:00:26. > :00:34.Hello and a warm welcome to Perth for the fifth day of our coverage of
:00:35. > :00:37.the Scottish International Open. This morning we had reached the
:00:38. > :00:46.semifinals of the competition and after the original 32 only four men
:00:47. > :00:51.remain standing. Perth has been a happy hunting ground for Greg
:00:52. > :00:56.Harlow. The 2008 champion is in the semifinal for the sixth time today.
:00:57. > :01:01.Standing in his way is the world number one and reigning champion
:01:02. > :01:07.Paul Foster. Vying to become the first man to retain the title.
:01:08. > :01:12.Nobody has retained it. I am not putting pressure on myself. I have
:01:13. > :01:15.come back as defending champion. I will keep laying as I normally do
:01:16. > :01:24.and hopefully it is good enough on the day. His 2012 title came at the
:01:25. > :01:27.expense of Mickey Brett and if they are to meet in the final again,
:01:28. > :01:32.Nicky Brett will have to win against Jason Greenslade. He is full of
:01:33. > :01:47.confidence after an inspired victory yesterday. He goes after it. He has
:01:48. > :01:54.got it! That is a stunningly -- way to get into the semifinal. If Paul
:01:55. > :02:01.Foster and Nicky Brett get through to the final it will be a replay of
:02:02. > :02:04.last year's final. Let's get to the first match. England versus
:02:05. > :02:11.Scotland. Greg Harlow gains Paul Foster. Paul Foster got off to a
:02:12. > :02:16.flying start in his last two matches. The world number one has
:02:17. > :02:19.looked really impressive and is determined to be the first person to
:02:20. > :02:24.retain the Scottish International Open title. If you are looking for a
:02:25. > :02:28.picture of consistency look no further than Greg Harlow. The
:02:29. > :02:38.enlistment has been peppering the jack with consummate ease all week
:02:39. > :02:41.but has not yet faced a high ranking player and today he faced the number
:02:42. > :02:49.one. Greg Harlow got his nose in front. But this turnaround from Paul
:02:50. > :02:56.Foster evened things up. We will join the match in the ninth end of
:02:57. > :03:05.the first set and Greg Harlow is 7-5 in front.
:03:06. > :03:10.Three consecutive end is for Greg Harlow. Three singles. He is leading
:03:11. > :04:34.his way in front. Just running through. Craig is
:04:35. > :04:43.thinking about this ignores the back and is bringing the jack back to the
:04:44. > :04:50.red balls. Anything past his own ball and he is drifting into
:04:51. > :04:59.position. It looks a little bit quicker. Another chance the Paul
:05:00. > :05:08.Foster. -- another chance for Paul Foster. Has he pushed it? He has
:05:09. > :05:20.missed the line and overweight. Goodness me. Most unlike Paul
:05:21. > :05:33.Foster. Greg Harlow looked to nestle between the two red bowls. That
:05:34. > :05:41.happens quite often. The opposition then plays the best bowl of the end.
:05:42. > :05:54.For Greg, that would be to split the two end once. -- end ones. It is
:05:55. > :06:06.very important if that bowl is third shot or second shot. And an
:06:07. > :06:14.intentional blocker perhaps. There was nothing intentional about
:06:15. > :06:26.dropping there. If he gets the ball out clean he has a chance of making
:06:27. > :06:27.the three to win. It is very important to know whether that is
:06:28. > :06:47.one or two in this. Typical of the set that we go down
:06:48. > :07:00.to the final ten back. -- bowl. He is not happy with it. Has it gone
:07:01. > :07:10.too far? That is the question. Two shots to Paul Foster, first set
:07:11. > :07:14.tide. This was developing into one of the best matches ever seen in
:07:15. > :07:16.Perth. Paul Foster took a single in end one of the second set and we
:07:17. > :08:22.rejoin it at the start of end to. That is great stuff. He is keeping a
:08:23. > :08:35.rolling tally. It must be 16 I would have thought.
:08:36. > :08:46.I have been informed it is now 19 in this match. Great effort by Paul
:08:47. > :09:02.Foster. I thought number 20 was coming. The crowd are thoroughly
:09:03. > :09:13.enjoying this. It is an engrossing game of bowls. Greg Harlow has to be
:09:14. > :09:28.careful of the jack. What an effort. That could be the double.
