:00:32. > :00:36.This fellow, and a very warm welcome to the Dewars Centre in
:00:36. > :00:41.Perth. We have reached the second round of the International Open.
:00:41. > :00:44.Four matches of sensational quality. At the start of play, there were
:00:44. > :00:48.some big names with big reputations on the line.
:00:48. > :00:53.He may have fallen down the rankings, but Ian Bond still has
:00:53. > :01:03.plenty to offer. The crowd pleaser from Devon is a wild card and
:01:03. > :01:04.
:01:04. > :01:08.proved his credentials in the first-round over Mark Royal.
:01:08. > :01:16.Halpin to turn back the tide of time, two legends of their date --
:01:16. > :01:26.regain go ahead. A winner of this event, Andy
:01:26. > :01:30.
:01:30. > :01:34.Thomson back in 2007. Finally, it is the turn of world No. 3 to keep
:01:34. > :01:37.the Saltire flying high. Yes, the Cat In the Hat, Robert
:01:37. > :01:40.Paxton. This is the way the draw looked
:01:40. > :01:50.first thing this morning, Mervyn King against Stewart Anderson, Lee
:01:50. > :02:02.
:02:02. > :02:06.We will start with a match between two players who know each other
:02:06. > :02:12.extremely well and never failed to entertain when they go onto the
:02:12. > :02:16.rink. David Gourlay against Andy Thomson. The Anglo-Scot has had a
:02:16. > :02:20.long and illustrious career. He followed in his father's footsteps
:02:20. > :02:26.by representing Scotland than England. He has been resident down
:02:26. > :02:30.south for many years and his England's record cap holder. Anti-
:02:30. > :02:35.nausea than for a great match against David Gourlay.
:02:35. > :02:41.Mr consistent, as he is known, is one of the most technically gifted
:02:41. > :02:45.players on the tour. Spending many years on the tournament circuit
:02:45. > :02:53.thanks to his dogged determination. He remains a very difficult man to
:02:53. > :02:59.beat. Gourlay found his drop early and put pressure on Thomson, taking
:02:59. > :03:09.the first set 10-6. We join the match at the end of the second set
:03:09. > :03:15.
:03:15. > :03:25.with coolly ahead. -- with Gourlay the fifth end by picking up a
:03:25. > :03:35.single. Not much in it. That big ugly four on the fourth end, that
:03:35. > :03:35.
:03:35. > :03:38.is the key so far this said. -- this set.
:03:38. > :03:42.If David Gourlay can score two of those, it should be enough to get
:03:42. > :03:50.him over the line. That is what goes through your mind
:03:51. > :03:57.as a player. You have played five ends, you are three up, you think I
:03:57. > :04:03.should be well it -- winning this set. Andy, on the other hand, will
:04:03. > :04:13.be thinking, if I can nibble one shot on the end that will be enough
:04:13. > :04:34.
:04:34. > :04:44.and a very unlucky result with a particularly bad end, David put
:04:44. > :04:50.
:04:50. > :05:00.posterity, because David Gourlay does not miss too many forehand
:05:00. > :05:30.
:05:30. > :05:40.going back to the draw. Just over one thing for -- bowl
:05:40. > :05:57.
:05:57. > :06:07.matched, it is so often the player prepared to take a risk that will
:06:07. > :06:10.
:06:10. > :06:19.win the match. This is getting himself on the forehand drive, but
:06:19. > :06:23.he could have used that. All Andy can do is draw for four. I could
:06:24. > :06:33.even manage that, there is nothing else on the green, nothing else out
:06:34. > :06:34.
:06:34. > :07:36.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:07:36. > :07:46.again. What else has this game to break on. -- ends to go.
:07:46. > :07:56.
:07:56. > :08:06.A four for Thomson brings him right brought the mat right up.
:08:06. > :08:20.
:08:20. > :08:30.We have not seen the mat brought up the SFA -- the SFA. -- this far,
:08:30. > :09:05.
:09:05. > :09:09.another 1.5 metres, so it is not at earlier on today, and at this
:09:09. > :09:19.length he nailed it. I think Andy is a bit better with
:09:19. > :09:19.
:09:19. > :10:12.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:10:12. > :10:22.this one. Not far away. Getting four?
:10:22. > :10:40.
:10:40. > :10:50.That is just going to be a draw tempted to take the run-down with
:10:50. > :10:54.the jack and the two greens. It is damage limitation.
:10:54. > :10:59.That is probably the percentage shot, David. If he misses the jack,
:10:59. > :11:09.he takes the two greens away. He looks like he is going to be
:11:09. > :11:09.
:11:09. > :12:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:12:25. > :12:35.tight game. 7-94 David Gourlay, threes and fours have been bouncing
:12:35. > :12:37.
:12:37. > :12:47.around a bit. 7-9, for David Gourlay. They are swapping big
:12:47. > :12:47.
:12:47. > :12:52.counts in the last three or four ends. Had there been a four, Andy
:12:52. > :12:56.Thomson would have been too far, but he is only two behind. Still a
:12:56. > :13:00.chance. Definitely, a four would have
:13:00. > :13:05.probably closed the game out for David Gourlay. As it is, two shorts,
:13:05. > :13:15.and he will be looking to score on the eighth or ninth end. Needs a
:13:15. > :13:15.
