How close is Nick going to get? Close enough. Very good. This is an

:10:08.:10:17.

interesting position, isn't it? Fascinating game. One of the two

:10:18.:10:28.

Nick Brett needs. This is not easy. Obviously he would love to draw the

:10:29.:10:33.

shot but, if not, get as close as he Busby can

:10:34.:10:39.

shot but, if not, get as close as he bowl to take it to the tie-break.

:10:40.:10:53.

I don't think so. I think it is one to green, I think it will be

:10:54.:11:07.

I don't think so. I think it is one me? I don't think so!

:11:08.:11:09.

I don't think so. I think it is one still bet that Nick will get this.

:11:10.:11:19.

These are the pressure bowls. Got to get this in to stay in the

:11:20.:11:27.

These are the pressure bowls. Got to Championships. Looks very confident.

:11:28.:11:27.

These are the pressure bowls. Got to Looked happy with the delivery. Yes,

:11:28.:11:34.

he is chasing up now. Is it going to make the distance? It is not. He is

:11:35.:11:39.

under by the looks of it to me. I think it is just the one.

:11:40.:11:42.

Close. That is interesting. think it is just the one.

:11:43.:11:50.

away a little. But Nick has a good eye and he won't mess about. If he

:11:51.:11:54.

thinks it is very close, then fine. If you think it is against him, he

:11:55.:12:00.

will shake hands. He is asking for a measure. I don't

:12:01.:12:03.

will shake hands. He is asking for a confident ask. Always hard to tell,

:12:04.:12:10.

Greg. The TV angles are hard to tell. They are standing above it and

:12:11.:12:15.

they can't tell. Nick has a good eye, if it was red, he would hold

:12:16.:12:19.

out his hand. He is a very honest player. It is also the drop into the

:12:20.:12:27.

ditch. Goodness me. Can't be any more tense. I wouldn't

:12:28.:12:37.

want to be doing the measure. We trust these two guys. The players

:12:38.:12:40.

will be looking to see where this is going.

:12:41.:12:47.

Well... I think it is green. I think it might be green. David hasn't

:12:48.:12:52.

moved in. My goodness me. He has just made it.

:12:53.:13:07.

A faction. REFEREE: Match tie-break. David had one foot into the wild

:13:08.:13:13.

final and it has been snatched away. An amazing finish to this match.

:13:14.:13:20.

REFEREE: First and tie-break, Nick has won the toss, given the jacks to

:13:21.:13:23.

David. He had to stay away from the Red

:13:24.:13:29.

Bull, I understand that. It looked to be going short.

:13:30.:13:33.

Absolutely. Inch perfect. As you say, we didn't fancy it from here

:13:34.:13:37.

but just on it on the nod, on the measure.

:13:38.:13:43.

A little shake off David's head, he realised just a fraction has taken

:13:44.:13:49.

him away. Three and tie-break, massive pressure now.

:13:50.:14:11.

How can they get the adrenaline under control here, this? Nick is

:14:12.:14:17.

there first. Note that United shots, just a

:14:18.:14:29.

matter of try to get as close as possible and win the end. Usually

:14:30.:14:34.

very attacking, I wonder what effect this will have on David Gourlay. I

:14:35.:14:38.

think Nick Brett will be thinking to himself, my goodness, I have got out

:14:39.:14:43.

of jail here. He has opened it up a bit. It is harder on the guy who is

:14:44.:14:51.

leading the match virtually into the next round. Harder for them to

:14:52.:15:00.

refocus. And the guy who's has just sneaked into the tie-break is fully

:15:01.:15:02.

pumped and up for the challenge. REFEREE: Four inches past jack high.

:15:03.:15:17.

Interesting to see whether he played aggressive and draws it. If he draws

:15:18.:15:20.

the perfect bowl, it will be difficult to get out. It is the

:15:21.:15:27.

harder of the two shots. Not quite going to get back. That has made it

:15:28.:15:35.

hard now. Oh, dear, didn't want that touch. Nick is in a very strong

:15:36.:15:45.

position now. He can afford to leave the head alone, just run to the

:15:46.:15:46.

re-spot. David Gourlay has got very few

:15:47.:16:10.

options here. The re-spot covered. Still have to try and draw this.

:16:11.:16:13.

That is all he has got. I know how hard it is. Everything

:16:14.:16:24.

has to be inch perfect. Just under. Lovely weight to

:16:25.:16:45.

Troutbeck but just under the line. For the first time in this match,

:16:46.:16:51.

Nick Brett is looking really good to go through.

:16:52.:16:57.

He has only been in France in this match once and that was in the sick

:16:58.:17:06.

and the first set, 5-4. -- sixth end.

:17:07.:17:14.

Now, he needs just one more for his first world final.

:17:15.:17:21.

For a while, it didn't look like it was going to happen.

:17:22.:17:28.

Only four bowls away from it on this end.

:17:29.:17:50.

