15/11/2013 Bowls: Scottish International Open

Hello and a warm welcome to Perth for the fifth day of our coverage of

the Scottish International Open. This morning we had reached the

semifinals of the competition and after the original 32 only four men

remain standing. Perth has been a happy hunting ground for Greg

Harlow. The 2008 champion is in the semifinal for the sixth time today.

Standing in his way is the world number one and reigning champion

Paul Foster. Vying to become the first man to retain the title.

Nobody has retained it. I am not putting pressure on myself. I have

come back as defending champion. I will keep laying as I normally do

and hopefully it is good enough on the day. His 2012 title came at the

expense of Mickey Brett and if they are to meet in the final again,

Nicky Brett will have to win against Jason Greenslade. He is full of

confidence after an inspired victory yesterday. He goes after it. He has

got it! That is a stunningly -- way to get into the semifinal. If Paul

Foster and Nicky Brett get through to the final it will be a replay of

last year's final. Let's get to the first match. England versus

Scotland. Greg Harlow gains Paul Foster. Paul Foster got off to a

flying start in his last two matches. The world number one has

looked really impressive and is determined to be the first person to

retain the Scottish International Open title. If you are looking for a

picture of consistency look no further than Greg Harlow. The

enlistment has been peppering the jack with consummate ease all week

but has not yet faced a high ranking player and today he faced the number

one. Greg Harlow got his nose in front. But this turnaround from Paul

Foster evened things up. We will join the match in the ninth end of

the first set and Greg Harlow is 7-5 in front.

Three consecutive end is for Greg Harlow. Three singles. He is leading

his way in front. Just running through. Craig is

thinking about this ignores the back and is bringing the jack back to the

red balls. Anything past his own ball and he is drifting into

position. It looks a little bit quicker. Another chance the Paul

Foster. -- another chance for Paul Foster. Has he pushed it? He has

missed the line and overweight. Goodness me. Most unlike Paul

Foster. Greg Harlow looked to nestle between the two red bowls. That

happens quite often. The opposition then plays the best bowl of the end.

For Greg, that would be to split the two end once. -- end ones. It is

very important if that bowl is third shot or second shot. And an

intentional blocker perhaps. There was nothing intentional about

dropping there. If he gets the ball out clean he has a chance of making

the three to win. It is very important to know whether that is

one or two in this. Typical of the set that we go down

to the final ten back. -- bowl. He is not happy with it. Has it gone

too far? That is the question. Two shots to Paul Foster, first set

tide. This was developing into one of the best matches ever seen in

Perth. Paul Foster took a single in end one of the second set and we

rejoin it at the start of end to. That is great stuff. He is keeping a

rolling tally. It must be 16 I would have thought.

I have been informed it is now 19 in this match. Great effort by Paul

Foster. I thought number 20 was coming. The crowd are thoroughly

enjoying this. It is an engrossing game of bowls. Greg Harlow has to be

careful of the jack. What an effort. That could be the double.

They are making this look outrageously easy at times. You have

two players playing at the top of the game. The rink is playing well

as well and they are playing in front of a big crowd. He is in the

yearly. Trying hard again. He wants to lock onto the green bowl. What a

shot! Outstanding stuff from both players. It must be against Greg

Harlow. Paul Foster never doubts himself. He is such a positive

player. How about that for a drawing shop. He is still not safe. Some

power from the enlistment. -- Englishman. He was not far away. I

am surprised with that. He could have taken a time-out. He has been

drawing so well and I thought he would try and drop in on it. They

are making sure the Bulls won't fall over. -- bowls.

One shot to Paul Foster. Greg Harlow had a go because he suspected the

shot was against him and he was right. This could have split one of

a million ways but he had to hit the jack first. Greg Harlow was not

linked badly but Paul Foster continued to turn the screw. We

rejoin the matching end five and the world number one has a 5-0

advantage. Paul Foster has one the five -- the

last five ends. There is the correction. Front

touch. Side touch. That will do. Greg is close again as well. He has

got it. He is 5-0 down but he is definitely not out of this. Here

comes Paul Foster. Of the forehand. It is doing its best. Just did not

dip down. We had a good view of that from the commentary box. It always

seemed to hold off. He is close again. This for a third.

