16/11/2013 Bowls: Scottish International Open

When you are standing there and you get the trophy, it is -- when you do

not get the trophy, it is not the best feeling in the world. I am not

that tall but I would love to even the score. It is easier said than

done. Revenge, possibly, I am looking at that. I understand what

he must feel like to be in the losing final. This is my 10th final

and I have 18. I lost at Potters last year and it is not a nice

feeling to see someone else get the trophy. To win my first World Bowls

Tour event would be near everything to me. I do not want to be in the

top 16 for a period of time and not win a World Bowls Tour event. To win

today would be a dream come true, not just to be the first person to

defend the Scottish title but I have never defended an event that I have

one which is a disappointment. You have to take into account the field

and the class. The guys are playing the best they can. If I could defend

the title today it would mean an awful lot to me. Every year, as

autumn turns to winter, the best bowlers in the world come to Perth

to do battle for the Scottish International Open title. This time

around the quality of players and matches has been incredible. For

some they were silenced and others had their reputations enhanced. It

is now come down to the last two. They came from all corners of the

land and beyond, former champions... Familiar foes... New faces... And

the postman. The greats of Scottish Bowling took

centre stage at the start of the week. Paul Foster, Alex Marshall,

David Gourlay ex-macro in round two it was the time of the new

home-grown stars. That is a great victory for the young Scot. Graeme

Hogg toppled one of the top seeds. -- Wayne Hogg. On Wednesday there

was an epic, a repeat of the world final. This is difficult. He mixed

it! He is throwing everything here. Two fantastic bowls separate tape --

two fantastic bowlers separated only by a tie-break. On Thursday was the

quarterfinals and the champion was pushed all the way. It looks pretty

good. He is well War one for a reason, Paul Foster. It is a hard

way for Wayne Hogg to finish. Paul Foster beats Wayne Hogg. He is

chasing it. He has got it. What a way to get into a semifinal and that

is a stunning one. The match goes to Greg Harlow. There was more Perth

agony for Tattie. Nicky Brett finds himself in the semifinal. And then

there were four. There is nothing like Scotland/England game to stir

the soul. World-class bowlers and world-class player. What a contest!

And battling with red and green, Brett and Greenslade. He has got an

edge to the jack. Yes, yes, yes! That is the way to play that sort of

game. It will be a repeat of the 2012 final as Nicky Brett will go

head-to-head with Paul Foster. In a few hours time one will be on the

crest of a wave while the other's dreams will simply be swept away.

But, who will it be? Nicky Brett or Paul Foster? Is good, better, best

is a good way to describe the progression of Paul Foster through

this tournament. The semifinal against Greg Harlow was one of the

best matches ever seen here in Perth and he never looked in trouble. He

could be the first man to retain the title. But just look at the names

that Nicky Brett has sent home. World number two David Gourlay and

five-time champion Alex Marshall have both fallen victim to his

relentless, ruthless bowls. He has been the hammer of the Scots this

week and if he gets past Paul Foster he will pick up his first ever

single stroke the on the World Bowls Tour.

It is a mouth watering prospect. The replay of last year's final between

two men who have been playing the best bowls of the week, there is no

doubt about it. Let us get straight to it and introduced the players.

Led on by a piper, please welcome Nicky Brett and Paul Foster.

It is good to see you. That walk was slow and it felt like a long way. It

is good to see you back for another title. You are looking to retain the

title and you want to win your first ever. The prospect is fantastic. It

certainly is but I think we should just play last year 's final and I

will win it! Nikki has been playing fantastic bowls and I hope we can

put a show on for the crowd as well. I am sure you can. You talked in the

opening about how painful it was when he got the trophy last year but

you have been on sensational form this week. Yes, it was a little bit

difficult standing there last year but hopefully that will spur me on

to play better than I did last time. Paul, you have been playing very

well this week. You will clearly be wanting to carry that on but you are

up against a tough guy. Yes, the last few games I have played Harry

have played really well but I have to carry it on into this final and

it will not be easy. This man is looking for his first title and if

he does not get it today than I am sure it is not far away but it will

be a great game. Nicky, you will notice that St George 's crosses and

soul tyres were handed out before the match and there are a good half

a dozen St George 's crosses! It is a small but perfectly formed crowd

supporting you today! To be fair, the Perth people have been fantastic

to me this day and wishing me well and say well played so hopefully I

will give them something to clap today. You have been playing

wonderfully well and in great spirit. Let us do the coin toss. Who

will call? Heads. Heads says Paul Foster, defending champion. It is in

fact ads. Or, it is your shout, what would you like? Have a guess. Pass

it on. He will pass the jack to Nicky Brett. Gentlemen, good luck.

Two wonderful players, Nicky Brett and Paul Foster. This really should

be a tense encounter between two wonderful players. Enjoy it in the

company of our commentary team. Good afternoon everyone. Paul Foster

really got out of the traps against Nicky Brett last year and swept

aside. What will Nicky Brett do differently this year? I think he

has the extra confidence this year because he has played against Alex

Marshall and for me that match was a superb game. Alex was playing well

and Nicky has got over that and he knows he has been

and Nicky has got over that and he knows he has good enough to take out

someone who has won multiple world titles.

