09/11/15

:00:33. > :00:41.Perth is a windy city as this autumn breeze has blown in 32 of the

:00:42. > :00:44.world's top bowlers battling it out to be Scottish international

:00:45. > :00:50.champion 2015. World number one and the only man to

:00:51. > :00:55.successfully defend his title, Nicky Brett, embarks on his quest to win a

:00:56. > :01:02.third consecutive international open. When it is meant to be, it is

:01:03. > :01:08.meant to be. No one has ever retained it. I was the lucky one.

:01:09. > :01:13.The man he beat in the last two finals, also gets his challenge

:01:14. > :01:18.underway. Paul Foster is determined to add to his 2012 victory. It is

:01:19. > :01:29.always good to be back at the International open. Long may it

:01:30. > :01:41.continue. And the 2014 world champion and Commonwealth Games

:01:42. > :01:46.singles gold medal holder, Gareth Burnett. Stuart Anderson at the top

:01:47. > :01:54.of the draw is through against Alex when. Mark Dawes is out, David

:01:55. > :02:02.Richardson not him out. Mervyn King is out to Graham at Dougall.

:02:03. > :02:11.Greg Harlow, the former world number one is through knocking out Carol

:02:12. > :02:15.Proto, were the only ladies in the competition. Jonathan Ross is

:02:16. > :02:22.through. David Gower late is out. John Price is also out. Mark Royal

:02:23. > :02:23.is through and the three games at the bottom of the three we will

:02:24. > :02:36.feature this afternoon. Warm welcome. Six days of live roles

:02:37. > :02:41.here on BBC Two Scotland and we are delighted to be here. One man who

:02:42. > :02:46.will describe the action is David Corkill. So far, some big names out,

:02:47. > :02:53.big names coming but three world champions out of the competition

:02:54. > :02:58.already? That is correct. David Gourley hasn't played much, now

:02:59. > :03:00.living in Spain of course, and John Price has just returned from

:03:01. > :03:07.Australia. Both players not prepared. But the people who beat

:03:08. > :03:10.them did they well. Mervyn King, it was a close game so it could have

:03:11. > :03:15.gone either way. It is good to see the qualifiers coming through and

:03:16. > :03:21.making an entrance into the match against world-class players. These

:03:22. > :03:26.guys are not easy. But it shows you the quality, the world's top 16 and

:03:27. > :03:32.the 16 qualifiers. The quality of play in the first round has been

:03:33. > :03:46.intense? Yes, the usual combatants. Nicky Brett, Robert Paxton. Good

:03:47. > :03:50.attacking players. Stuart Anderson, you keep mentioning these names and

:03:51. > :03:54.they are all world champions and you think to yourself, they are

:03:55. > :03:58.fantastic. They certainly are and we have a four-time world champion

:03:59. > :04:07.coming up. Paul Foster is up against John Fleming. Very few players as

:04:08. > :04:13.dominant or deadly in the indoor rink as Paul Foster. Has been in the

:04:14. > :04:16.top five for the last 15 years. He goes into this match as the hottest

:04:17. > :04:26.of hot favourites against John Fleming. The qualifier from Greenock

:04:27. > :04:31.is an unknown quantity. Only 19, has won the under 25 singles title. He

:04:32. > :04:39.knows he is up against it today against the four-time world singles

:04:40. > :04:48.champion. 19 years old, I am a college student

:04:49. > :04:51.in electrical engineering. I play bowls three times a week and then I

:04:52. > :04:59.play for my team on Saturday. I know he plays for Inverclyde. He is a

:05:00. > :05:05.decent player. I never take any player likely. He is here on merit.

:05:06. > :05:10.Qualified in April, so it was unexpected. Fantastic year in the

:05:11. > :05:16.indoor and that just topped it off. This game, I will do the same as I

:05:17. > :05:21.do, worry about myself. John is a good player. You don't win qualifies

:05:22. > :05:35.for nothing. I will have my work cut out. Anybody knows, I am the most

:05:36. > :05:39.consistent player on the circuit, so looking forward to it. A lot of

:05:40. > :05:43.talent in this competition and you can only take one game at a time.

:05:44. > :05:49.You cannot look ahead here you will play in the quarterfinal of the

:05:50. > :05:52.final if you get that far ahead. It is disrespectful to the other

:05:53. > :05:59.players in the tournament. It is one game at a time. They are top-class

:06:00. > :06:03.players. Paul Foster is a good one, but John Fleming is impressive as

:06:04. > :06:08.well. They will be out in a minute, but if you are new to this indoor

:06:09. > :06:12.format, let me tell you about the rules. Or, if you have been here

:06:13. > :06:19.before let me remind you. Two sets of nine ends. If it is

:06:20. > :06:25.11-macro after that, it is a 3 end tie-break. Minim and jack length is

:06:26. > :06:30.23 metres. Each player has to play in a 32nd shot clock. But they have

:06:31. > :06:34.for opportunities during the match for a 62nd time out but in a

:06:35. > :06:42.tie-break to get one more, meaning five in all.

:06:43. > :06:47.Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the two players. From Inverclyde

:06:48. > :06:48.Bowling club, the under 25 singles champion, John Fleming.

:06:49. > :07:12.APPLAUSE And playing John this afternoon,

:07:13. > :07:14.please give a very warm welcome to the four-time world singles

:07:15. > :07:35.champion, Paul Foster. APPLAUSE

:07:36. > :07:42.To take you through this match this afternoon, David Corkill is in the

:07:43. > :07:45.commentary box alongside Paul Foster.

:07:46. > :07:57.It is a compliment, but Paul Mitchell will suffice. You ever meet

:07:58. > :08:02.your heroes, I am not sure you should play against them on the

:08:03. > :08:09.tour. But that is how it is going to be for John Fleming 's. Paul Foster

:08:10. > :08:15.is his hero. Now he gets the chance to play against him. It is not going

:08:16. > :08:19.to be easy. Paul Foster is not a player who takes time to get into an

:08:20. > :08:23.event. He is normally out of the blocks quickly. Some players need to

:08:24. > :08:35.ease their way in, they struggle in the first couple of rounds before

:08:36. > :08:38.they get to BLEEP their line and lengths

:08:39. > :08:48.young player. Takes time to settle on the portable rink. Not bad for a

:08:49. > :09:04.first bowl. Certainly did better with this.

:09:05. > :09:30.Expect Paul Foster to add another. Didn't look too happy with it. It is

:09:31. > :09:35.not too bad. Goodness me! He doubted himself for a moment. It is the

:09:36. > :09:48.first told where Paul Foster is using his different bowls.

:09:49. > :09:54.Needs to have read this one. Oh dear, now he is in a heap of

:09:55. > :10:04.trouble. I don't think he has pushed this

:10:05. > :10:11.one, that is where the problem lies. Just have a look at it. The line

:10:12. > :10:22.looks absolutely great. That is the problem. Being short wasn't the

:10:23. > :10:27.issue. If he went wider he might have blocked the way in for John,

:10:28. > :10:38.trying to draw a save with this bowl. Here he goes. He will find it

:10:39. > :10:43.is an unforgiving surface. Didn't fancy that one. I can understand why

:10:44. > :10:48.he played it and it isn't a bad thing to get it out of your system,

:10:49. > :10:58.but this is a spare shot opportunity for Paul Foster.

:10:59. > :11:18.Bowls one and two from Paul Foster, spot on. Three was short, number

:11:19. > :11:40.Bowls one and two from Paul Foster, four was long. Is a bit

:11:41. > :11:46.Full-length jack for Paul Foster. These players have shared a green

:11:47. > :11:59.before but I've never played head to head in singles. Just watching now

:12:00. > :14:15.that the deep end. This is steady. It is the first

:14:16. > :14:15.that the deep end. This is steady. bowl by. He needed the edge. Edge

:14:16. > :14:40.the jack, would have been perfect. He liked that. It was a very good

:14:41. > :15:13.bowl. After a disappointing opening end,

:15:14. > :15:17.he will be delighted the way the second and played out. This was

:15:18. > :15:21.lovely. It is a repeat of the first one. The waiter was even better this

:15:22. > :15:55.time. He used the red one before. It is a normal reaction, so it is

:15:56. > :16:47.good to do that. It is better to adjust back, than adjust forward.

:16:48. > :17:13.Another bite at the cherry here with a third delivery. Probably didn't

:17:14. > :17:48.expect to have that. It gives something for both players

:17:49. > :17:53.to use. John Fleming can use it to come onto the jack and at the same

:17:54. > :17:55.time take away to catch, which will make it harder for Paul Foster with

:17:56. > :18:02.his next bowl. He can be reasonably positive with

:18:03. > :18:22.this. Just dipping inside. Needs to hurry.

:18:23. > :18:34.It is close. Certainly close and certainly in the way. The marker,

:18:35. > :18:41.Alan Thornhill is suggesting two green. Paul Foster, onto the

:18:42. > :18:55.forehand. Never easy to move after playing so

:18:56. > :19:01.many bowls on one side, but it is looking pretty good. Great finish.

:19:02. > :19:10.Absolutely brilliant. No way in on the backhand.

:19:11. > :19:19.First time he has played that hand. One thing to play it in practice,

:19:20. > :19:27.but when you are playing it for the first time in the match, he drew the

:19:28. > :19:41.shot, Paul Foster. Picking up a single shot, leading 32-macro.

:19:42. > :19:49.Paul Foster in the final in the last three seasons. And each one faced

:19:50. > :19:56.Mickey Brett. Paul Foster won the first from and Mickey Brett has won

:19:57. > :20:11.the last two. Paul Foster has been on top form. This young man has made

:20:12. > :20:15.his way through the hard route, the qualifying events. Normally takes

:20:16. > :20:33.about five games in one day. Took out two British Isles champions

:20:34. > :20:36.on the way to qualifier. Came over to Scotland from Belfast. Easy

:20:37. > :20:44.journey for him. I know he enjoys it over there. As I said, took out two

:20:45. > :20:56.British Isles winners, Simon Martin and Mark Mac peak, both experienced

:20:57. > :21:03.bowlers. This year in particular the rink is playing well, as a bit of

:21:04. > :21:10.speed. Massive club over there, of course.

:21:11. > :21:30.Now, Paul, can you get back to the jack and turn it around the corner?

:21:31. > :21:41.If you missed it, you come deep and that is useful. He will be happy

:21:42. > :22:09.with that. Possible three. The gap is 12 inches.

:22:10. > :22:20.He is not far away, but the trouble is against Paul Foster, it is not

:22:21. > :22:25.close enough. The gap on the last one is 13 inches. Looking to turn

:22:26. > :22:28.the jack around the corner and that would leave John with no shot

:22:29. > :22:48.whatsoever. Needs to dip a bit quicker. He is in

:22:49. > :22:54.for another one. I think John will probably have a go at this one. The

:22:55. > :22:58.trouble, if he touches anything at the front, it will just fall away

:22:59. > :23:02.from it. If he is heavily, he will lose three or four shots, he might

:23:03. > :23:10.as well try and remove as many as he can. As already shown, when he

:23:11. > :23:17.drives, he drives at speed. That was just walked out of the hand. A

:23:18. > :23:23.little rush of blood, perhaps? Pull that back by 20%. Don't need all

:23:24. > :23:29.that weight on the portable rink. This is going to be very costly. I

:23:30. > :23:36.think they are touching so they will have two prop it up a little bit.

:23:37. > :23:53.Get the little rubber stoppers to go underneath, two prop the bowl up.

:23:54. > :24:06.Umpire, we'll sort it out. Read all first. Certainly looks like he beat

:24:07. > :24:17.the front one. Closer than it looked. Three shots, Paul Foster.

:24:18. > :24:22.Certainly, the other one looked closer. He just pulled it across.

:24:23. > :24:41.Less weight, a bit more accuracy. He will know that himself. Next time

:24:42. > :24:45.I drive comes up you will think about it a bit more in terms of what

:24:46. > :25:04.to use, the right shot. Ian Foster -- Paul Foster sticking

:25:05. > :25:09.to the jack length. If the opposition starts getting hold of

:25:10. > :25:11.this jack length, he will move to the short jack, which he is so good

:25:12. > :25:27.at. That is the best opening bowl so far

:25:28. > :25:32.from John Fleming. Taking a break from his studies of electrical

:25:33. > :25:59.engineering, to be here and face Paul Foster.

:26:00. > :26:12.He is looking good with this. That is what you have to do against Paul

:26:13. > :26:25.Foster, beat him with the first two bowls. Shot bowl, half an inch. Back

:26:26. > :26:51.bowl, two inches. Just bowls the wrong way. Imagine

:26:52. > :26:58.now it is time for John to try and rest the last bowl. The best Paul

:26:59. > :27:07.could do was probably second shot. But a good third is always handy. No

:27:08. > :27:16.strike shop now. He will have to try and play the draw again.

:27:17. > :27:22.Players get 30 seconds to play, which were these two is not a

:27:23. > :28:00.problem, they are quick players. Always takes players a bit of time

:28:01. > :28:06.to get used to playing with a different manufacturer of bowl. But

:28:07. > :28:09.he would have had them designed, it would be perfect for Paul's type of

:28:10. > :28:29.play. , swinging bowl. Great line, just fallen short. Paul

:28:30. > :28:41.isn't sure. He has got a good eye. Time to measure. It will be a

:28:42. > :28:50.caliper measure this time. Nice and tight. Those calipers have seen a

:28:51. > :29:03.fair bit of action, I would suggest? Yes, I would say so.

