Highlights - 09/11/15 Bowls: Scottish International Open

Hollow and a warm welcome to the Dewars Centre for the Scottish

International open and this afternoon right here there were some

pretty impressive champions on display stop world number one and

the only man to successfully defend his title, Nick Brett embarks on his

quest to win an unprecedented third consecutive Scottish international

Open. When it is meant to be, it is meant to be, no one has ever

retrained it, I was the lucky one. The man he beat in the last two

finals also gets his challenge underway today and Paul Foster is

determined to add to his 2012 Scottish victory. It is good to be

back in Perth for the international Open. I have had a good last three

years here and long may it continue. Rounding out our list of

legends in action today, the 2014 champion and Commonwealth Games

single bold medallist Darren Burnett. Lots of highlights to look

forward to but the action actually got underway here on Saturday and at

the start of play today, it went like this. Stewart Anderson was

through from the world champion against Alex Wen. Andy Thomson Pete

Brett Arkley. Mervyn King was knocked out against Graham

McDougall. Greg Harlow managed to get through

as did Jonathan Ross. David Gurley, the former world champion is out.

John Price is out as well. Mark Royal is safely through. Let us get

to the first of the matches this morning, John Fleming against Paul

Foster. There are very few players as dominant and deadly as Paul

Foster, he has been in the top five for the last 15 years, most of them

either a second or first. He was the hottest of hot favourites against

John Fleming. He is something of an unknown quantity, only 19 years old,

he has won the British Isles under 25 singles title, he is a senior

international but did know he was up against it today against the fourth

time world singles champion. We will join the match now, in the first set

and it is all square at seven peace. -- a piece.

It will be interesting if the players go past the 30 seconds,

there is a bill, but last year the first time we heard it, it gave us a

bit of a fright -- bell. There are mixed feelings. It is not easy. That

clock ticking away with every ball. It adds another dimension to

televised alan-macro. -- bowls. It will never be introduced in

mainstream play because they do not have the facilities for it. They

rely on umpires to negate slow play. This is trouble. If you drop the

Jack length slightly... This direction, he has been losing shots.

It is properly why he adjusted it, I thought he would have gone very

short. He will have to follow that one.

Struggling. Oh dear! Real trouble now for Paul Foster.

There is number three against the Jack length. Another Fozzie victory.

He has been in many a pickle, you would not bet against him. He

usefully gets out of so much trouble, will this get back in time,

that is the question, here it comes, dropped back... It is just

like Fozzie to do that and John will be looking down the backhand with

this next bowl. That is why he is one of the best in the world. What

he is looking at is getting onto that bowl, if he does and gets it

absolutely plumb, he takes their red bowl out, that is a director shot

through between the two. -- direct shot. John called the time-out to

give him that little bit of extra time stop control the wait, that is

better. Nice pace. Will it hold? He was a fraction.

Typical Fozzie. Yes. That is why you love the sport, Paul Foster in

trouble, looking at potentially losing the set, might have got a

draw out of it, if he could then reply, but you do not want to lose a

3 there and that was perfect will stop there was a little short on. He

would have looked at the backhand and the angles were not good and he

could have taken the green bowl and run through between the shorthand

and the Jack will stop looked at the previous bowl but that is the sort

of shot mag gives you a lot of confidence. John Fleming very much

alive in this set, the advantage of the last bowl.

That looked easy from the second it left his hand. A little snap of the

fingers in frustration. He is certainly greening the alan-macro

quite nicely, coming out in a straight line. -- bowls.

You'd be tempted now to change bowl. Even a foot short now in the

shorthand would be a cracking bowl. Onto the forehand he goes.

Seize the bend. He is labouring a little bit. Six inches narrower, he

would have been a lot happier. Potential little catch here. Make

sure you are up. He is the wrong side of it. Put it

into a good home, but, as soon as he was on the outside of the red one he

was not going to get back in time. Interesting choice for Paul Foster,

he has to guard against a potential Trail. That could make it to green.

Either that or you block up beforehand by playing the perfect

bowl. He is going to try and tap his own bowl or get cover. Percentage

shot, this one. Two possibilities. He is not getting cover, though. A

chance here. You are tighter, in off the bowl, pick up the Jack Ford two.