:09:29. > :09:34.They are making this look outrageously easy at times. You have
:09:35. > :09:40.two players playing at the top of the game. The rink is playing well
:09:41. > :09:50.as well and they are playing in front of a big crowd. He is in the
:09:51. > :09:56.yearly. Trying hard again. He wants to lock onto the green bowl. What a
:09:57. > :10:12.shot! Outstanding stuff from both players. It must be against Greg
:10:13. > :10:18.Harlow. Paul Foster never doubts himself. He is such a positive
:10:19. > :10:29.player. How about that for a drawing shop. He is still not safe. Some
:10:30. > :10:41.power from the enlistment. -- Englishman. He was not far away. I
:10:42. > :10:47.am surprised with that. He could have taken a time-out. He has been
:10:48. > :11:02.drawing so well and I thought he would try and drop in on it. They
:11:03. > :11:36.are making sure the Bulls won't fall over. -- bowls.
:11:37. > :11:45.One shot to Paul Foster. Greg Harlow had a go because he suspected the
:11:46. > :11:54.shot was against him and he was right. This could have split one of
:11:55. > :12:01.a million ways but he had to hit the jack first. Greg Harlow was not
:12:02. > :12:06.linked badly but Paul Foster continued to turn the screw. We
:12:07. > :12:07.rejoin the matching end five and the world number one has a 5-0
:12:08. > :12:14.advantage. Paul Foster has one the five -- the
:12:15. > :13:00.last five ends. There is the correction. Front
:13:01. > :13:44.touch. Side touch. That will do. Greg is close again as well. He has
:13:45. > :13:55.got it. He is 5-0 down but he is definitely not out of this. Here
:13:56. > :14:10.comes Paul Foster. Of the forehand. It is doing its best. Just did not
:14:11. > :14:11.dip down. We had a good view of that from the commentary box. It always
:14:12. > :14:37.seemed to hold off. He is close again. This for a third.
:14:38. > :14:53.Look at this! Greg Harlow in trouble to bowls ago and now he is lying
:14:54. > :14:59.three. Watch this bowl. Hidden away. In behind the front one. That is not
:15:00. > :15:11.a lot Paul can do here except attack it and hopefully good result. --
:15:12. > :15:18.hope for a good result. A running short. Just a little bit of weight.
:15:19. > :15:22.He keeps his eye on it. He wants to hit the front green ball onto the
:15:23. > :15:30.jack. It was always a difficult ball. He could see the target. It
:15:31. > :15:47.could be a full house here. Here comes Greg Harlow. He is
:15:48. > :15:50.looking to collect four shots. Here it comes again. That is a thing of
:15:51. > :16:15.beauty. From total control at 5-0, suddenly,
:16:16. > :16:22.the match is on at 5-4. This was a hard shot to play. Always dipping
:16:23. > :16:30.away. Even if he had hit it solid there was no guarantee. He knew the
:16:31. > :16:55.consequences. The opening set, seven apiece. Greg
:16:56. > :17:05.Harlow with a full house. With four ends to play, you have no idea which
:17:06. > :18:28.way this one is going to finish. Don't discount another tide set.
:18:29. > :18:37.Greg Harlow is yet to drop a set in this competition. He has been
:18:38. > :18:41.impressive against the qualifiers he has played and he has been
:18:42. > :18:46.impressive against the world and the one. He has taken that a touch too
:18:47. > :19:03.far. A bit unlucky. He bounced the jack again.
:19:04. > :19:22.This is another great effort from Paul Foster. He has dropped away. He
:19:23. > :19:32.manipulates his bowls so well to try and get the finish. A bit
:19:33. > :19:39.unfortunate that he fell away. It looked as if it was going to drop
:19:40. > :19:42.in. Greg Harlow has used his final time-out and there are three ends to
:19:43. > :19:49.play. That could prove to be significant. He is going to be
:19:50. > :20:01.forced to Harry most of his bowls no. -- no. It might be worth
:20:02. > :20:17.arriving with a bit of weight. Very controlled. Will he stand up long
:20:18. > :20:22.enough? He did not like it. It is always worth a quick look at the
:20:23. > :20:30.player and Greg Harlow new quickly that was not going to get the result
:20:31. > :20:34.for him. He nearly clipped the other red ball over. Paul Foster will be
:20:35. > :21:05.delighted to get the shot. This has got a chance. Here he
:21:06. > :21:16.comes, Paul Foster. Struggling, and they? Goodness me. This is great
:21:17. > :21:33.stuff. It is a match fit to grace any competition. They measure it
:21:34. > :21:53.without moving the bowls. All very precise.