:29:04. > :29:13.Should be the perfect angle to see. Double-check. Two shots, John

:29:14. > :29:20.Fleming. The youngster, very much in this

:29:21. > :30:06.set. Lots of talent in the Scottish

:30:07. > :30:15.rolling scene. Last year in round one, Paul Foster took care of Ronnie

:30:16. > :30:19.Duncan. Any time want of the top 16 finds themselves up against a

:30:20. > :30:26.Scottish qualifier, they know they are getting a very good player in

:30:27. > :30:31.deed. It usually applies to all of the UK qualifiers, the vast majority

:30:32. > :30:35.are very talented players. They have all had to play a number of matches

:30:36. > :30:42.to get there. When the draw comes out and you are playing Paul Foster,

:30:43. > :30:47.you will say, it will be interesting! If you're going to meet

:30:48. > :30:52.someone like Paul Foster or Alex Marshall, get them in the first

:30:53. > :30:54.round. You don't want to get them in the second or third, because they

:30:55. > :31:09.are in their groove by then. That is not going to help his next

:31:10. > :31:20.one. Might be attempted to attack the head. This direction the last

:31:21. > :31:27.time, lying two on the jack on the forehand and he went back to the

:31:28. > :31:34.backhand and dropped short. Will have to be tempted to draw on the

:31:35. > :31:41.four. I slightly favour three, Paul. Paul Foster's drawing ability

:31:42. > :31:50.you would think he would follow that. He is so good at drawing but

:31:51. > :31:57.the way the head is sitting, setting up a little roller. Little control

:31:58. > :32:11.shot. He has his own bowls to hit. Has opened the door a little bit

:32:12. > :32:20.further, taking one out. Just the way the head was sitting. Taking

:32:21. > :32:22.were the two front ones. Chance for John to add another and keep the

:32:23. > :32:48.pressure on. He has the line, how is the wait? --

:32:49. > :33:04.weight. Paul will go back to the drawn-out. -- draw now.

:33:05. > :33:13.Struggling for weight, this one. Nowhere near where it should be. It

:33:14. > :33:17.is costly. He knew out of the hand he was not happy, the body language,

:33:18. > :33:24.we could see from the commentary box, saying he was not there. The

:33:25. > :33:36.second half of this first set is going to be fairly interesting.

:33:37. > :33:45.This is a chance here for John Fleming to take the lead. Notice

:33:46. > :33:50.that Paul Foster is standing to the side of the rink, good etiquette.

:33:51. > :33:54.That is what you would expect of course from a former world champion

:33:55. > :33:58.but it is always good to see that the top guys really know what to do,

:33:59. > :34:16.leaving the umpire to it. Both players doing exactly that.

:34:17. > :34:24.Five shots in two ends and suddenly sets number one is a different

:34:25. > :34:30.complexion will. Paul Foster with that loose bowl, certainly cost

:34:31. > :34:34.him. You would have expected him to beat the third shot. Yes, the third

:34:35. > :34:40.shot, Paul would have been thinking second or first, but the third was a

:34:41. > :34:53.given. After the running bowl he moved hand and just missed the

:34:54. > :35:03.weight. Still three ends to go. Fleming finding his drawing the last

:35:04. > :35:07.few ends. Some people up in the players lounge at the moment with

:35:08. > :35:20.side bets going on, who is going to win the first set. It is tight. The

:35:21. > :35:23.question is, how hard is it to beat Paul Foster in the first round of

:35:24. > :35:30.the Scottish International open? I can tell you it has not been done in

:35:31. > :35:33.the last ten years. That is the nature, he very rarely plays a poor

:35:34. > :35:42.game in the first round. Just does not happen. I am not a gambling man

:35:43. > :35:47.but I might put AJ Lee baby on him him winning the first one... If we

:35:48. > :36:09.had kidney, of course. It is early in the week, no jelly babies yet.

:36:10. > :36:19.Edge in he comes. Onto the forehand for John Fleming.

:36:20. > :36:38.Just not going to reach. Perfect line. Paul knows any rock on the Red

:36:39. > :36:43.bowl and it will fall away. If he was searching for shot it with the

:36:44. > :36:45.different tactics but from his point of view he will be thinking, take

:36:46. > :37:42.the one. of view he will be thinking, take

:37:43. > :37:44.Paul was chasing shots here he would have a look at the backhand. He will

:37:45. > :39:30.have a look anyway. have a look at the backhand. He will

:39:31. > :39:37.fright! -- there is a bell. I played under it myself and it is not easy.

:39:38. > :39:48.There are mixed feelings. That clock ticking away on every bowl. Another

:39:49. > :39:52.dimension to televised bowls. It would never be introduced in

:39:53. > :39:55.mainstream play because they do not have the facilities in terms of

:39:56. > :40:07.manpower to operate it. They rely very heavily on vampires. --

:40:08. > :40:16.umpires. Short again. Dropped the jack length slightly. Playing 28

:40:17. > :40:23.metres but I Inc I understand that in this direction he has been losing

:40:24. > :40:34.shots. -- I think. I thought he might have gone very short.

:40:35. > :40:52.The backhand is messy. Struggling. Oh dear. Real trouble now for Paul

:40:53. > :41:18.Foster. There is number three. On the jack

:41:19. > :41:22.length. APPLAUSE the four-time world champion has

:41:23. > :41:28.been in many a pickle. You certainly would not bet against him. Usually

:41:29. > :41:34.he gets out of trouble with his drawing. Will this come back in

:41:35. > :41:40.time? Here it comes. Drop back for shot. APPLAUSE

:41:41. > :41:46.So much like Fozzie to do that and John will be looking down the

:41:47. > :41:51.backhand with this next bowl. That is why he is one of the best in the

:41:52. > :41:56.world. What he is looking at is getting onto that bowl. If he does

:41:57. > :42:03.and gets it absolutely plumb he takes the red bowl out. Even if he

:42:04. > :42:11.takes one or two of his own it does not matter but that is a direct shop

:42:12. > :42:18.through between the two. -- shot. John calls the time-out just to give

:42:19. > :42:26.him that extra time. Control the weight, that is better, nice pace.

:42:27. > :42:38.Will it hold? He was a fraction. Only a fraction. Well, typical

:42:39. > :42:41.Fozzie. This is why you love this sport. Paul Foster in a heap of

:42:42. > :42:48.trouble looking potentially losing this set will stop might have got a

:42:49. > :42:55.draw out of it. If he could then reply. But you do not want to lose a

:42:56. > :43:03.3 there. That was perfect. There was a little shocked on. -- shot on. He

:43:04. > :43:11.looked at the angle on the backhand but it was not good. He looked out

:43:12. > :43:12.that the previous bowl. I think that is the sort of shot that gives you a

:43:13. > :43:26.lot of confidence. John Fleming very much alive in this

:43:27. > :43:47.set. Has the advantage of last bowl.

:43:48. > :44:03.That's looked lazy from the second it left it his hand.

:44:04. > :44:14.Four. The bowls are coming out quite nicely on that wide line. Strong

:44:15. > :44:45.bias on them. Will be tempted now to change. Even

:44:46. > :44:54.a foot short on the forehand would be an absolutely cracking bowl. Onto

:44:55. > :45:07.the forehand he goes. You can see the bend. It is labouring a little

:45:08. > :45:15.bit. Well, six inches more and he would have been a lot happier.

:45:16. > :45:24.Potential catch here. Rule number one is to make sure you are up and.

:45:25. > :45:31.Just the wrong side of it. Into a good home. As soon as he was on the

:45:32. > :45:36.outside of the red he was never going to get back in time.

:45:37. > :45:43.Interesting choice here for Paul Foster. We'll have to guard against

:45:44. > :45:47.the potential trio which could make it two green. Either that or block

:45:48. > :45:54.up the forehand by playing the perfect bowl. Either tap his own

:45:55. > :46:11.bowl or get cover. Percentage shot, this one. Two possibilities. Not

:46:12. > :46:21.getting cover, though. Chance here. Picking up the jack for two. The

:46:22. > :46:31.thing about this forehand is it will hold with extra weight. Well, that

:46:32. > :46:47.is probably half a metre inside his previous line. Yes. Had to go even

:46:48. > :46:59.narrower. He will have a chance to win it but Paul Foster in the end

:47:00. > :47:06.comes through with a 10-7 in the opening set. Good set.

:47:07. > :47:14.Opportunities, Paul Foster had to play the big bowl. He played it very

:47:15. > :47:18.well. John missed a chance on the run and missed a chance again. Had a

:47:19. > :47:21.couple of chances to really take this set and that is a rare

:47:22. > :47:43.occurrence against Paul Foster. Fozzie knows he is going to have two

:47:44. > :47:50.move up a gear here. John Fleming plays indoor at Inverclyde and

:47:51. > :47:59.outdoor at Wellington Park. Unsurprisingly he lists his

:48:00. > :48:05.favourite green as Belfast in-laws. That would be the bottom green of

:48:06. > :48:09.the two. As we call it. Drops down about six feet, the regional green

:48:10. > :49:01.is a little bit slimmer. Little bit of promotion. Just needs

:49:02. > :49:21.to run a little bit. Always looked a little bit under. The next one will

:49:22. > :49:29.be short. Just needs to get it. Unlucky. The other side of the red

:49:30. > :49:36.would have given him another shot and cover. Paul Foster will be

:49:37. > :49:45.looking to bring this jack back. These are always the harder shots to

:49:46. > :50:11.play when you have new bowls. He is setting itself.

:50:12. > :50:24.Still looking for the red bowl. It is a big touring bowl, has he given

:50:25. > :50:29.it time? Too much weight. It is useful and Paul Foster is looking to

:50:30. > :50:34.see now if you can get to his own bowl and punched the green one out.

:50:35. > :50:45.He is looking at it. If it does not miss the jack then he is no better

:50:46. > :50:49.off. I think the trouble is for him if he gets the edge of the jack and

:50:50. > :50:56.it goes over to their it is not ideal. But what he is looking at is

:50:57. > :51:00.to get into this position and punched the red bowl onto green and

:51:01. > :51:04.hope it does not touch the jack on the way through. If not he can still

:51:05. > :51:19.play the trial and turn the jack round the corner for three shots.

:51:20. > :51:22.Time-out used by Paul Foster. Just going for the Little Trail, the

:51:23. > :51:25.angle must have been just right for him. New security that it was going

:51:26. > :51:45.to miss the jack. The opening of the second set goes

:51:46. > :51:52.to Fleming. The interested spectator there is Mark Royal, who is with

:51:53. > :51:55.Dougie Vipond. Yes, Mark Royal watching this very interested in

:51:56. > :52:01.deed and unusually for Paul Foster a bit of a loose end. Yes he has

:52:02. > :52:08.bowled a lot of short wood 's macro. Fantastic last bowl in that

:52:09. > :52:12.first set otherwise he would have lost. Even though he has not been

:52:13. > :52:20.going briefly at times he has been a bit loose, but he has the ability to

:52:21. > :52:23.play the big bowl. But John has his nose in front. I would not be

:52:24. > :52:36.surprised if John wins this one and forces the tie-break. In this format

:52:37. > :52:40.that is fantastic because if it goes to the stage it is interesting. But

:52:41. > :52:44.would you put your money on Foster? Certainly, he has so much

:52:45. > :52:51.experience, and he is a hard man to beat. Who would you rather play? I

:52:52. > :52:59.don't mind! I am playing really well. I am confident. Thank you very

:53:00. > :53:04.much indeed. COMMENTATOR: Good lesson in diplomacy there from Mark

:53:05. > :53:09.Royal. There was a mistake by John Fleming putting the jack in the

:53:10. > :53:19.ditch. So it is now going to be Paul Foster's jack, he has played it

:53:20. > :53:23.slightly shorter. Mark Royal as you say being very diplomatic but I know

:53:24. > :53:26.he would rather play John Fleming. The only thing is if John Fleming

:53:27. > :53:29.was to get through this match he would be going into the next one

:53:30. > :53:34.with massive confidence. That is dangerous as well. But you have to

:53:35. > :53:41.go with the experience of Paul Foster. I don't care what anybody

:53:42. > :53:46.says you do not want to play Fozzie. If I was John Fleming and I beat

:53:47. > :53:59.Paul Foster I would retire! Never play again. Virtually did that some

:54:00. > :54:04.years ago. Never play again. Some gentlemen from the Trinity Bowling

:54:05. > :54:06.club chortling at the fact I would ever be on the same ring as Paul

:54:07. > :54:29.Foster. Good bowl. Opened up the shoulder

:54:30. > :54:36.just a little bit. Again these are the shots you expect Paul Foster to

:54:37. > :54:43.make. The line looks OK, it must be the weight. He has had a lot of

:54:44. > :54:50.short bowls. He is very hard on himself. One of those games where if

:54:51. > :54:59.you are not 100% but you do get through it then you have some work

:55:00. > :55:10.to do. But John Fleming is very much in this match.

:55:11. > :55:21.Turn the jack back three or four. I would not be at all surprised if

:55:22. > :55:26.Paul Foster draws this. Missing with the third, John Fleming knows he has

:55:27. > :55:36.left a great opportunity for his opponent. It is a firm shot. Decided

:55:37. > :55:43.to go with the little runabout he has pulled it. The jack looks as if

:55:44. > :55:53.it is going to come back. I am a little bit surprised. Just look like

:55:54. > :56:13.the plant was coming into the two bowls but it was not going to go

:56:14. > :56:34.Fozzie's way. Did he think it was just the one? He has a good eye on

:56:35. > :56:50.his head. Really good start to the second set. Very steady. I have

:56:51. > :56:53.watched this young man through qualifying and am my own club in

:56:54. > :57:05.Belfast and we know he is a good player. The guys make a good long

:57:06. > :58:03.weekend out of it. Aggressive in the final. Mark is another player who

:58:04. > :58:31.fixes Roma John singles games. This certainly looks better.

:58:32. > :58:37.He had the weight to get there but not enough to turn the ball over.

:58:38. > :58:47.Certainly had enough weight to get to the jack. I have the impression

:58:48. > :58:50.with John if he can put two or three really good ends together he could

:58:51. > :59:01.give Fozzie a lot of trouble in the second set. He was trouble enough in

:59:02. > :59:10.the first one. Tough crowd out there. Not a murmur! Expectations

:59:11. > :59:15.are high. They have high standards in Perth will stop even closer, not

:59:16. > :59:51.a murmur either is! There you go. Foot at the very front of the mat.

:59:52. > :59:55.Certainly reaching with this one. Going deep deliberately thinking

:59:56. > :00:05.Paul might attack this. But I do not think Paul will fancy yet much.

