Day 1 - Live Bowls: Scottish International Open

The trees turn colours - Perth is a

beautiful city. Yo if you want a

change in temperature a short walk

to the Dewar's centre is where you

need to be. The world's best bowlers

are there and they are turning up

the heat.

Hello and a very warm welcome to the

Dewar's centre in Perth. Over the

years, this carpet has seen some

incredible players playing some

wonderful bowls. This week will be

the same. The best bowlers on the

planet are right here at Perth. We

can hear all the action live on BBC

Two. We will be all the way to the

final on Saturday lunch time. The

action got under way earlier this

Saturday. Let's show you who's still

in the competition and who's taking

the long walk home.

Mervyn King is through. Jonathan

Ross is out.

Stewart Anderson is also out. Big

shock there. Andy Thomson is

through. Dawes at the bottom. Darren

Burnett, the big Scotsman is

Jason Greenslade - the number 16

seed, out to Danny Denison. Mark

Royal is through. The matches a

@bottom there are the ones coming up

live this afternoon.

I am delighted to say in the

commentary box for us this week is

David Corkill. Some great matches so

far. Wonderful ones still to come.

Absolutely. Whenever you have the

likes of the defending champion and

then followed by Paul and Alex.

Let's talk about the Scots as well,.

We have Foster and, Alex Marshall,

who has not got that win yet in

Perth.

It is only a matter of time.

We say it every year when it comes

to the particular competition.

Six-time world champion. Do you

think it worries him too much? I

wouldn't think so.

Let's talk about

Greg Harlow. He's won here twice -

the last two years, in fact.

Defending champion. A guy with such

an all-round game. He's such a

fierce competitor.

He plays shots

with great confidence. It has to be

a tough game.

Neil is 17th in the ranking at the

moment. This will be a very

interesting match.

He won against

Jason Greenslade and beat Paul

Foster who went on to win the

worlds, of course. Here is a guy who

knows how to win. He's got so many

titles on tour. Knows how to win and

knows how to keep it going and get

to the business end of tournaments.

He's won titles on the trot before.

Three times international winner, at

Sheffield, one of his favourite

venues. Turning out to be a very

profitable turnment for him.

It will

be -- tournament for him. Who will

it be?

Probably one of eight or

nine. David impressed me. Good to

see David Gourlay get off to a good

start.

We know Greg Harlow is coming

on. Who will he face this afternoon?

The guy he's up against is Neil

Furman. Plays out of the Laguna

Beach club in San Diego and won nine

national titles. Please welcome to

play this afternoon, from the US

it's Neil Furman.

APPLAUSE

MUSIC Feeling hot, hot, hot.

Consistent and extremely impressive

performances from Greg Harlow have

put him at world number one. He's

won the 12 world bowls title,

including three back-to-back

international open trophies. Can he

do the same here in Perth this year?

Ladies and gentlemen, please give a

very warm welcome to your defending

champion, Greg Harlow.

APPLAUSE

MUSIC

If you are new to this format, let

me tell you how this works - two

sets of nine ends. If it is at 1-1

after that it goes to a tie-break.

Each player has a 30 second shot

clock.

So this match should be absolutely

wonderful. Please welcome to our

commentary box Paul Mitchell and

David Corkill.

THE COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon. We

may be in Perth, but it is

California against Cambridgeshire to

get us under way in this Scottish

International Open. The defending

champion, taking his first steps of

the tournament in 2017.

Traditionally Greg Harlow gets off

to a good start in the first round

here.

Very comfortable out there. Very

relacked. -- very relaxed. He 's a

dangerous player. It will come down

to his running balls. He's an

attacking player. Plays a lot of

weight shots. If he starts to hit

those, kit be tricky. If he starts

to miss them, well, he'll lose in

multiples.

Struggling a couple of injuries in

Perth last season. Didn't stop him

from winning the title. Some early

pressure on his American opponent.

Looks under the line again.

Just

trying to check to see what sort of

bowls he's using. The players do

change them quite often. You cannot

afford to go searching down a narrow

line in that hand. You have to come

outside from the high line into the

centre of the rink.

He'll be happy enough with that

there.

Temptation here to put too much

weight on.

Well, it hasn't been too

bad, actually. It is a matter of the

line. At the moment he's trying to

get a good line. That is a decent

ball. It should drop back. It's not

going to. It is interesting if the

balls are not dropping, it gives me

the impression they are narrow bias.

The second shot.

Greg will be looking, a little tap

down to make three. The initial

target's to draw another shot. If he

gets the green one, even better.

Asking a lot of this to get back all

the way. But here it comes.

Yes, just slightly over the line

from what he wanted.

He gets it away.

If he's got the weight he's got the

chance. The bump might have taken it

off. It has.

Defending champion on to the

scorecard first.

Given how it was after two bowls

each delivered, I don't think Neil

Furman will be too unhappy just

dropping a single.

REFEREE: 24.5 metres.

Again it is a very narrow looking

line. If you go chasing those lines,

just whip across four, five feet and

if he's a foot wider, he might be a

little bit wide, but at least he's

coming into the back, so Neil will

correct that as the game goes on.

Greg, well outside in comparison.

The improvement made by Greg Harlow.

A missed chance for Neil Furman.

Change on to the forehand.

REFEREE: Gap on your bowl, 16

inches.

Not a problem from Greg. Should be

able to tap it to come inside. Makes

it a double. Same shot for Neil.

Just a tap on his own ball. More of

an outside delivery. It is only a

little bump. It is not a big

problem. He does it all the time. It

is consistent.

Didn't make the contact, though.

Chucking on through a metre.

That

looked a little bit smoother than

his last one. Perhaps the bump

wasn't there to put the brakes on.

There you go, a couple of wee bumps

and settle.

The indoor carpet

playing as quick as this one - that

can make a big difference.

Greg looking for the target ball -

the back green one. He's beyond it.

Once again another chance for Neil

just to tap the jack or tap his own

bowl. If he taps the jack he makes a

double.

Looks a better line. The weight may

be the concern.

Tried to take two-and-a-half feet

off and obviously too much, but...

More inclined with the same bowl

again and hopefully get a

connection.

Another couple of chances for Neil

Furman.

Greg Harlow taking the early

control.

28-and-a-half metres.

Greg Harlow delivers with barely a

whisper. A smooth delivery.

Yes, the

vast majority of the top players all

have smooth, very easy, very relaxed

deliveries.

It's very rare you see one of the

players have a bump. Ian, one of the

few who has managed to overcome that

and become a top ranked player. He

bumps every ball. Doesn't make any

difference if you do that.

Winner of this Al tournament, won it

twice. Taking a rest from the tour

events. Hopefully he'll come back. A

good character, a really good

player.