Different hands but similar results. Not too far away.

He is good again. Right in front of the jack. He will be happy with

that. Later in the match Paul Foster might

be tempted to have a go at that but first end, you tried very hard to

just play your first few bowls with good draw wait to try and get into

the rhythm. A backbone fallback. -- back bowl. That was an excellent

bowl there. Gently, Nicky, you don't want the

jack when you are lying two. That is tricky. What do you do? Give a shot

away? It was unlucky but also unnecessary.

Paul Foster. He is starting to play a little conversion shot. He will

try and tuck this around the corner to its own. It is just going to drop

to the side and it might fall. That is not going to help.

Nicky Brett actually started with a winning end in last year's final.

This is to go to the way to lock. I am surprised that with one shot

against him he is going to this one. If he is going to play that I

thought he might have played it on the backhand. There was a chance of

getting red on red on the back. One red.

Looking to make this count but just going to be a little short.

Well, some days you have to work hard to get the shot and other times

your opponent with a touch of misjudgement will help you out. He

was unlucky here. He was looking to Mr jack and drop onto the red bowls

but you don't want to do that because it was a hard shot for Paul

Foster as well. However... It is only one shot.

It is exactly jack high to. --height.

Nicky decided to play the forehand to try and get to that last red

Bull, if he can. He just needs to hurry a little bit. It is not a

protector, Paul can come around that.

He needs this one in here, Nicky Brett, there is a lot of danger. A

back bowl is required with some urgency. He needs to break inside

the red. I thought Paul would change onto the forehand to play with a

little bit extra but obviously he prefers the comfort of the backhand

that he is so good at. It just slips by. He wonders if he

has made that a double but I don't think so.

Gently now. That arrived a little bit quick. But it has made another.

There was a little flutter therefore Nicky Brett and he will get the

other one checked just to make sure. I think there will be a difference

with Nick Brett here because he has been to a final and he knows what it

is all about now. That win over Alex Marshall will have a fantastic

affect on his confidence. He does not lack confidence, don't get me

wrong, nor should he. He is a very experienced international.

He looks comfortable on red there. Two shots to Nicky Brett.

I thought he would have been fairly gentle with this but he decided to

make sure he was reaching here. The red bowled was the target, just to

cut inside and he was doing that with a little neck of his own. Just

resting back for two. Dutifully up again. -- beautifully

up again. Paul Foster a little runner. He will

be happy enough with that result. There is always a chance it can stun

and come back with but it does not happen often. It is wide open. It is

also quite short. Nowhere near the minimum, though.

That is a great bowl playing across the ring. -- rink.

It is just going to dip under but the wait is pretty decent. The wait

was perfect. --weight. Nick is deciding to go across the bowl on

the forehand. It is not easy to pick the line out there. It is just a

little narrow this time. Now, who is on second shot? That is the key to

this one? It is close for two. Close, but no definitive answer.

That is damage limitation now with Paul, take one out or the jack

straight through. One to Nicky Brett. Well, you do not see it often

with the jack coming back but Paul Foster but plenty of pace on this.

Absolutely, not so much in singles but in four player you see a lot

more. He hits it and it goes up against the green and comes back

again. It is a totally new game when that happens. He would have been

delighted with the result though. Well, Nicky Brett was jokingly

called the hammer of the Scots after taking out Alex Marshall and David

Gourlay but Paul Foster took out three Scots on the way to this

final. A classy array of names. Incredible

stuff. He had a semifinal against Greg Harlow that was one of the

memorable games. Now he just needs a little edge to get past but not

quite. He hasn't done it the easy way. He

has earned his place in this final more than anyone with the list of

names that he is beaten. -- the list of names that he has beaten.

A man who really likes this backhand. He plays it very well.

This has to be a heavy shot. Oh, there was a little disturbance

there. Reset. He thinks he can remove something.

What is he taking with him? Oh, that was unlucky. He wanted a little edge

of the jack. Two red. Two red which will shortly,

and surely, become three. If it stays up, it might count and

it has stayed up. The bowl is just being propped up

and the umpires called on. It looks like a sure thing that he was going

to do it and he knows himself that it struggles. -- struggled.

The measure is just being taken by Sandra McLeish. It is Paul Foster 's

bowl first. I think that is a missed chance from Paul Foster. Two shots

to Paul Foster. It is the first time he has been in

trouble. He was looking for the jack but he missed it by a whisker.

He took one out and expected it to be replaced and it was not. So it is

3-3 after four. Nick could be tempted here by a

little bit on the backhand. Anything narrow is good. He was a little bit

wide of the target which has made it somewhat harder for his next

delivery. Now, that changes things. He has to

be careful now and try and draw this, I think.

That is a great shot. That was a really good ball after a

runner. We have seen players drop a yard or two short playing that hand.