:00:06. > :00:28.He is going to the well yet again, looking for a big bowl. Has he found

:00:29. > :00:42.it? It looks good. Little touch was needed. Got the touch, but not

:00:43. > :00:48.enough. One shot, John Fleming. Needed a harder touch to take it to

:00:49. > :00:57.the red order to take it with him. Sometimes it happens that way. Three

:00:58. > :01:09.singles for John Fleming. Nice and close. John Price, the new Scotland

:01:10. > :01:16.coach. And his wife with him, so everybody knows. I know she is

:01:17. > :01:21.taking down a few notes. The one thing for John Price is the talent

:01:22. > :01:27.pool he has got, it is incredible. Yes, especially on the mend's side

:01:28. > :01:32.when the Commonwealth Games was electric. They were picking up

:01:33. > :01:36.medals for fun. I think he has a bit more work to do on the other side of

:01:37. > :01:41.things, and he knows that. But the players are up for it. They had

:01:42. > :01:49.David Gourley coaching them before, now they have John Price. The

:01:50. > :01:49.David Gourley coaching them before, investment of money into Scottish

:01:50. > :02:30.Good reply to that. bowls is phenomenal. David Gower lay

:02:31. > :02:36.Now, Paul, slight touch on the jack, don't want to be running it too

:02:37. > :04:33.hard. don't want to be running it too

:04:34. > :04:48.to call the jack round. Can't afford to go hunting for it.

:04:49. > :04:57.That is the way it is. He knew he wasn't far away will stop clean run.

:04:58. > :05:06.He deftly would have got the shot. The edge made sure of it. What a

:05:07. > :05:13.difference it does make. 3-1, much more palatable. John Fleming would

:05:14. > :05:19.have known Paul was in the general area that was a possibility. He got

:05:20. > :05:23.a heavy contact on it, but two yards out and Paul would have been

:05:24. > :05:30.thinking, I am a bit narrow. I little acknowledgement to John. You

:05:31. > :05:42.expect that from Paul. Wasn't much in it.

:05:43. > :05:53.It's whenever you get an edge and the guys come running down, arms up

:05:54. > :05:58.in the air and cheering. Seen that recently in a match and I thought to

:05:59. > :06:02.myself, no, not good. The other thing that annoys me is the

:06:03. > :06:11.handshake culture for average shots. That has to be addressed. Not even

:06:12. > :06:19.average shots, sometimes. I am all for teamwork and encouraging your

:06:20. > :06:21.team-mates, but handshakes and handshakes in the air for

:06:22. > :06:33.exceptional. But not for the average. Something special. Moving

:06:34. > :06:39.on to the forehand early. He has played it well. That is the way he

:06:40. > :07:15.started the first set. He doesn't like it, so that means it

:07:16. > :07:32.will be about an inch away. It is a bit heavier. It is wide. I knew

:07:33. > :07:36.something was wrong. The angle is good to come off. Can use it as a

:07:37. > :07:47.shoulder. Doesn't need it. It is coming in

:07:48. > :07:54.right behind. It is a great bowl. Super shot. Paul is having a good

:07:55. > :08:13.look at it. Being cautioned not to go too close

:08:14. > :08:17.in case it moves. It looks like it is touching green, but not touching

:08:18. > :08:24.read. What a great bowl from John Fleming. Paul's runner on the

:08:25. > :08:32.backhand gives me the impression he thinks it is against him. That would

:08:33. > :08:41.have pushed it out. One shot, John Fleming.

:08:42. > :08:51.Good grip covering bowl needed. What has been interesting is it is not

:08:52. > :08:57.always the player who has played the best bowls who is winning at the

:08:58. > :09:05.end. One good bowl from your opponent is enough to secure the

:09:06. > :09:07.shot. Almost get the impression it is two players feeling their way

:09:08. > :09:11.through this game a little bit. It is who will step up to the mark and

:09:12. > :09:18.put a couple of really good ends together? Obviously, you cannot look

:09:19. > :09:24.past Paul Foster, when it comes to this. But, at the same time, this

:09:25. > :09:30.young man showing no nerves whatsoever. Has been very happy out

:09:31. > :10:13.there. Looks very content on the portable rink.

:10:14. > :10:23.Gives you a good idea just what the bend is like on these bowls, when

:10:24. > :10:33.you have two punch them out wide. Generally accepted the portable rink

:10:34. > :10:46.is not a place for straight bowl. Couldn't agree more.

:10:47. > :11:01.Well played, Paul Foster. The thing about straight bowls, can make a

:11:02. > :11:14.fairly average shot but because of the margins of error. That is not

:11:15. > :11:18.the manufacturer's fault. All the manufacturers do is respond to

:11:19. > :11:24.demand. The demand is still there for them. That is why you like to

:11:25. > :11:33.see Cler Brinks, particularly prepared to take the swing. -- club

:11:34. > :11:41.rinks. Bits of work to do with this one, Paul. Going for the cover, I

:11:42. > :11:50.think? Here it comes. That will be a receiver. Bowl onto bowl, that is a

:11:51. > :11:59.different matter. But you can flick your own out. Definite shot

:12:00. > :12:07.available here for John Fleming, I would be tempted on the backhand,

:12:08. > :12:11.funny enough. Time-out called. By coming away from the green bowl, you

:12:12. > :12:18.almost guaranteed it will stay into the red.

:12:19. > :12:29.He has turned his back on it. Must be narrow. It is. He didn't have to

:12:30. > :12:43.wait. It's both. Interesting last three ends in this

:12:44. > :12:46.set. Paul Foster is probably going to be two down. It is not easy to

:12:47. > :13:05.add another one there. One shot, Paul Foster. Extends in

:13:06. > :13:09.the second set, six shots scored. Exceptionally tight at 4-2. Paul

:13:10. > :13:11.Foster just needs to tide the set and to advance to avoid the

:13:12. > :13:36.tie-break. Alex Marshall and Paul Foster,

:13:37. > :13:42.working with these bowls now. Alex Marshall is working for them, so he

:13:43. > :13:48.doesn't have any choice. At the same time, when the guys are going well

:13:49. > :13:53.and even when they are not going so well, the bowls don't really come

:13:54. > :14:00.into it. They will have put a lot of work in with the new set of bowls

:14:01. > :14:05.and checked out different things, so similar to the previous one. No

:14:06. > :14:10.excuses there, and nor should there be. It is one of these hard-fought

:14:11. > :14:17.first-round matches. You have to grind it out. Good game so far. The

:14:18. > :14:25.number of seeds that have not made it through, David Gower lake, John

:14:26. > :14:43.Price, have both gone out. The number 16 seed. The ball-macro good

:14:44. > :14:58.bowls. Tempting target. -- two. It is good. Looked good all the way.

:14:59. > :15:08.Played just a little bit narrower. Just enough to get to his own just

:15:09. > :15:13.two punch them in. Split on the inside would be perfect. Solid jack,

:15:14. > :15:31.that will do. Slightly off centre, the line

:15:32. > :16:36.changes just a bit. Close enough to be difficult to

:16:37. > :16:50.beat. Looking to take the weight of from his last one.

:16:51. > :17:02.Still trucking through. Perfect line. Both the bowls were good

:17:03. > :17:12.lines, his third and fourth. The weight deserted him there.

:17:13. > :17:20.Battle of the Scots in the opening round. Paul Foster with the opening

:17:21. > :17:27.set. John Fleming, watching as his lead has evaporated in the second

:17:28. > :17:32.set. Paul's bowl dropping in. Just far enough away to tempt the

:17:33. > :17:33.opposition in to try and draw it up will stop any closer, he probably

:17:34. > :17:55.would have had a go at it. The jack length on the top, at 27

:17:56. > :18:01.metres. Bit of mucking around with the jack in this match. Both players

:18:02. > :18:07.trying to find the length that suits them. Has been some very good

:18:08. > :18:13.bowling I have to say. Really has been some good stuff. I suppose if

:18:14. > :18:18.you are going to be harsh, there has been a lot of short bowls, bit of

:18:19. > :18:25.inconsistency, but it is the first round. It does take time.

:18:26. > :18:32.If Paul Foster to see this one out, John Fleming will now there were

:18:33. > :18:41.chances along the way. He is still very much in this for now. Although

:18:42. > :19:10.when your opponent is doing this... Just at that awkward angle, probably

:19:11. > :19:17.not get much out of it, but will go the other side? He needs to be one

:19:18. > :19:22.down at the absolute worst going into the final end. Doesn't want to

:19:23. > :19:29.be any more than that because he will have to chase the end. Paul

:19:30. > :19:35.knows if he turns the jack around the corner, it will be very

:19:36. > :19:39.difficult to get out of. Looks like a decent line. Don't know if he has

:19:40. > :19:54.pushed it? Can still come around it. Going for

:19:55. > :20:04.the runner, try and open something up. It is a brave shots. The only

:20:05. > :20:09.danger of that was, if he got into his green bowl, he would have taken

:20:10. > :20:13.it out. I would have been inclined to draw that and try and get second.

:20:14. > :20:19.It wasn't that far away, his previous bowl. If you've got second,

:20:20. > :20:22.you have the chance of picking up a double in the last end. Bit of

:20:23. > :20:40.movement. Just go again. Big bowl, if Paul Foster can pick up

:20:41. > :20:50.a 2 here. Well, he didn't allow it to annoy him, that little bit of

:20:51. > :20:54.movement! Great bowl. Superb. Touched the jack and it would have

:20:55. > :21:06.been perfect because he would have made the three. Reset it himself. It

:21:07. > :21:10.was great. In it comes. The market, just checking to see if it touched

:21:11. > :21:21.the jack. Is going again, cannot afford to get his own bowl. That

:21:22. > :21:26.rewards nothing in the end. Can't blame him really, very hard to beat

:21:27. > :21:37.those two bowls. He knew that himself. Two shots, Paul Foster.

:21:38. > :21:42.Paul Foster is playing a good second half in this set.

:21:43. > :22:03.He used it into the well of good bowls. Taken a few out. He is

:22:04. > :22:14.looking like he will be in the next . Paul Foster dropping short and

:22:15. > :22:58.John Fleming taking advantage. No such error from Paul Foster here.

:22:59. > :23:06.Paul Foster could follow his own or he could have changed hands and

:23:07. > :23:13.rested on the green bowl. He is trying to get bowls in the head.

:23:14. > :23:29.Normal to try and drop off his own bowls. A few inches heavy.

:23:30. > :23:39.Good effort. In it comes. Little bit unlucky. He has turned the jack

:23:40. > :23:45.towards the red bowl. It is only the one. Paul Foster has got loads of

:23:46. > :23:52.time-outs, so he might as well use them. Don't think he will do

:23:53. > :24:00.anything different but try and draw this. He can afford to lose two

:24:01. > :24:06.shots. You don't want to leave yourself a bird to be taken out. He

:24:07. > :24:12.has played beforehand so well. -- a third.

:24:13. > :24:28.If he rests bowl either side, it doesn't matter. Or he's trying to do

:24:29. > :24:43.is close the head down. Beforehand was in his mind. He knew that out of

:24:44. > :24:55.the hand. You need three. Do you go the take-out with this bowl? Just

:24:56. > :24:56.draw it. Just draw it. Draw onto the red bowls. That is all he wants to

:24:57. > :25:11.do. Do well to get back from there. He

:25:12. > :25:18.is too heavy. He was trying to reach them, but at the same time he just

:25:19. > :25:26.wanted to rest them of with a draw. Set the double, get the chance with

:25:27. > :25:28.his last bowl. Nothing on the restart, that is what is looking at.

:25:29. > :25:46.No joy in the re-spot position. Paul Foster is looking to get to

:25:47. > :25:55.this on the Paul Hand. He has the weight for the bowl. Coming in for a

:25:56. > :26:01.close second. That is the shot I thought he would have played last

:26:02. > :26:06.time round. He was probably looking for the green one with that. He knew

:26:07. > :26:15.any touch on the green bowl or any touch on the jack, was more than

:26:16. > :26:21.good enough. John has two time-outs remaining. Paddles and rivers come

:26:22. > :26:28.to mind. I don't think he has got a shot on, to create three shots out

:26:29. > :26:33.of this. That last bowl of Paul Foster's has more or less killed it

:26:34. > :26:39.off. There was something before that, but I think my jelly baby is

:26:40. > :27:03.safe. That is that imaginary jelly baby, of course.

:27:04. > :27:13.Second set and match, Paul Foster. Paul Foster survives against the

:27:14. > :27:17.19-year-old Scott. He gave it is all, John Fleming. He led in the

:27:18. > :27:22.first set, led in the second set, but couldn't find a way to close

:27:23. > :27:23.them out. Paul Foster gets himself into the second round of the

:27:24. > :29:37.Scottish International open. round, but you had to work for that

:29:38. > :29:42.this afternoon? I knew before the game started. I didn't play of the

:29:43. > :29:45.well, I gave John chances and John probably played better than I did. I

:29:46. > :29:51.played some bowls when I needed to. I spoke to Greg before the match and

:29:52. > :29:56.he said I was getting pushy. He wasn't wrong. You come up half an

:29:57. > :30:02.hour before the game, everything was good and the match starts, the pace

:30:03. > :30:05.changes. It gets frustrating. You think you are good and you pull up

:30:06. > :30:16.two feet short all the time. You do not seem overawed playing

:30:17. > :30:19.against a former world champion? I know that Paul has been here ten

:30:20. > :30:24.times before and it is my first time, tried to settle in as quickly

:30:25. > :30:28.as I could. At the end of the first set I struggled a bit with my

:30:29. > :30:34.weight, just as Paul started pushing. But you were putting

:30:35. > :30:41.pressure on this guy. I have to say, you did not seem to be happy,

:30:42. > :30:48.looking frustrated, that was giving John the chance to put the pressure

:30:49. > :30:52.on. The frustration comes from just dropping short, then you push it and

:30:53. > :30:56.it runs through. Not a good day at the office but a win is a win and I

:30:57. > :31:02.gave John plenty of opportunities and he gave me opportunities. Some

:31:03. > :31:06.good ends and some scrappy. But I'm over the line so that is the main

:31:07. > :31:12.thing. Absolutely and we will look at some of the highlights on your

:31:13. > :31:17.point of view. I think the first set, big bowl from you in the eighth

:31:18. > :31:24.end, to hold on and put the pressure on? I was in control at 6-2 and then

:31:25. > :31:30.John came back. I was just hanging in. This was a massive bowl to get

:31:31. > :31:38.in behind as well. Big bowls wins matches. I had to pull out the few

:31:39. > :31:41.today. It is hard for you to stand and watch, equally hard to be

:31:42. > :31:44.standing and watching it from the end because you know his line and

:31:45. > :31:50.length under that pressure is very good. You have some great shots as

:31:51. > :31:55.well, the second end, your third bowl to put the pressure on. The

:31:56. > :32:00.first two I drop short so I knew I had to give myself a chance. I just

:32:01. > :32:09.touched the jack and stayed on shot. Great shot. I thought I had given

:32:10. > :32:16.the shop down the road the umpire told me I was lying. What did you

:32:17. > :32:20.think which my I hope not but if John fails there I am drawing for

:32:21. > :32:26.four but that is why he is here. He has qualified on merit. To play like

:32:27. > :32:31.that then obviously good luck. Big shots win matches and I think the

:32:32. > :32:37.eighth end of the second set was a big bowl. And again another one to

:32:38. > :32:47.further pressure on? I was disappointed in my third bowl. My

:32:48. > :32:53.last one I had to hope. And John missed on his runner, fortunately

:32:54. > :32:58.for me. It was very fine indeed. We now know you will play Mark Royal in

:32:59. > :33:04.the next round, you know him very well. He is playing great Falls as

:33:05. > :33:08.well. He is a class player and he has proved that over many years.

