Final - Live

0:01:14 > 0:01:19MUSIC: "Rolling In The Deep" by Aretha Franklin

0:01:21 > 0:01:24LAUGHTER

0:01:25 > 0:01:31It's almost time for the final, ladies and gentlemen. Last Saturday,

0:01:31 > 0:01:3432 bowl is representing ten nations came here to be Dewars Centre in

0:01:34 > 0:01:39Perth, and it has all come down to this. An all Scottish affair in the

0:01:39 > 0:01:45final, it's Michael Stepney against David Gourlay.

0:01:45 > 0:01:49Hello and a warm welcome to Perth. It's been an extraordinary week of

0:01:49 > 0:01:53bowling, and these two guys have been the best players of the week.

0:01:53 > 0:01:58They are top the pile, and today's final will be a cracker I urge you

0:01:58 > 0:02:02to stick around. It is amazing how these boys got to

0:02:02 > 0:02:07the final, but they have been playing so well week.The big names

0:02:07 > 0:02:11have dropped at the hands of both finalists, particularly Michael

0:02:11 > 0:02:15Stepney, coming in as a wild card. Hasn't he done well. Incredibly

0:02:15 > 0:02:21well. We know all about David Gourlay, he has been in the top 16

0:02:21 > 0:02:25since 1996, so he knows what to do to pick up trophies.That's the year

0:02:25 > 0:02:30he won the world singles, provisionally number two in the

0:02:30 > 0:02:33world. No matter what happens, that is where he will be for the next

0:02:33 > 0:02:39event. Really, Michael Stepney, of course, he is now in the top 16

0:02:39 > 0:02:43provisionally.Extraordinary. Look at David, he is the Scottish coach

0:02:43 > 0:02:48now as well. Huge experience, and also, he might be looking at Michael

0:02:48 > 0:02:52for future Commonwealth Games, but David is a guy who knows how to win

0:02:52 > 0:02:56tournaments.Absolutely. The only problem for David is he can't pick

0:02:56 > 0:02:59himself, that is where the difficulty is. He is more than good

0:02:59 > 0:03:05enough, we know that. But he is a finalist specialist, he has been

0:03:05 > 0:03:08there so often, he knows how to handle pressure, but what is

0:03:08 > 0:03:12pressure to Michael Stepney.At the start of the week, he knocked out

0:03:12 > 0:03:16Stuart Anderson, and Stuart is a great player. We know about him.

0:03:16 > 0:03:20Lots of seeds have been knocked out on the way to the final, including

0:03:20 > 0:03:28Paul Foster.That is the key to it. Michael handles really well. Once

0:03:28 > 0:03:33you get past Paul Foster, Juneau you can win. That is where everything

0:03:33 > 0:03:38evens up, it is a wild card against a top see, but the reality is it is

0:03:38 > 0:03:42an evens much.I looked at the odds, bookmakers usually know what they

0:03:42 > 0:03:49talking about, and it is an evens match. The betting is so tight.11-2

0:03:49 > 0:03:56in his first match, we all know it was much tighter than that. If you

0:03:56 > 0:03:59guys got their Christmas presents paid for on that on the basis of

0:03:59 > 0:04:0311-2, but they have woken up to it. It is going to be tight, fantastic

0:04:03 > 0:04:09and wonderful, but how did both of them get here? Have a look at this.

0:04:12 > 0:04:17It was a game of two halves, the first set, I played really well, got

0:04:17 > 0:04:24really good on the short ends. He lengthened the jack a little bit,

0:04:24 > 0:04:28and I struggled a little bit, but he played really, really well. Then we

0:04:28 > 0:04:32got into the tie-breaker, and it is anybody's game in a tie-break.

0:04:32 > 0:04:37He is one of the rising stars of the sport, he has qualified through the

0:04:37 > 0:04:42qualifying process many times, runner up before, I knew it was

0:04:42 > 0:04:50going to be tough. Thankfully, the short jacks didn't suit him on the

0:04:50 > 0:04:54day. I was happy with the way I played.

0:04:54 > 0:05:01A game, you have to try to get in and get the bowls as close as you

0:05:01 > 0:05:05can. You have to do as best as you can to keep the pressure on your

0:05:05 > 0:05:09opponent. I thought I did that very well against Perry, keeping him

0:05:09 > 0:05:12under pressure, and I managed to sneak through both sets.