That's better for Greg now.

By his standards the first two ends

were a bit lose. That's more like

it.

Just going to go past, I think. Not

much.

A lot of people might think Greg

will play the forehand to turn the

jack in around the corner, but if

you get a couple of bowls close you

stay on that hand if you can. This

one needs to hurry a bit. Missed

that bowl - it would have been very

useful.

Have to put the pressure on his

opponent.

From the beautiful surroundings of

Laguna Beach, San Diego.

Tries its best to get there. The

difficulty for Neil is that the

target bowls are protected by his

own green one. So he doesn't have

much in terms of getting out of

trouble.

He can concentrate putting bowls

close to the jack. Well, he's

looking good again for another shot.

Just wants to drift past. Yes, he's

made it.

Just a draw here, Paul. It's not

pretty because you try and make sure

you are reaching on the forehand, it

just holds off. If you nip it in a

little bit, it is a bit of weight,

it will hook across very quickly.

Ten seconds on the shot clock.

He's going to try and hit this, is

he? Goodness me!

He's going to have

to fortunate here. Pull something

through.

Oh, well, the follow through was a

key to that, wasn't it? Came through

on to the jack.

Well, he gambled there.

Tsm strength of his to play, he's

pretty accurate with it.

A big moment for Neil Furman.

REFEREE: 24.5 metres.

APPLAUSE

REFEREE: Inch-and-a-half short.

THE COMMENTATOR: Neil from the

forehand, a more consistent hand for

his bowls.

Greg may be tempted to turn himself,

turn the jack on the corner.

Completely a different line to that

taken by Neil Furman. Comes

beautifully back.

He's framed it.

Neil, he could do worse than have a

go at this and try and disturb it,

move it early.

Well, sticking to the draw. If

forehand does stand up nicely, but

if you put extra weight on it holds.

He's better with this.

Oh! Gaps, but... Still a good

effort.

Certain things look impossible, but

nothing is impossible.

A change of hand, just wants to come

around the back.

He knows Neil and

he knows what his strengths are in

his play.

Just an arriving ball to the jack.

He's over the weight this time.

I can understand Paul, attempting a

shot to get there with the yard, but

it's also a very difficult shot.

He's almost better rallying the jack

all the way through or taking a red

bowl out.

Greg will look to get between the

two green bowls if he can. He'll not

make the trip for that. He's drawn

inside.

APPLAUSE

See the weight come again.

A low percentage shot. Going heavy.

. Here comes the drive. Looked

tight. It might clip. That's the

danger. Oh, he's got a maximum

again. Goodness me!

Good to see it. He's taken four

shots.

A bit of California magic.

Almost got a maximum result.

REFEREE: 26.5 metres.

You can only

dig yourself out of so many holes.

He's not been too far away he needs

to get close with the first two and

put the pressure on Greg. He wants

him to play those shots. Doesn't

want to play them too often.

Interesting choice of hand there -

the forehand. Doesn't help them.

Forcing it out on the outside.

Backhand is a good hand, but it is a

steady hand. Greg playing from the

offside of the mat. Always uses

strong bias.

Unleashes again and the temptation's

there.

Two bowls.

The pattern is set, isn't it?

He

just has to play those shots and

play them early.

Just can't afford to let the heads

build up.

On target.

The best thing Greg Harlow can do is

pop one back in there and say, OK,

do it again.

Missed a chance.

He needs a close one and it's not

bad, but may not be close enough.

Greg on to the forehappened.

-- on to the forehand.

Lovely line.

It will come back all the way.

APPLAUSE

Well, I think if I was Neil I would

have another go at that. A backhand

shot just to drive the bowl off. It

would be unlucky to be any worse

off. Could try a little overweight

shot, but that's difficult.

Well, that's what he's trying.

I tell you what, you go narrow

there, you haven't got a hope.

No.

There it goes. That's low percentage

shot. Neil knows better than that,

Paul, he really does.

He'll be walking down, thinking to

himself, why didn't I drive again

and whiz the ball off? Take the one.

The second he played it, you could

see it was way underneath him and it

was bent before even reaching the

white spots, which mark out the

rink, the centre rink, way before

those. Well, he's got work to do. An

experienced player, international

player. Outdoor for the USA.

Nine national titles in the USA.

APPLAUSE

An open run to the jack because

Nel's having to -- Neil's having to

drive his way out of trouble.

Once again, it's not a bad one

around there, but there's an acre of

room for the likes of Greg Harlow.

Another shot on cover.

His problem has often been having to

add weight after his first ball.

Just trying to take some.

Close with

this one. Neatly done.

That is more

like it. Needs a lot more of those.

He had got it back again.

That

hurts. That really hurts.

When you

have played the best ball of the

match and your opponent responds...

Looked lazy.

Three inches.

Greg

conscious of the fact that he does

not want to leave something jack

high. If he is able to pull the jack

back, that is good, but he certainly

won't want to be just up to it and

fall away. That is as expected.

There is not really a lot on here.

He could drive it. He is just trying

to draw it up. Just struggling.

It

is not there.

Greg will be happy the

way this is going, Neal has taken a

lot of shots of him during the set,

but single every time except for one

end, just let the ends run out. He

will be happy with two more singles

and the set will be over.

Good start

for the defending champion. Popular

Englishman here in Perth, but you

got the crowd reaction when Neil

Furman put in that bowl. They love

an underdog in Perth and at the

moment Neil Furman is wearing that

tag. Any significance in the fact he

is varying the jack a lot?

It is

usually, the last thing you want to

do is let a good opponent who does

not play indoor very often get into

any sort of rhythm on the same

length. You want to move it around

very, very slightly, subtly as well,

and just force them to make minor

adjustments. Usually they struggle

with the first bowler to do that so

by that stage you are normally a

couple of shots behind. Greg has

done exactly what the top bowlers

do.

You are always looking to exploit

any weakness there is in an

opponent. The only weakness Neil

Furman really has Izzy does not get

a chance to play on a rink often

enough.

He does have the advantage

of playing in California, though!

That is why I don't have a lot of

sympathy for him! Laguna Beach is

not really a hardship, is it?!

I

certainly would not mind a go there.

It is a nice lifestyle.

I was in

California down near Laguna Beach in

the summer, but I got asked to

leave.

I'm not going there, I am

just leaving that hanging in the

air!

I think the term juxtaposition

was well used.

Once again, Greg getting an

opportunity on his favourite

backhand, just looking to rest the

green bowl all come into the jack

himself. That is very, very good.

Once again he is in a heap of

trouble and once again it really

should be a drive to get out of it.

I think he is in the area for the

jack.