:33:09. > :33:13.There are times you think he will hit the head and he just draws

:33:14. > :33:19.himself out of trouble. I know I have two step up now. I am not

:33:20. > :33:24.making excuses. If you ask the top players, the first game on this

:33:25. > :33:31.portable rink is important. Then you can relax into the tournament. I

:33:32. > :33:37.know what kind of quality there I know there is room for improvement.

:33:38. > :33:41.Is orations, John, performance here in Perth but Paul Foster, four-time

:33:42. > :33:51.world champion, through to the second round. Next up on the rink at

:33:52. > :33:55.the Dewars Centre is defending champion Nicky Brett. Since Nikki on

:33:56. > :34:01.here cover of years back his success has been stratospheric. He became

:34:02. > :34:05.the first man to retain the Scottish title and then months later took the

:34:06. > :34:06.International Open title with an unbelievable display of quality

:34:07. > :34:22.bowls. I would rather the defending

:34:23. > :34:26.champion than the winning it. Someone is always going to beat

:34:27. > :34:30.defending champion at some point but I'm looking to carry on the run as

:34:31. > :34:36.long as possible. The emotion of losing his massively disappointing.

:34:37. > :34:38.Paul thoroughly deserved it, he dominated the final, it was like

:34:39. > :34:46.getting hit by a bus. Played really well. Following year I went away

:34:47. > :34:49.came back and I knew what had happened the year before the line

:34:50. > :34:56.unit with the mass of the difficult. I managed to hang in until the end

:34:57. > :35:05.and fourth in good result for the last one. He has got it is!

:35:06. > :35:11.Unbelievable. And I won my first tournament. Which is unbelievable

:35:12. > :35:16.for me. I have been in the rankings not many years and all the sudden

:35:17. > :35:30.you have got the monkey off your back. And to retain it, and again

:35:31. > :35:35.played Paul in the final, some good falls here and there. Again, one of

:35:36. > :35:42.those finals, probably a little bit more closely fought. And again just

:35:43. > :35:46.managed to find a couple of good ones, and when it is meant to be it

:35:47. > :35:49.is meant to be. Nobody has ever retained it and someone was going

:35:50. > :36:00.to, but I was the lucky one. Records will tell you it is

:36:01. > :36:08.difficult for the same person to win an event two years. Even one event a

:36:09. > :36:15.year, it is difficult for the same person to win, let alone win the

:36:16. > :36:18.same event three times. Someone is eventually going to put me out, I

:36:19. > :36:24.just hope it is later on in the tournament rather than early. Nicky

:36:25. > :36:27.Brett winning here last year and the year before. Head over heels as

:36:28. > :36:32.well, and went on to win the International Open last year. He is

:36:33. > :36:37.currently one-on-one. This afternoon he is going to face Robert Elmore.

:36:38. > :36:42.It is never easy playing your friends, especially that friend is

:36:43. > :36:54.in the form of his life. That is the task facing Robert Elmore. Elmore

:36:55. > :37:04.knows if he is to win today then accuracy and execution will be key.

:37:05. > :37:08.When the draw came out and I got Nick I thought, at least I know how

:37:09. > :37:12.he plays. I know he is brilliant and defending champion, world number

:37:13. > :37:16.one, so it cannot get a lot harder than that. But I'm just going to go

:37:17. > :37:20.out there today and do my best and hopefully maybe make it over the

:37:21. > :37:27.line. From a young age I was wanted to play on this famous blue carpet.

:37:28. > :37:30.And qualify and try to qualified sure you on that think it is the

:37:31. > :37:34.thing to happen before this live this year it has happened. That is

:37:35. > :37:39.just the next age but let's just go through the first round to begin

:37:40. > :37:44.with! Ladies and gentlemen, please give a very warm welcome to our next

:37:45. > :37:48.two bowlers here at the Dewars Centre this afternoon. Former

:37:49. > :37:50.English national and British Isles triples champion, Robert Elmore.

:37:51. > :38:12.APPLAUSE And facing Robert this afternoon,

:38:13. > :38:13.current Scottish International Open champion and world number one, Nicky

:38:14. > :38:40.Brett! APPLAUSE Two great friends on the rink at two

:38:41. > :38:45.great friends in the commentary box, David Corkill and full Mitchell.

:38:46. > :38:53.Nicky Brett was telling me it took to ten years before you play great

:38:54. > :38:57.Carlow on portable rink, first timer for Robert Elmore, it is Nicky

:38:58. > :39:03.Brett. They know each other so well. -- to play Greg Carlow. Whenever you

:39:04. > :39:08.get a new plane into the portable rink you just don't know. It will go

:39:09. > :39:12.one way or the other. -- new player. If he does not settle then Nicky

:39:13. > :39:18.Campbell blow him away but if he settles then Nicky will know he's a

:39:19. > :39:24.very good player. -- Nicky can blow him away. This has the makings of a

:39:25. > :39:32.very good game. He has dropped his opening bowls short. Nicky Brett, he

:39:33. > :39:41.has forgotten what it is like to lose in Perth.

:39:42. > :40:09.APPLAUSE Start as you mean to go on.

:40:10. > :41:34.Looked a bit higher in line. Two shots against. Certainly has the

:41:35. > :41:56.angle to take both out. He needs some help of his own Moore.

:41:57. > :42:14.He had room but just drew himself through. Two shots, Nicky Brett.

:42:15. > :42:17.The two to open up but it could have been so much worse for Robert

:42:18. > :43:23.Elmore. Totally different delivery is these

:43:24. > :43:29.times, very static, Robert. With him it is all our movement but with Nick

:43:30. > :43:46.it is the delivery and then the body comes flowing through. Big chance

:43:47. > :43:51.here for Elmore to get this one in. And start to feel a little bit

:43:52. > :43:55.better. Nice delivery, Robert Elmore. Certainly looks like it is

:43:56. > :44:34.ideal for the indoor surface. Just leaving too much room for Nicky

:44:35. > :44:43.Brett the drawing two. Decent second fall from others. -- decent second

:44:44. > :45:10.bowl from Robert. Another chance now for Nicky.

:45:11. > :45:24.Rangefinders the first couple. Last two pretty good. Does not want to

:45:25. > :45:34.fall on the jack. He left it there. There was a little runner and this.

:45:35. > :45:47.Certainly down on a narrow line. In the area. Good effort. Very good

:45:48. > :45:54.effort. Little bit unlucky. Just fell the wrong way for him.

:45:55. > :46:11.Two shots Nick Brett. Good friends off the rink will stop they both

:46:12. > :46:35.realised that was a two. No need for any additional measurement. Nicky

:46:36. > :46:42.Brett was seeded 16th when he played here in 2012. 2013 he was seeded

:46:43. > :46:51.eighth and he won it. And he has won again this year. Has been in Riga

:46:52. > :48:01.form. -- really good. Caught that was a good effort,

:48:02. > :48:06.sliding in number two, Little touch of the red would probably have been

:48:07. > :48:13.beneficial. Nikki fancies this one. Walking after the bowl. He needs to

:48:14. > :48:19.-- it needs to get to the other end pretty quickly. He followed it all

:48:20. > :48:36.the way. Robert Elmore... He is getting

:48:37. > :48:42.sucked into the Harjot. You could see it off the Massa, off he went,

:48:43. > :48:49.tried to play the little runner. -- mat stop it is a difficult shot and

:48:50. > :48:54.even to play at a higher level one normal club green but not portable

:48:55. > :49:01.rink you will just get sorted with that particular choice of shock. You

:49:02. > :49:12.can see what he was after. -- twist of shot. Would probably do that at

:49:13. > :49:17.his club a times out of ten. Just a cover bowl in now so he is lying two

:49:18. > :49:24.and has the cover. You cannot ask for much better than that. Can still

:49:25. > :49:34.play the same shot but the has to be a bit more courageous with it.

:49:35. > :49:46.Just trying to drawing from this one. Better decision, actually. It

:49:47. > :49:47.has a chance. Very well played. Much better shot than trying the little

:49:48. > :50:04.runner. APPLAUSE You always want to get on the card

:50:05. > :50:33.as early as possible. You always want to get the first

:50:34. > :50:38.shot in your pocket. In one of the matches at the weekend Alex Marshall

:50:39. > :50:49.took care of the Israeli qualifier Shalom Ben Ami 16-0, 13-0. That was

:50:50. > :50:53.harsh, Shalom played very well in the international weapon and he was

:50:54. > :50:56.very pleased with the way he played and he was not -- in the

:50:57. > :51:02.International Open. And he was not far away from winning but that was

:51:03. > :51:09.on a normal green at Newton Hall. But on the portable rink, let's just

:51:10. > :51:20.say it is somewhat more difficult. Better, but difficult.

:51:21. > :51:28.He played well in the warm up ends as well, Shalom Ben Ami. Just could

:51:29. > :51:37.not replicate anywhere near that form in the game. Shortfall. Once

:51:38. > :51:50.again Robert will be facing the double against. -- short bowl.

:51:51. > :53:14.Beforehand almost paying off. beforehand almost playing.

:53:15. > :54:59.These two good friends have played together, regularly. There is not a

:55:00. > :55:04.lots of discussion going on. I was about to remark on that. Nicky

:55:05. > :55:07.Brett, professional, it is a provisional sport, you do not want

:55:08. > :55:17.to put your opponent at ease no matter who they are. It is up to

:55:18. > :55:22.Robert to find his own way. That is the best opening bowl he has hand.

:55:23. > :55:26.There are some players who like to have a chat drawing a match but the

:55:27. > :55:47.vast majority prefer to get on with the job.

:55:48. > :56:01.Miguel Moeen will not get another four chance like that in the first

:56:02. > :56:15.set, but will be enough only bad end Robert has suffered. -- Nick will

:56:16. > :56:30.know. Might be tempting here. He is so quick, he really is. Looking for

:56:31. > :56:45.a term of the jack. Well, dropped in for another, good second. One green.

:56:46. > :56:51.Must be a bit of a distance in it if that was confirmed so quickly. Off

:56:52. > :57:02.the backhand. Trying to rest the red bowl away.

:57:03. > :57:10.Well done, really good bowl. Once again Nicky wasting their time,

:57:11. > :57:19.looking for the inside runner. Just narrowed it down a lot. No, you know

:57:20. > :57:23.that is such a hard shot, over the Wade insight. Robert tried that

:57:24. > :57:53.earlier in the match and got punished heavily.

:57:54. > :58:07.Played it beautifully last time. Bit more tentative, cannot blame him. If

:58:08. > :58:08.you would put your money on that you would have said it would have fallen

:58:09. > :58:19.slightly short. Good end from Robert Elmore, keeps

:58:20. > :59:13.him in the set. You do not mean to be that short,

:59:14. > :59:16.that is for sure. Frustrating when you are because you know your

:59:17. > :59:17.opponent is just going to come right past year. Just too far away, that

:59:18. > :00:00.is all. APPLAUSE

:00:01. > :00:07.He has moved on to the forehand. I have a feeling he admitted going

:00:08. > :00:12.that ring he let it going thinking it was falling short, he has moved

:00:13. > :00:29.to the other side is if he can do better and he has. He is following

:00:30. > :01:04.him onto the forehand. Once again, in a bit of bother. He

:01:05. > :01:42.is facing a double again. Four the last time. It should be

:01:43. > :02:05.three this time. It is comfortable for Nicky Brett,

:02:06. > :02:12.Nick Brett. He doesn't mind either. There is something about Perth he

:02:13. > :02:26.laughs. It is his eighth Scottish international. He has won two and

:02:27. > :02:27.being in three finals. He has established himself as one of the

:02:28. > :02:38.elite players. Lovely camerawork as you see the

:02:39. > :03:24.bowl coming in. And immediate change from Nick

:03:25. > :03:42.Brett. I'm surprised at that. He has made the shot anyway.

:03:43. > :03:52.Yes, Nick Brett changed his style a view years ago when he qualified to

:03:53. > :03:58.come through here again. He decided he would just play the drawer shot.

:03:59. > :04:15.The odd conversion shot, but not too early. He was punished for being too

:04:16. > :04:23.early, so he adopted his style and my goodness, it has paid off. -- he

:04:24. > :04:32.adapted his style. He needs to hurry a little bit just to get to the

:04:33. > :04:37.jack. He just has not settled in. At the moment, it is just too easy for

:04:38. > :04:47.Nick Brett. He has not been put under any pressure to play the big

:04:48. > :04:55.bowls. Here he comes again. Just bending it a little shorter, but it

:04:56. > :05:02.is there. It still looks like three. Tricky to draw the shop. Might be

:05:03. > :05:20.tempted to get a little runner to get the jack. It won't do him any

:05:21. > :05:27.harm. Sticking to the draw. Conservative.

:05:28. > :05:37.I think sometimes you have two let one go down the rink and get the arm

:05:38. > :05:45.out. That did not make any difference. Well, that is enough.

:05:46. > :05:54.They don't need to plague the next two ends of the set. It was

:05:55. > :06:07.extremely comfortable and Elmore has two let that one go. Comprehensive

:06:08. > :06:14.is the only description. -- is the only description of that set. I

:06:15. > :06:20.don't mean it to sound disrespectful, but it is almost a

:06:21. > :06:25.training exercise at the moment for Nicky Brett. He is not under

:06:26. > :06:29.pressure. He is not being led to draw, he is not being asked any

:06:30. > :06:39.questions and no one will know that more than Robert Elmore. Elmore a

:06:40. > :06:46.great champion of the short mat game at the Dodington club. Dodington

:06:47. > :06:57.work short mat champions back in 2010. That is a good opening. Yes,

:06:58. > :07:03.it is another code of the game that has been introduced into the UK a

:07:04. > :07:08.view years ago. The in Northern Ireland. Massive there. Tens of

:07:09. > :07:13.thousands have played it. Well, they did in the past, but it has narrowed

:07:14. > :07:22.down, like other sports, but they have got a good tour. Playing their

:07:23. > :07:29.own championships with great success. They play lots of that at

:07:30. > :07:35.my club where they roll the maps down over the green. Well supported.