0:05:12 > 0:05:17I knew it would be a tough game against Mark, but again, the short

0:05:17 > 0:05:22jacks seemed to help me. I was happy to be in the quarterfinal.

0:05:22 > 0:05:26That was my best game. I was getting better and better each game as it

0:05:26 > 0:05:31went on. I thought I played a really, really solid game against

0:05:31 > 0:05:34Mervyn, and put him under a lot of pressure.

0:05:34 > 0:05:39He was more consistent than me, but a good conversion shot at the right

0:05:39 > 0:05:43time, and that saw me over the line. I have played poorly few times now,

0:05:43 > 0:05:49and you know what you're going to get. You get a dog-eared game.

0:05:49 > 0:05:57Unfortunately for him, he struggled. He struggled on his line. But I had

0:05:57 > 0:06:01to keep going, get my bowls in and put pressure on.

0:06:01 > 0:06:07COMMENTATOR:Beautifully played. Darren is one of the hardest players

0:06:07 > 0:06:14to play against. He never missed a drive.

0:06:14 > 0:06:19COMMENTATOR: That is a result. A couple of bad results for Darren,

0:06:19 > 0:06:23a four and a three through a gap, and that was the difference in the

0:06:23 > 0:06:26game. David is a class act, and has been

0:06:26 > 0:06:31for many years. I have played him a couple of times, and unfortunately

0:06:31 > 0:06:35come out the wrong side twice. Very close games, and hopefully, I can

0:06:35 > 0:06:39get one back. Never underestimate Michael Stepney,

0:06:39 > 0:06:42he is one of the best players in Scotland, if not one of the best

0:06:42 > 0:06:47players in the UK, and he has proven it this week. He is a hard and

0:06:47 > 0:06:50fierce competitor. It will be a great atmosphere today. Really

0:06:50 > 0:06:58looking forward to it. It's an all Scotland affair in the

0:06:58 > 0:06:58final,

0:06:58 > 0:06:59It's an all Scotland affair in the final, let's remind ourselves how

0:06:59 > 0:07:04they got there in round one, Stewart Anderson was put to the sword by

0:07:04 > 0:07:09Michael Stepney, then Perry Martin in the second round. Mervyn King in

0:07:09 > 0:07:12the quarterfinals, and five-time world champion Paul Foster yesterday

0:07:12 > 0:07:16in the semifinal. For David Gourlay, it looks like

0:07:16 > 0:07:19this, Damian Doubler in the first round, Mark Royal in the second,

0:07:19 > 0:07:24Nick Brett, a great quarterfinal, and Darren Burnett in the semifinal.

0:07:24 > 0:07:25Nick Brett, a great quarterfinal, and Darren Burnett in the semifinal.

0:07:25 > 0:07:30Both players playing amazingly well on their way to the final this year.

0:07:30 > 0:07:35If you look at that, it is a slightly easier route for David

0:07:35 > 0:07:38Gourlay, but nonetheless, playing some big players.Exactly. Nick

0:07:38 > 0:07:43Brett has been in the final 2-3 times and Darren Burnett did a

0:07:43 > 0:07:48superb champion. In some respects, because David has been a top-ranked

0:07:48 > 0:07:51player, there is nothing between them. We will focus on Michael being

0:07:51 > 0:07:55the wild card and coming through all the top seeds.How will this go?I

0:07:55 > 0:08:02am with the bookies on it, it is even. A lot of people talking to me

0:08:02 > 0:08:05asking who I think will win and I cannot pick a winner. The only

0:08:05 > 0:08:10slight difference may be that David is used to the final. It is balanced

0:08:10 > 0:08:13out by Michael being a cool guy and pressure doesn't faze him.Not at

0:08:13 > 0:08:19all. Talking for ages might get them in a state, should we get them out?

0:08:19 > 0:08:24I think we should.Thank you to David Corkill, let's get the

0:08:24 > 0:08:29gladiators out onto the rink here at the Dewars Centre in Perth for the

0:08:29 > 0:08:31final of the Co-op Funeralcare Scottish International Open 2017,

0:08:31 > 0:08:35David Gourlay and Michael Stepney.