Goodness me. That was close

as, picked one out. Greg will fancy

popping this back, though there are

two green bowls at the back.

One

read also still on.

I think he will

cover the green spot, really, on the

backhand. Takes him into position,

can still win the set. Even if Neill

manages to do anything else, the

best he can hope for is a double.

He

is not reaching for it, he needed

another metre or so. On the line for

the respot, just didn't push it.

Sheik of the head. That is a

surprise. Set life of the defending

champion. -- set lie for the

defending champion. Less weight this

time, bit of a risk, once you go

outside, you don't get back. I'm

surprised he didn't thrashed that

through on another drive to shots

and the first set, Greg Harlow. The

opening set for Greg Harlow. He wins

seven straight ends, scoreline 9-0.

He couldn't ask for much more, could

he? Puts the pressure on, Neil only

played a couple of draw shot that

were impressive in terms of getting

very close. Most of the shots he was

playing were to get out of trouble.

Greg Harlow, good bowler, also good

at hide and Seek, it would appear.

Comes back into view.

Jack length 26

metres.

He has certainly not been

under pressure at all, Greg Harlow.

A chance the Neil Furman, who takes

the jack at the start of this second

set. Best first ball by some

distance.

The American the matter slightly. --

bought the matter up.

That is the first time Greg is going

to be in a bit of bother with his

bowl. Interesting he is on the

inside of the mat, using a ball

reaches of a weaker bias. Going deep

with that one, not sure about that

one. Can't imagine he played that

deliberately.

I was going to say, I

don't think that is intentional in

any way, and that is a fair bit

through.

That suggests he was making sure he

was reaching the jack, if you missed

it he was coming into a useful

place. But still just explore,

really.

That was number two.

Greg Harlow has

come down for a look. He will look

at the backhand... Nothing easy

about this.

He could play that shot if you

really wanted to, there is a chance

he could play off his own ball, take

two out.

We have not seen Greg the

aggressive as yet, so he may decide

to have a little go. He would be

unlucky to lose more than a two.

Beforehand, that is an interesting

choice of shocked. He is an

attacking player. Greg is obviously

feeling comfortable enough to draw

this, the backhand running ball,

anything have happened.

Two shops. -- two shots.

And it is a

popular double in Perth.

Get him off

and running, you don't want to

travel all the way from California

and see a zero scoreline on both

set. He is better than that, Neil

Furman, you really is.

Currently

ranked 17, previously ranked number

21 back in 2004.

He has won two of his last round one

matches in WBT singles events. He

tends to pick on the Welshman.

He

has done when -- he has done well in

Wales, as well. Some good

performances. Semifinalist in the

Welsh event in 2004, and he is

finding it a little bit better in

this second set in Perth.

That is a very good players. Looks

like he has made up his mind,

forehand, forehand, Neil Furman. He

will just go around the clock, as we

call it.

This is the important one. Get this

one in or drag the jack three would

be brilliant, because Greg may be

tempted to run at this. Well...

Just

like the last end, he overcooked his

third bowl and he has done the same.

He has been very conservative by

doing this, but, again, he has to

give it a chance.

If in Neil Furman could find a way

just to take a little touch of the

jack, he is potentially 5-0 up in

this second set. Greg Harlow will

have right of reply.

Has he kept the weight? Needs the

extra power to get past the front

ones.

Look short, all the way. Greg

is looking at that, I just wonder,

if you tempted to play through on

the backhand, he would only lose a

single. No worse off, really. In

fact, it is better. Once again,

shaping up for the forehand.

I'm surprised at that.

It is unusual, we have not seen Greg

Harlow play anything other than a

draw, he is more than capable, we

have seen that in the past.

Especially with only one against him

there. He might have lost the two if

things had gone horribly wrong but

it would have been a bit of a

stretch.

Well, it is interesting,

you deep into the draw, obviously

have a plan to do exactly that, but

there will come a time when running

ball is the better option. He hasn't

managed to draw himself out of

trouble in the last two ends.

Playing forehand all the way,

changed to backhand at the longer

length.

A good opener, though, his

opening bowls have certainly

improved.

Neil Furman draws away, no doubt

Greg will ask for the next one.

The knock on the Green might help.

He is asking whose line now. Not

changed the shop, still draw into

the jack with the green bowl. Nice

to know that the marker fancies your

bowl. Just makes you feel that

little bit better.

Different line, definitely narrower.

Needs to get to the jack, though.

That will do.

He likes this, Greg Harlow.

He has

nailed it.

With good reason. Doesn't

want the bowl to drop, though. Looks

like it is going to stay up, but if

it falls it could go against him. He

is going to look at this in the

forehand as well, just to see if the

green ball has gone under the jack.

And then the red bowl just dropped.

That makes it slightly different.

One green.

Confident call.

It took a

long time for that boulder fall, a

long time, but for the good. -- a

long time for that bowl to fall.

He

could make a three or four out of

this.

It is a bit heavy but if he reaches

his own bowl and falls back he could

make a double. Not the jack... Oh,

well, that was not what he was

hoping to do. So close to giving the

shot away here. A whisker away.

Greg Harlow dominated the first set,

Neil Furman taking the first three

ends of the second. Getting into a

rhythm.

First bowl, that is the key

to it every single time. Get close

to that first bowl, the pressure

goes on your opponent.

The complexion of this match has

changed. Greg Harlow finds himself

with the first set in the bag but a

little bit of pressure in this

second set.

Change of hand required. Greg has

been dropping a few bowls short on

this forehand. Trying to make sure

he is reaching.

Greg's bowl eight inches, your bowl

three inches.

He doesn't want to

make a connection on the forehand

but Greg's bowl might force and

slightly on the wide side.

Time for the heavy stuff. Very

controlled, but he is good at this

shot. Oh, bad result. Very bad

result.

Gently weighted, could have done

with coming just inside that ball,

rather than catching it.

I think Greg will risk this. He will

have to draw it, 5-0 down, if he

misses it, still time in the set. If

he takes a risk, he has two bowls at

the back, he could make three out of

it. He has to get very close to his

own ball if he is going to run at

it.

If it goes wrong and he takes

his own out, he puts himself behind.

I think that is what is in his mind,

if it went totally pear shaped he

could easily have lost 84-macro in

this end. I think he has made the

right decision.

Sometimes you just have to be

cautious. The third ball in that

tent was the problem, really. Didn't

break well the Greg. Cook is above

all out and left him with one. 5-0,

five ends to go.

Still plenty of

time.

Well, all credit, the first set is

what he might want to forget about.

He has come out very strongly in the

second set. The first bowl has had a

massive improvement.

Three and a half inches on the shot,

ten on yours.