Look at this! Greg Harlow in trouble to bowls ago and now he is lying

three. Watch this bowl. Hidden away. In behind the front one. That is not

a lot Paul can do here except attack it and hopefully good result. --

hope for a good result. A running short. Just a little bit of weight.

He keeps his eye on it. He wants to hit the front green ball onto the

jack. It was always a difficult ball. He could see the target. It

could be a full house here. Here comes Greg Harlow. He is

looking to collect four shots. Here it comes again. That is a thing of

beauty. From total control at 5-0, suddenly,

the match is on at 5-4. This was a hard shot to play. Always dipping

away. Even if he had hit it solid there was no guarantee. He knew the

consequences. The opening set, seven apiece. Greg

Harlow with a full house. With four ends to play, you have no idea which

way this one is going to finish. Don't discount another tide set.

Greg Harlow is yet to drop a set in this competition. He has been

impressive against the qualifiers he has played and he has been

impressive against the world and the one. He has taken that a touch too

far. A bit unlucky. He bounced the jack again.

This is another great effort from Paul Foster. He has dropped away. He

manipulates his bowls so well to try and get the finish. A bit

unfortunate that he fell away. It looked as if it was going to drop

in. Greg Harlow has used his final time-out and there are three ends to

play. That could prove to be significant. He is going to be

forced to Harry most of his bowls no. -- no. It might be worth

arriving with a bit of weight. Very controlled. Will he stand up long

enough? He did not like it. It is always worth a quick look at the

player and Greg Harlow new quickly that was not going to get the result

for him. He nearly clipped the other red ball over. Paul Foster will be

delighted to get the shot. This has got a chance. Here he

comes, Paul Foster. Struggling, and they? Goodness me. This is great

stuff. It is a match fit to grace any competition. They measure it

without moving the bowls. All very precise.

They are happy enough to take the number one shot away.

Three ends to come after this one. One shot to Paul Foster. One shot to

Paul Foster. Paul Foster had such a big bowl in the last set. He was not

sure because he was looking for the boldest onto the jack and move the

ball across but he had a red ball over there. He may feel fortunate to

get a double but he was unfortunate not to get a three. That red Bull we

saw to the side was a bad delivery from him. -- bowl.

They have been very few bad deliveries in this game. The

entertainment is guaranteed. Every time Greg Harlow comes up to

the Jackie is going to have to run back pretty quick. He does not have

any time-outs left. Here he comes again. He is a

magician. It is a very narrow target for Greg

Harlow to get into. He's going to have to try and steer that. --

disturb it. It is going under. If dips quick when you are underneath

the line. He has been threading them through

the eye of a needle all afternoon. That is a really good bowl. Paul

Foster, very wisely staying away from this. He can to make that any

better. -- he cannot make that any better.

He's going to have to play the same sort of shot and hope to crunch the

jack and run off it. He does not want to be for down with two to play

and that is what he is facing up moment. He changed the weight

slightly to give the bowl a chance. But it was a difficult shot.

The champion is once again looking at the final. It is 8-4 but Paul

Foster has one all but one of the ends in the second set.

This is the dangerous thing about Greg Harlow. You are never quite

over the line until the last bowl has been delivered.

Just a little bit heavy. Paul does not want to lose a three here. He

will settle to lose a single. Two former winners of this

competition and Greg Harlow looking to make the final for the fourth

time. It is another shot but it won't be

close enough for Greg. This is a massive bowl for Paul Foster. He

should not change the way he's playing. He could also play it on

the can. -- backhand. This is a critical point for Paul Foster in

this end. It is struggling. It is really

struggling. He is in trouble here. The last thing you want to do is

losing three. He knows it as well. Greg Harlow has the chance for a

three to set up an epic last end. Is it doing enough? It is. That is a

loose three. By the standard of this match there is no way a bowl like

this should be scoring three but you have to take your chance and that is

exactly what Greg has done. Greg Harlow has used all of his time-outs

and that might still prove significant. Paul Foster has one

time-out remaining. This is the tale of the second set.

this match may well go to a tie-break.

It must be close if Greg is trotting up after that. There must be a

chance. Here comes Paul Foster. He is after

the jack, he is after it! The pressure, the tension of a place

in the final and it is like an exhibition.