0:08:36 > 0:08:43CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:09:29 > 0:09:32A wonderful patriotic start in Perth, this should be a wonderful

0:09:32 > 0:09:36match. David Corkill is in the commentary box

0:09:36 > 0:09:40match. David Corkill is in the commentary box.

0:09:44 > 0:09:49DAVID CORKILL: What a battle between two Scots, the first all Scottish

0:09:49 > 0:09:53final in the Scottish International Open since 2002, when David Gourlay

0:09:53 > 0:09:59and Darren Burnett got his only title win here in Scotland in this

0:09:59 > 0:10:03event.

0:10:08 > 0:10:13David Gourlay gets us underway, Scottish International Open final of

0:10:13 > 0:10:172017.

0:10:18 > 0:10:23APPLAUSE That's not a bad way to start to

0:10:23 > 0:10:27afternoon's work.

0:10:35 > 0:10:41Michael Stepney has been coolness personified this week. He had to

0:10:41 > 0:10:45bring that to the final as well.

0:10:53 > 0:10:59Yes, it will be essential that Michael just put everything behind

0:10:59 > 0:11:03him now, the big wins, big successes of the week, concentrate on this

0:11:03 > 0:11:08one. It won't make any difference with Michael, he really is a calm

0:11:08 > 0:11:13guy. David Gourlay will test him today.APPLAUSE

0:11:25 > 0:11:29Both these players starting off on the backhand, which has been

0:11:29 > 0:11:34preferred by most, heading away from the commentary box, and that's why.

0:11:34 > 0:11:40Pushing it through. It was just going to see it around.

0:11:40 > 0:11:43Unfortunately, he got the jack.

0:12:01 > 0:12:05He walked back very quickly after watching that one go up. He realised

0:12:05 > 0:12:10he was short. Does he get in the way of the draw?

0:12:15 > 0:12:27Change of hand, two, four Michael Stepney. -- change of hand, too,

0:12:27 > 0:12:32from Michael Stepney.

0:12:35 > 0:12:40Is onto it.That won't help his next ball.

0:13:00 > 0:13:06There's two in it, Michael would be attacking, but with just one shot,

0:13:06 > 0:13:10he might decide to put a little on his last, to try to draw this off.

0:13:25 > 0:13:33He's gone under. REFEREE:Taken, Gourlay.APPLAUSE

0:13:36 > 0:13:40A steady start, one shot, it won't disturb the guys too much. Just

0:13:40 > 0:13:47won't want to lose big counts, that's all.As you can see from the

0:13:47 > 0:13:53graphic there, its 11 ends. The matches, the first 30 of them up to

0:13:53 > 0:13:57the final, from rounds one, two, quarterfinal and semifinal, nine and

0:13:57 > 0:14:09affairs. The final extended to 11. Normal for most world tour events to

0:14:09 > 0:14:14have the final over a longer distance. Normally 25 ends is a

0:14:14 > 0:14:19potential there. It is an opportunity to destroy the ends, so

0:14:19 > 0:14:28it could go even further. We could be in a strange way in for 26 ends.

0:14:28 > 0:14:33Settled in and ready to go.Should be more than enough to separate two

0:14:33 > 0:14:43players.

0:14:59 > 0:15:02APPLAUSE

0:15:27 > 0:15:34That's not bad either, you know. This could be a terrific final.

0:15:58 > 0:16:02Just a little short.

0:16:07 > 0:16:12Michael doesn't let much disturb him, no doubt about that. As we have

0:16:12 > 0:16:17said many, many times, he's focused on the game. He doesn't worry about

0:16:17 > 0:16:25anything, just gets on with it. APPLAUSE

0:16:25 > 0:16:31Well, he is really locking the bowls in. There is a shot on here for

0:16:31 > 0:16:34David if he wants to play it, not particularly easy, but it's

0:16:34 > 0:16:40available to him if the backhand is only a draw, but if he really wants

0:16:40 > 0:16:46to play to get something out of this head, he can play on the forehand,

0:16:46 > 0:16:51tap that bowl, the jack would be extended from where it is at the

0:16:51 > 0:16:55moment through to the bowl, and that is where it would sit. It would be a

0:16:55 > 0:17:02safe shot, he would be a lucky if anything went wrong. He could hit

0:17:02 > 0:17:06his own red bowl, and knock the other one out. With the backhand,

0:17:06 > 0:17:09everything has to be absolutely perfect. More of a margin of error

0:17:09 > 0:17:15on the forehand.Players get time outs so they can choose to play.

