Semi-Finals Bowls: Scottish International Open

Good evening. It may be called the Scottish International Open but the

standard off play today, afterwards, a note Scots were left. They were

There are four players involved. Two will walk away with the trophy.

Two years in the semi, hopefully I can go further this year. At the

end of the day, I have made the semi-final, whatever happens, I

will give it my best. I think if you manage to turn a game around,

it could be your year. I have got to play more of the same like I did

at the end of the game. If I can do that, I will be going into the

semi-final with a chance. I have got my hotel booked until Saturday

We are down to the last four. The semi-final. Here is how they lined

up at the start of play. The replay of last year's semi-final, Mervyn

King against Robert Paxton. At the bottom, Greg Harlow face Robert

Weale. Let us seeking against Paxton. The winner of the world

singles back in 2006, Mervyn his 5th in the world rankings. He is

the highest he has been for years will stop at the victory last year

was a Supreme that display of bowls, destroy all in his path. Are a

solid and unrelenting opponent, hear more than often at -- he more

than often than not polls upshot off. Semi-finals are not a new

experience for Paxton. His defeat last year was an experience he

would not repeat. He have a desire and determination to go all the way.

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Commentary from David Corkill and Robert Paxton has to be aware of

the fact and keep his own level of face, not get into playing a quick

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game to match Mervyn King. It can He is so good at that. The door was

opened by Robert Paxton and King walks the writ. If Paxton was

wondering if King was continuing with his fine form, he knows by now

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follow him because there is a not a in Perth. There is a full house. A

really good crowd in, it has been a good ride for most of the week here.

Robert Paxton. When they met last year, he had opening end jitters

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Paxton has. It is ideally suited for the fast rinks of the indoor

surface. It is a little bit narrow for the line. A weight might just

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looking to adjust and it is looking like he is going through. Left with

with other red bowls all week. He has been terrific with them. It is

a delight for shock. That was his final bowl. Tucking a cross,

leaving very little for Robert - King. It will only be a short

period of time before Paxman, if he cannot match this, will have to

start the heavy stuff. He will have to disturb heads early before they

and jack means if you touch it, it will not move too far. Anything

less, and the jack moves very quickly if you touched the that

bowl. There it goes. If you tempted? He is. -- is he tempted?

had a feeling he would try and has left it. He wanted to come

round and the behind. It is a bigger target, big -- back position.

That will be a respot position. Probably on the green. The jack

stayed in the ditch. That is a surprise at that pace. Mervyn

King's bowl in the ditch is a toucher. It will stay. The Greenock

upshot did not touch the jack. It comes out of the ditch. -- that

Greene et bowl. There is the marker for the red bowl. There is no way

missing his own bowl. It needs a little bit more weight on it. That

to go for the draw. It is a tough weight, that is a great bowl. He

was so much inside Mervyn King's bowl. A great and necessary save

from the Wohlfahrt -- qualifier. We join the match with Robert Paxton

ahead. This is the perfect venue for the Scottish International Open.

Players love coming here. They competition, both players have had

a lot of time on the rink. They have had ample time to practise in

case there is any problem they may feel they have on the way to the

semi-finals. Once again, Mervyn King, in honour the jack.

credit to Robert, he was playing exceptionally well the first few

not the bowl. Got it. -- he wants. the wrong side of the jack with

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There is a solid jack to bring it forward. That was perfect. Didn't

want to be on the high side of it. It is a very nice looking target. I

thought he might have been tempted with it. Robert needs another one

in. If he gets back in time, he could make four out of this offer

the front edge. It could be. That would be eight Sept. -- a set.

is four. Mervyn King will have to have a run at this. There is no

choice. Credit to Robert Paxton. He did not close the door but he has

made the four shots. There's still a target there. This is the third

time they have met in the world bowls to have. Both times, Mervyn

King has won the first set easily. It is the set. First set to Robert

Paxton. By the 7th end, Mervyn King was trailing 6-4. He needed to pull

with this one. In many ways, it may make the difference. There's a

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difference between Robert Paxman -- touches for fun. Mervyn King making

jack Mack -- the jack round the corner, if he can. That is not bad.

I can tell you, that is not bad. That is just tricky enough for

Mervyn King to get around that bowl. He might start looking at inside

that bowl and get it under green, that would be good. The alternative

is to go around it. Both shots have a high degree of difficulty. He has

been struggling with his short weight. He is going to clip the

green ball. -- bowl. He nearly pushed his own over. He has lost

another one. It is not looking good for the defending champion. It was

hard. He has not been left anything easy on this end. He gets the front

green one, the bowl goes up and it has to drop down again. Period

comes, you can see it. It goes up, get the push from the green but

doesn't fall down. -- here it comes. You just feel those running at

bowls of Mervyn King have cost him a lot of shots in this match.