:07:36. > :08:03.It is a good code. Trying again, just needs to get over it. Needs a

:08:04. > :08:30.bowl or Ed jack, or in this case, both. -- a jack.

:08:31. > :08:37.Struggling, no doubt about that. It is just not happening for him,

:08:38. > :08:43.Robert Elmore. I was saying earlier, you either in bracelet and play

:08:44. > :08:48.well, put your opponent under pressure, or it just does not work

:08:49. > :08:55.for you the first time. -- you either embrace it. At the moment,

:08:56. > :09:04.Nicky Brett is getting far too much of a free rain. There is another

:09:05. > :09:13.three. It is a beautiful bowl. Problems here for Robert Elmore. He

:09:14. > :09:20.has always wanted to play on the portable rink and sometimes, be

:09:21. > :09:25.careful what you wish for because this is an experience at the moment.

:09:26. > :09:33.If he gets it right, he might get the bounce of the jack back up at

:09:34. > :09:45.the rink. But to be truthful with you, it is not going to be easy to

:09:46. > :10:11.hit. He is going to have two get a run at it. -- to get a run at it.

:10:12. > :10:23.He was pretty relentless in the first round last year, the defending

:10:24. > :10:40.champion. He has opened up with a 14-3 first set. Ashton has been

:10:41. > :10:44.around for a while, but saying that, coming from New Zealand, it is

:10:45. > :10:50.pretty tough. English qualifiers are usually difficult enough to get

:10:51. > :11:03.over. It is just not happening at the moment. Sometimes you play your

:11:04. > :11:27.opponent, sometimes you play yourself. Elmore is desperate to get

:11:28. > :11:41.their orbit about with his opening bowl that was a missed chance.

:11:42. > :11:51.Come on then, Robert. You've got to get in there. It certainly looks

:11:52. > :12:09.better and the weight is better. That is the key to it.

:12:10. > :12:19.Nicky Brett just place so quickly it's as if he has something in the

:12:20. > :12:31.oven at home. It makes the game quick, but it is the end result that

:12:32. > :12:47.counts. Nicky's bowl is five inches past jack I. He uses the need to

:12:48. > :12:52.bend down, get his trailing leg behind the front leg. It is very

:12:53. > :13:01.much a fast green kind of delivery. A touch on the red there. He is

:13:02. > :13:10.going to lose the shot. That was too heavy. If you are going to touch it,

:13:11. > :14:02.you have two hit it square on. Nicky Brett does not need any help today.

:14:03. > :14:24.He had to be a little bit careful here. He is being very careful. Kept

:14:25. > :14:32.well away. The second end. Dickie vay bond is on the balcony. He is

:14:33. > :14:39.joined by Andy Thompson. Thank you. Andy, Nicky is so confident. After

:14:40. > :14:50.winning here two years ago, he is in great form. He is playing well. He

:14:51. > :14:53.is a hard man to beat. Very important to get one, just to pour

:14:54. > :15:00.the rains from Nicky's point of view. It is stating the obvious, but

:15:01. > :15:08.he had to make sure he scored in the first two ends. What can you

:15:09. > :15:18.possibly do to beat him? Is it just to unsettle him? I think so. Some

:15:19. > :15:21.players will start playing aggressively against him, but I'd

:15:22. > :15:28.then think Robert is an aggressive player. He needs to outdraw Nicky to

:15:29. > :15:32.get back into the game. Can you see Nicky losing? I can't. I think it's

:15:33. > :15:51.going to be 2-0. He is defending champion and he

:15:52. > :15:53.knows this green inside out and suddenly Andy France's the is going

:15:54. > :16:40.to win. Goodness! Trying to anticipate where it might

:16:41. > :16:44.go if it is hit. As Andy Thompson mentioned, Robert Elmore is not an

:16:45. > :16:53.aggressive type of player. No, he is not. He is doing well this time by

:16:54. > :17:07.playing the right weight. That was unlucky. A heavy, dry shot does not

:17:08. > :17:08.appear to be in the armoury. He is restricted in terms of the tactics

:17:09. > :18:01.he can use against Nick Brett. Important bowl. If he misses this,

:18:02. > :18:09.Nick will take the run away. Not bothered with his last bowl.

:18:10. > :20:20.There is no weakness in Nicky's game, there is no doubt about that.

:20:21. > :20:26.He has the running bowl when he needs it. A super draw shot player.

:20:27. > :20:34.He doesn't really like playing against slow players. In many ways

:20:35. > :20:36.it is fevered players like himself and Paul Foster who really get on

:20:37. > :20:55.with the game. From picking up his bowl to getting

:20:56. > :21:10.rid of it, six seconds from Nicky Brett. Some players are up to 20

:21:11. > :21:24.seconds on the bowl. Very close. Favoured the back red for one.

:21:25. > :21:51.Dropping short boat and Nick will be at this again. Trotting back.

:21:52. > :22:00.Absolutely no problem. So much time, he could play for bowls. Well, this

:22:01. > :22:08.is all about weight now. The line looks very good. It's about whether

:22:09. > :22:14.he has got the weight right to pick the jack up. Great effort. He has

:22:15. > :22:19.dropped the bowl back in. It had to go away from the jack and then fall

:22:20. > :22:21.back in again. I'm not sure if he has done damage or not. It is hard

:22:22. > :22:46.to tell. Still in with a chance. Drop on the

:22:47. > :22:53.back bowl. He is certainly giving it a goal with this one. A big chance

:22:54. > :23:01.with this. Oh, just the wrong side. Probably one of his best ends. Three

:23:02. > :23:05.good bowls within a foot. He has settled down into the game. I do

:23:06. > :23:21.think it is enough to get the shot. He will take one out.

:23:22. > :23:29.Almost did damage. Moved it away and then it dropped back in the game. He

:23:30. > :24:07.thought he'd given the shot away. When you played together, you learn

:24:08. > :24:14.what your opponent's game is all about. They have been team-mates,

:24:15. > :24:21.but today they are facing each other. Nice, easy delivery from

:24:22. > :24:29.Robert. If anything goes wrong, it will be easy to fix. Some players do

:24:30. > :24:34.go through a phase where they struggle getting the delivery

:24:35. > :24:37.absolutely right. It happened with Andy Thomson and a lot of years ago.

:24:38. > :24:45.He had problems with his delivery. Got it sorted, came back strong. He

:24:46. > :24:51.was going down the ranking list. Got it fixed and came back very strong

:24:52. > :25:03.indeed. He won a world title after that. Even for the club players, if

:25:04. > :25:08.you have got a qualified coach, it is always worth getting half an hour

:25:09. > :25:22.of their time to get them to look at your delivery. Coaches are usually

:25:23. > :25:30.generous with their time. The thing is it can come back to bite you. It

:25:31. > :25:38.happened to me. I was beaten exceptionally. Close to this. Just

:25:39. > :25:51.needs to get back. That is good enough. Struggle to make centre rink

:25:52. > :26:02.that bowl. If Nicky Brett gets through his next practice, he will

:26:03. > :26:13.be looking at that hand. No, no, no. No drop in there. No real expression

:26:14. > :26:16.from him. He will be... I think he will be more frustrated than

:26:17. > :26:20.anything else. That's what Paul Foster was saying, it is more

:26:21. > :26:40.frustrating than anything else. Nicky certainly making sure he was

:26:41. > :26:47.up at that one. It looks like two red. Away a lot of players will play

:26:48. > :26:54.this will be to arrive at those two, take them out, take a shot at the

:26:55. > :27:03.front green, but it is not Robert's game. Just trying to draw this, he

:27:04. > :27:21.will have to make a correction on his weight. The rest of the bowls

:27:22. > :27:24.will draw the jack. Well played. Honestly felt it was time to stay

:27:25. > :27:47.true to his own game and not tried to take the two bowls out. For ends

:27:48. > :27:55.to play. -- four ends to play. He trails by three shots in this second

:27:56. > :28:01.set. That was a good end, too. There is still be possibility of a

:28:02. > :28:06.tie-break. This man certainly needs to start getting his first two bowls

:28:07. > :28:13.going better. When he has done that, he will stop putting pressure on

:28:14. > :28:22.Nick. The resistance has not been of a high enough pressure. Different

:28:23. > :28:26.ways to describe that, of course, but he is just feeling a bit

:28:27. > :28:41.frustrated at the moment. Normally, he is better than this.

:28:42. > :29:06.Nice to see Nicky but under a bit of pressure to see if the complaint the

:29:07. > :29:20.difficult shots. You'll be able to see if he is just going through the

:29:21. > :29:23.motions. Stuart Anderson of Scotland awaits the winner. Different

:29:24. > :30:08.proposition there. Some clarification over the score of

:30:09. > :30:16.the first set. Nicky Brett was actually line three. He accepted the

:30:17. > :30:23.single as it meant nothing because he was still more than eight shots

:30:24. > :30:35.ahead. In terms of admin, it was just a single.

:30:36. > :30:43.That will be a time-out call and Nick is looking very good. This is

:30:44. > :30:54.not an easy head to get out of against the wall of the jack as

:30:55. > :31:05.well. To bowls out. Going for the drop. This is difficult.

:31:06. > :31:16.He is a drawing player. Keith is a brilliant. -- he is brilliant. The

:31:17. > :31:21.restrictions in armoury on 14 interposition to play draw there and

:31:22. > :31:37.it is one of the best he has played in the entire match. Time-out call

:31:38. > :31:43.by Brett. This is one of the few challenges he has had in terms of a

:31:44. > :31:46.bit of thought. That was massive because it has forced him to play

:31:47. > :32:00.the runner, coming down, looking for the jack. Cannot get much closer.

:32:01. > :32:19.Robert has two time-outs and Nicky has four time-out remaining. He was

:32:20. > :32:28.close, wasn't he? He has found the gap. Sometimes you just find the

:32:29. > :32:49.hole. Jack Lang, 28.5 metres. -- jack length. We have seen it before.

:32:50. > :33:25.He's certainly there. He has not played well, but not been put away.

:33:26. > :33:29.I think that is the best first bowl he has played. Two excellent

:33:30. > :34:01.back-to-back deliveries. Needs a few more. Might sneak the second set. It

:34:02. > :34:12.is starting to happen now. Robert Elmore lying two. Very accessible.

:34:13. > :34:19.Now this gets interesting because the seventh end of the nine end

:34:20. > :34:23.set, Nick scores in this end and Robert will have to chase the match

:34:24. > :34:28.in the last couple of ends, there if Robert scores, he is right in with a

:34:29. > :34:31.chance of forcing a tie-break. He is right in with a chance of forcing a

:34:32. > :34:42.tie-break. He's looking good again. Number three. That will force the

:34:43. > :34:44.drive. We were talking about putting Nicky under pressure here, and that

:34:45. > :35:05.is what he has done this time. He will go for the hit, will still

:35:06. > :35:08.have one bowl to play. That is unlucky! That is desperately

:35:09. > :35:17.unlucky. The jack should have carried all the way through to the

:35:18. > :35:20.ditch and he would have been lying two. It looks good the second he

:35:21. > :35:27.left his hand, you knew that contact was coming. The jack bounced off the

:35:28. > :35:38.red bowl and the follow on on the red, dear oh dear. How unfair, he

:35:39. > :35:53.said to him self. It just went wrong. Good strike right down the

:35:54. > :36:01.middle. Don't drop it short. That is the last thing you need to do. This

:36:02. > :36:16.will be able jack, I think on the respond as if Nick has it. --

:36:17. > :36:22.respond. I think he still has a chance of holding the shot. We ask

:36:23. > :36:32.what kind of form he was in. First it was a good one second hit. Dear

:36:33. > :36:37.oh dear! That is another bad result. He has lost two out of it. That is a

:36:38. > :36:49.shocker. You simply cannot design that in any way. 2 shocks, Robert

:36:50. > :37:12.Elmore. It is certainly came on now. He is saying, not again, surely. --

:37:13. > :37:17.two shots. Two ends. We have to say that if Robert manages to 40

:37:18. > :37:23.tie-break here there would be some robbery involved but that is the

:37:24. > :37:26.nature of the games like this. You can lose the first one and just

:37:27. > :37:39.sneak over the line on the second and dissolve play for. Fair play,

:37:40. > :38:41.she was 5-1 down. -- he was. Good first bowl is essential.

:38:42. > :38:56.It comes, falls down. One read. Certainly Nick would like to score

:38:57. > :39:04.double in this end if he can come of forcing Robert into needing a three.

:39:05. > :39:12.-- to score a double. The mean Robert need to win the last two

:39:13. > :39:39.ends. -- Robert would need to win. Just dropping it short, great

:39:40. > :39:46.chance. He is pretty close. That was first choice for Nicky Brett.

:39:47. > :39:49.Another difficulty for Robert, the ideal shot would be on and all the

:39:50. > :40:00.way through, take the Reds off or the jack into the ditch. 2 or three

:40:01. > :40:04.chances on the backhand to play with pace. It has not been a short he has

:40:05. > :40:16.been desperately successful with so far. -- has not been a shot.

:40:17. > :40:27.Recognised the need for it. Off target. Took one out. Nicky Brett

:40:28. > :40:30.will pop this one back in, you do suspect. Did not look comfortable

:40:31. > :40:48.when he played the runner. He stood to the side of the match, was not

:40:49. > :41:03.sure about it. -- to the side of the mat. In he comes. Two shots, Nick

:41:04. > :41:07.Brett. Can force Robin into looking for a 3 next end. He has not really

:41:08. > :41:19.been within a sniff of scoring a 3 in this match. A couple of doubles,

:41:20. > :41:29.one of those doubles was as a result of a drive that got horrible results

:41:30. > :41:38.for Nicky Brett. Jack links, 27 metres.

:41:39. > :41:51.If he wins it he will be having an 11th consecutive win in Perth.