0:17:15 > 0:17:23David Gourlay has just used his first one.That's what he's going

0:17:23 > 0:17:25for.

0:17:27 > 0:17:34This is going to be interesting. Oh... He's unlucky. He's really

0:17:34 > 0:17:41lucky to come out of that two down. He was two down already, he's two

0:17:41 > 0:17:45down now, but the problem is there is more room for Michael Stepney to

0:17:45 > 0:17:51add a third. It was a really good effort, too.It's the extra tap on

0:17:51 > 0:17:55the green bowl, that is what it was, on the way through.

0:18:02 > 0:18:08Michael's waving at this, it's trying its best to get back. Not

0:18:08 > 0:18:18quite. That's a chance missed.On the card in the final, but it's a

0:18:18 > 0:18:21two, but a three was potentially there.

0:18:56 > 0:19:00REFEREE:Jack at 35.5 metres.

0:19:02 > 0:19:13An experienced player.Yes, and a well-established player at the back

0:19:13 > 0:19:19end of the rink as well. He's got all the shots.

0:19:35 > 0:19:37APPLAUSE

0:20:03 > 0:20:12Good adjustment. The last end was the key to scoring, getting the

0:20:12 > 0:20:16first two balls in. That's going to be the case for most players, put

0:20:16 > 0:20:19the pressure on early.

0:20:22 > 0:20:25Dropped it short.

0:20:30 > 0:20:34REFEREE:The gap is about 8.5 inches.

0:20:41 > 0:20:49He's dropped that under the line. We have seen that a couple of times,

0:20:49 > 0:21:07off the Mata and up the rink. -- off the match. Work for this one to come

0:21:07 > 0:21:16back. He wants to fall in on his own bowl, which would be good.

0:21:19 > 0:21:22The two players are chatting away at the middle of the end. This is when

0:21:22 > 0:21:30you know your opponent so well.

0:21:40 > 0:21:47Better this time. He got a chance on his own bowl.APPLAUSE

0:21:53 > 0:21:57That's going to change things, because the backhand is really out

0:21:57 > 0:22:03of commission now. The red ball on the jack is going to come onto the

0:22:03 > 0:22:09other red bowl, by the look of it. But there is a gap on the forehand.

0:22:09 > 0:22:15It's interesting, because that's the second time out David Gourlay's

0:22:15 > 0:22:22taken. Now, we're only three ends incomer four remaining.There is a

0:22:22 > 0:22:26shot there. The problem with that shot is, you need everything

0:22:26 > 0:22:33precise. The backhand offers a shot, just to move the bowl and get a

0:22:33 > 0:22:40cynic on the jack. But again, it is very tight and narrow.

0:22:40 > 0:22:46David Gourlay juggling the bowled before he plays it.Going for the

0:22:46 > 0:22:55forehand.He's pulled it across. It depends on what gets hit up.I think

0:22:55 > 0:23:00he's come out of this OK. He's waved a hand. It's a fortunate result, and

0:23:00 > 0:23:12he knows it.He's got the short. Have a look at this angle. From our

0:23:12 > 0:23:17angle at the far end, it looked like he did enough for the short. Michael

0:23:17 > 0:23:26Stepney will be relieved to see it is a one for him.

0:23:28 > 0:23:33Hard to tell the angles, when the jack is getting moved around like

0:23:33 > 0:23:42that.He didn't get the result he wanted, but good, entertaining

0:23:42 > 0:23:51bowls.Some of the young players. One of them has disappeared out of

0:23:51 > 0:23:55the arena, and he will be terribly disappointed not to get on the

0:23:55 > 0:24:02television.Timing is everything. Wonderful, it has been set up to get

0:24:02 > 0:24:07kids involved in the game of bowls from 10-17, so much interest in

0:24:07 > 0:24:12bowls. One of the players whose birthday is today, John Mackay is

0:24:12 > 0:24:1911, and he wanted to spend it at the polls.There he is. Give us a wave.