:21:54. > :22:14.They are happy enough to take the number one shot away.
:22:15. > :22:38.Three ends to come after this one. One shot to Paul Foster. One shot to
:22:39. > :22:50.Paul Foster. Paul Foster had such a big bowl in the last set. He was not
:22:51. > :22:54.sure because he was looking for the boldest onto the jack and move the
:22:55. > :23:02.ball across but he had a red ball over there. He may feel fortunate to
:23:03. > :23:10.get a double but he was unfortunate not to get a three. That red Bull we
:23:11. > :23:30.saw to the side was a bad delivery from him. -- bowl.
:23:31. > :23:37.They have been very few bad deliveries in this game. The
:23:38. > :24:36.entertainment is guaranteed. Every time Greg Harlow comes up to
:24:37. > :24:38.the Jackie is going to have to run back pretty quick. He does not have
:24:39. > :25:00.any time-outs left. Here he comes again. He is a
:25:01. > :25:23.magician. It is a very narrow target for Greg
:25:24. > :25:34.Harlow to get into. He's going to have to try and steer that. --
:25:35. > :25:35.disturb it. It is going under. If dips quick when you are underneath
:25:36. > :25:55.the line. He has been threading them through
:25:56. > :26:07.the eye of a needle all afternoon. That is a really good bowl. Paul
:26:08. > :26:17.Foster, very wisely staying away from this. He can to make that any
:26:18. > :26:30.better. -- he cannot make that any better.
:26:31. > :26:43.He's going to have to play the same sort of shot and hope to crunch the
:26:44. > :26:47.jack and run off it. He does not want to be for down with two to play
:26:48. > :26:55.and that is what he is facing up moment. He changed the weight
:26:56. > :27:11.slightly to give the bowl a chance. But it was a difficult shot.
:27:12. > :27:28.The champion is once again looking at the final. It is 8-4 but Paul
:27:29. > :28:21.Foster has one all but one of the ends in the second set.
:28:22. > :28:27.This is the dangerous thing about Greg Harlow. You are never quite
:28:28. > :28:38.over the line until the last bowl has been delivered.
:28:39. > :28:45.Just a little bit heavy. Paul does not want to lose a three here. He
:28:46. > :28:59.will settle to lose a single. Two former winners of this
:29:00. > :29:01.competition and Greg Harlow looking to make the final for the fourth
:29:02. > :30:10.time. It is another shot but it won't be
:30:11. > :30:17.close enough for Greg. This is a massive bowl for Paul Foster. He
:30:18. > :30:31.should not change the way he's playing. He could also play it on
:30:32. > :30:33.the can. -- backhand. This is a critical point for Paul Foster in
:30:34. > :30:57.this end. It is struggling. It is really
:30:58. > :31:03.struggling. He is in trouble here. The last thing you want to do is
:31:04. > :31:10.losing three. He knows it as well. Greg Harlow has the chance for a
:31:11. > :31:45.three to set up an epic last end. Is it doing enough? It is. That is a
:31:46. > :31:50.loose three. By the standard of this match there is no way a bowl like
:31:51. > :32:02.this should be scoring three but you have to take your chance and that is
:32:03. > :32:06.exactly what Greg has done. Greg Harlow has used all of his time-outs
:32:07. > :32:19.and that might still prove significant. Paul Foster has one
:32:20. > :32:58.time-out remaining. This is the tale of the second set.
:32:59. > :33:40.this match may well go to a tie-break.
:33:41. > :33:45.It must be close if Greg is trotting up after that. There must be a
:33:46. > :33:57.chance. Here comes Paul Foster. He is after
:33:58. > :34:20.the jack, he is after it! The pressure, the tension of a place
:34:21. > :34:25.in the final and it is like an exhibition.