The forehand will hold if you give three or four feat of green, it will

hold with the extra weight. It could really change his line

dramatically... That is probably half a metre inside his previous

line. Had to go even narrower. Two shots for the set, Paul Foster. He

had a chance to tired up, chance to win it, but Paul Foster in the end

comes through with the final 3am is. Comes from 7-6 down to lead 10-7 and

to take the opening set. Good set. So, Paul Foster taking the first set

10-7 we join the match in the second set, John Fleming is ahead.

Well, he is moving on to the forehand early and he has played it

well. Yes. That is the way he started the first set.

He does not like it, it will be an inch away. I think this one is a bit

heavier, not much, though. It is not even heavier, it was wide actually.

He knew something was wrong. Still a great shot.

It is not only that, the angle is good to come off as well. He can use

it as a shoulder. Does not need it. It is coming in

right behind, that is a great bowl, it really is a shipper shot will

stop Paul is having a good look at it -- a super shot.

Being cautioned not to go to close in case the bowl moves, it looks

like it is touching green, but not touching read. A great bowl from

John Fleming. -- red. If it has won the green, you walk away. Walk away

on that one. Big recovery bowl needed. What has

been interesting, it is not always the player who has played the best

bowls at the end, one good bowl from your opponent is enough to secure

the shop. Quite often it is the last bowl or at the third one. Young was

get the impression two players are feeling their way through the game

and it is who is going to step up to the mark and put a couple of really

good ends together -- you almost get the impression. You cannot look past

Paul Foster when it comes to this. At the same time, this young man is

showing no nerves whatsoever. He has been very happy out there, looks

very content on the portable rink. a place for straight bowls,

personally I do not think any rink or green is the place for straight

bowls. I could not agree more. To bowl onto their jack. That will

certainly be a receiver. Bowl onto bowl, it is a risky shot.

A definite shot available here for John Fleming. I would be tempted on

the backhand, funnily enough. Time-out called. You're almost

guaranteeing it will stay in to the red. With that forehand, he has

turned his back on it. It must be narrow. It is. He did not have the

weight either, a bit of both. Interesting last 3am is on the set,

Paul Foster will probably be two down -- 3am is. -- three ends. Sex

ends on the second set, six shots scored. -- six. Paul Foster needs to

tie the set to avoid advance and go to a tie-break.

Both Alex Marshall and Paul Foster working with their bowls now, he is

employed by them, he does not have much choice. At the same time, when

the guys are going well, even when they are not going so well, the

bowls really do not come into it, they will have put a lot of work in

with a new set of bowls and checked out different things, so similar to

their previous ones, no excuses there and nor should there be. I

think it is one of these hard fought first-round matches, that is all,

you have to grind it out. Good game so far. The number of seeds who have

not made it through, David girlie, John Price have both gone out. --

Davids Gourlay. Two good bowls, a tempting target. -- attempting.

Looked good all the way. Give it a little bit extra pace, not much,

just an arriving drawer. Just enough to get to its own, to punch it in or

get down into the bowls or the green one. A split on the inside would be

perfect. Solid jack, that will do. Slightly off centre, allowing

changes just that little bit. -- the line changes.

A couple and they are close enough to be difficult to beat.

Just looking to take the weight from his last one.

Still chucking through. Perfect line. Both the bowls work good, the

first and the fourth. The weight just deserted.

The battle of the Scots in the opening round, Paul Foster with the

opening set, John Fleming, watching as his lead has evaporated in the

second set. Sometimes you see their bowl dropping them, to tempt the

opposition into trying to draw it off, any closer, he probably would

have had a go at it. With weight... Jack was on the top of the tee, 27

metres. At that of monkeying around with the mat and the jack in this

match. Both players trying to find the length that suits them. There

has been some very good bowling, some really good stuff. I suppose if

you're going to be really harsh, you could say there were lot of short

bowls and a bit of inconsistency, but it is the first round, it does

take time. If Paul Foster does see this one

out, John Fleming will no that their chances along the way, he is still

very much in this for now. -- John Fleming will know that there are

chances along the way. Just hope that awkward angle, he

made not get much out of it, he has to go on the other side. He really

needs the second shot, he wants to go into the last end at the absolute

worse, one down, he does not want to be any more than that because he

will have to chase the end a little bit. There is a shot here for Paul

Foster. Egos of the turns the jack around for three will be very

difficult to get out of -- he knows if he turns. I do not know if he has

pushed it. He can still come around it. Going

for the runner, try and open something up. It is a brave shot.