0:24:19 > 0:24:25You are allowed a wave.They are always generous, because they bring

0:24:25 > 0:24:29down some of the lovely tablet for us.

0:24:35 > 0:24:44Got to keep focused.We are focused on the match, but it has been sent

0:24:44 > 0:24:56down for us, and the crew.The crew haven't had any.Blame the umpires.

0:24:56 > 0:25:00David Gourlay, once again, after a good start.

0:25:10 > 0:25:14This is where he once this incomer just to apply the pressure, come

0:25:14 > 0:25:20around the corner, it is a really good place.Normally, Michael

0:25:20 > 0:25:25wouldn't waste any time here, he would go for the two bowls, but it

0:25:25 > 0:25:28is a small target. Going for it anyway.Not wasting any time, looks

0:25:28 > 0:25:36accurate, got the strike.Wow, good strike. Bang on target, no argument

0:25:36 > 0:25:48about the result.So the jack will go on the respot, and a smile stop

0:25:48 > 0:25:51REFEREE:Two read.

0:25:53 > 0:26:01He is from the head, but plays out of the Elgin club, nine miles away.

0:26:01 > 0:26:08He puts it on his profile. Elgin is the largest club closest to him.

0:26:08 > 0:26:16Away down the side and all the way in. Very good, David.Beautiful

0:26:16 > 0:26:30bowl. I live in a small village, back home. But I am really on the

0:26:30 > 0:26:36Bagnaia area no one has ever heard of the village.Good reply after a

0:26:36 > 0:26:43full drive. That is accurate, it really is.

0:26:46 > 0:26:55Such a difficult shot to play, and to an offset jack.Final ball of the

0:26:55 > 0:27:01end, David Gourlay.He's looking to see if he's protected here, because

0:27:01 > 0:27:10if he is, he'll go for it. And he has.It is just going to go past.

0:27:20 > 0:27:24REFEREE:Set score 4-1 after four ends.

0:27:24 > 0:27:31I marked my card with an association pen.

0:27:41 > 0:27:46So, Michael Stepney Chloe Melton he is from Burkett, famous for the

0:27:46 > 0:27:51burning of the Claffey, which takes place on the 11th of January, they

0:27:51 > 0:27:57take barrels and make a big bonfire. The pieces are taken to put in your

0:27:57 > 0:28:02own fireplace to ward off evil spirits for the year ahead. I know

0:28:02 > 0:28:16that because the local paper reported that him and his partner

0:28:16 > 0:28:19back in time for the celebrations when he made the final. It is a big

0:28:19 > 0:28:25deal up that way.A lot of evil spirits, that's what it is. You have

0:28:25 > 0:28:30to get rid of them...!I could probably do with a piece of the

0:28:30 > 0:28:38firewood myself.Needs to stay up a bit with this one. Slightly onto the

0:28:38 > 0:28:45line.APPLAUSE Didn't want to tap that jack. He got

0:28:45 > 0:28:49just a fraction of it, but it didn't move.

0:29:01 > 0:29:09Down again. It is going to be David's term to think about cutting

0:29:09 > 0:29:11this early.

0:29:20 > 0:29:28Not hanging about.There we go again, onto the recent opposition.

0:29:28 > 0:29:32Just as well we are not allowed to destroy these ends any more, or we

0:29:32 > 0:29:37would be here all day. That is one of the reasons why the was brought

0:29:37 > 0:29:44in, because the games were taking a long time -- it is one of the

0:29:44 > 0:29:55reasons the respot was brought in.

0:30:09 > 0:30:18That will probably not make its way back. Paul will keep that one.A

0:30:18 > 0:30:28nice little souvenir.

0:30:30 > 0:30:45David has certainly push this one out wide. It's a beauty. This is

0:30:45 > 0:30:55quality stuff.

0:31:00 > 0:31:11This is hard now for Michael Stepney.

0:31:17 > 0:31:29That doesn't make it easy for David to make the double.UMPIRE: 12

0:31:29 > 0:31:39inches short.There has been a breakdown in communication between

0:31:39 > 0:31:50the Glaswegian and Dan Blewitt, from England.

0:31:57 > 0:32:09That was not an easy shot.