Normally he would

approach it on the left. He has been

very conservative in this match.

It will have to come for hand here.

It's got a chance. Big chance for

the Jack.

Unlucky, really. He wanted to move

the green bowl further away. Now,

Neil, you have to go on the

forehand.

He can ignore the jack, it is the

two red bowls he wants to come into

contact with.

Second time doing

this, so he knows the line to take.

Not going to be much help there.

Trailing the jack, a little turn of

the green bowl away.

Fighting it with the weight. Has he

just overplayed it, all enough for

the jack?

Well, even less weight

than I thought. But that was a

brilliant turnaround.

He stopped

halfway down the rink to luck. I

have a feeling he had done it right

and he had.

Would you just draw, or

think about driving at the four?

Playing to disturb.

Never gave it a

chance. I know that sounds harsh.

You could see almost immediately he

started to get too tight.

Forehand

drive gone wrong. Losing a three,

maybe a four. All of a sudden, the

disappears. -- the lead disappears.

Greg Harlow, for four.

Kept it a very wide. Didn't want to

mess with the green bowls at the

front.

He dropped it down. He

normally would have added that. A

little miss. But he is back on the

card, back competitive in the second

set. It will be interesting to see

what Greg Harlow does.

Greg Harlow, on the card in the

second set. Neil Furman needs to win

the set to force a tie break. A

tired set would see Greg Harlow

through. -- tied set.

Jack Lenox, 26.5 metres. -- length.

Greg Harlow, so consistent. He's won

11 of his last 13 events. His last

eight in a row. The opening round of

the singles tournament.

Sticking with the forehand, Neil

Furman. Played it well. Just wants

to run it out.

Five inches short.

One green.

Really won't want to get into a last

end shoot out with Neil Furman,

because you just don't know what

he's going to play. He is an

attacking player. Greg will want to

give himself a bit of a cushion. He

needs this end.

That looked better. It wants to

full-back. -- fall that.

The gap is seven inches.

No choice,

he has to play it. The back and is

full of danger.

This is interesting.

He's going to have to play it wide.

We can't afford to get onto the red

ball. If he gets onto the red ball,

it is onto the jack.

Wow.:.

Tip your cat to him for that one.

That is a brave, brave bowl. That

was unbelievably dangerous in the

position he was in. Just managed to

get his own ball at the perfect

angle. If it hit the red ball, he

was two down and loads of trouble.

Greg Harlow takes a time-out.

Green,

and a measure.

For all the world, all the danger

was there.

The end result is good.

It's going to be a difficult one for

Greg to draw. A bit of weight to

this is the only way out of it, I

think.

The heaviest he has been so

far. He's got to strike something

here. One out.

The green bowl

blocked. The red bowl spun around.

If there was two in it he has

reduced the count. It is damaged

imitation. Unfortunately for Greg,

he has given the all a lot more room

to draw his second shot. This is

really important here. If he gets a

double...

Greg Harlow missed a chance to add

on at the last end. What does Neil

Furman do here with his opportunity?

He is also going to miss. An

interesting game of bowls.

He might come on reflection,

realised he needed that one in.

The defending champion. He is still

not out of the set, but he is

certainly under a lot more pressure.

Three down, three to play. Neil

Furman has to win the sets.

Settled himself well. Got himself

back into the event. He has

tie-break experience on the World

Bowls Tudur. That is what he is

aiming for.

Well played.

APPLAUSE

He certainly made a correction on

the weight. All the way down. That

brings his back bowl into play.

Very

small gap, an eighth of an inch.

Well, problems here for Neil Furman.

If he hits it, it is a toucher. It

was to go into the ditch and the

jack was resting in the confines, it

will go into the ditch and not go to

the side.

Just pushing the bowl out.

His looking for something just

behind the jack to give him an

option with his last bowl. He has a

very good second shot. That helps,

it gives something to play with.

The second bowl, the gap is nine

inches.

Forehand for Greg, he will

not miss the backhand.

Well, it is their for Neil. He just

needs a little tap.

It has also

widened the target.

Close for

second, that changes things

slightly.

He will have to use a

time-out. There are ten seconds left

on the shot clock.

He's looking to

see where the jack is going to go a

few taps a red bowl. It will scamper

along quite quickly.

He just needs an inch or so of

weight. The alternative is to play a

forehand, off his own green bowled,

and he might just get a Nick on the

jack. Neither of the shots are

particularly easy because of the

weight control.

Off the backhand he goes.

Well, he

is certainly trying to arrive at it,

but it looks under. If he had hit it

that hard, the jack would have

whizzed right through to the red

bowl. Would have lost a definite

two. As it is, Greg will be careful

with this.

Coming down the forehand, just wants

to get on the outside, over the

green bowl. Just tucking it around

the corner. Should be a big help for

Greg Harlow.

Well, you didn't want to hit the

inside one. A measure for two.

Just making sure that chocs are set

in place. Take the red ball away.

They never waste any time, just get

it measured. The calipers will come

out.

A double done -- Dan show.

Making sure it is OK. We should just

call them all Dan. Very accurate. I

really like to see the calipers

coming out.

Dan McManus is close to completing

his law studies. Applying some

judgment here. It is green. We would

say at home, not even close!

Well, a big end coming up now. Greg

Harlow, if he scores, he puts

himself in a great position. If he

loses a shot, he loses one, looking

to get a three.

Not exactly the second said that he

was looking for. If he gets over the

line, it will feel like a decent

work-out.

The winner of this match will play

Mervyn King. That will be

interesting.

Such a good, steady player.

Came through against Martyn Hett of

South Africa, without too many

draws.

Just under two feet.

Minimum of one required.

-- Martin Head.

Just before anybody sitting at home

and thinking it is not quite right.

There is always a possibility.

Bowlers do like to be accurate.

This opening bowl does need to

collect the Nick connect -- it does

need to connect. He doesn't want to

lose a three or four.

That looked good from the hand.

There it comes once more.

Here comes the weight. It will be on

the respot. Allowed a shot. Or we

should do.

He will. The bowls have

been picked up, and the jack will be

picked up by Dan. You will watch

where he puts it, because it went

off the side of the rink.

Very

beatable.

Greg knows he needs this one in, he

can't afford a drop shot.

Good enough.

The only thing about being short is

that any tap on the jack makes a

double. It would make such a

difference. Neil Furman, the final

bowl of the end. Driven.

He has given a go at this. Not far

away from the jack.

He's got the

touch.

Middled it.

What a recovery.

Barring disaster, it will go to the

tie-break. It is a four shot lead

going into the final end.

Well, no

mistake, he played at exactly the

right way. As I was saying, Greg

could not afford to be short because

any movement of the jack, he got the

shot but he was always vulnerable.