20 years since David Gourlay last on the world title, 1996. He is still

:17:51.:18:03.

fighting hard in this one. I believe it was at his first attempt. And I

:18:04.:18:09.

believe, is he the first, or the last player outside of the 16 to win

:18:10.:18:16.

it as well, I think. All the other winners have been from the seeded

:18:17.:18:25.

positions. Great bowl from Nick. With his last bowl to beat Tony

:18:26.:18:28.

Allcock. He came in as a qualifier, 100-1

:18:29.:18:35.

qualifier, 20 years ago. He needs that same sort of bowl now.

:18:36.:18:43.

I think he is slipping past. Nick, this is a run for cover here.

:18:44.:18:50.

The perfect second delivery. Here we come for the re-spot.

:18:51.:18:54.

Let's see how close he gets to it. Very good. They have to think about

:18:55.:18:59.

playing this off. Not allowed to destroy the end until

:19:00.:19:19.

the third end of the tie-break. The first two ends, the jack was on the

:19:20.:19:26.

re-spot. Going for the runner. Forced into this. He is in so much

:19:27.:19:34.

trouble now. The re-spot is not available.

:19:35.:19:43.

Nick has a choice, he can either block David's draw. I think I would

:19:44.:19:54.

go into there, Greg, and hold the second shot so David hasn't got the

:19:55.:19:58.

drive to take the bowl out. Stay away from it at the same time. The

:19:59.:20:03.

last thing he wants to do is make a target, that is for sure. He can

:20:04.:20:12.

this forehand, maybe even close to three feet away from the jack and

:20:13.:20:16.

still get a very good bowl. He has the re-spot covered. Is it going to

:20:17.:20:24.

stop in time? I think it is, exactly what he was looking for.

:20:25.:20:28.

Perfect. He obviously can't see what we put

:20:29.:20:30.

on the screen but that is a He obviously can't see what we put

:20:31.:20:33.

wonderful bowl, it has forced David He obviously can't see what we put

:20:34.:20:41.

Gourlay. He is suddenly one bowl away from going out of the world

:20:42.:20:42.

singles. The perfect draw to keep his World

:20:43.:20:54.

Championship alive. He is playing the only shot

:20:55.:21:10.

available to him. How close can he get? Just going to go under, I

:21:11.:21:18.

believe. He is an inch under. REFEREE: Second game and match to

:21:19.:21:22.

Nick Brett. The world number one has snatched

:21:23.:21:26.

success away from David Gourlay in the last three end of this match. A

:21:27.:21:32.

wonderful exhibition of bowls. 7-62 David Gourlay, 7-6 to Nick Brett,

:21:33.:21:37.

and Nick Brett takes the tie-break 2-0.

:21:38.:21:40.

Age Matic match this morning on the blue rink at Potters. David, first

:21:41.:21:45.

of all, give us your thoughts how you felt the second set ended up? It

:21:46.:21:54.

final once again? To be honest, I

:21:55.:22:00.

final once again? Nick's bowl wasn't running. Still

:22:01.:22:03.

when it was coming I thought it would fall back. When I looked at

:22:04.:22:08.

it, we both fancied my bowl. Suddenly I had to take a tie-break.

:22:09.:22:10.

At that point, Suddenly I had to take a tie-break.

:22:11.:22:19.

difference in your Wadi language, how difficult was that this -- in

:22:20.:22:25.

your body language, how difficult was it to throw off?

:22:26.:22:31.

your body language, how difficult You are back in a battle again. To

:22:32.:22:35.

play a tie-break and I didn't perform in the tie-break.

:22:36.:22:38.

Commiserations but a good effort until that point. Nikki, first of

:22:39.:22:42.

all, as David said, you delivered that final bowl of the second set,

:22:43.:22:46.

did you think as you release that, that you were still in this match? I

:22:47.:22:53.

can't tell you what I said! But I thought it was short and tight. At

:22:54.:22:58.

the moment that the measure was going on, what were you thinking?

:22:59.:23:03.

Waiting for the inevitable one green, to be honest. It didn't look

:23:04.:23:04.

as if I had done enough. green, to be honest. It didn't look

:23:05.:23:12.

the markers more money! In contrast to David in the

:23:13.:23:15.

tie-break, you were, there In contrast to David in the

:23:16.:23:19.

spring in your step, you looked really confident.

:23:20.:23:22.

David was far the better player. Getting in the tie-break was a bonus

:23:23.:23:29.

for me. I'd scratched around, David's first two bowls were good. I

:23:30.:23:35.

had worn out sheepdogs trying to find mine! I was relieved to get

:23:36.:23:40.

into the tie-break. I felt like wearing a balaclava, I robbed him of

:23:41.:23:46.

a win. Fair play, David played well. I hung in and managed to sneak a

:23:47.:23:51.

measure. This is your first final tomorrow.

:23:52.:23:56.

Looking forward to it. However it is, it will be a monster of a task.

:23:57.:24:04.

I can hang in when I have not gone great so hopefully I can find a few

:24:05.:24:08.

more good ones. Congratulations to Nick Brett.