0:32:10 > 0:32:20All the way down the side.

0:32:45 > 0:32:48APPLAUSE.

0:33:06 > 0:33:17Excellent stuff again from both players.

0:33:35 > 0:33:53He has improved. Good stuff.Dan Bluett watching on.It does

0:33:53 > 0:33:58influence the shots they played, the information they get.They have a

0:33:58 > 0:34:02massive input into the game at this level, because they know where to

0:34:02 > 0:34:08stand and they anticipate the questions. And of course, they are

0:34:08 > 0:34:14very accurate when it comes to the measures. If they make a mistake,

0:34:14 > 0:34:26the whole world can see it, so it is a tough place to be.

0:34:34 > 0:34:48That is going to be difficult to get to. He is going for the two bowls.

0:34:48 > 0:34:57He has moved one of them. That opens a pathway.David Gourlay will also

0:34:57 > 0:35:07be aware of back position.

0:35:11 > 0:35:24Well, the back position is there, but it's very close.

0:35:34 > 0:35:45Michael has to be a bit careful.

0:36:01 > 0:36:15David is having a good look. If he is not sure, it will be measured.

0:36:55 > 0:37:05Good call by Dan Bluett.

0:37:07 > 0:37:11Whenever these guys do make a mistake, they go back to their home

0:37:11 > 0:37:17clubs and they just get ribbed mercilessly about it. People rarely

0:37:17 > 0:37:26miss an opportunity to have a little pop. Good-humoured, of course.

0:37:26 > 0:37:36Absolutely. I go back to my own club in Edinburgh and they tell me I am

0:37:36 > 0:37:41not as good as I try to sound, which believe me, I am not. Everyone is a

0:37:41 > 0:37:50critic.David has been reliable with this backhand in the last couple of

0:37:50 > 0:38:00days.

0:38:48 > 0:38:58Stepney, playing his first Scottish International Open. He will be

0:38:58 > 0:39:05reasonably happy with how he has started. It is getting to a stage of

0:39:05 > 0:39:15the match where if either player gets ahead, even by small margins,

0:39:15 > 0:39:26it is hard to get back.

0:39:33 > 0:39:45David has played with four different sets of bowls in this event.

0:40:07 > 0:40:10David Gourlay has already used a couple of his time-outs. He didn't

0:40:10 > 0:40:21want to use another.

0:40:59 > 0:41:02Well, he got into the head and he knew if he got to the jack, he had

0:41:02 > 0:41:08to follow through. He had no back position. He is no worse off than he

0:41:08 > 0:41:18was before he played it.He saw his own bowl getting trapped on the

0:41:18 > 0:41:31green one. Four ends to play.Good stuff, a lot of good shots being

0:41:31 > 0:41:44played here. It's a good final.Both these players have won the opening

0:41:44 > 0:41:57set in every match they have played in. Something will have to give.

0:42:04 > 0:42:10If there is any big difference to the semifinal at the moment, the way

0:42:10 > 0:42:13David Gourlay is playing, his first bowl is better than it was against

0:42:13 > 0:42:25Burnett in the semi.This is the second match with these bowls and

0:42:25 > 0:42:29David feels very comfortable earlier. I was watching him practise

0:42:29 > 0:42:33earlier. A few folks were talking to him and he was going back and

0:42:33 > 0:42:43playing again and still getting close.

0:42:45 > 0:42:48He is asking more questions of Michael Stepney with the first two

0:42:48 > 0:42:52bowls than almost anybody has in the tournament so far. That is a very

0:42:52 > 0:43:02difficult target.

0:43:03 > 0:43:16The bowl felt a breeze as it went past. Didn't miss by much.

0:43:18 > 0:43:24At the moment, Michael is two down. David will run for cover, but his

0:43:24 > 0:43:31third bowl shot is only eight inches away. Any draw shot is going to be

0:43:31 > 0:43:38difficult to play, so he might as well have another go.Gourlay has

0:43:38 > 0:43:46just covered the respot.Another good drive. Although David has

0:43:46 > 0:43:56covered the respot, Michael has opened up the opportunity. Very

0:43:56 > 0:44:06difficult to be that accurate all the time. Shows what a good bowl

0:44:06 > 0:44:17David Gourlay's third was.