:41:52. > :42:35.APPLAUSE cover. -- put the first two. Not

:42:36. > :45:05.bad, beatable. One Green.

:45:06. > :45:12.single. The defending champion is safely through. Only once in a stew

:45:13. > :45:16.of this tournament has the defending champion lost in the opening round.

:45:17. > :45:43.Nicky Brett in very little danger today. The man who is looking to

:45:44. > :47:05.repeat was contrary through. -- comfortably. Full.

:47:06. > :47:11.The overall match was very much in favour of Nick breakfast at

:47:12. > :47:19.obviously got a got -- got a lot closer. Cultures were not much in

:47:20. > :47:26.it, but didn't tell the entire story. A couple of unlucky results

:47:27. > :47:30.with a couple of runners, Roberts came out occasionally on the short

:47:31. > :47:34.side. Having said that, first time on the portable rink, never easy.

:47:35. > :47:41.Nicholas tested a bit and will be lighted to get the second round.

:47:42. > :47:45.Yes, the defending champion is through two rounds to fool you must

:47:46. > :47:49.be pleased with the way you got going in that game? Luckily I got a

:47:50. > :47:53.fast start, and Rob has not been before so it was crucial for me to

:47:54. > :47:57.get away to a solid start and luckily I found some good ones

:47:58. > :48:01.early. You are coming here and playing against a guy who has won

:48:02. > :48:05.here twice, the International open as well and is playing on the form

:48:06. > :48:09.of his life. You don't want to let him get away? Absolutely not. I did

:48:10. > :48:12.not play and wasn't getting close enough early and took it well to

:48:13. > :48:18.settle down for top in the second set and settled and got back into

:48:19. > :48:26.the game. You just kept on battering away. New lead in length from the

:48:27. > :48:29.start and were very good. I know how good Robert is, I him a lot so I

:48:30. > :48:36.knew eventually I would be under the pond, which is hoping that I would

:48:37. > :48:41.just hope that I could keep him at arm 's length. He showed what a

:48:42. > :48:45.great player he is, and forced me into the runner. I knew it was

:48:46. > :48:51.coming, I just hope I could hold it off long enough. What does under the

:48:52. > :48:55.pump mean? Firstly, let's talk about the first set for your dominant.

:48:56. > :49:04.Really putting the pressure on this fella. I played pretty good. Didn't

:49:05. > :49:09.give Robert too much room. Was hoping to find a couple of good

:49:10. > :49:13.ones, and I did. I didn't want to settle down to early. I know what it

:49:14. > :49:16.is like coming for the first time. You just want to settle down and you

:49:17. > :49:21.want on to give you room and I tried not to do that. In the second set

:49:22. > :49:25.you did say you came back into the game and started putting pressure on

:49:26. > :49:29.Nick. I will let you describe a shot that Nick played and it was pleasant

:49:30. > :49:39.from your point of view? It was an very unlucky. The first bowl I

:49:40. > :49:44.thought I had it and the second one for the jack the bounds forward, I

:49:45. > :49:48.did not expect that result at all. I'm happy with the one, really.

:49:49. > :49:51.Tough for you as well because you thought you almost got the runner

:49:52. > :49:55.and taking the jack through and you would have been lying? I thought I

:49:56. > :50:00.had two seconds. The only bad contact was under the jack and from

:50:01. > :50:04.hand unfortunately I was always under the jack. Any further and it

:50:05. > :50:08.could have been three or four. Nightmare, really. We spoke 12

:50:09. > :50:12.months ago and we spoke about no one defending the title and no one has

:50:13. > :50:18.won it three years in a row and you are playing pretty well? One round

:50:19. > :50:24.at a time for the played OK today by new Robert be difficult, as will

:50:25. > :50:29.ever one else. Long Way to go. But I knew. Well played Robert. Nicky

:50:30. > :50:38.Brett, through to round two. Well done. Nicky Brett on sparkling form.

:50:39. > :50:47.Next up Darren Burnett against Philip last. He realised a lifetime

:50:48. > :50:52.ambition when he picked up that Harnwell games gold-medal on home

:50:53. > :50:57.soil. That was on the grass of Kelvingrove and on the carpet here

:50:58. > :51:02.in Perth he can show he has the game to do some serious damage. This is a

:51:03. > :51:09.debut appearance for Last here at the bowl is from -- but the bowl

:51:10. > :51:18.from Ipswich has plenty of experience and currently sits 44th

:51:19. > :51:25.in the world rankings. I qualified this year from Bromley in Kent. The

:51:26. > :51:29.first round I played a guy from England, a young lady, and next a

:51:30. > :51:35.guy in a wheelchair and a gentleman from Scotland and a Welshman in the

:51:36. > :51:41.final. Quite a varied group. Looking forward to the new tournament for

:51:42. > :51:44.the first one is important for everyone. It is those important for

:51:45. > :51:50.the players to try and start the season well. I try to qualify for 13

:51:51. > :51:54.years and have managed six times in total. The second time you

:51:55. > :51:58.insolvent, one in Blackpool and three times at Potters in the World

:51:59. > :52:04.Championships. My success has been limited so far, have never yet

:52:05. > :52:09.managed to BTC that might beat eight seat. I don't know much about fell,

:52:10. > :52:13.he has been to a few events, so to get to qualify as I know when I was

:52:14. > :52:17.in them, it is not easy. If he has been one of the smack through one or

:52:18. > :52:21.two he will not be bad. I will have to play my best and hope that is

:52:22. > :52:26.good enough on the day. I played Paul Foster before so I'm used to

:52:27. > :52:30.tough matches but Darren is a superb player. Former indoor world

:52:31. > :52:33.champion. It will be a difficult game for me. The difference between

:52:34. > :52:39.winning and losing is often very small. The standard is pretty

:52:40. > :52:43.similar so ever comes here plays the best bowl is consistency and maybe

:52:44. > :52:53.get the odd break along the way will likely go quite far. One day Matty

:52:54. > :52:56.sound. The one game at a time. David Caulker has been in the commentary

:52:57. > :53:00.box all day. Some great matches so far, but this is something to look

:53:01. > :53:07.forward to? Yes, mainly because Phil has been here so often before. He

:53:08. > :53:11.will not be disturbed so I think he should push Darren quite a bit.

:53:12. > :53:17.Darren has been fantastic. We saw the gold-medal last year and it was

:53:18. > :53:21.a fantastic thing. On the portable rink we know he is brilliant as well

:53:22. > :53:27.because he has won the world title? Yes, he got it last year. He got at

:53:28. > :53:30.an indoor and the gold-medal on Graz Salva Kiir grass come as an

:53:31. > :53:37.all-round player. He is. Not too much fresher but how can you see

:53:38. > :53:46.this going? Sulphide is on the disease? This could go to the

:53:47. > :54:09.tie-break. -- sulphide is going for the seed. -- so far. Please welcome

:54:10. > :54:12.Philip Last. MUSIC PLAYS And playing Philip this afternoon,

:54:13. > :54:15.the current world number 7 and 2014 world singles champion, Darren

:54:16. > :54:40.Burnett. You will be glad to know that gives

:54:41. > :54:43.Corkhill is back in the commentary box alongside Paul Mitchell.

:54:44. > :54:47.COMMENTATOR: Yes, quickly up the steps and back

:54:48. > :54:53.in the box for what should be a pretty good match. Darren Burnett,

:54:54. > :55:00.former winner of this title, up against Philip Last, who won on his

:55:01. > :55:06.first appearance on the portable rink and has not won on it since,

:55:07. > :55:13.much to his frustration. He will be hoping that things can change here.

:55:14. > :55:21.He has been around the game a long time coming experienced the smack a

:55:22. > :55:26.long time, experienced. Later in the tournament Darren would be a major

:55:27. > :55:43.favourite. It is just the first round is never easy. This could be

:55:44. > :55:55.quite interesting. Of course, that means it will be a completely

:55:56. > :55:59.one-sided match. I think the performance of this Scottish team at

:56:00. > :56:05.the Commonwealth Games last year has overshadowed, to a point, what

:56:06. > :56:10.Darren Burnett managed to achieve last year and to win the world

:56:11. > :56:18.singles on a portable fast indoor surface and go to a heavy outdoor

:56:19. > :56:21.surface and win both times with both titles is remarkable. It is

:56:22. > :56:32.something a bit special, I have to say. Both achievements wonderful in

:56:33. > :56:35.themselves and together. Wasn't without his struggles in the

:56:36. > :56:44.Commonwealth Games. Showed great character to come through. 16 down

:56:45. > :56:52.against Martin McEwan of Ireland and Darren kraal through over the line

:56:53. > :56:58.21-20. I think the single being such an isolated spot you don't have the

:56:59. > :57:10.opportunity to feed off anyone else and their enthusiasm or good

:57:11. > :57:20.bombers or bad ones. Singles is a very lonely place, so a fantastic

:57:21. > :57:27.achievement. -- or good bowls. So much talent available to Scotland.

:57:28. > :57:32.Going off to Cyprus in a couple of weeks to play in the Atlantic Rim

:57:33. > :57:37.Championships, now a qualifier for the World Championships. That is in

:57:38. > :57:41.New Zealand next year and they are taking the Commonwealth Games team

:57:42. > :57:45.as the men's team with the exception of David Peacock so they're putting

:57:46. > :57:51.Stewart Anderson in. Not exactly a big issue. Just a matter of folding

:57:52. > :58:06.it up to the jack. Got it. That will do. The touch is in the ditch. The

:58:07. > :58:14.jack end up in the ditch for the first time in this live TV coverage.

:58:15. > :58:27.Two Green. There is a favourite of space to drop two. Will do very well

:58:28. > :58:35.to get the shot. So often the jack nestled right beside the bowl. It is

:58:36. > :58:40.virtually impossible. He will be aiming for second shot. It is a

:58:41. > :59:04.bonus if the stands up long enough to get to number one. Falls away. It

:59:05. > :59:10.is one shot. 1 shot, Philip Last. Of all of the qualifiers were seen

:59:11. > :59:16.today, Philip Glass has played here on the portable rink most often. --

:59:17. > :59:25.Philip Last. Comfortable and confident start by him. Jack at 28.5

:59:26. > :00:01.metres. In every match the key is who will

:00:02. > :00:04.get the jack first. Those first two bowls operating, the players will be

:00:05. > :00:58.under some pressure. Going for the trendy bearded look

:00:59. > :01:11.(!), Aaron Bennett. -- Darren Burnett.

:01:12. > :01:18.I do not know about that, but I have an 18-year-old daughter, and she

:01:19. > :01:22.reckons that I would not recognise trendy from 20 yards away! LAUGHTER

:01:23. > :01:29.You just have to work on the basis that you are right about that.

:01:30. > :01:35.Beards are in this year, I grew one myself, which lasted about ten days.

:01:36. > :01:43.He is going the full route, maybe it is a Movember thing but he is going

:01:44. > :02:12.the whole way. All of the way. Wanting to dip into the green one.

:02:13. > :02:29.Needs to run with this one, he needs to hurry. Perfect line. Slight

:02:30. > :02:40.correction from the marker. To read, the 1 red.

:02:41. > :02:50.Certainly would expect Darren to drop this one in. Always has his

:02:51. > :02:59.facial aggressions after he plays a bowl -- facial expressions. Just on

:03:00. > :03:10.the edge... Needs to drop, I think it is not going to... You can see

:03:11. > :03:18.it, lying there... 1-shot, Darren Burnett.

:03:19. > :03:33.He had a wee chance there, Darren Burnett, he could not take it.

:03:34. > :03:42.Tipped a tie-break as a possible solution in this one, they only had

:03:43. > :03:43.one, in the 15 round one matches. Eight of them were decided on a

:03:44. > :03:58.tie-break will it is the first round, and later in

:03:59. > :04:03.the event, you think to yourself, well, the top players are so hard to

:04:04. > :04:13.beat, and you get past the first, second round. Last time it was very

:04:14. > :04:27.loose. Fill is going to have two tighten up a bit on that one. --

:04:28. > :04:44.Phil. Have a look down, see what the

:04:45. > :05:33.problem is. Well... Four feet short, and another

:05:34. > :05:41.one another four feet short. He has come through qualifiers, many times,

:05:42. > :05:48.he has the line OK. He really needs to tighten up again. Cannot rely

:05:49. > :05:54.upon running balls. You have to get the draw going. To be fair, Darren

:05:55. > :06:03.is giving him a lot of room. Not putting him away just yet. That one

:06:04. > :06:11.scene to bomb a little bit. Previous to that, getting away very smooth.

:06:12. > :06:17.On this surface, that will take all of it out of the ball. Bumped it on

:06:18. > :06:42.delivery, that does not give it a chance.

:06:43. > :07:20.Got that one away absolutely smooth. No bump, no noise. Certainly a

:07:21. > :07:24.better ball, but he has over corrected because of it. Two

:07:25. > :07:38.shoves, Darren Burnett. -- two two shots. Darren Burnett happily

:07:39. > :08:43.accepting the three. indoors, but does not mean that he

:08:44. > :10:20.cannot come Same balls as last, so to speak, no

:10:21. > :10:26.pun intended on that one (!) okra, the Philip can just play a similar

:10:27. > :10:42.ball, and draw the shot. It is in the shoulder that he needs.

:10:43. > :11:19.Gain, just on the wrong side. Just on the wrong side of the shoulder.

:11:20. > :11:26.Big slab of the thigh by Darren, knew that it was not reaching, there

:11:27. > :11:34.is a chance here, he can afford to reach this. -- big slap of the

:11:35. > :11:46.thigh. Reach those two Red Bull is that you were talking about. --

:11:47. > :11:56.those two red balls that you were talking about.

:11:57. > :12:07.Struggling, once you put the weight on, you really have to keep the line

:12:08. > :12:18.in. Missed chance for a double. Close enough. Dan MacManus, the

:12:19. > :12:36.marker, calling for the umpire. Pretty close, as the PC goes

:12:37. > :12:46.wandering past the camera. Absolutely, they are like buses. The

:12:47. > :12:58.exception being, of course, the perk Constabulary, who are fantastic! --

:12:59. > :13:04.Perth Constabulary. 1-shot, Darren Burnett. Relieved Marco. That is

:13:05. > :13:25.what he reckoned, he called it on that.