:13:15. > :15:02.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:15:02. > :15:06.It is just what he wanted. A great One inch.
:15:06. > :15:11.He has two bowls disordered the situation, I am not surprised he is
:15:11. > :15:17.coming to have a look. That last bowl from David is in a
:15:17. > :15:25.perfect spot to be fair. It cuts down the options for Andy. He may
:15:25. > :15:35.be forced to to run at this again. -- he may be forced to to run at
:15:35. > :15:55.
:15:55. > :16:01.Andy. The jack is in the ditch, that stays alive and is marked with
:16:01. > :16:11.a little yellow disc. Great strike from Andy. Does what
:16:11. > :16:16.he needed to, get it out in the open. Just a one bowl shoot-out to
:16:16. > :16:21.win this end. It will be difficult to get to this, he may have to
:16:21. > :16:31.plate across it on the forehand. My goodness, that will be close to the
:16:31. > :17:06.
:17:06. > :17:13.looked to be in the way. -- the certainly the chance to get the
:17:13. > :17:17.single he needs. Andy decided to go for the strike, he had to play it,
:17:17. > :17:27.a good forehand strike, buying on target, they jack stayed in the
:17:27. > :18:06.
:18:06. > :18:12.which may have saved the second. He had a good waiter for the sort. --
:18:12. > :18:16.he had a good weight for the shot. I could understand why he played it,
:18:16. > :18:24.I'm really good, but I think he may have been trying to get outside it,
:18:24. > :18:31.to be honest. He is just trying to play their
:18:31. > :18:41.correct weight, looking to get past the short bowls. Unfortunate it
:18:41. > :18:49.
:18:49. > :18:52.sticks to that green. Did save the David Gourlay. He needs a four, but
:18:52. > :18:57.you never get and when you really need them.
:18:57. > :19:07.It is the most difficult thing in the game, when you do need a four,
:19:07. > :19:26.
:19:26. > :19:32.to actually score there four -- to short of the tea. -- of the T. The
:19:32. > :19:42.minimum distance is 23 metres, and if it is not 23 metres or more or
:19:42. > :19:51.
:19:52. > :20:01.the jack will go back. It is OK, a metal tape. It will give you a
:20:02. > :20:02.
:20:02. > :21:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:21:45. > :21:54.aggressive here. Take the two of them off and just shake hands.
:21:54. > :22:04.would be attacking. I think we will see something more conservative,
:22:04. > :22:04.
:22:04. > :23:00.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:23:00. > :23:10.runner this time, anyway. Just a draw to the red balls, -- the red
:23:10. > :23:32.
:23:32. > :23:38.clean. The trouble is, how does he keep his own bowl in the head?
:23:38. > :23:44.I think he has two problems minus one will be keeping the red bowl in
:23:44. > :23:54.the head, and the other problem is, does their near Mr Greener passed
:23:54. > :23:59.
:24:00. > :24:09.the jack without any contact? -- does the nearest green pass the
:24:10. > :24:28.
:24:28. > :24:35.Two shots, the match to David Gourlay.
:24:35. > :24:39.10-6 in the first set, very little in it, but the scores don't really
:24:39. > :24:42.reflect, certainly in the second set, the first set it was David
:24:42. > :24:46.Gourlay all the way. David Gourlay on sparkling form, he
:24:46. > :24:51.will be the one to look out for for the rest of the week, but the first
:24:51. > :24:54.match this morning was between match this morning was between
:24:54. > :24:57.Simon Skelton and John Price fills Bob Simon Skelton started like a
:24:57. > :25:02.man on a mission which meant John Price had to be inch-perfect to
:25:02. > :25:08.score anything. The experienced Welshman continued
:25:08. > :25:14.to pick up points and edged ahead slightly halfway through. But
:25:14. > :25:23.Skelton has a drop that his poetry in motion. He continued to find the
:25:23. > :25:29.jack with the ease. But, the never- say-die attitude of John Price
:25:29. > :25:35.produced the right bowls at the right time to have the first set.
:25:35. > :25:42.It truly was a order for battle, with both players delivering
:25:42. > :25:49.astonishing shots again and again. But, Skelton showed that, although
:25:49. > :25:52.his draw is decisive, his drive can be pretty destructive. Despite a
:25:52. > :26:02.spirited defence from John Price, the Englishman did enough to keep
:26:02. > :26:10.his nose in front. And a final end sure John Price needing a three to
:26:10. > :26:20.force a tie-break. One shot, John Price, at second set,
:26:20. > :26:21.
:26:21. > :26:25.match decides John Skelton. So, a seasoned job -- campaigner
:26:25. > :26:28.John Price out of the competition, but Simon Skelton through to the
:26:28. > :26:35.quarter-final, which he would meet the winner of the match between
:26:35. > :26:41.the winner of the match between Darren Burnett and Robert Paxton.
:26:41. > :26:48.Previously, the Englishman reached the last four or at -- in 2006.