History is not on the side of Mervyn King. Going back to the

final, Darren Burnett did it. He was in the final of 2002. But it

could be just like last year at the Scottish International Open. It is

a number 18 player who goes through to the final. That was Stewart

Anderson last year. This year, Robert Paxton. He has come through

qualifying to be here, Robert we all know Robert Paxton and have

done for a long time. This is his 4th semi-final. When he gets here,

boy, does he do well. He is much better than an 18th are ranked

unlike Mervyn King. He is a very good line player. Mervyn King has

been breezing through this week. Robert Paxman has come under par at

-- under pressure. -- Robert Paxton. If a Paxton at Windsor this end, he

is in the final. -- wins at this King, looks better this time. Needs

a thin edge. Bowe, he got the wrong side. When you are just off your

game a little bit, these things go wrong. That is what has happened to

Mervyn King. After the first three or four ends, he has not been on

his game. On another day, and earlier in the week, this bowl

would have age of the green on to the jack. As it is, it falls

wife realises this is not going too well. A two bowls to play in the

8th end. He is on a lovely line here. This is a great bowl. Look at

this, all the way in. Beautiful. That is the sort of bowl that wins

bowl he has played in this bowl. -- in his end. Mervyn King, defending

the semi-final match. Second shot is not good enough. He asked to

draw the short here. -- he has to. It is certainly wide enough. Has he

just overplayed it for weight? is coming through. It is going

behind. Match to Robert Paxton. Having reached three previous semi-

finals, Robert Paxton finally gets success and he will play in the

Scottish International Open final In the semi-final last year, a bit

of revenge this year? I am really pleased with the result. You played

very well. Mervyn King, you got off to the start we expected to. You

were nailing the jack. I got off to a good start but then Robert got on

his game. He played better than me. You have been playing so well all

week. You qualified so it is not just about starting. You have come

through an awful lot to get here. What does it mean to you to get to

this final? It is fantastic. It is my 4th semi-final my. To get over

that hurdle and break the semi- final barrier, it is nice to be it.

I am a keen forward to the final. Robert Paxton has been my duck

calls all week. Through to his first world bowls to a final. Now

the final between Robert Weale and Greg Harlow. Greg shares the record

of singles title. He lost to David Gourlay in the last -- last year.

He got the bench will this yesterday. He likes to celebrate

and that wins with a cartwheel, fish and chips and champagne.

Wilcox be popping up for Grade tomorrow? -- will clubs will stop.

Robert Weale had a battling performance. He has won national

championships, six medals plus the world singles title was his in

2,000. He is number one here in Scotland. He is determined to do

something about it. This was an incredibly tight encounter. The

first set was drawn 9-9. We draw -- we join in the final end. We'll is

a tie-break. That sounds familiar! Two tied set almost unheard of. --

Harlow. He failed in the first set Robert Weale walks back. Does the

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right thing. Pressed the reset final of the Scottish International

Open for the very first time. One could bowl could do it for him. --

Harlow has been successful at the semi-final stage twice in this

competition. He has been runner-up to the last two Balls of the match.

-- we wondered if it would come it down to the last two bowls of the

assured. -- short. It is in the hands of Greg Harlow. If it is the

same as the last, he is in the final. Robert Weale would love to

have --. -- to have that bowl back. Sometimes you play it short. He was

looking for dead weight. That is a Scottish International Open of 2011

not believe it, another tide set. have never seen the light. MARKER:

Greg won the toss. He has given the almost put your mortgage on with

Greg Harlow. He is so confident. The only danger was to push the

green ball down. -- bull. He was over courses. It was also one of

the reasons why a thought he may have played it on the forehand. --

I thought. By Robert Weale is just happy he is still in this

competition. -- Robert Weale. As it would be unlikely to have two tie-

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bowls. A wonderful semi-final. Now between the two in the world

championships in 2009. That is the kind of bowl that gives you a great

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thinking about winning this bowl Greg. When you're lying as Robert

Weale is, you do not want to make gives him another bowl on the head.