The smile said everything. It was a

bit ironic, in some ways. But he

knew that bowl coming down was right

on the jack. It's a horrible

feeling.

Yes, when you know it is

happening. This is all about

defending now for Neil Furman. Don't

give your opponent any opportunity.

Good strike, good draw. Picks up the

double. Needs a good first bowl.

APPLAUSE

That should stop a foot or two

behind.

Looks like it's two feet.

Greg will put another one inside

that. I fully expect him to, anyway.

All of a sudden, the pressure starts

to build.

Number two.

He will think about this. It is not

just the two shots, it is the next

two to come in. At a really big bowl

in here, and that's it.

He needs this want to run out.

Dropping it short. It's not going to

help the drive either. Oh dear. Is

he going to let a four go here? One

foot into the tie-break.

All Greg Harlow can do is make no

mistake here. Make sure you draw the

third shot. That is struggling for

weight. Is it up? There is the

mistake.

Oh, dear. Greg will be

thinking, what on earth? That has

taken the pressure off so much.

I can't see Greg making a four out

of this. The back green bowl was not

that far away. He has somehow got to

get his own red one up and stay.

Will there be an added problem

anyway? I said, pressure off.

Pressure off, he draws it.

It beats the very back bowl, it is

close for the other bowl.

He is

looking to try to punch his own bowl

through the green, onto the other

green bowl and hope to get a good

result. Anything is possible, I

suppose. But it's not very probable,

the way it is sitting.

That was OK. It is not going to

matter.

Just one bowl from Bragg. All of the

pressure came off. -- from Greg.

Suddenly it is a tie-break.

Well, it

was unsettled bowls. Neil Furman, by

four ends. Greg Harlow scored twice,

but was in it until the very end. It

was his own error that caused the

problem and the tie-break.

They met previously in Wales, 2011.

Greg Harlow won both sets 9-4. He

has lost the second set here, 9-4.

That is why we have the tie-break.

Three ends, a maximum of three ends.

A maximum of one shot per end as the

jack decides to stay on the very

edge.

28.5 metres.

Greg Harlow is smiling.

It would

have been a massive change, he would

have been able to get his own length

and have the last bowl. But Neil

Furman survives. Once again, a

really good first ball.

Struggling. Again, looked short

immediately.

Didn't get it away

well.

Greg Harlow keeping his eyes firmly

on that.

Going for the correction. Well, it's

not bad, but not quite where he

needs it.

There's the shot.

Necessity of a change of handles

well. Tie-break time, he could force

this. You can afford to be

aggressive in the tie-break. It

doesn't matter if you lose three or

four shots. That is what he's

looking for. It looks narrow. Is he

going to get a result? Nope, not

this time.

Wasn't far away from it.

But he is over on the respot. Watch

this green bowl. There is the respot

on your screen. He's going towards

it. Greg might have to cover that.

That is the choice for Greg Harlow.

Does he try to get the better shot

or come wide?

He's gone for the

better shot but he hasn't pushed it.

He has turned his back on it. The

unintended protector.

You can see

where it is finishing. That makes it

very difficult now. He has come out

of this smelling quite good,

actually. He really has. And he

knows it. The red bowl is

vulnerable, but the important bit

for Greg was the jack is covered. A

good bad one.

There are a few bowlers, not Greg

Harlow, to be fair who... Greg

Harlow there, certainly helping his

cause.

It has just made the shot so

much more difficult, it really has.

He has to come around the red bowl

if he plays the forehand. The option

is to go for it with the backhand,

but the respot is alongside it.

Making the most of this time out,

and why not? It is a crucial point

of the match.

It is all down to wait weight. It is

very strange there, Paul, to think

it was Greg Harlow's third bowl that

was critical in that end. And it was

a yard short by accident.

Interesting times. Of course, on the

end before the final end of the

second set, it was his third bowl

that fell short and it damaged him.

There, it did him some good, so Greg

Harlow, defending champion, Leeds

1-0 in the tie-break. One of 11

former winners of this tournament,

none of whom -- nine of whom line-up

this week. They have not all

survived the first round.

Jack length, 24 metres.

Yes,

first-round... I wouldn't call them

shocks, to be honest. Stewart

Anderson lost to Michael Stepney,

who came in as a Wildcard, but

Michael Stepney is a very good

international player, place a lot of

qualifiers and that was a tough

draw. -- played.

So Greg Harlow taking the opening

end. It is all about one shot per

tie-break end. So Greg Harlow has to

-- Neil Furman has to win this.

He wants that want to run out. It

has improved the position. Well, it

is a target.

Yes and no, he has

offered him a target but on a

tie-break end, when you have the

last ball, got to be worth running

the jack.

Obviously agrees with me. Two bowls

out, the jack is going to run away.

The red Bull will be removed as well

because it is off the rink -- Red

bowl.

There was one in the ditch,

the touch bowl. And the jack will be

put on the spot. Neil Furman has

checked it and it is definitely on.

From that angle in the commentary

box, it looked a little. The

American is happy. He is Greg

Harlow.

You can see that red bowl on the

forehand, that doesn't help the

cause. Playing across the rink is

difficult, you are looking for new

line and new weight. And I would

expect Neil Furman to draw this.

Both players with a bowl to play

after this.

He is struggling for

weight, but it just sneaked up. I

don't think that is going to be

close enough, to be honest. Not with

two goes at it.

If Greg Harlow draws this, it is a

match live.

Certainly a lot more

weight on it.

Always going to be drawing in

towards the jack but it has trucked

on a bit. That is close.

That is

really close.

It is very close, Neil.

Looking at

it because you don't want that red

bowl to drop. He will just draw this

and then get back bowl choked up if

you needed.

Greg Harlow would love

the bowl to fall, keep an eye on

that.

This one is certainly

arriving. It is definitely not

short. He doesn't want to hit the

jack towards the red bowl. Has he?

He has nailed it, good enough. Got

the middle of the jack, not the

edge.

Well, it is a game of inches,

often, and this particular game is

going to go all the way to the final

end of the tie-break. He needed to

make sure he got the right contacts

and he did. So easily could have

gone towards the red bowl.

I'll tell you what, in some game,

considering there was just seven end

s played in the opening set.

Great

does come out of the blocks quickly,

but in the second set, Neil Furman

upped his game a lot.

Jack length,

27 for five metres. -- 27.5 meters.

In round one last year, there were

six tie-break.

All won by the seeded

player.

The last thing you want is something

short and in the way. In a tie-break

situation like this, this is the

only end where you can actually

nominate to destroy the end. Neal's

driving has been key in this match.