0:44:28 > 0:44:40He flirts with the side again.

0:44:44 > 0:44:59I am sure Michael will have a go at this.Time-outs taken.As soon as

0:44:59 > 0:45:03you ask, are they touch us, you know what he's going to do. If he gets

0:45:03 > 0:45:10the green bowl onto the jack, there is a deep green bowl which is a

0:45:10 > 0:45:17toucher. He is still going to be two down. He has to take the two of them

0:45:17 > 0:45:29off. Good number -- damage limitation bowl.That was three

0:45:29 > 0:45:33heavy bowls he had to play because of the opening bowls of David

0:45:33 > 0:45:43Gourlay.

0:45:55 > 0:45:57David Gourlay's last Scottish International Open final was in

0:45:57 > 0:46:162006. His opponent won six of the opening seven ends.

0:47:14 > 0:47:23David has been playing his first two bowls consistently. Michael really

0:47:23 > 0:47:33need to score this end.

0:47:34 > 0:47:54Keeping a close eye on this one. Still made centre rink.

0:48:07 > 0:48:19That is what has been happening a lot.

0:48:23 > 0:48:32He is sticking to the draw. That is a difficult shot.He must feel that

0:48:32 > 0:48:56shots two and three are beatable.A bit unlucky. It is a good bowl. He

0:48:56 > 0:49:09is obviously a bit frightened of taking his own two bowls out.

0:49:41 > 0:49:52It is such a low percentage shot.

0:49:59 > 0:50:08Two to play. Worrying for Michael Stepney. Five straight games, he has

0:50:08 > 0:50:18dropped. He's being forced into the creative shots.Yes, he has been

0:50:18 > 0:50:21sucked into that conversion shot as well a couple of times. It is not a

0:50:21 > 0:50:31great shock to play.

0:50:32 > 0:50:40He wants to stay away from those and try and come up something else. --

0:50:40 > 0:50:51try and conjured up something else.

0:51:04 > 0:51:10It is always good to see a knowledgeable crowd in. People

0:51:10 > 0:51:17travel to this final. And they are certainly watching a very high class

0:51:17 > 0:51:28match.It is also good to see that the final sold out well before

0:51:28 > 0:51:41yesterday.There is a chap therein a blue shirt in the background. That

0:51:41 > 0:51:44is Mackenzie, who travelled down this morning from Inverness. He goes

0:51:44 > 0:51:48to the World Championships every year as well. Always good to see

0:51:48 > 0:51:58Alan coming down. Hopefully, I will get a chance to go up in the next

0:51:58 > 0:52:20year or so.You could do a couple of masterclasses for him.

0:52:35 > 0:52:46He needs this end. This is a big bowl.

0:52:48 > 0:52:55If David Gourlay slots one in here to match the red ones, it will be

0:52:55 > 0:53:07very hard for Michael to get anything out of this end.

0:53:16 > 0:53:23He was not convinced by that.He wasn't happy when he let it go. Some

0:53:23 > 0:53:28in the crowd think that is a good bowl, but it is nowhere near what he

0:53:28 > 0:53:35wanted and Michael might try to try and pluck this bowl out.A side from

0:53:35 > 0:53:46David Gourlay.He knows this could be costly.

0:53:47 > 0:54:01That is a shocking results. Dear, oh, dear. He wanted a thin edge.He

0:54:01 > 0:54:10was playing for just the edge to send it across. Just too much.Even

0:54:10 > 0:54:14the jack through to the ditch would have been good. He would have picked

0:54:14 > 0:54:23up a single. But credit to David Gourlay for keeping the pressure on.

0:54:23 > 0:54:40What a run of shots.Set up by the good opening bowls.

0:54:43 > 0:54:47Two time-outs in the first three ends are looking like a wise

0:54:47 > 0:54:51investment now.Absolutely. David will look at that and think, let's

0:54:51 > 0:54:57get off to a good start, keep it tight. There are plenty of time-outs

0:54:57 > 0:55:15available. An extra one, of course, for the 11 end final.

0:55:20 > 0:55:27He has done that in the last few ends. Just finished behind David

0:55:27 > 0:55:38Gourlay's opening bowl.