:13:26. > :13:40.Darren Burnett... Off to a good start. Passed round to only twice in

:13:41. > :13:46.Perth, it has not been his favourite tournament. Not only that, he has

:13:47. > :14:18.been giving Phillip Last a shed load of room. If he does sort this out,

:14:19. > :14:23.Darren Burnett could be in trouble. Missed chance, your opponent is way

:14:24. > :14:27.short. You need to be within a foot of the first ball when you get a

:14:28. > :14:33.chance like that. It is a situation where Darren is not on top form...

:14:34. > :15:17.He's going to make a correction. Very close. Being put onto the

:15:18. > :15:23.board, that ball ends up in the ditch, it stays live. An inch in

:15:24. > :15:25.front of Jack high for the green ball, and three inches in front for

:15:26. > :15:47.your own ball, Darren. Important that markers are so

:15:48. > :16:00.precise about those questions. It is there, he is there. Needed faith to

:16:01. > :16:03.play the shot they wanted to play. Beautifully played, just the line,

:16:04. > :16:17.knew that there was a gap there. Nicely done. Similarly weighted shot

:16:18. > :16:23.from Phillip Last, may not get the result that he wants. Well, I'm

:16:24. > :16:30.surprised at that, there was no reason to be short. The Jack was

:16:31. > :16:35.worth two, maybe three. The Red Bull was worth at least one, maybe two,

:16:36. > :16:45.if he had stayed in the head. Absolutely no reason to drop short

:16:46. > :16:52.there. Left those groups on the ball, that is the style to play

:16:53. > :17:04.with. They were on bowls years ago, those crescent grips. They have been

:17:05. > :17:10.brought back again. -- red ball. Expected Darren to come behind. I

:17:11. > :17:17.think that Darren expected to come behind. We are seeing quite a lot of

:17:18. > :17:20.the players dropping short, is that an indication that explains that it

:17:21. > :17:23.is lower than they are expecting. Adds it is a little heavier, the

:17:24. > :17:27.back green ball would have been a good position. I understand what

:17:28. > :17:30.people are saying about dropping short, but I don't think he intended

:17:31. > :17:37.to be near the Jack on that occasion. I can understand, however,

:17:38. > :17:42.if something cools down a little bit, maybe the crowd coming in,

:17:43. > :17:50.people moving around, doors being open, it can affect a portable rink.

:17:51. > :18:03.This is better. Great effort. Unlucky. Very unlucky.

:18:04. > :18:11.Phillip Last playing pretty well. Not counting on the scoreboard.

:18:12. > :18:24.Fourth consecutive end for Darren Burnett. Guests taking command the

:18:25. > :18:29.opening set. Final round one match of the Scottish international. --

:18:30. > :18:42.just taking command of the opening set. Jack, safe enough, 21.5 metres,

:18:43. > :18:49.one metre short of a full length. Playing three metres on the team

:18:50. > :19:24.from the ditch. Slightly different to normal play.

:19:25. > :19:47.Just signs that Phillip Last is beginning to get closer with the

:19:48. > :20:22.first delivery. Darren Burnett finding form as well.

:20:23. > :20:27.Not too far away, still two down, Darren moving on to the forehand

:20:28. > :20:32.looking for the back shoulder, that is what he is after. Not really too

:20:33. > :20:38.concerned about the Jack at the moment. Find a lot of club players,

:20:39. > :20:41.and even players above that level will get very Jack focused,

:20:42. > :20:43.sometimes you have got to ignore it and go for position. Dropped it

:20:44. > :21:01.short. Dropped it short. Did not really

:21:02. > :21:06.muddy the waters in any way. Supplies he is playing this

:21:07. > :21:14.forehand. -- surprised. Crunching the Jack in against the Red Bull. He

:21:15. > :21:20.has got position. The backhand, you are squeezing the Jack towards the

:21:21. > :21:28.Red Bull, or resting it out. -- against the Red Bull.

:21:29. > :21:45.Darren will be looking for it. If he fails with this, Philip needs to be

:21:46. > :21:49.on the other side. That is not good, should be on the backhand with this.

:21:50. > :22:14.A squeeze on the Jack, that is all you need. Ball out clean.

:22:15. > :22:21.Sometimes you have to make the adjustment and have a couple of goes

:22:22. > :22:23.at this shot, the first one is a rangefinder, by leaving it to the

:22:24. > :22:40.last ball, made it too difficult for himself. One out. The set is getting

:22:41. > :22:53.away from Phillip Last at the moment. When he last played in

:22:54. > :22:55.Scotland, Mark McMahon was his opponent, took the first set, 8-6,

:22:56. > :23:00.the second, lost, 6-10. On a tie-break. Mark McMahon, Scottish

:23:01. > :23:05.Hong Kong Australia player. Apart from that, pretty central. White

:23:06. > :23:12.yes, the world is his centre, he told me. Worked on the airlines.

:23:13. > :23:14.Mark McMann. Very good player. -- yes, the world is his centre, told

:23:15. > :23:18.me. Back in 2007. Back in Perth, eight

:23:19. > :23:39.years later. Youngest player to ever represent

:23:40. > :23:57.Hong Kong in bowls, way before it was passed back to China.

:23:58. > :24:05.Needs a lot more of those. Too few of them in this match. Bit of a wry

:24:06. > :24:18.smile. He knows that he is better than what he has shown today. Hong

:24:19. > :24:28.Kong were represented at this tournament, Alex Wen. Beaten by

:24:29. > :24:50.Stuart Anderson, 11-2, 8-3. Darren Burnett is finding his groove, now.

:24:51. > :25:04.As long as he is reaching, he has a chance. Second ball has often been

:25:05. > :25:10.short. Two inches in front of Jack Hyde, the gap is five inches. The

:25:11. > :25:15.sort of thing that you look at when you watch matches back again. Too

:25:16. > :25:19.high a percentage of balls dropping short. Try to figure out what was

:25:20. > :25:23.the second ball, the third in particular. Really a first ball is a

:25:24. > :25:54.rangefinder. To give it a chance. Darren Burnett requires two shots at

:25:55. > :26:09.this end. If we are not to play any more of this open set. Far better to

:26:10. > :26:18.be at the back. Lack of consistency at the moment. You can see the line

:26:19. > :26:28.has been pretty good, wait, he has struggled to replicate.

:26:29. > :26:41.You can never tell with Darren Burnett whether he is happy or not.

:26:42. > :26:50.A lot of good reasons for that, look at his profession! He gives nothing

:26:51. > :26:57.away, in the bowling sense. When you stop someone for speeding you cannot

:26:58. > :27:03.exactly say, why were you doing 95 in a 30, you have got to have a

:27:04. > :27:04.stony look about yourself. Community police officer in Arbroath. Not the

:27:05. > :27:23.traffic branch. Phillip Last. Needs to punch into this. As to give

:27:24. > :27:41.it a chance. Be there. Needed to wait. One more end to finish it off.

:27:42. > :27:46.Hoping for a contest, this is more of a procession. Dropping the

:27:47. > :27:53.opening, Darren Burnett, but rattling off the next six. It is not

:27:54. > :27:57.as though there has not been plenty of chances, there has been load,

:27:58. > :29:06.unfortunately, Philip is not playing the way that he would normally play.

:29:07. > :29:13.What we are seeing from Darren Burnett, the first ball, if it is

:29:14. > :29:17.not right on the second ball... Easily an improvement, it is there.

:29:18. > :29:21.What we have seen too often from Phillip Last, after a good opening

:29:22. > :29:41.ball, he has struggled to get a second in.

:29:42. > :29:54.Does not improve upon the first. Just checking the scoreboard,

:29:55. > :30:10.checking the lie. Change his hand, split the two green balls.

:30:11. > :30:18.Darren coming up, does not look like he has got to worry too much, that

:30:19. > :30:21.ball has pretty much killed off the set. Needing to make a half ball

:30:22. > :30:36.contact on the red one. A half bowl contact, run with the

:30:37. > :30:42.jack. That is all the way. That is useful. There is no reason why he

:30:43. > :30:56.should move on to the forehand client going for cover. That would

:30:57. > :31:05.be wise. -- to the forehand and go in. Let's see if he is going where I

:31:06. > :31:08.think he might. Just looking to be on the high side between the white

:31:09. > :31:22.dot on the left side of your picture. It is the respot position.

:31:23. > :31:26.But has he pushed it enough? Not really. Still a chance. Half bowl

:31:27. > :31:36.contact me the jack go through four feet, run off it, follow an and 54.

:31:37. > :31:46.Just like that. That is the theory. We will see the execution. Fairly

:31:47. > :31:52.tentative. Also very narrow. You've got to give yourself a chance. Even

:31:53. > :31:58.with that weight, I'm not convinced it would have done anything.

:31:59. > :32:07.Spiralling away. 1 shot in the first set, Darren Burnett. Pretty

:32:08. > :32:18.comfortable in truth. Philip Last now has to forget about it and move

:32:19. > :32:23.on. No pressure. Darren was able to play a very free set without any

:32:24. > :32:28.real issues. You want to force the players into playing the between

:32:29. > :32:38.shots, the difficult ones. Philip was just not doing that. They will

:32:39. > :35:08.start off fresh, second set. Looking to get off to a better

:35:09. > :35:13.start off fresh, second set. Looking second delivery. But now that makes

:35:14. > :35:24.the back bowl look quite clever. If you look at the third with Philip,

:35:25. > :35:33.too short, not even blocking. He has taken the chance again. Time-out

:35:34. > :35:37.call. Philip Last has four time-outs remaining. The Last bowl is against

:35:38. > :35:43.him so even if he hits it the chances are he will lose the double.

:35:44. > :35:47.There is a shot on the back and try and force the back through the Green

:35:48. > :35:58.bowl, narrow, but maybe only has available. -- all he has. He is

:35:59. > :36:06.trying it. I do not fancy is chances on this one. Starting to dip away

:36:07. > :36:24.now. My sweet, just difficult to pluck out the line. Doesn't appear

:36:25. > :36:27.to be in any danger. How far will the jack go? Will it bring the

:36:28. > :36:38.blackballing? Gentle draw, does not need to mess about with this. Not a

:36:39. > :36:50.special opportunity this makes their shot -- not a spare shot. Has given

:36:51. > :37:07.it a great chance. Just the other side of the Green bowl. Darren

:37:08. > :37:18.Burnett taking to add the opening end and Robert Paxton is standing by

:37:19. > :37:21.to speak to do the -- Dougie. One-sided affair so far. Darren is

:37:22. > :37:26.playing well, flying the bowls out there and put him under pressure and

:37:27. > :37:30.not putting enough pressure on Darren to get himself in the game.

:37:31. > :37:34.It for Philip, coming up here on the carpet in front of the TV cameras

:37:35. > :37:39.against a guy who is full of confidence? It is tough and you just

:37:40. > :37:43.have to get in there early and start finding a first bowl, he is good

:37:44. > :37:46.enough and there is still time in the set if you can find is first to

:37:47. > :37:51.output Darren under pressure come you never know come as still in the

:37:52. > :37:54.match. A couple of beautiful shots Darren has put income even if Philip

:37:55. > :38:00.is getting close, guarantees to be able to inside him? That is, does.

:38:01. > :38:05.He has been fantastic and is playing with so much confidence in the Last

:38:06. > :38:09.18 months. If I was to ask you to pick a winner at this point I think

:38:10. > :38:13.I would know the answer? Darren is the favourite at the moment for

:38:14. > :38:17.this. But you never know, if you feel play some good ends and gets on

:38:18. > :38:26.the board, you never know. Thank you. That was the 2011 win of the

:38:27. > :38:32.Scottish International open, Paxton safely through into the second round

:38:33. > :38:39.after a scare, dropped the first sets to Gary Smith and took the

:38:40. > :38:47.second and won 2-1 on the tie-break. That is Gary R Smith, of

:38:48. > :38:53.course, north-east of England. Very good player. Concentrating more on

:38:54. > :39:04.the PBA events now. He is very highly respected, always will be

:39:05. > :39:11.tough to get past Gary. Robert made a good point, you've always got to

:39:12. > :39:14.guard against, Philip Last has been outplayed with you to guard against

:39:15. > :39:17.the set place. We're seeing it often enough over the years, someone

:39:18. > :39:26.outplayed in the first find their way back. The problem of Salva Kiir

:39:27. > :39:29.is we are seeing any consistency. If he was playing really well and

:39:30. > :39:39.Darren was just outplaying him, Darren's performance went down. --

:39:40. > :39:44.the problem is that we are not. He would have to go off a considerable

:39:45. > :39:50.amount unless Philip starts the refind his game. This makes it

:39:51. > :40:00.starts to really find. At the moment that is a struggle. Easy delivery.

:40:01. > :40:07.-- unless Philip starts to really find. That is the problem I have,

:40:08. > :40:10.anything through the head would be useful, even if he played to his all

:40:11. > :40:15.bowl it would be good because he has another one to come and he can push

:40:16. > :40:19.the jack through to the Last delivery. The only score he has got

:40:20. > :40:43.so far has been a drive in the ditch. By dropping shot he is not

:40:44. > :40:53.allowing for that to happen again. Does it again. All too easy for

:40:54. > :40:58.Darren to slide number one in -- to slide another one in. Now he is

:40:59. > :41:02.forced into playing a controlled weight, which is very hard on that

:41:03. > :41:10.forehand or trying to draw within three or four inches.

:41:11. > :41:19.Just trying to play slightly over the draw, make sure he is arriving

:41:20. > :41:26.at the jack and holds out all day if you are over the weight. Don't get

:41:27. > :41:33.back to centre rink in time. There it goes. Again, we had a problem not

:41:34. > :41:39.only with the final bowl, but the third one, not giving himself a

:41:40. > :41:47.chance. It is the third bowl, a bit the same as before, about clean the

:41:48. > :41:51.right shot at the right time -- playing. If he had not had not have

:41:52. > :41:56.played the front Green one, he still had one on the drive it through but

:41:57. > :42:01.the front Green one just killed him. He is forced to try and beat it on

:42:02. > :42:57.the draw, which will never happen. Jack and 29 metres. At

:42:58. > :43:35.29. Ten inches. Just over the length on that. Just going out too far.

:43:36. > :43:56.He is inside the line taken by Darren Burnett. There is a chance

:43:57. > :44:07.for this one, needs to run a little bit.