Never any danger this was short. You just don't want to drop at that

stage as the jack would have rolled to read. No waiting for Paul Foster

for the ball to drop. There was certainly a future going

off with that sneeze. -- a hooter. He has turned his back on that very

early. He has not played many bad wall -- balls this week, Paul

Foster. He is being very aggressive. I am

surprised at that shot. I thought he might have been tempted to play

inside the red one. Perfect. He is away again. Barely

had the applause died down... It will not cost him any more. That was

just a little bit too quick. Two quick players. The first set last

year was under half an hour long. The shot clock of 30 seconds is

barely ticking over two or three. Two shots to Paul Foster. A big

crowd inside the Dewar's Centre enjoying what they are seeing.

He went for his last ball very quickly. He had the back position

and the jack was what he was after. Driving with one ball in the head is

always a bit dangerous. I have two say, though, it is a

great game, it really is. Chasing the jack, that is what is

going to happen. He wasn't too far-away though.

It is just an arriving drawer, that is what we would say. In this case,

just a bit too much. It is normally within two feet of the jack.

He will be at this like a train down a tunnel. Got it this time! Paul

Foster would have expected that. Paul Foster knew what he had done

even before the ball had finished. The ball and the jack are also

marked to help the players. I thought he was dropping shorter

than that. Nikki, can you get to that? -- Nicky

Brett. Time-out was called. He was trying to get through the gap

of the two red ones, would you believe? Almost impossible.

Two ends to play. Five each. Paul Foster very much an upright

delivery. Paul is more of a push delivery. Nicky is all the way back

behind the body. Paul takes a big step forward. Both players using the

arm to extend through the line. Nobody has been able to get away and

establish themselves in this set so far.

Paul is not wasting any time on the attacking shot and he has got it as

well. He has not played too many runners this week but when he has he

has made them count. That is the earliest we have seen him go. The

yellow disc is where the jack is residing.

The jack is in a difficult position. He is trying to use the mat, front

inside edge. Flirting with the side. It is quite deliberate as he

wants to hold the ball up. And he has made it. That is world-class. I

often talk about the use of the matter and that is precisely what

Paul Foster was doing their dash front inside edge.

That is a good effort. Watch where he is standing, Paul Foster. He

always plays on the outside of the mat but he is right on the inside

front edge allowing you to play across the line. I think he has lost

it. He bumped the BBC on that occasion.

The time before was a wonder shot. This is exceptionally difficult.

That was called artificially affecting the draw line. He played a

late draw on the ball to hold it up all the way. Beware, master at work!

But it doesn't always work. No, but he wouldn't have been this wide if

the shot hadn't been lying. He almost got away with it. What a

first set! But the Englishman is hanging on.

Nick Brett is playing very well here, he really is.

That is good. It is virtually a tie-break end for Nick Brett so he

is going early. Unlucky. I thought he had the jack.

I am sure he did. He has gone for the re-spot. That is

what I would say is pretty close. The gap is two inches. Very sloppy,

he says! Nick has to go again. He is just moving to use the jack a foot

or two. -- to move the jack a foot or two.

He has got the re-spot covered on one side but he might just go for

the other side. I can't see his ball going out without taking the red

ball. Default shot. If you are not sure what is going to happen, go

deep. We had a tide set in the first

semifinal. It would be remarkable if we had a tide set in the final. He

is trying the trail shot again. Very hard.

It is Paul Foster who takes the shot and the opening set. Very little

between them. Paul Foster takes the first set by 7-5 and never more than

a double score. It was an interesting set but two singles

enough for Paul Foster. It is interesting that we have not

seen any short jacks. That is his specialism, Paul Foster's.

If he gets into trouble, he'll go short.

Gentle, gentle on the jack. It will bounce. That is good. Change of shot

for Nicky Brett. He is going searching a little bit.

It is hard to pick the line-out with that sort of weight on it.

Paul Foster has done an enormous amount of damage. It is time to

change. An enormous amount of damage on the backhand.

That is a rare mistake. It is a hard shot for Nicky Brett. A touch of a

trail. It is just not coming back. He took

a bit of weight off. He is getting plenty of support here

from the crowd which is great from Nicky Brett's point of view. He

doesn't have with bun and dad here this week. They will be watching and

supporting from home. It is a sell-out for the final at the

Scottish International Open. The crowds from Wednesday onwards have

been superb. They have been treated to a really good spectacle.

The shot clock is barely getting time to be reset. These players are

so fast. The standard of play has been

superb. Paul will be quite happy where the

jack has ended up. It gives him a bigger target. Nick, you need to get

something back there. Three time-outs left for Nicky

Brett. He has to come in in front of the

jack because he has not made it deep. To red.

Time-out called. Paul has three time-outs remaining. Paul is looking

at the angles here just to make sure it is right. He is too down. It is

probably worth having a go at it. Sometimes you are never quite sure

how it will finish but you have to be there. When you are playing

really well and you hit things like that you are going to get a really

good result. He was bang on it and Nick has to do the same.

One shot to Nicky Brett. It is a great conversion.

-- it is a great conversion. This was hard for Paul Foster. A

little margin of error and he wanted to get into the green but look at

that split. Without touching the jack. If anything, you'd have

thought it would be out into the open. A good response though. As

long as he didn't take his own ball, he was good. That was a good

strike. It looks like he pushed it a bit but

it is still coming into a good position. One of the oldest adages

is if you play Abe bad ball, play it around the back. -- a bad ball.