:34:26. > :34:35.My shot of the page day is getting filled up very quickly. I think we
:34:36. > :34:41.should give it its own programme. Greg Harlow looking to nick the
:34:42. > :34:44.green bowl over or take the red out. Not the result he wanted. He was
:34:45. > :34:57.bang on target again. If you will pardon the pun, this is
:34:58. > :35:18.real end to end stuff. Time out cold. Paul Foster takes his
:35:19. > :35:24.final time-out. He is in deep trouble. He has got the shot, he has
:35:25. > :35:28.got no back position. If he goes deeper to cover the green bowls, the
:35:29. > :35:32.red bowl could be taken out. If he draws another one, Greg can ditch
:35:33. > :35:44.the jack. A myriad of possibilities. He is
:35:45. > :35:50.doing the right thing, trying to get a shot and cover. Round he comes,
:35:51. > :35:59.look at that. That is a brilliant bowl by Paul Foster. A world-class
:36:00. > :36:11.bowl and a world-class player. Greg Harlow, no time-out to call. Make
:36:12. > :36:18.the sort shot collection quickly. -- make the shot collection quickly. He
:36:19. > :36:26.is very close. Here comes the Greg Harlow. This Tuesday in the March.
:36:27. > :36:39.Has he got enough? Not enough. -- this Tuesday in the match. It is the
:36:40. > :36:47.defending champion who takes his place in the final. What an
:36:48. > :36:53.afternoon. Paul Foster's march continues.
:36:54. > :37:02.That was quite extraordinary. Jason Greenslade said it is the best match
:37:03. > :37:08.of bowls he has seen in a long time. Congratulations. It is one of the
:37:09. > :37:13.best games I have been involved in. There was nothing safe out there. I
:37:14. > :37:20.think we both turned it on to day. I am delighted to get through, but he
:37:21. > :37:25.is a hard man to shake off. You were both playing brilliantly. I think
:37:26. > :37:31.the performance of the game, it is not tough to lose it, I'm not even
:37:32. > :37:36.disappointed as such. I would have loved to have been in the final,
:37:37. > :37:40.that I can't member playing as well as that and losing a match. I gave
:37:41. > :37:43.everything there and Paul went one better.
:37:44. > :37:47.That truly was a wonderful match. Congratulations to the world number
:37:48. > :37:51.one. Paul Foster represented Scotland in
:37:52. > :37:57.the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Next summer in Glasgow, he is up for
:37:58. > :38:02.a place in the time, but there are lots of places who can be in there,
:38:03. > :38:13.especially for that coveted singles slot.
:38:14. > :38:21.We are in a fortunate position in that we have a huge talent pool. But
:38:22. > :38:27.in a way that brings its own problems. This singles person is
:38:28. > :38:32.crucial to the game. But there are three other competitions. The person
:38:33. > :38:43.who plays this singles has to fit into cares or triples -- appears.
:38:44. > :38:47.You have to look ahead and see how that singles person fits in. And
:38:48. > :38:54.that is the key issue here. David has two balance the interests of
:38:55. > :38:58.success in this singles format with someone who can fit into team
:38:59. > :39:02.competitions. There are only five places in the Commonwealth squad and
:39:03. > :39:08.no one is taking anything for granted. Hopefully I will be one of
:39:09. > :39:15.the five, but you can't tell. There is a selection process happening. We
:39:16. > :39:22.are going to Florida in February for the last March before the team gets
:39:23. > :39:28.picked. It is on the radar but I will put it to the back of my mind
:39:29. > :39:34.for the next few weeks. Five places and a wealth of talent to choose
:39:35. > :39:40.from. There are no guarantees, not for world champions past or present.
:39:41. > :39:49.Paul and Alex would be favourites for this singles. I do not think
:39:50. > :39:56.David will look outside them. I'm enjoying my time if I get selected.