So the last thing he wanted was to

be down the rink.

Greg Harlow knows

this is a golden chance to really

put the pressure on.

It is a good

opener.

It is a really good opener.

Could be very valuable. Across the

head a little bit.

Early days, but I've seen these been

hit, jack in the ditch.

That is where he's going. Once the

jack.

Bowl second option. Greg will

put it back. Neal will reckon he was

very close to the jack there.

Some

shot and he has also lifted the

toucher off the rink, so that will

take no further part.

Two inches

away from putting that jack in the

ditch and staying with it. Then is

game over.

The replacement. Centre rink is what

he is looking for, doesn't want to

drift.

And even narrower target.

The thought process, does he go

again does he and draw?

The draw

will bring him inside, won't do any

harm. Once he gets inside his own

ball with controlled weight, he will

be close to something.

He has taken

the time out, gives him an extra 60

seconds to think about this one.

Definitely worth playing inside on

the tie-break, you have to be

aggressive.

He's going for it again.

Just missed the line.

So if you're

Greg Harlow, Julie bit longer and

just go to the back? -- do you leave

it long?

He has the last bowl, I

would leave it. He has so much room

and if Neil is to go again and gets

the bowl, Greg will easily draw it

with his last one. I can see what he

is thinking of, because... He's

going to call time out. He wants to

put another one in, even centreline.

But then you are taking a risk on

Neil drawing the shot. The odds are

against it back to two drives. So it

is a possibility. The alternative is

to go deep, so if the jack does go

in the ditch, you still macro you

still lie.

It is a thrilling end to

the match.

It is a thinking game at

this stage, no doubt about that.

David Gourlay watching with

interest.

So off the forehand, very wide.

Covering both deep and the re-spot.

Well, it is a default shot in many

ways. If you are not quite sure

where the best position is with

regards to your opponent and what

they are going to play, go deep.

There is always a chance of the ball

going under the jack and running

through.

Time-out called.

You make a

good point, it is hard going back to

drawing when you have had

amber-macro: Drives.

I think you

will go through

When you have had two drives.

It is about big moments and big

shots. Can Neil Furman find the

bigshot required?

Is he too wide.

--? Looks wide to me. I think Greg

has managed to get through this one.

Greg Harlow has survived. He has

survived an exceptionally good

second set from Neil Furman, who

played a very good tie-break, Greg

Harlow, and the defending champion

gets his way through past the

American, Neil Furman.

The opening set, 9-0, wasn't

competitive. The second certainly

was and the tie-break was pretty

terrific. Greg Harlow by 2-1.

STUDIO: It was a fascinating game,

we knew it was going to be a tough

one, Neil Furman is a tough

competitor, but Greg Harlow got out

of the blocks really quickly, ball

after ball going to their head and

Neil Furman was just in survival

mode, no doubt about that. But the

second set was completely different

as we saw a refreshed Neil Furman

coming back, having not scored the

first set, losing 9-0, to take the

second 9-4. Greg Harlow, that was

the time he scored the three on the

fifth end to try and make his way

back into the set but Neil Furman

played a perfect bowl on the eighth

end, took a four shot lead into the

end of the set, which was enough to

get him over the line. And then

picked up the jack for an absolutely

cracking situation. That was

brilliant, no doubt about it. But

when it comes to tie-breaks, Greg

Harlow is very, very good and bad

third bowl, albeit four feet away,

was critical for Greg Harlow to win

at ten. Neil Furman picks up the

second end but the third, he just

couldn't do enough and Greg Harlow

gets over the line.

Greg Harlow

dominated that opening set and in

the end, not much in it in terms of

ends won, but Greg Harlow was the

more consistent player. The

defending champion is through to

round number two of the Scottish

international.

It is fair to say it is a relieved

Greg Harlow standing next to me.

That

Greg Harlow standing next to me.

That is hard work but you are

through to the second round.

Absolutely, started really well but

Neil came back strong in the second

set and deserved it and it is

matchplay bowls, tie-breaks could go

either way and fortunately for me,

it was time to scrape through one.

Neil, a tough game but the first set

in particular, he was flying away

from you but you got your line and

length sorted in the second.

Yes, I

started off a bit scrappy and Greg

was hot from the go. I realised

after five or six ends that that set

was gone, so I just started trying

to calm myself of the second set and

the tie-break is anyone's game. I

put myself under pressure on the

third end of the tie-break by

dropping a short bowl and couldn't

really see a clean jack. Greg played

two really good shots when I took

the one out. He played very well, he

is very hard to beat.

We know all

about that, he is a fine competitor.

Let's talk about the second set,

because in the second set, Neil did

Let's talk about the second set,

because in the second set, Neil did

get away from you, he was 5-0 up at

this point and you got back in with

a three, it was an important one

that maybe could get you back into

the second set.

Neil kept scoring on

good ends and I knew I had to score

really quickly. I played a great

conversion here, just turning the

jack for three and to be honest, I

was slightly disappointed with my

fourth bowl, but it was me back in

the set. But still not enough

obviously to win the set. But it

certainly got me back into it.

Neil

your drive on that particular shot,

you missed that one but you went on

to win the second set and you must

have been pleased about the way you

were playing because you seemed to

have him on the ropes.

On a few

ends, I put my first bowl just in

front of the jack and that makes

such a big difference, you can put

your opponent under pressure and in

the first set, I wasn't doing that.

That's what I was facing most of the

time!

That's what I was facing most of the

time!

Greg, you are through now, you

have won this for the last two

years, you won the International

open three years in a row a few

years back. I know you don't like

also to look too far ahead, but you

are in the second round so there is

no reason that you can't.

At this

point in time, five minutes ago, to

be in the second round, I'm very

relieved. I'm certainly not going to

look too far ahead. Michael had made

Mervyn is waiting for me in the

second round, we have played 50 odd

times, it will be a great run.

Neil,

commiserations, great performance

but Greg Harlow, congratulations,

through to the second round.

Thank

you very much.

He is such a competitor, he really

is, unbelievable. He is through to

the second round, let's tell you who

else is through so far.

the second round, let's tell you who

else is through so far. Jamie

Szczesny is through, he will play

Andy Thomson -- Jamie Chestney.

Foster and Gale is the match coming

up next.

Well, of course, last year Greg

Harlow wonders for the second time

in a row and he beat Paul Foster.

Paul went on

in a row and he beat Paul Foster.

Paul went on to win the world

championship for the fifth time. He

is back here in Perth this year and

he's determined to do some damage.

It is always good to relax and play

golf. It is not often I get a chance

to play. My golf compared to my

bowls is nonexistent. The Scottish,

I normally play quite well, the only

thing that has given me a couple of

sleepless nights was a schoolboy

error. If I cover the back, the

championship looks like it is going

to be

championship looks like it is going

to be mine.