We'll Nick be tempted with this on the forehand. It is hard to get

centre rink, though. If you hit the jack when you have

tried to draw the shot, it is a bonus. I think it has drifted too

far. Spare shot chance. And the chance

taken. A superb goal from Paul Foster. -- super ball. The standards

of this game... There was a bit of a loose end but Paul Foster made no

mistake with the last ball. He could have wrested the green but he didn't

need to. He just wanted to drop in on it and the spare shots are so

important. When you have an opportunity to add to the count and

there is no reply. It looks shorter than what he has been playing too.

The crowd were encouraging that bowl forward and they have been very fair

to Nicky Brett but not surprisingly they are behind Paul Foster. Yes,

their true colours are shining through.

That was a missed chance by Nick. Paul Foster dropped too short and

you really want to be in there by the jack.

This one has a bit of work to do to come back. Here it comes. One green.

Green. He initially didn't like it. A touch

on its own would be good for a shot. He is certainly on a narrow line,

more narrow than normal. Here is the bowl. He had lovely wait for the

job. Beautiful weight. One shot to Nicky Brett. Such are the margins

that sometimes you want a little touch sometimes you don't. He

could've done with a little graze against that one that would have

dropped him down for two. A similar pattern to the first set,

singles and the occasional double. Nick will attack this now for the

two bowls. Waste no time. Here he comes. Jack bowl, or both! Hitting

him both, the problem is that he is going away now and it has gone off.

He is of the rink that bowl will not count and it will be lifted up and

on the bank. He knew out of hand that he just was not happy and he

knew he was closer to the jack and to the two bowls. -- van to the two

bowls. Paul is trying to hold this one

back. He knows he is close to the edge but there is plenty of space

there now. He has been good at that. When we see players draw to the

ditch normally six feet or under will not get you the shot. This has

to hurry now unroll a little bit further. It will not make it but it

is a really good second. It is not a given but we half expect

Paul Foster to draw this. I said before this week I love to watch

players draw to the ditch. There is something magical about it, seeing

them stopping it short. C what he does. It certainly looks a bit

weightier than the last bowl. I am not sure if it will stop in time.

Not that time. He will be disappointed with that after drawing

with the third one. It would not have surprised me much

of this had been the last bowl and the first time he tried to get to

the ditch but he had done it with the last one. It is never easy go.

The margin of error is very small. Just winning the majority of ends,

Paul Foster. His reputation with short jacks is

legendary and the fact he has been playing a lot of full lengths here

in Perth and simply out drawing his opponent has been a feature of his

play. Again he is wasting no time, going

for the two bowls. He is in the area. And it is on the respot. He is

missing out on the respot when the jack it in the ditch. He is not

winning those ends, but he is making a lot of disturbances, a lot of

changes only. -- early. Paul is right out on the edge again

because of those very strong bias bowls ratty users. -- that he uses.

It is right in front of the jack. In many ways that is even harder to

beat if you are just two inches behind it. Nick was just a little

bit inside Paul's line so he will drop a little bit lower. He has but

not much. He goes wide again. Yes, he cannot

go any wider or he will lose it. He is out very wide again. A little bit

of extra weight to carry it, maybe. Yes, indeed. That is brilliant and

that is the problem for Nicky Brett. He will lose them on the respot. Two

red. Beautifully out and all the way in. From the mat, that is an

absolute nightmare. He had no choice but to draw it. He only has the one

bowl in there. He is on a very good line with this one, a really good

line. He just needs to pick it up, it needs to get back. Oh, so close.

Nicky Brett is finding out today exactly how Greg Harlow, Wayne

Hogg, Stuart Anderson and Colin Walker have felt this week. Paul

Foster is just staying that half step ahead of them. A great effort.

A super effort and to be fair to Nikki, he had to arrive at it, you

couldn't afford to be short. The problem is the herd of losing the

double. -- the hurt. This is a repeat of last year's

final but with the colours reversed. Paul Foster was in green and Nicky

Brett was in red last year. Paul Foster is getting a sniff of

this now, real sniff of the winners post. He is turning it on with every

delivery. Nicky is a fighter, there is no doubt about that. Just the

over correction. It is. Two red. At this stage last year Nicky Brett had

dropped the first set and was trailing with eight with three to

play and he won three ends to nearly make it up. He needs this end. Paul

Foster at the moment is simply unrelenting. He may have been better

missing that bowl. That is going to offer up a pretty wide shoulder.

This looks as though he is on a good line. He has much better weight with

this one. Much better. Paul Foster knew it from three yards away. A

super shot from Nicky. One green. Well, nothing is safe. He is after

it. Has he got the jack? Oh, that was almost the bowl for the match.

One green. A nice, one green, and the whole crowd groaned.

Nicky Brett needs to go for it. Even with the red one for inches away he

has to take the risk. He is close again. Back bowl first this time.

