Round 1 Bowls: Scottish International Open

Hello and very warm welcome to the Dewars Centre in Perth at the ebbed

end of a mariton day covering the Co-operative Funeralcare Scottish

International Open. A day in which the action could be described as

just champion. There is a former champion in all three of our

featured matches on tonight's show. Current World Champion Andy Thomson

lifted the trophy here he faces Alex Marshall. David Gourlay won

the title in 2002 his opponent is Nick Brett who is looking to cement

his position this season. And, Darren Burnett was 25 when he won

the title 11 years ago. Jonathan Ross stands in the way of the man

from Arbroath. There were some fantastic bowls played in all the

matches today. I urge you to stick around. Here is what the draw

looked like 14 hours ago when the We will start with the match which

promised lots and certainly didn't disappoint. It was Andy Thomas

disappoint. It was Andy Thomas against Alex Marshall. He has never

performed to his best here in Perth. Andy Thomson is playing with lots

of confidence and was looking forward to locking horns with his

forward to locking horns with his old pal Thomson won the first set

8-2. We join the match at the start of the tie-break. Commentary from

David Corkill and Paul Mitchell. COMMENTATOR: Lots of ones and twos.

No twos or threes or fours bouncing about in this match. It's the

eighth tie-break of the Scottish International Open. Three ends, one

shot per end available. No matter about tie breaks. You only have to

score one shot of course, it's not accumulated shots. A bit of

disturbance there for Andy. That came from outside the venue as

opposed to inside, it the noise. the third end of the tie-break, of

course, you can actually declare to make a no end. It's the only time

in the match that you can do it. You must nominate. If you fail to

nominate, it comes back to the respot. That was interesting. Your

timeouts you get three for the whole match, including the tie-

break. Both players have two timeouts remaining. Not far away.

He's the wrong side. Just the wrong so much to remember that you forget

to play bowls. Between the timeouts, burning and respots. There is a lot

going on. Andy Thomson checking how many timeouts he has left. This is

better. Two bowls left. Lovely ball from Andy Thomson. He checked about

the timeouts and delighted to see that nuzle into his other front. --

He had to make something happen, he did so. Anything into the two

greens was going to be useful. Interesting to see if he plays

across the line here. You see the jack going out to the side. Now,

this isn't easy because you are going into new land. You would

never play this line a normal process of the end. I think he's

pretty decent with it. Oh, yes, that's very good. That really is.

What Alex is looking at here, he is trying to see if he gets the jack

off, who will win on the respot position. I'm not sure. It's very,

very difficult to tell. He could play a double-type shot. He could

play on to the bowl and try and stop, if he kfplt the alternative

is, if he can play through to the jack. If he take it is off, who

will get it on the respot? It's very hard to tell. Respot just out

of your picture, down at the bottom right. Well, if he's on the

backhand, he must be playing for the ball then. He must feel he will

get it on the respot, to play this shot. Here he goes. He's watching

it. And, he's got it. That is a brilliant shot from Alex Marshall.

Well, I have a feeling, not only is he going to get the respot, it's a

touch nert ditch. That will make a definite -- toucher in the ditch.

That will make a definite for him. He didn't want the ball, he needed

the jack. It is the ball that wins it for him. He nicks it to the side.

Touches it. That stays in play. A toucher. Off the respot. That was

brilliant. It really was because any touch on the ball was useless

to him. Well if yesterday's match with Kenneth Wong disappointed, and

to be fair it did, this has made up gone to tie breaks. The man who won

the first set has got through, which is unusual. It's usual that

the man who has the second set has momentum. That was interesting the

last end in so some respects. They played on the backhand. It was a

Yes. Outside the players control. Nothing he could do. That might

come from one of the lights. I tell you what, he would take that noise

going to have to take a timeout here. He gets it absolutely clear

clean. That was the important bit. He didn't get the jack and the ball.

He just missed the bowl. Well, had to be for Andy. Andy has one

timeout remaining. Tremendous bowls from both players. Eight World

championship wins between them. think he's trying to work out what

weight to use because, if he gets the jack absolutely clean, he wants

to carry it into the ditch. He will have to control the weight to do

that. The alternative is to go quick and try and clean everything

trying to help it, almost trying to steer it around. He wasn't too far

away. He will try to get to the again? The match is against him, as

weight or line, either way he needs to try and get it. Oh, different

altogether. Completely different with this one. It's drawing weight

almost. That's hard to do that. He's going to turn the jack around

the corner to his own green ball. It's slightly over. One red. I had

a feeling he would have a little pop at that. The bowl will go

this year, Alex Marshall took the tie-break 2-0. He's sitting pretty

at the moment. He doesn't want to done all I possibly can, the way it

sits. It's up to you Andy. Has he lost it? He has. It's done in the

ditch. That was a mistake. I think he will go back with pace here

because it's so hard to trail a jack in that forehand. He has one

timeout left, he may call it. should call it. Time out call. Andy

has no timeouts remaining. If he misses this, he won't need them.