:24:09.:24:14.

It is Nick Brett who will play Robert Paxton in the final on

:24:15.:24:20.

Sunday, both players preparing for their first appearance in a Potters

:24:21.:24:25.

singles final. David Gauke and I are in the players

:24:26.:24:30.

lounge overlooking the blue rink. Nick Brett was outstanding coming

:24:31.:24:34.

back into that match but there was a very pivotal moment at the end of

:24:35.:24:38.

the second set. Absolutely, no doubt, that measure

:24:39.:24:42.

was remarkable. We were chatting about this and I spoke to Nick

:24:43.:24:46.

afterwards. He said he was thinking about shaking hands, but measure it

:24:47.:24:53.

just in case. Normally, Nicky would get it right. The difficulty with

:24:54.:24:58.

that is one bowl was going straight down and coming in at an angle, a

:24:59.:25:03.

flat angle, that is the difference. Half an inch in it. Nick, Player of

:25:04.:25:09.

the Year in 2015, something he is desperate to get hold of, a spot in

:25:10.:25:12.

the final. He is delighted he realised over the

:25:13.:25:17.

whole game that David was more consistent. You have to dig out the

:25:18.:25:20.

big bowls. The other semifinal was a belter.

:25:21.:25:27.

Andy Thompson described it as Andy Thompson described it as

:25:28.:25:31.

He was totally blessedness, no doubt. We are in a situation of

:25:32.:25:37.

saying when Alex is at his best no one can touch him, even

:25:38.:25:38.

saying when Alex is at his best no number one would have been

:25:39.:25:42.

struggling to cope with this shot. An amazing bowl. He continued

:25:43.:25:47.

throughout the first set. The second set, slightly different. Again,

:25:48.:25:53.

bangs another one in. He drew in the next one for four.

:25:54.:26:00.

Bowl after bowl. Robert did the right thing. He let it happen. And

:26:01.:26:07.

concentrated on the next step. From the second set, Robert was in superb

:26:08.:26:11.

form, taking him all the way into the tie-break.

:26:12.:26:15.

He has been there before, on the other side of Alex playing like

:26:16.:26:20.

this. It didn't go well. But this time he fought really hard, got back

:26:21.:26:27.

into it. It was anybody's game. The second end of the tie-break, you

:26:28.:26:30.

were saying as he was getting ready to play the draw, you said you were

:26:31.:26:35.

surprised this was the choice. Every other player would have played that

:26:36.:26:39.

on the forehand. The difficulty was, if he had hit it on the forehand, he

:26:40.:26:43.

was leaving a lot of room for the next bowl. That was an unbelievable

:26:44.:26:49.

pressure shot. He left Alex very little to play out of that.

:26:50.:26:51.

The most amazing match. The crowd The most amazing match. The crowd

:26:52.:26:56.

were so into it. Everybody was into it, no doubt. The number of messages

:26:57.:27:01.

coming through saying the same thing, a brilliant game. One of

:27:02.:27:05.

those games you want to review and think about, the psychology was very

:27:06.:27:10.

strong. Alex being so good. A great learning curve for anyone who wants

:27:11.:27:14.

to enjoy bowls. The type of day we can put together

:27:15.:27:19.

a long highlights package. It would be that long but tonight if you want

:27:20.:27:24.

to catch it, you can do on BBC Two at 11:35pm. Both semifinals most

:27:25.:27:30.

certainly worth watching once again. And tomorrow, the final on BBC Two

:27:31.:27:35.

at 2pm, Robert Paxton against Nick Brett.

:27:36.:27:40.

We are going to have a new name on the trophy. Any idea who might come

:27:41.:27:43.

out on top? I am really not sure, to be

:27:44.:27:47.

truthful, the other two guys could have been in the final. Both these

:27:48.:27:52.

players scraped their way through and showed what true champions they

:27:53.:27:56.

are. Will it be a tie-break, I hope so.

:27:57.:28:00.

Two Casbah battled hard over five years coming up through the ranks

:28:01.:28:06.

and now getting their rewards -- two players.

:28:07.:28:09.

I remember when they were outside the top 20, coming through

:28:10.:28:12.

qualifiers, making second round. They really have played well. They

:28:13.:28:19.

deserve this. They beat David Gourlay and Alex Marshall, a

:28:20.:28:23.

fantastic thing to do. Sadly, Alex Marshall's quest for a

:28:24.:28:30.

seventh title has come to an end. We have two new finalists at Potters,

:28:31.:28:34.

Robert Paxton and Nick Brett, battling it out for the title here

:28:35.:28:39.

tomorrow on the blue rink, the most famous arena in the world indoor

:28:40.:28:43.

bowls. Whatever happens, there will be a new name on the trophy come

:28:44.:28:47.

close of play on Sunday, will it be Robert Paxton of Nick Brett Quetta

:28:48.:28:55.

Mark join us on BBC Two at 2pm to find out, goodbye. -- Nick Brett?

:28:56.:28:57.

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