Back bowl first. I'll, I don't believe it, he has gone through the

gap! That is brilliant bowling from Nicky Brett. The scoreline dictated

he had to go for it. He just found the little gap. Well, this was

cruel, I have to say. I give him 100% for a really making the effort

to be there with four red ones close. He missed the jack and I

thought he got the back bowl but he slipped through the hole. In fact he

had to make the whole to slip through it. We had to lift the bowl

up a little bit. Oh, dear me, that was cruel. He has had a couple of

those moments so far in the match, but crucially he needed a shot and

he has picked it up. He needs for shots in the next two ends to force

a tie-break. He is only going to get them against

the current number one and defending champion. Darren Burnett is the only

previous winner of the tournament to reach the final the following year.

It has been a brilliant final. Last year was good but this has been so

much better. Full credit to Nicky Brett. He is fighting his way

against Paul Foster who is on top form. He takes out the two, how

about that? That is championship bowls staff. -- stuff. That is the

way to deal with danger, isn't it? It should be going back in again and

it is. Well played. And it has fallen down as well. Paul will want

to draw this now. He will try to draw it close. Just keep it nice and

tight so he doesn't lose any more than a single.

The way he is playing he is likely to draw the shot with the next bowl.

While his wife, Samantha, and his daughters Lauren and Chloe are

urging him on here. He has got a chance with this. Oh, he has got it.

It is remarkable to think that this man has been playing for England

outdoors but he did not get picked this year. It is a mystery.

Paul Foster will take time out in a moment but he has one shot to win

the championship. A single for Paul Foster would see

him over the line. He can afford to reach this because he has two thirds

shots. He is still drawing it, he has such confidence in his drawing

ability that he will try to draw this to win the championship but I

think he has missed it. Yes, he knew only that he was passed. Two shots

to Nicky Brett. Full credit to Nicky Brett, he really has fought so hard

in this match. The same scoreline as it was in the

first set after eight ends. Paul Foster advantage by a single shot

and still no more than a double scored in any of the ends so far.

This is the first set scoreline, and as you can see they are almost

identical. They are certainly identical at

eight ends, there is no doubt about that. Nicky Brett will be fighting

hard now. There is confirmation there that it was Paul Foster that

nicked the last two ends of the first set with singles. What effect

that was. The second has not disappointed. Paul Foster can afford

to lose a single here and still win the title. You can feel the tension

now, it is great. Oh, look at this. When you need two.

Paul Foster might be tempted to run at this. He could play a run and

take the danger away. --a runner. He is never over aggressive with his

weight. He always tries to take it and time it. That is unlucky. I

think he would have loved to see that jack out on the respot. That

would have been his ideal. A deep breath for Nicky Brett. Pop

one back on top. Nicky has been brilliant in this

final. He has pushed Paul Foster all the way. Now he is in with a chance

of a tie-break. Paul again will draw. It is a backhand draw. This

has been his best shot all week coming in this direction. But is he

narrow? It looks narrow. Well, he has won to come. No matter

what happens here is get -- he is going to be in a position of having

to face a set lie against. The problem for Nicky Brett is that he

doesn't want to leave anything in this sort of area because that will

ruin the gap. What he would ideally like is to get one in there so that

if Paul Foster takes one away, he still manages to win the set.

Yes, he is trying to draw it in because he knows it is not close

enough. Well, I am not sure if he has secured a third or not. Brian

Daley will tell us. Paul Foster has two time-outs left. Remember he does

have a bowl in the ditch that is live. He has the back bowl as well.

I think if he is going to play this he has to get into the green bowls

and if he gets into them right, everything will go, that will go and

that will go and that one will disappear to the side. He is staying

to the draw. I have to say I am a little bit surprised with the width

of the target that he is drawing this. He is going for it and he has

dropped it short. He came across and it looked short for a moment. Second

set to Nicky Brett. Credit to the Englishman, he came from behind. He

rounds off the final three ends and wins the set. What a sensational

ending to the second set. I must admit I am surprised at Paul there.

That has been his best shot, the backhand draw comedy is so confident

with it and so consistent but the drive just looked good, the way

those bowls were bunched together. He is one of the best drivers in the

world. Well, he will be playing Monday morning quarterback with this

one, second guessing himself. Just moving away.

That was for the title. He played to his strength but it just did not

work this time. Now it will all get a bit nervy. If

it wasn't before! Nerve. Paul is not wasting his time.

A clean jack would be good. That was very accurate. That has almost

guaranteed it. Well, the red disc will go above and the yellow disc

for the back -- the jack. That will be no comfort to Nicky Brett when he

sees them so close together. I have seen -- I have seen many time the --

I have not seen many tie-breaks in this tournament will stop if that

there were more in the first round of 2012 than there have been in the

whole of 2013. Nicky Brett really does not want to be a metre short.

He wants a chance for it to be right up to the edge of the ditch. He is

even shorter than that. Paul, by lying the shot, can afford

to reach it, even if it drops into the ditch. Getting there a bit

quick. Four feet. Just slightly over four feet? So what you do is you put

a yard on and you cross your fingers.

Yes, he will have more behind this one. He has to give it a chance. He

is certainly on a good line for it. He has put it out well. It is all

down to the weight, will it stop in time? This is great stuff. What a

bowl by Nick Brett! Surely that is a number one. It looks sure from here.