What is the bad side? Shouldering. The bowl just comes a cross centre

line a bit too much. -- across. Greg but even risking it. Trying

for the pacy shot. Controlled weight. I opened the door. --

opened. He is so good at these shots. Perfect example of

controlled weight. That bowl stays alive. It is well across to the

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wanted to be. Robert would have been looking to try to get another

shot to stop the green bowl being removed. By dropping short he has

left himself wide open for the jack the look on his face. -- tight.

Robert Weale takes the opening of the tie-break. Robert Weale will

also have the advantage of the last bowl. Watch two things. The player

and the bowl. We could tell straight away that Greg Harlow did

not like it. And remiss on the forehand. -- that was a rare miss.

When he last reached the final in 2008, he won on a tie-break in his

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semi-final. That was against Paul chance for Robert Weale to nail of

the jack. MARKER: Your last bowl, just over two feet. This is Greg's

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has got some work to do to get back from that height. I still do not

think that is enough. The grimness hardly bear to watch, Greg Harlow's

wife, Kate. A big crowd here. Loyalty is not torn. An Englishman

and a Welchman. They are really enjoying what they are seeing. --

Robert very quick to move away from the head. He has made up his mind

what a shot he is going to play. -- what shot. He is leading in the

tie-break. If he takes the shot, he is in the final. Certainly this is

different. Much tighter. You could see him put his arms out. So Greg

Harlow evens things up in the tie- players. This was a chance. Greg

Harlow had a chance for the match in the final end of the regular

second set. There, Robert Weale had a chance for the match and he does

match is going to be decided by one shot. 9-9 and the first set. 7-7

and the second. It is one each after two ends of the tie-break.

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The first bowl is vital. MARKER: nervous in the tie-break. But that

Rhys two great bowls to start with. -- that he is. This will be a very,

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backhand, Robert Weale. Very prone over. Robert Weale knows he has got

to put something in here. It is very tight. Remember, Greg Harlow

won the last bull of the end. -- red. Robert Weale cannot believe

the misfortune that has to have befallen him. -- just befallen him.

He just wanted did Tickle inside. - - typical. Particularly got was no

laughing matter. That was the worst result. He has only got one bowl to

save the match. That is not an easy shot to get out of trouble on that

backhand. He has had some unfortunate results, I have to say,

Robert Weale. He will certainly rue several bowls that he has left it

short. You just wonder if it is not Harlow playing his third. Two bowls

to come after this. One apiece. That is a good bowl, clever bull.

He did not even attempt to block it on the other side. He just said,

Robert, a key wanted, come and get Anything over the weight and you

will not get back. I am not sure even hitting that bowl will do. You

may get the two red and stay away from the jack. He has nominated to

kill it. Should the jack go off the rink, it will not be Rhys spotted.

He asked to nominate and he has the players. He has missed it. It

is Greg Harlow, the English man, who goes through to the final of

the Scottish International Open. Robert Weale had his opportunities.

It is the man from Cambridge he takes his place in the final. A

former winner, he has got the chance to win it again. Two tight

sets. Greg Harlow wins the tie- That was tough going? Yes, it

really was a tough. I felt I was behind the eight ball in both sets.

I was playing desperation bowls just to stay in. I cannot quite

believe how I tied each set and won the tie-break. I feel like I'd mob

Robert. You had your nose in front in both sets -- Swete? Added. I did

not close out the set. I had my opportunity. Is this the way you're

going to play the Swete? It is not a good battle plan. I sneak through

today. Normally it is very difficult to come back. I kept

telling myself one or two each end. I somehow managed to get it. As I

said earlier, I feel I have robbed Robert. Tomorrow unique Robert

Paxton, a qualifier, who has been in sensational form. You must be

looking forward to taking him on? have not really thought about it. I

have played Robert quite a few times. Yes, this week he is

probably playing as well as I have seen him play. I will have to be

more consistent to mark even to compete with them. I cannot afford

to fall behind in the set. Greg Harlow very honest about his win.

He did play the big shots Winnie at two. What was the best big shot

played here all day? My shot of the day is taken from the match that

features Greg Harlow against Robert the the end. He is two shot down.

The risky shot is to remove all of the red bowls. If Robert Weale get

this wrong, he will lose the match. An incredibly brave shot. As he

played it, the crowd groaned. They could not believe he was attempting

it. Removes the red. Very unlucky not to take all four. It was so

brave. For that reason, it is my You can play of what you think is

the perfect shot but it does not give you the result you want. It

certainly did not work for Robert Weale. He is out of the competition.

Robert Paxton, the qualifier, will play Craig Harlow. We are live from