One of these men is

about to win the Scottish

International Open for the third

time. That has pace and power. But

it has not got the accuracy. Greg

Harlow takes the title.

it has not got the accuracy. Greg

Harlow takes the title.

I'm just

glad to be having the opportunity to

go into another final. Obviously up

against Greg again, a wee bit of a

rematch.

against Greg again, a wee bit of a

rematch. Went into the tie-break, I

played the two tie-break and is very

well and won 2-0.

Punches the air,

he has got his fifth title.

I

haven't won the World

he has got his fifth title.

I

haven't won the World Championships

for six years, since 2011 and things

go through your mind, are you going

to get another one? I did think

myself I was capable of doing it and

I know if I play like I can, I have

a chance in any tournament. Emotions

are pretty high, all the family back

home are pleased for me to have a

world title, so it was a good two

weeks.

World Indoor Singles

Championship Paul Foster, MBE.

I am

one behind Alex now, but it doesn't

make any difference to me. There are

guys who haven't won it once, let

alone six times. I am very fortunate

to be on five. If I get six, if I

get seven, great. If I don't, I

can't complain. I am always looking

forward to the Scottish open, it

being here in Scotland than the

first tournament of the year. Just

want to get off to a good start,

play well and see how things happen

from there. Every year is a

different year and I always set

myself to a high standard. You can't

look any further than the first

round. As I say, I have been in the

final five times, won twice and lost

three. I can't complain what I have

done in the day and if I get to

another final, great.

Paul Foster with a very smooth

swing, you would expect that from

one of the smoothest deliveries on

the World Bowls Tour. Today, he's up

against the local Chris Gale and

Chris is carrying over some --

something of an injury this week.

I am due to run the Manchester

marathon in April, so I was playing

a bit of football, five-a-side, a

couple of weeks ago. Put my foot in

the ground, weight went over the

knee and the knee went snap,

literally heard the noise.

Originally thought it was just a

ruptured, well, not just a ruptured,

but my knee ligaments and I found

out on Friday just before I

travelled up, it is a fracture of

the tibia. Looks like just below the

knee cap, so a little bit painful,

not ideal preparation, but it is

what it is, I am here to play. This

is the third time I have been at

Perth and every time I have been in

the first round, I have played Paul.

So it is being, they should just

make the draw and we will play each

other every time. We will see what

happens but obviously I have a

slight injury, I am impaired but I

think only to make it there, Paul

should play with his right arm

behind his back.

Well, he has never

made it to a final on the World

Bowls Tour but his semifinal

appearance in Perth last year was as

the result of some really impressive

bowling. Chris play set of the

Heaton Park club in Manchester and

is relishing the prospect of going

toe to toe with the current world

champion. Ladies and gentlemen,

please welcome to the Dewars Centre

in Perth, Chris Gale.

MUSIC: Love Machine

Having not been out of the world's

top six for the last 16 years tells

you all you need to know about Paul

Foster. Strong, tenacious and

fiercely competitive on the rink and

thoroughly nice fit. A fine

combination. Ladies and gentlemen,

give a warm welcome to the current

world champion, Paul Foster. MUSIC:

Eye of the Tiger by Survivor

This should be a really fine match

indeed, Paul Foster is in great form

and looking very comfortable indeed

and Paul Mitchell and David

Goodwillie will take you through

this, open the commentary box.

You have got to be consistent and

repetitive and all of a sudden, you

find yourself with a cane to help

you balance and your whole delivery

has two change.

And if I was David

Gourlay in, jukebox, I would help

him even more, but as it is, David

Cordle is here, so he is in trouble!

He has to find a way to find the

rhythm and the balance. We have seen

players play with a walking aid

before, but they have been doing it

for years, not just a couple of

months.

Well, it is about with a man

I have been

months.

Well, it is about with a man

I have been watching Chris and he is

getting the bowl away smoothly but

obviously, it is a balance thing as

well and it could well be a slightly

slower game because of the walking

up and down. He won't be able to

visit the heads the same way, that

is going to be a problem.

Operating with a stick isn't really

a big problem if you are used to it

and do it all the time, but whenever

it has just been introduced into the

game because of an injury, it makes

it very, very difficult. I think he

is probably doing very well to be

out there.

Ranking points are

important.

And just looking, by the way he

delivered that, if this game goes on

nine ends in the first set and maybe

six, seven in the second, he may not

even make this match.

The pain is

going to be there, isn't it? That is

the problem, the pain.

You know, the painkillers will take

care of a certain amount of it but

he will still get spikes in the pain

going beyond what painkillers can

do. That is where the problem will

lie.

He has given it a go, but it is

going to be

Running bowl, inside, looking for

the jack. He will take that every

time. We may see an awful lot more

of that, actually, as well, because

he can't visit their heads.

Paul

Foster left a target with his third

falling short. He has been

penalised. So Paul Foster had to

bowl to the ditch, the green marker

on it for the bowl and there is the

yellow marker there for the jack,

where it is located. It looks well

short.

That is a surprise from Paul Foster,

three or four yard short.

He was looking for second shot, that

is all he needed, he wasn't going to

risk that, so job done.

Chris Gale gets on the scorecard.

When these players last bed, he took

the opening end against Paul Foster

and then lost 14 shots in six ends.

When these players -- when these

players last met.

It will be

interesting to see what Paul Foster

does. When you have an injury, it

can be quite difficult to play short

jack lengths. It will be interesting

to see if Paul goes short with this.

Well, relatively so.

Certainly not the forehead that

Chris was looking for -- the full

head.

Paul Foster likes short jack

lengths, he is very accurate.

Both men sporting extra growth on

their faces I notice. It's trendy.

I

believe so.

It is the year of the

beard, David Corkhill alongside me

sporting the newly fashioned beard.

Newly fashioned and suitably grey.

I

was looking for a word that didn't

involve grey, but I couldn't find

one!

Last time I had one it was

dark, but it's gone grey now.

Watch Chris play this, you can see

where the prog is on the leg. --

where the problem is on the leg.

Everything has to slow down and that

puts extra pressure on.

Anybody with a leg or ankle injury,

it's difficult to play short jack.

That's another one coming in. May be

tempted on the back hand here to try

and get into this, take two bowls

away, move the jack back.

Let's it go very smoothly.

That's

what he was after. The jack off the

bowl. It's a really bonus that he

stuck to it. That was glued to the

jack on the way through.

Beautifully played. He got the

result. It's being to be hard for

Paul Foster. All he can do is try

and get that dead draw.

He's given it every chance. Just

going to fall short.