One green. I cannot see Paul even trying to

attempt to draw this. He will try and drive it bowled on to bowl. That

is if he can see it clean. He has taken time out to consider. He must

have thought he had this first end one. -- he must have thought he had

this first end won. He is giving it a good look so it must be close. Can

Paul Foster take it out? Inches away.

First end to Nicky Brett. Nicky Brett will take the first end of the

tie-break. He takes it against the first bowl so he will want the last

bowl this time. That is always wear a player wants to be. He played this

well. He dropped short and decided to give it that extra yard and pray

it would stay on and he also hid it behind his own green bowl. Look at

that. It does not get any better. That is the first time for a short

jack length. Slightly favoured green. Onto the

open hand. This is struggling. Anything through

would have been good. A quick jump out of the way of Paul Foster's ball

and onto a seat. He didn't want to stand in the way of his opponent

there. Very nimble. It is probably better to stop their then come

around and hang even further. Not bad. There is a gap, but there is

also a shoulder and I think you will find that Nick Brett will play a bit

more positively this time and use the shoulder to get to the jack.

Not quite enough to get past the red. But he will still have one to

play. He is just going to take time out.

Good move. No time-outs remaining. This was a great shot. All the way

in and almost got ahead of the red ball. If he plays this backhand he

has to be very careful it doesn't fall back on the jack. He has played

deep on it and cleared it. Nick Brett will have one to play here and

he can afford to play it with a bit of weight. Time out called. He has

two time-outs remaining. This is a big opportunity. It is a chance for

his first world Bowls tour title. Oh, it is the wrong side and Paul

Foster will get the single. What a tie-break. It will go all the way to

the final end. Nicky Brett was just a little correction away from being

crowned here in Perth. I thought he had this because it was going bowl

on the jack but for some reason, his own bowl did not go with it. That

result will haunt him if he loses this match. If it had fallen the

other side of the red ball, he would have been in. In the end it went

wrong. Paul Foster will now have the

advantage of last ball. The gap is five inches. Anything

better than that is a front touch. -- toucher.

He is short. This is the one end that you are allowed to destroy it

and replay the end. So you want to leave the tracks open to be able to

get to it. He wanted that around the corner.

This is not an easy shot to draw on the forehand.

He doesn't want a repeat of his second and that is what it is

looking like. He is looking for absolutely perfect

weight and then you are more likely to drop a bit short. He knows if he

is over the weight, there is no chance. One to go. Stay away from

it, Paul. He is giving Nicky a chance because

there is a shot on the backhand for him to split the two reds, they

disappear and then the other one goes. If he gets it the wrong way,

but gets the jack, it is going back to that ball. That wasn't there

before Paul Foster's last ball. This is a ball to save the match.

Unbelievable! I think he has made it and that plant is the one he was

playing for and he got it. One green. Paul Foster should have been

near row with his last ball but that plant was always going in. Look at

the drop on the green. A stylish pirouette and then the fall. This is

difficult for Paul, a defending champion for the title. No one has

ever done that in Perth. And no one will for now unless it comes in.

It is not enough. What a wonderful game by the Englishman. The Scottish

International Open champion for 2013 has seen the Englishman defeat Paul

Foster. He has done so in style. The champion, Nicky Brett. A fantastic

final all the way down to the last ball. I have to say, Nick Brett,

Noel number ten really fought back in this match and he was on top

form. No doubt a worthy champion, but what a match.

the story of this match is that the ends one R 11 for Nick Brett.

Nick Brett fought all the way and was a deserved winner. A fantastic

match for the Englishman. They said they hoped they would entertain the

crowd and they certainly have managed that. Ladies and gentlemen,

once again, your finalists, Nicky Brett and Paul Foster.

APPLAUSE To present the checks and trophy,

please welcome from the tournament sponsors, co-operative food --

co-operative funeral care, the chief executive and our guests.

They started so well in the match but Paul Foster unusually let his

opponent in. Runner-up, 2013, Paul Foster.

APPLAUSE If you are going to beat the world

number one you have to be pretty good and he certainly was. Winning

his first ever world Bowls title, the Scottish International Open

champion 2013, Nicky Brett. Nicolas, how did that sound?

Champion 2013. A bit better than last time. It was an incredible

fight. You talked about standing here having lost a ball a year ago

and you had to really battle today? It is never going to be easy beating

someone of Paul's class. Hundreds of millions of titles, but I had to

hang on on the way up. We both missed a couple of first Bowls and

convergence and stuff and it was just a case of hanging in. I managed

to get a couple at the end. Paul, you got off to a very good start

with the first set and we thought, we have seen this before. We thought

you would start banging away and get the second set. You hang in there?

I'm just disappointed. I didn't turn up today. A performance like that

was disappointing, the way I played all week. I felt I threw away when I

was 6-2 up and coasting. He played brilliantly to get back into the

match and that why -- that's why he is the champion. That is Bowls for

you. He hung in well and he deserved it to win the match.

Nicky, on that point, he was ahead and so far ahead in the second set.