The only danger with that is if he got into the green bowl he would

have winged it out, three down and one bowl to come. I would have been

inclined to draw that and try and get second, it was not that far away

with his previous bowl. If you have got second you always have a chance

of picking up a double in the last end. Bit of movement, just go again.

That is a big bowl for Paul Foster, if he can pick up a two here. He did

not allow it to annoy him, that little bit of movement, did he? Cut

to the jack and it would have been absolutely perfect because he would

have made a three. Just reset it himself. This was great, in it

comes. They bear the mark are checking to see if it touched the

jack. He is going again, cannot afford to get his own bowl. That has

pace and power and rewards nothing in the end. You cannot blame him,

very hard to beat those two bowls, he knew that himself. Take the two

out, I think that is probably all. Again, Fozzie has put in a strong

second half in the set. He has dipped into that well of good

bowls, plucked a few out. He is looking like he will be on top of

his opponent in the next round, John Fleming, he needs a three, he has

only scored 13 in the match to date. Paul Foster, dropping short, John

Fleming taking advantage. No such mistake from Paul Foster here.

Paul Foster has two choices. You can follow his own or changed tack and

rest on the green bowl. He is just trying to get olds on the head. Few

inches heavy. A good effort. In it comes. A little

on lucky, because he has turned the jack towards the red old. -- bowl. I

don't think he will do anything different here other than draw this,

because he can afford to lose two shots. You don't want to leave

yourself a third to be taken out. If he rests a bowl either side, it

doesn't really matter. He gets the closer one. That is already a strain

to do. But he has turned his back a little on that, he must think he is

heavy. It was certainly on his mind, but he has crept in. Just a blade,

and he knew that out of the hand. Now, you need three. Do you go for

the take-out with this bowl? Just draw it. Just draw under the red

bowls, that is all he wants to do. He will do well to get back from

there. He is too heavy. He was trying to reach them, but at the

same time, he didn't want that pace, he just wanted to rest them off with

a draw. Set the double, give himself a chance with his last bowl. Nothing

on the re-spot, that is what he is looking at. No joy in the re-spot

position. He is looking to get to this on the

forehand, and I'm sure he has the weight. He is coming in for a close

second. That is the shot I thought he would

have played last time round. He was probably looking for the green one

with that, but he knew that any touch on the jack was more than good

enough. UMPIRE: Time-out calls. John has two

time-outs remaining. I don't think he has a shot on, I really don't.

That last shot of Paul Foster's has more or less killed it off. I think

my jelly baby is safe. That is that imaginary jelly baby, of course. You

wouldn't bet with a real one! John Fleming on his first trip to the

Scottish International open has put up a terrific fight.

APPLAUSE He survives against the 19-year-old

Scott. He gave it his all, John Fleming. He led in the first and

second set, but couldn't find a way to close them out. Paul Foster get

himself safely into round two of the Scottish International open.

Yes, four time world champion through, but Paul, you had to work

for that. I knew that before the game started, and I didn't play

awfully well. I played massive bowl when I needed to, but I kept

dropping the shot. The match starts and the pace changes, and I should

have known that. It gets frustrating that you think you are good, but you

drop that shot. John, it is never easy when you are in the first round

against the world champion. Didn't seem overawed to play against a guy

of this quality, though. Paul has been here ten times, and it is my

first time, I was just trying to settle in as quickly as I could. But

towards the end of the first set, I struggled a little with my weight.

But you are putting pressure on this guy here, and you seemed to be,

watching your face, you didn't seem happy through a lot of that. You

looked frustrated from that to time which allowed John to put pressure

on you. The frustration is because you think you are good and yet you

are dropping the shot. It is not a very good day at the office, but a

win is a win. John gave me opportunities, so there were some

good ends and some scrappy ends. But I got the main point.

So, Paul Foster through to the second round, but he did have to

work pretty hard for it. The man who won last year was in action here

today, Nicky Brett. Since he won here two years ago, his success has

been stratospheric. He became the first man to retain the Scottish

title, and then took the International open title with an

unbelievable display of quality bowls.