:39:57. > :40:07.If not, I will push hard for the next time. You went and metal in
:40:08. > :40:15.Glasgow -- yet if you win a medal in Glasgow, you will be a hero every
:40:16. > :40:20.night, overnight. It is a highlight of all our careers. The guys are up
:40:21. > :40:26.for it. They are up for the challenge. But they realise there is
:40:27. > :40:42.a lot of expectation in bowls, we are a high medal expectancy. The
:40:43. > :40:47.question is how many medals? Karma and home-field advantage on their
:40:48. > :40:53.side. The guys at the top and managing expectations. We are on
:40:54. > :40:59.track for winning two medals. Whatever colour they may be. We are
:41:00. > :41:04.quietly confident. We are on our home greens, home conditions,
:41:05. > :41:09.getting back to the importance of home support. The players will know
:41:10. > :41:25.these greens and drinks inside out. Should BB 's the bar at this point?
:41:26. > :41:35.-- should BB -- we raise. Everybody has raised their game. We have to
:41:36. > :41:51.keep pushing hard. Two medals is good. But again, we want to make
:41:52. > :41:57.sure that we can work with what we have and see what happens.
:41:58. > :42:04.Our guys are capable of winning a medal in every single event. Are
:42:05. > :42:07.medal target is two medals, but I would secretly hope that we would do
:42:08. > :42:14.better than that. And so say all of us. 24 medals up
:42:15. > :42:18.for grabs in the Commonwealth Games, hopefully Scotland can manage
:42:19. > :42:22.more than two. Let's turn our attention to the second of the two
:42:23. > :42:34.semifinals today, Jason Greenslade against Nicky Brett.
:42:35. > :42:42.It is awhile since he has won in the two, but Jason has been showing the
:42:43. > :42:49.kind of form that could win him this trophy. -- tour. Nicky Brett has
:42:50. > :42:55.been the hammer of the Scots this week. David Gourlay and Alex
:42:56. > :43:05.Marshall me of both been sent home word -- home words. Nicky Brett got
:43:06. > :43:15.off to a great start, opening a five shot lead. But the Welshman pulled
:43:16. > :43:54.things back. We join it in end line. -- nine.
:43:55. > :44:09.Doesn't want to hit it. It's weight was good to get to the jack, but
:44:10. > :44:16.Jason can add another here. The pressure will definitely transfer
:44:17. > :44:45.He wants to be in with this one. Doesn't want to leave it to last. He
:44:46. > :44:49.is trying his best, but a lot of people have been dropping short in
:44:50. > :44:58.this way and that is what has happened again. He is going to put
:44:59. > :45:12.himself into a lot of trouble here. Nicky Brett just asking got --
:45:13. > :45:38.asking about that. It is there. Round it comes. The
:45:39. > :45:52.thing that surprised me was that Nicky 's weight was very good with
:45:53. > :46:03.this second bowl. Why change? The shop bowl has fallen down. Going for
:46:04. > :46:11.the weight shot, that is risky. I didn't fancy that shot. How about
:46:12. > :46:17.that for getting out of things? Five down with two to play. Fix up a
:46:18. > :46:26.double and triple. If Brett had moved his own green bowl as well,
:46:27. > :46:30.nearly lost the set. He had been drawing so well, I just felt he
:46:31. > :46:35.could have put two feet on the last bowl and drawn in. It was not a big
:46:36. > :46:50.target, nothing really going indirect. He was looking to get a
:46:51. > :46:54.bowl in the three feet short. Nicky Brett took the advantage in
:46:55. > :47:13.the second set. Jason Greenslade puts up his opening
:47:14. > :47:58.bowl. The fifth bowl in a road for Nicky
:47:59. > :48:29.Brett that is short. -- in a row. It was in his mind to be through the
:48:30. > :48:35.head. Almost inevitable he would be a hind on that one. -- he would be
:48:36. > :48:55.behind. It looks like he is really
:48:56. > :49:09.struggling with this. Getting a bit nervy out there. High-quality match,
:49:10. > :49:18.but... The first set tired, the second set means everything. --
:49:19. > :49:31.tied. I am surprised at him playing out.
:49:32. > :49:39.That is the sort of shot he was talking about in the interviews when
:49:40. > :49:45.he said he was going into the heavy shots to early.
:49:46. > :50:19.Jason Greenslade line one -- lying one.
:50:20. > :50:32.Different this time, more of a draw. He has lost his drop weight.