may as well use it and worry about everything out. He's tight. Alex

Marshall, he has never had a great relationship with the Scottish

International Open for a number of years, he has won back-to-back

matches in the last two-days and takes his place in the quarter-

final. He wins on the tie-break. It was an exciting and interesting

match. It's Alex Marshall who goes match. It's Alex Marshall who goes

through. I would say Andy was the more consistent player over the two

sets, without a doubt. I struggled. Happy to get through. That was a

battling performance from Alex Marshall taking the World champion

out of the competition. Now, there was the last first round match

played today, it was Greg Harlow played today, it was Greg Harlow

against Charlie Slavich. COMMENTATOR: Greg Harlow looked

comfortable two ahead and lying three up in the second. Charlie

Slavich likes a drive. This shot turned the second end to leave him

4-2 ahead. that, Harlow upped the pressure and

took control. This shot helped him to score four in the fifth end as

Slavich kept missing with drives. COMMENTATOR: Reasonable to say he's

in a heap of trouble. The World Number 1 won the set, with this

shot making sure of things in the ninth end.

COMMENTATOR: That's a beauty. Oh, that really is a beauty there.

After the big scores of the first set, the second was a much tighter

affair. Two down from the first end, Harlow sneaked a point back with

this draw in the second. Both players were on top form, it took

all of Greg Harlow's skill to gain the upper hand.

COMMENTATOR: It's a beater. Once he had it, he didn't let go. This draw

for four points, in the sixth end, helping him to take the second set

by 12-3. COMMENTATOR: Closing the door a

little bit more. And win the match by 2-0. There is confirmation of

by 2-0. There is confirmation of the final score: the World No 1

playing well, Greg Harlow, he is one to watch. We turn our attention

one to watch. We turn our attention to the match between Darren Burnett

Born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, now resident in Paisley: He hasn't

won a tournament on the World Bowls Tour. He has the experience to do

Tour. He has the experience to do some damage here this week. Darren

Burnett started very well taking the first set 9-6. We join the

match in Set 2, Ross is 5-2 ahead. COMMENTATOR: Having seen Darren

Burnett nick his ball out, to replace it, like this. That was a

massive bowl because Darren Burnett lying one with a chance of another,

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he could have leveled it, as it is. the jack. Has to be careful that he

doesn't drop it and move it. That is unlucky. That is very unlucky.

Very little he could do about that. There is such a thing as too

perfect, that was it He had to drop back to the jack. He had to drop

back into the front of the jack. He got behind it. In the rink it just

moves so easily. Darren Burnett's for Jonathan here but to play the

forehand. A good chance in the forehand with the way it's sitting.

A little tap on the bowl will move the jack. He can play it as heavy

as it wishes. A little tap on it area. A big moment in the match.

was in the area. Great effort. Lovely weight. It wouldn't have

sealed the set. It would have given him a massive advantage if Darren

Burnett had been unable to reply. Beautiful weight for the job. Solid

with this because really any tap on his front one he has a chance of

making a double. Oh, it's close. Two shots out of a head that just

was not in his favour. Well, you could argue that Jonathan Ross

played four really, really good bowls, top quality, within a foot,

yet he's dropped two shots. Well, always a good chance of getting on

to his own bowl, that is what he was playing for. That really is

Darren Burnett -- lost four straight ends, Darren Burnett. He

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trails now by a single shot. Three Darren, but he doesn't look happy

with this. Struggling for pace, the fact that a longer jack length

of the jack's good. That's helped a lot. That could have turned one

the jack coming towards the back red bowl. Two and a measure, the

opinion of the marker. His forehand has been very good hand for

Jonathan for recovery bowls. There is a deep whip on it towards the

end of the travel of the bowl. It's all about weight. Oh, just a little

of ends for Jonathan Ross. Two at the side, the red bowls, and the

third you will see, that will be measured, against. The players have

to agree for the bowls to be taken away from the head. Jonathan Ross

has decided he will get both the green bowls measured. In for a

penny and in for a pound. I'm in the surprised. He really is

shocking looking at measures, he always has been. Some players can

tell, some others can't. If you are in doubt, get it strung. They will

measure the one red bowl against the two green. We know the players

who aren't very good at looking at measures, Andy Thomson is a shocker.

He could measure everything. He can play a bit to be fair. That's an

important bit. The umpire's markers are out there to sort out the rest.

I think this is going to be three. to pull or rubber out of the hat.

He has to win this said. -- set. Those by shots are absolutely vital

to Darren Burnett. He has never passed round two in the last seven

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played. There is a shot here for Darren Burnett to seal the match.

Dangerous. What do you do? Do you go on the attack or do you defend?

Darren Burnett, thicker bowl out or take a Jak. His time is running

very low. He has cold time out. -- Both of them have an element of

risk about them. The big shot, the courageous shot is to run the jack

through to the back position. going for glory? He is close.

unlucky. That jack has gone out to play and has gone to the respot.