It was all about winning the last couple of ends and you had to play

some big shots. I can't remember how far behind I was, to be honest. You

have to win every end and I just tried to concentrate harder and try

and get my first bowl close rather than search with the second and

third and luckily I managed to find a couple of first ones and begin the

end rather than chasing it. Let us have a look at the last eight of the

second set. We will see it on the big screen. One wasn't a lot of good

and I think Paul had taken two of my bowls out. This must be pretty hard

because you had played some good bowls and played it out for him. I

was hoping he would fail with his last ball. It is hard but I hope --

I hoped he would fail but he didn't but that is pressure at the top end.

The last end, I was two feet short on my third. You play the shot you

think is right at the time. You can't win everything. It is more my

performance I am disappointing -- disappointed in. To win this

championship, he probably does deserve it. He was in the final last

year and it was his turn this year and I really wish him all the best.

Well done. Let us look at the winning bowl. I'm

sure it is something you will watch quite a lot over the next couple of

months. Here it is again. I was in all sorts of trouble. On the way

back, I spotted a plant to get into the split. If it is your day, it is

your day and I managed to get one going my way. That is the break

sometimes. It must have taken about three years to drop! I have aged a

bit since it has fallen over, yes. As a result of this, you are

provisional world number two and you were ten when you started this

afternoon. Not bad! APPLAUSE

It helps keeping the others below you, below you. You stay in the top

16 and play at these great events in front of the TV and the crowd and

people watching at home. It is the best paid -- place to play. You have

won a title now and now you will have to do the same every time you

win. The cartwheel, what is going on? A very good friend of mine, Mr

Harlow, my daughters persuaded him to do a cartwheel. So I thought,

oh, God! Luckily, I managed to pull it off, just about. I am sure you

will compare both to see who had the straight legs and who landed it

better. The Commonwealth games for the Bowls and the gymnastics as

well, yeah? Well with the English selectors I have got more chance in

the gymnastics. Let us not go down that road. It was a wonderful final.

You have entertained us all week Paul Foster, but I champion 2013 is

Nicky Brett. -- are champion for 2013.

I am really pleased for him as he is such a nice man. In last years

final, he didn't have the best day and has been playing so well this

week and has made so many friends and I am delighted for him.

Congratulations to him. Earlier, we the Scottish indoor bowlers

Association between Mike Stepney and Willie Wood MBE. One of the most

recognisable faces of world Bowls, if he won his first singles gold

medal in South Africa and 73 and has picked up title after tripe -- title

ever think. -- ever since. He was given the honour of carrying the

Scottish flag in Delhi three years ago. At 32, Mike Stepney wasn't born

when Willie picked up his first gold but he is a very impressive player.

On the way to the final couple of years ago, he knocked out the

champion of champion in the semis. Mike Stepney won the first set 10-7.

Willie Wood is 2- -- two up. One green. Just watch really

would's delivery here. It hasn't changed over the years. Very simple

and easy. -- really would's. That is the end result. He arrived

in Brisbane in 1982 with the delivery and the Australians didn't

know what to make of it because they are so clinical in the way they

claim. Two weeks later, he walked away with the gold medal. -- in the

way they play. Add 127 international appearances

for Scotland and seven Commonwealth games. The last of which was 2010 in

Delhi. He was 71. It was tough for him. The heat and humidity. It was

very tough out there. It was tough for people one third of his age.

I enjoy playing against him. He is a very traditional player and is not

unpredictable. Unfortunately, he has cost me a few medals at major

championships. A great admiration for him.

He has played it. One shot Michael Stepney. I don't know what happened

with his third ball, but, my goodness! He has made up for it with

this one. Swapping singles at the start of the

second set. Michael Stepney has taken a few notable scalps to get

here. Colin Walker played in the Scottish International Open this

year. It was a tidy win to beat Colin.

He was a tempting target. You can understand the shot. It is twice

that forehand has just held off. He is hoping to pass it. That was

good. He didn't miss the second time. It

was important that the green ball dropped in. Neither of those two

were a touch. So they are removed. The disc will be placed just above

the jack to indicate where it is in the ditch. That was a good strike by

really. Not an easy one by any means.

That is good. He couldn't afford to dice with the ditch too much.

Getting within three feet is good. The problem Willie has is that he

can't afford to go searching for this. If he drops in, he's going to

lose a three. You won't see any red ones because

there aren't any there. He has to be careful not to lose this ball in the

ditch and I think it is a bit heavy. It's going in with a bit of pace.

Well, in a match like this, that is what you don't want to do. A second

shot would have been good. He knew it from a fair distance adds that he

had pushed it too far. He did the hard work to open it up. Two drives

and trying to get back down to draw weight but the short green balls

were really the target. You have to accept the fact you are going to

lose a single. That went in with a bit of pace.