Once again securing the second shot

with the last bowl.

I have a feeling you are going to

see a lot of those strong shots from

Chris. I don't think he has any

choice. Paul will continue to put

them close.

He is trying thoeld it up T will

drift a little bit. It's not -- he

is trying to hold it up. It will

drift a little bit. I will settle

for it, but that's no marker.

How is the weight?

It's good there.

That's perfect.

That's what Paul's

going to do and I think Chris will

be forced into playing weight again.

Just drifted around the jack. Left

the target.

Close again.

Oh! Well, that's... Pretty horrible

result in the end. Moving the jack

in behind the bowl. But he has got

second.

Two green bowls are off the rink,

one either side.

I think they're

checking to see about one bowl.

Maybe at the edge. They're having to

get a Pete of apparatus out from the

far end of the rink -- get a piece.

I thought they lifted it out. They

are calling for the scope.

It's

going to be hard because they've to

put something else in into the

middle of the rink marker. There is

the telescopic sight. Mike is

working his way around that.

Yeah, it's in the middle of the

yellow to see if that's in or not. I

have a feeling it probably is. There

you go. He takes it out. Why did I

say that!

Say I thought it was out

on the way.

Absolutely! Of course.

Life's wonderful!

It's only Monday.

Well, back to the draw game for

Chris I think on this occasion.

An

inch in front of the tee and three

inches to your right side.

Forehand

then and just try and get a really

good close bowl.

What a great effort. That's a good

bowl. Good second. Wonder will Paul

be tempted here? He has a shot

available on the back hand. Not sure

if he is going to play it. Well, he

is walking down. I think it's pretty

safe on the back hand, he can rest

the green bowl, push his own bowl on

to the jack for potentially three

shots. But there's an element of

risk if he wings it off. He is

playing the forehand to take the

bowls out.

Or to get his own. It's really his

own he wants.

And that's... Oh, my goodness,

that's what I was saying, there was

an element of risk, but he got away

with it.

It's been a fascinating game so far.

Nearly took himself out. A little

nick would have brought two or

three.

I think it was the right shot

to play, when you are getting off to

a start like this, you want to take

the opportunities to score three or

four.

The man who was runner-up last

season gets himself on the score

card.

They met in round one last season.

Foster triumphed.

That's the first set that didn't

take too long. But the second set

eight ends, 7-3. Chris Gale is a

very good player. He plays in a lot

of competitions. An international

standard player. A lot of

qualifiers, comes over to Belfast on

a regular basis to play in them, as

well.

He is all over it.

APPLAUSE

Very calm player, Chris Gale.

When you are playing the world

champion, have to stay calm and play

your shots.

A gap of eight inches.

He is worried he is going to touch

this away. You could see it early.

And he may well have done. Just held

on. But realising that he was going

to play onto his own.

Paul Foster down the back hand,

looking for a little touch on the

jack. Not going to get there.

Just

six inches away from the perfect

bowl. Not really a spare shot

opportunity. However, if he comes

off the red he could tuck the jack

around the corner and make a three.

Just needs to get into the split

between the red bowl and the jack.

Oh, well played.

APPLAUSE

Brilliant draw.

Some players might

have left it alone, he had

confidence. Beautifully done.

I

think it was a good shot, it wasn't

easy but it was the right shot to

play.

Interesting, given the injury he has

had, once all is healed and well,

whether his football career will

come to a halt.

Maybe the career bit

is generous! But he is out there

kicking a ball and that's great.

That counts as a career! Doesn't

matter whether you make it at the

top level, that's your career.

I

think he might have to have serious

thoughts about giving it up. It's

hard enough to take Paul Foster on

when you are fully fit. But a

monumental task. So he is doing

well.

Chris Gale's club hosts the

International Open and he is always

a different competitor when he

qualifies for that.

The adjustment's been made.

APPLAUSE

A snap of the fingers.

Yeah, he

knows there's something wrong. Don't

think the line's too bad.

It's not a bad thing when you know

from the mat you are heavy and you

prove to be.

Either that or he is

over the line for the yard shot. He

is certainly in a good position to

move the jack.

Paul will be looking for that bowl

to drop. Could be two.

Three inches

past jack high with a gap of three

inches.

A better line.

Oh, he got the wrong

side. Might just hold up, but then

his own green bowl bounced back to

the red and tapped him out. Definite

two. A possible three he could lose

in this end.

Paul Foster felt he was on the same

line and wanted the result.

APPLAUSE

Should have had his hand held out

there. But looked good all the way.

Wonder if he thought it was not

coming back. But in it came. And

it's three for the Scot.

Well, no

mercy in that one. Again not an easy

spare shot to add. But played it

well.

And now we are getting into the very

short stuff. 25-and-a-half maybe?

25 metres.

Good opening bowl from Paul Foster.

You mentioned that playing Paul

Foster is hard enough, but I am

wondering if the fact that he is

having to concentrate so much on the

balance with the walking aid,

whether it perversely might be

helping him?

Two ways of looking at

it. He is having to factor in a lot

of things that he would normally

take for granted. But you also have

to bear in mind Chris is going into

this match with absolutely no

pressure on. Second favourite

against the world champion, and

that's no disrespect to Chris, but

he knows that himself. He also has

an injury, so I think he would be

saying to himself I can make this

competitive, it would be good. So

far, it's exactly what he has been

doing. So, he is in a good place at

the minute.

Anything behind the jack for Paul

would be perfect. Doesn't want to

drop back on the green one.

A gap of seven inches.

Just over it.

Well, again setting up a position at

the back. Just looks like it's agony

out there at times, when he is

moving around. Probably OK when he

is on the go up and down the rink.

It's the stop-start movements that's

the problem.

Oh, this is close for another.

This is a difficult one, because he

would love to attack it but he only

has the one bowl so he can't afford

to. If he wings his own bowl out he

will lose four. So just a draw.

Again the hand is out saying easy.

He is not far away from getting to

his own and dropping in. He knew he

was not getting back in time.

One

shot Paul Foster.

APPLAUSE

Paul Foster goes into the lead in

the set for the first time. Credit

to Paul, he is trying to do most of

the kicking back of the bowls to

save his opponent.

Yeah, the guys

all know each other and it doesn't

get to the level of any problems

that way and Paul and Chris have

known each other for years through

international play and various other

events.

He won that in Belfast, typical Paul

Foster.

Unbelievable is almost every day for

Paul Foster.

He also took the pairs title in the

Scottish indoor.

Two bowls from Paul Foster, getting

very consistent.

Still two red. Once again Paul

Foster following down. Big swing on

his bowls and he always plays off

the outside of the mat, Paul Foster.