My shot of the page day is getting filled up very quickly. I think we

should give it its own programme. Greg Harlow looking to nick the

green bowl over or take the red out. Not the result he wanted. He was

bang on target again. If you will pardon the pun, this is

real end to end stuff. Time out cold. Paul Foster takes his

final time-out. He is in deep trouble. He has got the shot, he has

got no back position. If he goes deeper to cover the green bowls, the

red bowl could be taken out. If he draws another one, Greg can ditch

the jack. A myriad of possibilities. He is

doing the right thing, trying to get a shot and cover. Round he comes,

look at that. That is a brilliant bowl by Paul Foster. A world-class

bowl and a world-class player. Greg Harlow, no time-out to call. Make

the sort shot collection quickly. -- make the shot collection quickly. He

is very close. Here comes the Greg Harlow. This Tuesday in the March.

Has he got enough? Not enough. -- this Tuesday in the match. It is the

defending champion who takes his place in the final. What an

afternoon. Paul Foster's march continues.

That was quite extraordinary. Jason Greenslade said it is the best match

of bowls he has seen in a long time. Congratulations. It is one of the

best games I have been involved in. There was nothing safe out there. I

think we both turned it on to day. I am delighted to get through, but he

is a hard man to shake off. You were both playing brilliantly. I think

the performance of the game, it is not tough to lose it, I'm not even

disappointed as such. I would have loved to have been in the final,

that I can't member playing as well as that and losing a match. I gave

everything there and Paul went one better.

That truly was a wonderful match. Congratulations to the world number

one. Paul Foster represented Scotland in

the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Next summer in Glasgow, he is up for

a place in the time, but there are lots of places who can be in there,

especially for that coveted singles slot.

We are in a fortunate position in that we have a huge talent pool. But

in a way that brings its own problems. This singles person is

crucial to the game. But there are three other competitions. The person

who plays this singles has to fit into cares or triples -- appears.

You have to look ahead and see how that singles person fits in. And

that is the key issue here. David has two balance the interests of

success in this singles format with someone who can fit into team

competitions. There are only five places in the Commonwealth squad and

no one is taking anything for granted. Hopefully I will be one of

the five, but you can't tell. There is a selection process happening. We

are going to Florida in February for the last March before the team gets

picked. It is on the radar but I will put it to the back of my mind

for the next few weeks. Five places and a wealth of talent to choose

from. There are no guarantees, not for world champions past or present.

Paul and Alex would be favourites for this singles. I do not think

David will look outside them. I'm enjoying my time if I get selected.

If not, I will push hard for the next time. You went and metal in

Glasgow -- yet if you win a medal in Glasgow, you will be a hero every

night, overnight. It is a highlight of all our careers. The guys are up

for it. They are up for the challenge. But they realise there is

a lot of expectation in bowls, we are a high medal expectancy. The

question is how many medals? Karma and home-field advantage on their

side. The guys at the top and managing expectations. We are on

track for winning two medals. Whatever colour they may be. We are

quietly confident. We are on our home greens, home conditions,

getting back to the importance of home support. The players will know

these greens and drinks inside out. Should BB 's the bar at this point?

-- should BB -- we raise. Everybody has raised their game. We have to

keep pushing hard. Two medals is good. But again, we want to make

sure that we can work with what we have and see what happens.

Our guys are capable of winning a medal in every single event. Are

medal target is two medals, but I would secretly hope that we would do

better than that. And so say all of us. 24 medals up

for grabs in the Commonwealth Games, hopefully Scotland can manage

more than two. Let's turn our attention to the second of the two

semifinals today, Jason Greenslade against Nicky Brett.

It is awhile since he has won in the two, but Jason has been showing the

kind of form that could win him this trophy. -- tour. Nicky Brett has

been the hammer of the Scots this week. David Gourlay and Alex

Marshall me of both been sent home word -- home words. Nicky Brett got

off to a great start, opening a five shot lead. But the Welshman pulled

things back. We join it in end line. -- nine.