:50:33. > :50:55.At a bad time. It all comes down to this. It was
:50:56. > :51:05.important here for Jason Greenslade, given that the first set was tied,
:51:06. > :51:09.level meant everything. Beautifully played bowl, perfect weight, right
:51:10. > :51:16.in front of the jack. All credit for Jason Greenslade for fighting back
:51:17. > :51:22.again. He is a fighter, no doubt about that. So experienced.
:51:23. > :51:38.Final end. Nick Brett had a three shot lead after six.
:51:39. > :51:49.For a place in the final of the Scottish International Open 2013.
:51:50. > :52:15.Paul Foster, the world number one and defending champion, awaits.
:52:16. > :52:24.It is another short bowl, he is getting court with a short bowls.
:52:25. > :52:32.Putting himself under massive pressure. He is not doing it
:52:33. > :52:34.deliberately, of course. It is just he is scratching around looking for
:52:35. > :52:52.that close weight. Leaving the door open for Jason
:52:53. > :53:00.however. People watching all over the UK and the world, watching this
:53:01. > :53:06.and they are seeing the same thing, Nicky Brett has to be up. It looks
:53:07. > :53:17.like he is reaching with this one, he has got a chance if he gets onto
:53:18. > :53:27.the back bowl, even. Just beyond it. Five inches.
:53:28. > :53:37.Two bowls can disappear, so he will probably need another one in.
:53:38. > :53:51.Going very worried. -- very wide and very short. He is trying to get that
:53:52. > :54:06.lock in for the draw to force Nicky to play more weight. Interesting to
:54:07. > :54:11.see what Nicky Brett does. He has decided to draw on the backhand.
:54:12. > :54:23.Goodness me, this isn't easy. I have to say, though, he is very close to
:54:24. > :54:33.it. Very close to it. What a bowl! Marvellous delivery. It has been a
:54:34. > :54:46.while coming, he will feel. But he kneels this one and leaves his
:54:47. > :54:58.opponent with one bowl. -- nails this one.
:54:59. > :55:05.Jason has won time out remaining. His biggest problem is if he gets
:55:06. > :55:10.the jack, and this is where the difficulty is, if he gets the jack
:55:11. > :55:14.card, he could bounce it in this direction, giving far too much room
:55:15. > :55:21.to Nicky Brett. He might play inside on the backhand, Stan the bowl out,
:55:22. > :55:34.take the weight of and get back on the jack. -- stun the bowl. Plenty
:55:35. > :55:58.time. The Eagles. Needs a result. -- the there he goes.
:55:59. > :56:06.Nicky Brett will go to the final. I think he has left him far too much
:56:07. > :56:16.room. You cannot see him missing it. He had to go with it, you felt.
:56:17. > :56:28.That's why I thought he might play the backhand.
:56:29. > :56:39.Nicky deciding just to draw it. It should not be a problem. It should
:56:40. > :56:53.be academic. Looking good. There it is, all the way. No argument about
:56:54. > :57:01.that now. The final for the 2013 will be a repeat of the 2012 final.
:57:02. > :57:15.Nicky Brett triumphs. It really is a mouthwatering
:57:16. > :57:20.prospect. A replay of last year's final. Can Paul Foster become the
:57:21. > :57:25.first man ever to retain the Scottish International Open title or
:57:26. > :57:33.can Nicky Brett win his first ever trophy on the world Bowls tour.
:57:34. > :57:39.Today, we had a lot of bowl is played, many of them fantastic,
:57:40. > :57:46.which one was the best? My shot of the day comes from the
:57:47. > :57:53.Paul Foster Greg Harlow semifinal. Greg Harlow picks up a full house of
:57:54. > :57:58.four, Paul Foster replies with a single. But the next end, Greg
:57:59. > :58:05.Harlow was in a good position. He has two bowls left, but Paul Foster
:58:06. > :58:15.please the most beautiful shot to turn the jack. Typical Paul Foster.
:58:16. > :58:20.Decided to try to drop shot. But he lists the jack and drops in front.
:58:21. > :58:27.He leaves Greg Harlow with nothing to play his last two deliveries.
:58:28. > :58:35.That puts Paul Foster in front by four shots and should self of a
:58:36. > :58:48.place in the final. -- and are sure to himself -- is
:58:49. > :58:59.Join us for the final tomorrow. In the meantime, thanks for your
:59:00. > :59:00.company.