I would rather be defending champion than never won it. Somebody is

always going to defeat the defending champion some point, but I will try

to carry the run on as long as I can. The emotion of losing was

massively disappointing. Paul thoroughly deserved the win, he

dominated the final. It was like being hit by a boss, he played

really well. The following year, I went away, came back, I knew what

happened the year before, so I knew it was going to be massively

difficult, but I managed to hang in until the end, got a couple of good

ones, got a good result with the last one.

And I1-macro my first tournament, which is unbelievable for me. -- and

I won my first tournament. When you win your first one, you have got the

monkey off your back, if you like. And retain it, and again, played

well in the final. The few good bowls here and there, the game. One

of those finals probably a little more closely fought. And I just

managed again to find a couple of good runs. When it is meant to be,

it is meant to be. No one has ever retained it, someone was going to,

and I was the lucky one. Records will tell you that it is

difficult for the same person to win an event two years, back-to-back. It

is difficult for the same person to win when each year, let alone win

the same event three times. So someone is eventually going to put

me out. I just hope it is later on in the tournament rather than

earlier. He really does like making history

does Nicky Brett, and today he was up against team-mate Robert Elmore.

It is never easy playing your friend, especially if that friend is

in the form of his life, and that was facing Robert Elmore. He has

played against and alongside Brett, and he knew that accuracy would be

key. But in the first set, the defending champion took it with

ease, and we join the match in the second set. Brett is 5-3 ahead.

COMMENTATOR: Three more singles. We have seen it before. Certainly

there. He has not played well, but he has not been put away.

I think that is the best first trip Max three he has played. Two

excellent liveries, back-to-back. He needs a few more to try to seek the

second set. It is starting to happen now. Robert

Elmore lying two. It is very accessible. And now this gets

interesting because the seventh end of the nine end set. Nick scores in

this end, and Robert will have to chase them for the last couple of

ends, whereas if Robert scores, he is writing with a of forcing a

tie-break. He is looking good again. Number three. That will force a

drive. UMPIRE: Three green. This is what we

were talking about, the chance to get Nicky under a little pressure

here, and that is what he has done this time. He will go for the hit

here. this time. He will go for the hit

Furballs! A good strike right down the middle.

That is the nature of sex games, you can lose the first one and just

sneak over the line in the second, and it is all to play for -- sets

games. Mean it comes.

UMPIRE: One red. Certainly Nick would like to score a double in this

end if he possibly can. Robert has to win the last two ends. He has

dropped it short. It is all down to the weight, and he

is witty close. Now, the difficulty from Robert is that the ideal shot

would be on the backhand all the way through, take the two Reds off, or

get the jack into the ditch or on the re-spot. It hasn't been shot

that has desperately successful so far. He recognised the need for it.

Off target. Took one out. He didn't look comfortable, he stood

off to one side of the mat, wasn't sure about it. There is a proverbial

country mile to draw. APPLAUSE

And in he comes. UMPIRE: Two shots, Nick Brett.

That was the ideal situation. He hasn't really been within a sniff of

scoring three in this match. Mainly singles, couple of doubles.

One of those was as a result of a drive that got a horrible result in

Nicky Brett. UMPIRE: 27 metres.

And if he wins it here, it will be an 11th consecutive win in Perth.

This should be an excess is now in closing the end down. Get the first

two bowls close and then look for cover. It is not bad. Beatable, but

not bad. APPLAUSE

UMPIRE: One green. Just making sure there is no way his

opponent can engineer three shots. He is running the length with this,

so there is a chance that if he can remember the line and length, he can

add another one in. Needs to be here, but he is

struggling for pace. That was a chance, and Nick knew it, as well.