Doesn't want to hit it. It's weight was good to get to the jack, but

Jason can add another here. The pressure will definitely transfer

He wants to be in with this one. Doesn't want to leave it to last. He

is trying his best, but a lot of people have been dropping short in

this way and that is what has happened again. He is going to put

himself into a lot of trouble here. Nicky Brett just asking got --

asking about that. It is there. Round it comes. The

thing that surprised me was that Nicky 's weight was very good with

this second bowl. Why change? The shop bowl has fallen down. Going for

the weight shot, that is risky. I didn't fancy that shot. How about

that for getting out of things? Five down with two to play. Fix up a

double and triple. If Brett had moved his own green bowl as well,

nearly lost the set. He had been drawing so well, I just felt he

could have put two feet on the last bowl and drawn in. It was not a big

target, nothing really going indirect. He was looking to get a

bowl in the three feet short. Nicky Brett took the advantage in

the second set. Jason Greenslade puts up his opening

bowl. The fifth bowl in a road for Nicky

Brett that is short. -- in a row. It was in his mind to be through the

head. Almost inevitable he would be a hind on that one. -- he would be

behind. It looks like he is really

struggling with this. Getting a bit nervy out there. High-quality match,

but... The first set tired, the second set means everything. --

tied. I am surprised at him playing out.

That is the sort of shot he was talking about in the interviews when

he said he was going into the heavy shots to early.

Jason Greenslade line one -- lying one.

Different this time, more of a draw. He has lost his drop weight.

At a bad time. It all comes down to this. It was

important here for Jason Greenslade, given that the first set was tied,

level meant everything. Beautifully played bowl, perfect weight, right

in front of the jack. All credit for Jason Greenslade for fighting back

again. He is a fighter, no doubt about that. So experienced.

Final end. Nick Brett had a three shot lead after six.

For a place in the final of the Scottish International Open 2013.

Paul Foster, the world number one and defending champion, awaits.

It is another short bowl, he is getting court with a short bowls.

Putting himself under massive pressure. He is not doing it

deliberately, of course. It is just he is scratching around looking for

that close weight. Leaving the door open for Jason

however. People watching all over the UK and the world, watching this

and they are seeing the same thing, Nicky Brett has to be up. It looks

like he is reaching with this one, he has got a chance if he gets onto

the back bowl, even. Just beyond it. Five inches.

Two bowls can disappear, so he will probably need another one in.

Going very worried. -- very wide and very short. He is trying to get that

lock in for the draw to force Nicky to play more weight. Interesting to

see what Nicky Brett does. He has decided to draw on the backhand.

Goodness me, this isn't easy. I have to say, though, he is very close to

it. Very close to it. What a bowl! Marvellous delivery. It has been a

while coming, he will feel. But he kneels this one and leaves his

opponent with one bowl. -- nails this one.

Jason has won time out remaining. His biggest problem is if he gets

the jack, and this is where the difficulty is, if he gets the jack

card, he could bounce it in this direction, giving far too much room

to Nicky Brett. He might play inside on the backhand, Stan the bowl out,

take the weight of and get back on the jack. -- stun the bowl. Plenty

time. The Eagles. Needs a result. -- the there he goes.

Nicky Brett will go to the final. I think he has left him far too much

room. You cannot see him missing it. He had to go with it, you felt.

That's why I thought he might play the backhand.

Nicky deciding just to draw it. It should not be a problem. It should

be academic. Looking good. There it is, all the way. No argument about

that now. The final for the 2013 will be a repeat of the 2012 final.

Nicky Brett triumphs. It really is a mouthwatering

prospect. A replay of last year's final. Can Paul Foster become the

first man ever to retain the Scottish International Open title or

can Nicky Brett win his first ever trophy on the world Bowls tour.

Today, we had a lot of bowl is played, many of them fantastic,

which one was the best? My shot of the day comes from the

Paul Foster Greg Harlow semifinal. Greg Harlow picks up a full house of

four, Paul Foster replies with a single. But the next end, Greg

Harlow was in a good position. He has two bowls left, but Paul Foster

please the most beautiful shot to turn the jack. Typical Paul Foster.

Decided to try to drop shot. But he lists the jack and drops in front.

He leaves Greg Harlow with nothing to play his last two deliveries.

That puts Paul Foster in front by four shots and should self of a

place in the final. -- and are sure to himself -- is

Join us for the final tomorrow. In the meantime, thanks for your

company.