:26:48. > :26:53.Robert Paxton is still a very impressive player.
:26:53. > :26:56.The 2008 International Open champion, Burnett, has been a
:26:56. > :27:01.picture of tins distant -- consistency in recent years,
:27:01. > :27:07.reflected in his world ranking of three. It as comfortable outdoors
:27:07. > :27:10.as in so it -- indoors, he is difficult to overcome.
:27:10. > :27:16.In the first set, Robert Paxton seem to have found the formula,
:27:16. > :27:22.taking it with dredged to spare, 10-4.
:27:22. > :27:32.We join it in the second set, Robert Paxton has a 6-4 advantage
:27:32. > :27:32.
:27:32. > :29:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:29:58. > :30:08.afternoon. He is not playing well. He does not want to give this a
:30:08. > :30:28.
:30:28. > :30:38.It is going to fall short. A little bit under. We are going to get into
:30:38. > :30:57.
:30:57. > :31:07.the last end of the set. No early shocked the way today. He does not
:31:07. > :31:07.
:31:07. > :31:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:31:58. > :32:08.want to do anything similar here. - there. He is in with a good chance
:32:08. > :32:08.
:32:08. > :34:48.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:34:48. > :34:58.hold the line. Just wanted a nudge in for another shot, although he
:34:58. > :34:58.
:34:58. > :35:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:35:58. > :36:08.could probably do with it. Making at that. The line and looked
:36:08. > :36:10.
:36:10. > :36:16.terrific -- looked terrific. Sometimes you are almost better
:36:16. > :36:26.knowing that it is only one, so you can play a good positive shot to it.
:36:26. > :36:43.
:36:43. > :36:53.that. He would much rather know whether or not it is two. He has to
:36:53. > :37:24.
:37:24. > :37:34.That is the match gone. Burnett has given the shot away in the match
:37:34. > :37:40.
:37:41. > :37:48.and does it again at their end. We have seen some exciting matches
:37:48. > :37:54.so far and I'm not saying we are keeping the best will last, but
:37:54. > :38:04.this is good. Lee Schraner is a new,. It has been successful for
:38:04. > :38:04.
:38:04. > :40:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:40:22. > :40:27.We join the match at the top of the -- delightful. Both players coming
:40:27. > :40:37.to have a look. I am not surprised. They will be looking at Angles and
:40:37. > :40:37.
:40:37. > :41:41.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:41:41. > :41:46.D jack will move. -- the jack will but it has come into a very good
:41:46. > :41:56.place. It can be adjusted. Bond will have to cover it and split the
:41:56. > :41:57.
:41:57. > :43:42.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:43:42. > :43:47.got it. He played that so well! The his opponent is playing. He could
:43:47. > :43:57.not have been any heavier because it would have come to the Queen
:43:57. > :44:19.
:44:19. > :44:29.bowl. Such a hard shot to play. for a moment, there was a delayed
:44:29. > :44:29.
:44:29. > :49:03.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:49:03. > :49:13.players on a fine form. -- fine He has given it a good look. That
:49:13. > :49:15.
:49:15. > :49:19.is a good position. Bond will have to cover that and take a chance. He
:49:19. > :49:29.has to cover the back position because he has a dangerous
:49:29. > :50:01.
:50:01. > :50:11.another metre or so on that. It would have been easier if he had
:50:11. > :50:11.
:50:11. > :55:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:55:23. > :55:33.this one. He is going for the win. Here it comes. Well played. That is
:55:33. > :55:52.
:55:52. > :56:02.two, he will be three in front in the last end. Lee Schraner needs to
:56:02. > :56:06.
:56:06. > :56:16.win the set, he will need to win four. He decided not to cover the
:56:16. > :56:41.
:56:41. > :56:46.match over. That could be the most horrible results for Lee Schraner.
:56:46. > :56:52.On the inside it is a definite to. I have a feeling it is going to be
:56:52. > :57:02.three shots. You can almost tell with Ian Bond's face. He has
:57:02. > :57:02.
:57:02. > :57:12.stepped away from the rink. Ian Bond comes out on top, but what a
:57:12. > :57:16.
:57:16. > :57:21.great effort from Lee Schraner. Ian Bond is it quarter-finalist.
:57:21. > :57:31.wonderful match with some wonderful shots, including the shock of the
:57:31. > :57:35.
:57:35. > :57:41.day. Ian Bond is lying three shots. Burnett has just missed a jack. No
:57:41. > :57:45.margin for error. He draws on the forehand and it is a perfect bowl.
:57:45. > :57:51.One of the best draw shot I have seen in a long time. Beautiful
:57:51. > :58:00.smooth action. So impressed by the way he has adapted to the portable
:58:01. > :58:05.rink, which also affected right decision on this. Coming in wide.
:58:05. > :58:11.He keeps himself in the second set with that and that is why it is my
:58:11. > :58:15.shot of the day. A wonderful shot from Lee Schraner, but to no avail.
:58:15. > :58:25.He is out of the competition. Ian Bond is through to the quarter-
:58:25. > :58:32.