:44:08. > :44:14.The facial expressions Darren comes out with, he only has those when he

:44:15. > :44:22.plays bowls. It is weird, but it works for him. You cannot read him,

:44:23. > :44:29.that is the thing. You don't know if he is having a good or bad day. I

:44:30. > :44:33.hope he is a good poker player, imagine trying to read that as a

:44:34. > :44:42.poker player? You would never know if he was bluffing. He has some

:44:43. > :44:49.facial expressions where I did some of the recently and I watched Dan

:44:50. > :45:02.Biggar kicking the goal and he has some routine as well. They are a

:45:03. > :45:07.different bunch, the kickers. The time-out is called, but it is some

:45:08. > :45:10.routine. Darren Burnett has four time-out from meaning. Jonny

:45:11. > :45:22.Wilkinson looks like he is standing still. It is that kind of routine.

:45:23. > :45:24.The time-out taken. A good chance for Darren the way the bowl is

:45:25. > :45:37.sitting. Anything just slightly inside the

:45:38. > :45:41.line with a bit of weight would be good. Backhand as a tendency to pull

:45:42. > :45:48.in towards the jack much better than the forehand. He needs connection on

:45:49. > :46:01.the jack, and that is Goodenough. Played with the weights, slightly

:46:02. > :46:09.inside the line. Pretty perfect. Perfectly played, took the jack

:46:10. > :46:16.right in the middle. This has been a familiar theme to the match. Philip

:46:17. > :46:22.Last trying to make something happen with his final bowl. Left with a

:46:23. > :46:39.rather difficult shot to get out of trouble. Unfortunately that has been

:46:40. > :46:51.what he has played, short. He is checking. The call for the umpire,

:46:52. > :46:54.looks like two from here. Unfortunate for Philip, he has had

:46:55. > :46:59.to go through numerous games to qualify for this and it is not

:47:00. > :47:06.easy, if you are pushing yourself to go through those five games in one

:47:07. > :47:09.day or even three and a too, it's still pretty tiring. And then to

:47:10. > :47:21.come out here and not played your entire potential. -- and not play to

:47:22. > :47:51.your. Sandra McLeish, checking. Good

:47:52. > :48:02.player in her own right, Sandra. Very much so. 3 shots, Darren

:48:03. > :48:08.Burnett. Well done to Darren Burnett for spotting that. It looked like

:48:09. > :48:19.two, but he fancies his chances. And the three shots go his way. John

:48:20. > :48:24.Price Robbie his eyes, not surprisingly, not long back from

:48:25. > :48:32.Australia. He was over with the Commonwealth Games and Scotland. You

:48:33. > :48:37.know we are talking about you. He plays well to the camera. Look at

:48:38. > :48:40.the glasses. There you go. He is getting on a bit now. The next

:48:41. > :48:47.Commonwealth Games are in Australia, a different challenge for the men's

:48:48. > :48:50.team. Jack has just gone to the side and they will have to check it. It

:48:51. > :48:55.could like it kicked across according to Darren. A very rare

:48:56. > :48:59.occurrence. We will get the telescopic sight and to look at

:49:00. > :49:08.this. He is telling me that this is a multisport. -- multisport

:49:09. > :49:12.confederation behind Zebre who went to look very different venues that

:49:13. > :49:17.they will train on before the Commonwealth Games. As Mike the

:49:18. > :49:25.multisport confederation who he went out with the look at the different.

:49:26. > :49:29.You are not used to this. This is good tactics from Philip Last.

:49:30. > :49:38.Change something. He has lost all but the first end of the match. Lost

:49:39. > :49:43.ten ends on the bounce. He is just not playing well at the moment at

:49:44. > :49:51.all. We have seen him play much better than this. Jack length, 27

:49:52. > :50:11.metres. The backhand from Darren Burnett.

:50:12. > :50:16.That looks like it might be some distance away. If you are Philip

:50:17. > :50:26.Last, that is what you want to see. Put your point off, but here is the

:50:27. > :50:31.difficult part. Doing it yourself. Paul Foster did say that he noticed

:50:32. > :50:35.the ring had slowly bit from when he was practising and I wonder if it

:50:36. > :50:40.has happened again in this match, because there has been quite a lot

:50:41. > :50:44.of short bowls, so it could be the case. It is still happening. What

:50:45. > :50:49.has been interesting is not only has there been short bowls, there's been

:50:50. > :50:58.lots when they had to be through the head. Yes, key moments in the match.

:50:59. > :51:02.When you get to really top-class players like Paul Foster and Darren

:51:03. > :51:08.Burnett and people like that you think that they know if they are

:51:09. > :51:19.close the moment the bowl leaves their hand. If they drop short, it

:51:20. > :51:24.has changed, definitely. Still, a chance for Philip Last to pop this

:51:25. > :51:50.one in. Still has plenty of room. Again, dropping short. 16 inches.

:51:51. > :52:03.Over ?1 of weight sometimes. -- ?1-mac. He hit the bowl but was not

:52:04. > :52:18.up, strangely. He will change his hand here.

:52:19. > :52:24.This front bowl was not helping. As soon as he gets past he is in. -- as

:52:25. > :52:37.he gets hast it. -- past it. Darren Burnett must fancy his

:52:38. > :53:13.chances in the draw. This one certainly looks much

:53:14. > :53:21.healthier. Made it. Not under tremendous pressure. The bowl was

:53:22. > :53:30.some 15 inches away the draw and it is much more of a shot for Phil --

:53:31. > :53:40.for Philip Last. He can play inside for the two, but OK. The only reason

:53:41. > :53:44.I did not like that is if he got a bad result with his old bowl and he

:53:45. > :53:58.was in a heap of trouble. As Max with his -- with his all in

:53:59. > :54:04.For he is trying hard, but it is not working for him. Darren Burnett

:54:05. > :54:13.continues with quite a comfortable journey to range two so far -- round

:54:14. > :54:44.to. The entire match scoreline would be 18-1. Jack length, 29 metres.

:54:45. > :54:57.Philip Last from Suffolk tells us he enjoys dance music but his rhythm

:54:58. > :55:04.has been hard to find today. Darren Burnett, it has been a professional

:55:05. > :55:19.performance so far. Yes, a slow Watts over a foxtrot -- waltz. A

:55:20. > :55:52.strange sort of performance. Lovely and relaxed action.

:55:53. > :56:13.Correction made on the weight. The line is good. That is really good. 1

:56:14. > :56:21.red. The first is S3 and -- three inch gap, the second one is a 9 inch

:56:22. > :57:02.gap. The Green one is a gap of six inches. Good, clear direction.

:57:03. > :57:08.Probably worth having a drive to try and remove the two bowls now. Going

:57:09. > :57:24.for the draw again. Not easy. He has to shake things up if he had

:57:25. > :57:30.a drive and took the two race he would have a chance. At 8-0 down he

:57:31. > :57:31.is going nowhere. Darren is range on the ends, happy to take two or three

:57:32. > :58:08.singles the ends, happy to take two or three

:58:09. > :58:10.just go into this area and cover things, just in case something could

:58:11. > :00:05.happen. the respot. Good strike and got the

:00:06. > :00:16.shot. On the card in the second set,

:00:17. > :00:35.Phillip Last. Still smiling. Always good to see.

:00:36. > :00:49.Long journey up to Perth, long journey home. And he finish with a

:00:50. > :01:28.flourish. Can he force a tie-break. Eight shots over four ends.

:01:29. > :01:35.Just to put this into context, if it were the other way around, and

:01:36. > :01:39.Darren Burnett had won, and Phillip Last was an eight, and it was the

:01:40. > :01:48.other way around, how difficult is that, against a qualifier. The thing

:01:49. > :01:53.is, Darren Burnett, one thing, he doesn't feel pressure, he would not

:01:54. > :01:56.feel it is a pressure situation. He would just see it as a situation

:01:57. > :02:03.where he has to win the first two balls. Whenever you have a qualifier

:02:04. > :02:14.coming through, in the case of Phillip Last, six times commonly

:02:15. > :02:17.what to do. He's just not featuring. If I was Phillip Last, the first

:02:18. > :02:23.thing that I would do, I would either go very short, keep it back,

:02:24. > :02:27.or go very long. And hope that Darren has a bad end. He has been

:02:28. > :02:35.dropping short on occasion. Hope that that works. Certainly not the

:02:36. > :02:43.length he's playing at the moment. That I would have played, I know

:02:44. > :02:48.that. Now he is going to be facing at least one against him. With his

:02:49. > :02:52.last ball. The good thing is commonly has two balls in there, and

:02:53. > :02:55.he has a plant shot to take out the Red Bull. It is important for him to

:02:56. > :03:21.get another one in. Looking for the green ball, dropped

:03:22. > :03:28.in on the jack, if he can. That is the perfect ball. Plant was taken

:03:29. > :03:38.the other end. Not taken both of them out now. Time out call within a

:03:39. > :03:45.moment or two with Phillip Last. May as well take the time available. One

:03:46. > :03:50.way to look at that, new is going to take one out. If it is possible, he

:03:51. > :03:55.would ideally like to hit the other ball and get the jack down into that

:03:56. > :04:06.position, which is really ideal. That is a precise shot. Nothing easy

:04:07. > :04:13.about that. He has too try to play a controlled weight. Looks like it

:04:14. > :04:22.might be going quick with us on the backhand. A couple of good results,

:04:23. > :04:33.what will he get here? Just one red ball out. That will be lifted out.

:04:34. > :04:40.Darren Burnett has a ball to play. Not far away, but just enough that

:04:41. > :04:45.he knew he was not doing damage. Not a straightforward act on. Certainly

:04:46. > :05:02.an opportunity. Should be over the next end, I would think. Here it

:05:03. > :05:11.comes again, does not make a mistake. APPLAUSE

:05:12. > :05:20.Three shots, to Darren Burnett. Looks like it is going to be all

:05:21. > :05:23.over in the next end. Philip has got to score three shots and he has not

:05:24. > :05:30.been within a sniff of a chance of doing that so far. She only has two

:05:31. > :05:37.in the whole match. I have read this one wrong, I thought that Phillip

:05:38. > :05:41.Last would be much better, to be truthful, just not happen for him.

:05:42. > :05:49.Darren knows that the next match is going to be a whole lot different.

:05:50. > :05:54.The next round really is going to be one to watch, it is David Holt

:05:55. > :06:12.waiting for him. Certainly will be. It has been a good opening to the

:06:13. > :06:28.Scottish International open, just's fallen. Mervyn King, Mark Dawes,

:06:29. > :06:35.John Price, and David Gourlay. -- just four fallen. The next opponent,

:06:36. > :06:38.David Holt, he was the skipper for England, Commonwealth Games old

:06:39. > :06:46.medal in Manchester, shortly afterwards left for Australia,

:06:47. > :06:54.making a life down there in Sydney. Very good play in his own right,

:06:55. > :07:00.indoors and outdoors. Played in many professional events, singles --

:07:01. > :07:49.amateur champion. Originally came from a crown green background.

:07:50. > :07:55.Phillip Last has the kind of name that every sub editor likes to be

:07:56. > :08:05.able to play around with (!) LAUGHTER

:08:06. > :08:09.A bit of a journalists dream. So tempting, sometimes you have got to

:08:10. > :08:14.stay away from it. Yes, let's not go there! It has been a bit of a

:08:15. > :08:21.struggle for him today, I honestly thought it was going to be different

:08:22. > :08:28.but it has not happened. Resigned to it, 7-0, he was more or less

:08:29. > :08:40.resigned to it. Shaking hands. Playing out the final moments of

:08:41. > :08:44.this match. Scotland England affair. No shot on now, beating through,

:08:45. > :08:48.into the ditch... Cannot see him getting the three or four shots that

:08:49. > :08:54.he needs. Something will go through with it. A chance to drag back the

:08:55. > :09:09.jack. My goodness, how difficult is that! This is the time to do it. His

:09:10. > :09:20.last ball, in more ways than one. He couldn't resist. Last ball of the

:09:21. > :09:28.end and of the match. They will shake hands. Phillip Last will be

:09:29. > :09:31.disappointed, he will feel that he did not turn up today. Darren

:09:32. > :09:40.Burnett was strong, he did everything he had to do. Darren

:09:41. > :09:44.Burnett comfortably through. 10-1 in the first set, winning its 2-0, over

:09:45. > :10:42.the course of the match. One of those matches where the

:10:43. > :10:50.statistics tell you everything that you need to know.

:10:51. > :10:54.The Gold Medal winner from the Commonwealth Games last year, Darren

:10:55. > :10:59.Burnett, eases his way into the next round.

:11:00. > :11:05.Very good win, 2014, Commonwealth Gold Medal, and the World

:11:06. > :11:10.Championship, 2014, and through to the second round, you must be very

:11:11. > :11:14.happy. I'm very happy with the way that I played, fairly consistent,

:11:15. > :11:17.occasionally dropping slightly short, but all in all, putting quite

:11:18. > :11:24.a few balls in there and putting him under pressure. Always difficult to

:11:25. > :11:27.play in these conditions on the fast carpet, a man who is so used to

:11:28. > :11:32.playing on the surface and playing well indeed. That is true, Darren

:11:33. > :11:36.played pretty well, but I had a nightmare today, no pressure at all.

:11:37. > :11:41.You played solid but I did not give my game, a bit of a no-show. Your

:11:42. > :11:45.line and length was right from the start, you seems to be on it, really

:11:46. > :11:50.enjoying yourself being back here in Perth. I have come into this

:11:51. > :11:54.tournament fairly relaxed, no real expectations, just try to get the

:11:55. > :11:59.first win. It is important to get through the first round. Hopefully I

:12:00. > :12:03.can go on and go up a gear or two, I will need that in the next round.

:12:04. > :12:06.Congratulations, good effort, commiserations to you, Darren, you

:12:07. > :12:15.are through, congratulations. Darren is in the second round, let's

:12:16. > :12:22.have a look ahead to what we will be seeing live on BBC Two tomorrow:

:12:23. > :12:29.Alex Marshall, world champion, so many times, against Greg Harlow.

:12:30. > :12:33.If you did not see any of the action today, then you can see highlights

:12:34. > :12:37.tonight, 11:45pm. Back with the live action, BBC One,

:12:38. > :12:49.1pm. BBC Two, beg your pardon. In the meantime, from all of us

:12:50. > :12:54.here, thank you for your company, good by