This will totally relax him. He can afford to play this on the forehand,

actually. So there is no shoulder to come off. Not worry about losing a

double. Yes, moving on the forehand for a

tactical bowl. The third bowl of Robert Elmore certain he'd defused

the chances of an explosive ending. Might as well just use a time-out,

plenty of them available. No need to run. I don't think he has a shot

available, just hit it down and hope he gets something on the runner, but

I can't imagine him doing much with it. He is trying to do anything he

can. He will take the single. And the defending champion is safely

through. Only once in the history of this tournament has the defending

champion lost in the opening round, Nicky Brett in very little danger

today. And the man who is looking to repeat for the third time is

currently through. The defending champion is through to

round two. Nicky Brett, you must be pleased. Luckily I got a fast

start, and it is crucial for me to get away to a solid start, and

luckily I found a couple early. That is the thing, Robert. You are coming

here and playing against a guy who has won twice, he is in the form of

his life, and you don't want to let him get away. Absolutely not. It

took me a while to settle down and I wasn't getting close enough, but in

the second set I did settle down and got myself into the game. You

certainly did. Nick, you just kept on battering away, your link from

the start was very good. I know how good a player Robert is, I have

played with him a lot, and a lot, and I knew eventually I would be

under the pump. I just hope that I could keep him at arms length. He

showed in the second set what a good day he is. He forced me into the

runner. I knew it was coming, I was just hoping I could hold it off long

enough. Nicky Brett looking in pretty

impressive form indeed. So all the seeds were through, but could Darren

Burnett join them in round two? He realised a lifetime ambition when

he picked up the Commonwealth Games home -- medal on home soil. An

carpet here in Perth, he has shown he has the game to do some damage.

This is a rare appearance for Philip last here, but the bowler from the

Ipswich indoor club has lots of experience, and came into this one

44th in the world rankings. And the Commonwealth champion started very

strongly indeed, and after four ends, was 5-1 ahead.

COMMENTATOR: Darren Burnett off to good start. Reached around to only

twice in the last ten years in Perth, it hasn't been his favourite

tournament. He has been giving Philip Last a shed load of room, but

Philip hasn't come onto his game at all. If he does, Darren Burnett

could be in trouble. Just missed chance here, the

opponent is short. You really need to be within a foot with that first

bowl, in a situation like that, because obviously it is a situation

where Darren isn't really on top form. He is going to make a

correction, which he has done on this bowl.

He certainly looks better. APPLAUSE

UMPIRE: One green, but it is very close. An inch in front of jack -the

green bowl, and three inches in front for your own bowl, Darren.

It is important that the markers are precise. And he is there.

UMPIRE: One red. He knew that the gap was there.

Nicely done. A similar weighted shot from Philip Last might not get the

results he wants. I am surprised that, because there was no reason to

be short. Any pull off the jack was worth two or three, and the red bowl

clean was worth one, possibly two. No need to draw short there. They

like to play with the new grip is that they have wrought back, they

were on the bowls years ago, that they went out of fashion, and they

have come back into fashion again. He would have expected Darren to go

behind. I think Darren expected that, too. We are seeing a lot of

players dropping short. Is it playing slightly not how they are

expecting? I think the back bowl would have been a good dish and the

Darren. Identity he intended to be near the jack on that occasion. But

I can understand it if something curls down a little, maybe coming

in, people moving around on the doors being open, it can affect the

pull. This is better. A really good effort. Unlucky.

The second set continued in a similar vein, and the 2014 champion

was through to the second round with consummate ease.

Yes, lots of great games today, lots of great shots. But what was the

great shot of the day? My shot of the day was between Robert Elmore

and Nick Brett. Robert Elmore was in trouble, but in the second set, he

couldn't afford to lose another two, and he plays the most wonderful

forehand draw shot, and split two of Nicky's bowls, and suddenly Nicky is

in trouble. Let's have a look. There we can see bowl coming in,

perfectly weighted. A lot of people would have played the backhand

runner, but he drops it in perfectly, rings the score three to

5-3, and suddenly he is right back in the second shirt. -- set. And

Nicky Brett had to fight all the way through the rest of that set.

Yes, a beautiful shot there, but not enough to beat Nicky Brett. He is

through to the second round, and here is who else is through with

him. Alex Marshall against Greg Harlow,

that should be a great game. Nick Brett and Stewart Anderson

should also be a fantastic encounter.

We will sort those matches out over the next couple of days, tomorrow we

will be back for live action at one o'clock. Please join us that if you

can, lots of tasty matches in prospect. In the meantime from all

of us here at the Dewars Centre, it has been a great day. Do join us

tomorrow if you can. Goodbye for now.

He's in an exotic land. In the far reaches of northern Europe.

A place of unbelievable history, myth and legend.

..as he discovers a different kind of Ireland.

We just want to live in the present and look towards the future.

It's an Ireland that I really didn't know.

The knives are sharpened and the heat is on. It can only mean one thing.

Britain's best chefs are back in town.

They're here because they want this title. I'm really excited.

MasterChef: The Professionals starts cooking...