Jonathan Ross still has a ball to play. -- a bowl. He went for the

job and that is what he got. -- Ross. Today, the standard of play

himself in the Scottish himself in the Championship. Forces

quarter-final. Jonathan Ross was unable on that occasion to force

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drawing so well coming in this direction. The second ball was good

enough. Just looking at this to see that is good to come off the back

bowl. Jonathan has one time out left. That is his second time out

in the match. Sometimes players will call the time out just to look

at the head, then they realise they are going to run out of time in the

short clock so the call a time-out. a clever bowl. I think he has made

a third one out of it. This will be courageous to go again. That is the

advantage of the last bowl. If Darren Burnett goes again, there

will be a further bowl. He does not -- has called. I think it was very

sensible. I think he needs to go deep just in case Darren Burnett

does decide to have a go at it. I would just cover that red ball. One

Good ball. I think he would be far better just to draw this shot. It

is available to him on the back hand. Just a yard of us last bowl

will be close. He is going again. - - off his last bowl. He is not far

away. Editor will come off the side -- it did not come off the side as

I thought it would do. What a terrific match between these two.

But Darren Burnett wins. He goes into the quarter-finals. I thought

it was very even. I could not it was very even. I could not

complain. That was a very tight match. But Darren Burnett are just

This was a dominant display by Mark Royal in his second round match. He

took the first set comfortably. Kevin Jones got into his stride in

the second set. This shot put him in a strong position. But even then,

in a strong position. But even then, Mark Royal was giving nothing away.

Then he really turned the screw. Perfect. The Englishman have

finished things off in at the 7th finals where he faced the winner of

this match. Perhaps the best of the day. David Gourlay against a Nikki

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David Gourlay started very well. ends. You just have to win at the

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That is a good line. How is the from David Gourlay on that one.

knows that was potentially a got every chance. Not so easy on

the rink. Slightly less weight. has got a lot of work to do. That

is not far away. He has left himself a nice shoulder for the

closer one. He does not want to turn the green one over. Reasonably

good, but just on the wrong side. This gives David Gourlay an

opportunity to come off his last one. Something in a similar vein,

likes it. This has got a great chance. Perfect. Solid! It gives

nick Brett a chance as well. That was a great bowl from David Gourlay.

Perfect bowl from David Gourlay. came back outside on to the red

That was a great shot. Jack in the ditch was the way to play it, he

had every chance. Once he had got the jack, he needed to stay in the

rink. If it went off, he would lose on the respot. It stayed just in

the corner. That was a great strike. Two great bowls by two great

players. Nick Brett is in front after the first round of the tie-

game with these two players. David Gourlay world ranked No. 3, Nikki

Brent -- nick Brett ranked No. 16. Giving David Gourlay a difficult

tie-break, you are definitely the favourite. But it still has to be

David normally draws the short, nine times out of 10. -- draws the

holding a little bit there. That is why he has moved to the forehand.

The pieces good. -- the pace is good. It would be a good shot for

should be a draw at either way. David has got last bowl. Nikki

likes to attack. He must be going for the draw if he is playing this.

Interesting. Not an easy shot by any means. This is close. Here it

comes. Not quite. David Gourlay has levelled the match. Nick Brett is

annoyed with himself. Yes, I think so. Annoyed that he did not good

one closer earlier in the end. is hard on himself. Incredibly hard

on himself. I play with him a lot and he is incredibly hard on

himself. But this is what we man will win this match. Which one

will it be? David Gourlay it never liked to see his bowl drop short.

Nick Brett is in on the jack. trying to reach up to the jack of a

little bit of weight. Just hold off. Very difficult. Mick has to make

the decision, draw another one or try and cover? -- nick Brett has to

make the decision. He likes it. He is very interested in it. Can he

get a touch on the jack? Perfect. David is in a heap of trouble here.

Yes, I think he will take a time gives him a chance. To draw this

would be the bowl of the tournament A little bit more space on the back

hand. Looks a little bit narrow. Gives himself a clear target with

try and draw? There is a bowl right in the corner of the brink. They

are checking weather it is still in play or not. -- of the rink. He

will sort this out quickly. Using the telescopic sight. From this

angle, it looks out. Any part of the bowl touches the line, it is in.

Mickey has gone deep and wide. -- Nick has gone deep and wide. That

nominate to push at the jack of the rink -- push the jack off the rink.

He has not called it. I do not believe he is playing this shot. He

will never get back. I think he forgot that he could tell the end.

Nick Brett takes the world No. 3, Nick Brett takes the world No. 3,

That was a great them for you. -- a great win for you. I played David

quite a lot and he never gives you a break. I had to play as well as I

could. I am quite pleased with the way I played. You had a couple of

runners towards the end there were almost like David Gourlay shots.

Yes. It could have gone a lot worse than that. David, at the end of the

tie-break, the commentary team have thought you could have killed at

the end. I just felt I had played such a good tie-break, I felt very

confident. An incredible day of bowls.

My short of the day comes between Darren Burnett and Jonathan Ross.

There is only one shot between the two players when it goes into the

end. He has to make this one count. Here letters. -- Your it is. He