He would have known that out of the hand. It is a set that Willie Wood

hast to win, having lost the first. Two drives, long end and he banks

the next bowl on the end. One red. In 1984 Willie Wood lost

out in the World Championships single final. He was lying match and

championship and then there was a big drive from his opponent and when

the dust settles been lost out. Most thought he was a bit robbed on that

one. He lost to one of the only two

bowlers in the Scottish sports Hall of Fame. But I can think of a few

will join him. Yes, I don't think it will be too long before Alex

Marshall and Paul Foster join that elite group. This is good stuff. He

doesn't want to bunch the jack too much. He has got a good second in

there. One green. He has held onto it. I thought he had bounced it to

the red. That was beautifully played. Around he came.

The 84 World Championships in Aberdeen was a great event for

Scotland. I had just lost out 21-22 David Bryant and Willie Wood --

Willie Wood beat me in the next match so it was the end of that

campaign and you could not lose too to greater bowlers, could you? What

can he do with this one? A chance of the jack if he carries. He needs an

edge. Always a chance of getting an edge when you're coming in like

that. That could have given him a double.

A good exchange between the two players about this. He just borrowed

but you still have to be there. One green. I don't believe it! One shots

to green still. To have two bowls that close and not relying the shot,

that is hard to believe. But the market is right there. -- marker

will stop there is no way he is going anywhere near this. He has got

to hit the red bowl. It has got to be read to now. That will slide on

the carpet. That was a mystery to me as to why he was going close. If

that is one red, Willie will not even bother. One shot, Willie Wood.

That is what you don't do with the last bowl, give the shot away. He

was in front and lying a single. You just do not do it. I was just so

surprised to see him go anywhere near that. Well, you said he should

not be anywhere near it and he should be going deep. You can see

the red bowled move. There is the slide on the ring. I cannot even see

what he was trying to achieve with that. Even if he had played

perfectly what he was looking to achieve. There was just too much

danger for me. I could see what he was trying to do but it is history

now. Now, these two players are

entertaining everybody. The crowd here in the Dewars Centre is fair

and reasonably impartial but you just get the feeling that they have

got a hankering towards a Willie Wood win in this set to force it to

the tie-break. He needs the jack with this. It was

just running a little bit. Both players are favouring the

backhand. It is close this time. Very close to

the jack and this time. You can certainly understand why Willie Wood

is in this final. He has played some really good stuff.

This is a touristy bowl again. -- this is a tour effect bowl again.

Michael Stepney might be tempted to drive this but it is not a big

target. Here he goes. That is a good fit.

That is a really good hit, that was not easy to hit by any matter of

means. A beautifully executed strike. So, the jack has gone off

the ditch, off to the side ditch. It will be picked out and placed on the

respot. There should be one red but that is

almost inconsequential and the two players will have to just draw to

the respot. This is definitely number one but it

is going to be sufficiently far enough away. Michael Stepney will

fancy his chances to draw this. It is a strong position for Michael

Stepney. No mistake in terms of the drawing of the shot. It was a good

strike. Willie Wood was looking very, very good with the two bowls

he had on the jack before they were hurt away. -- it away. That puts the

man from Albion in a very strong position, three up with two ends to

go. Single shots except for the three

from Michael Stepney which was a mistake when Willie Wood's bowl

dropped into the ditch. Just tracking that extra yard or two and

it is proving to be costly at the moment.

Willie Wood would have been skipping for East Lothian today against

Lanarkshire. Here he is in the Champion of champions and that is

why there are not many of his team-mates here to support him

because they are busy on domestic business.

It is simple now for Michael Stepney. If he takes the shot, he

takes the title. That is a handy board. All he needs

is a double to give him a realistic chance of getting another double in

the last end to win the set. Has he given this a little bit of

extra push? A little bit but not enough. Still, he has two seconds so

it is important for Michael Stepney to get into this.

At the moment Willie Wood -- Willie Wood is a step -- shopped for three

macro. Oh, he has dropped it. Now then,

interesting times. We would would not have expected to have this

opportunity -- Willie Wood. If he brings in these bowls they will

count as a double and they will stay and count as three. This has to go

down as a big chance. Michael Stepney lies the

championship. What does Willie Wood do about it? He looks narrow. He

needs a bit of luck and a bit of fortune and he does not get it.

One-shot, the second set and the match to Michael Stepney. He played

so consistently throughout. His first bowl got the better of Willie

Wood on so many occasions and that is why he is Scotland's Champion of

champions for 2013. Yes, at 32, S lip of a lad, against 75-year-old

Willie Wood, Michael Stepney picks up the Champion of Champions/ the

2013, a fine win from him and a big smile and very well deserved

indeed. Well done Michael Stepney. Here this afternoon at the Dewar 's

Centre in Perth we had the final of the International Open, it was

amazing. Paul Foster against Nicky Brett and it was Nicky Brett, the

Englishman, head over heels about winning this title, the first time

he has ever won a title Bowls Tour. A replay of last year's final and it

was the Englishman who picked it up. A little kiss as well and he will be

in the world indoor championship as will Michael Stepney and also Paul

Foster, world number one. Our coverage starts on the 20th of

January on BBC. I really hope you have enjoyed the coverage here this

week and I have enjoyed bringing it to you. 32 players started and one

man finished as the champion, Nicky Brett in seventh heaven.

Here he comes. He has got it this time.

He is flirting with the side and he has made. That is world-class.