0:55:49 > 0:55:56It's fairly academic, this end, with Michael Stepney seeking four shots

0:55:56 > 0:56:03to tie.That's why he's deliberately playing heavy, although that one is

0:56:03 > 0:56:09a bit far away. I don't think he meant to put it there. There is a

0:56:09 > 0:56:25smile. David will split the two bowls.

0:56:29 > 0:56:33There will need to be some divine intervention for Michael to get

0:56:33 > 0:56:43something out of this.

0:56:51 > 0:56:58Nothing he could do, not when you are looking for four.It is a lovely

0:56:58 > 0:57:05situation for David Gourlay, though. He can relax, he has got the first

0:57:05 > 0:57:15set in the bag.

0:57:32 > 0:57:48Whatever shot Michael Stepney plays, it is a practice shot.

0:57:49 > 0:57:52So, as he has done all week in the Scottish International Open, David

0:57:52 > 0:57:59Gourlay takes the opening set of his match.And Michael Stepney finds

0:57:59 > 0:58:06himself in a different position. He had won the opening set of his first

0:58:06 > 0:58:11four matches to get to the stage. He now has to come from behind. Good

0:58:11 > 0:58:15opening set.There has been a big crowd here all week. There are the

0:58:15 > 0:58:24young players. The crowds have been good this week.It was packed

0:58:24 > 0:58:30yesterday, and again today. And they are not being disappointed by the

0:58:30 > 0:58:38quality of the play. David Gourlay, world indoor winner in 1996. Since

0:58:38 > 0:58:48then, he has played in 17 World Bowls Tour singles finals.He was

0:58:48 > 0:58:56getting worried at one stage that he wasn't going to win another although

0:58:56 > 0:59:00he kept going to semifinals. But in doing so, he was cementing his place

0:59:00 > 0:59:06in the top five or six in the world, year after year. And he is able to

0:59:06 > 0:59:10keep it going when he doesn't live in Scotland most of the time. It is

0:59:10 > 0:59:20testament to his ability.

0:59:22 > 0:59:27He enjoyed a four year spell playing in Australia. That will benefit

0:59:27 > 0:59:31Scotland as well when it comes to the Commonwealth Games, the

0:59:31 > 0:59:44knowledge gleaned out there.Yes, he was based in Sydney. That is a good

0:59:44 > 0:59:52start by Michael. Decent cover bowl.

1:00:00 > 1:00:05Seven ends in a row. Michael Stepney hasn't won an end. This is looking

1:00:05 > 1:00:11good again for David.APPLAUSE

1:00:13 > 1:00:18I was getting ready to say it is the first time Michael Stepney's had a

1:00:18 > 1:00:23decent lie after the opening four bowls, but David Gourlay didn't even

1:00:23 > 1:00:31give him that.It's as good as I've seen David play. And he's had some

1:00:31 > 1:00:37very good performances lately. You know, very unlucky in World

1:00:37 > 1:00:40Championships as well. He could easily have made a final in the last

1:00:40 > 1:00:48couple of years.Looking for a similar touch...Probably two down

1:00:48 > 1:00:52now.

1:01:04 > 1:01:06A rare ball falling away enough.

1:01:27 > 1:01:34Jack high, far enough away not to offer any help to David Stepney,

1:01:34 > 1:01:38because he would have been looking at the backhand. Now changing to the

1:01:38 > 1:01:42forehand to touch the jack around the corner. He had a shot before

1:01:42 > 1:01:47that to punch his own bowl over.

1:01:49 > 1:01:56Trying very hard with this one. Oh... Is it there? Not quite... So

1:01:56 > 1:02:05close. Yet, so far. It was too difficult given his last bowled.He

1:02:05 > 1:02:13has a look.

1:02:17 > 1:02:20Definitely two, we think it is two. Looking at the back green bowl,

1:02:20 > 1:02:31that's close.Time out called. Narrow margins. One thing is in

1:02:31 > 1:02:37David's head, if he gets onto his own front green bowl, can he tap it

1:02:37 > 1:02:41down and made a three? If he misses it, that's fair enough. He's not

1:02:41 > 1:02:47even attempting to play it.No, he's thinking of the next end. That's

1:02:47 > 1:02:55what he's doing. He picked a spot. He's thinking of the next end. He

1:02:55 > 1:03:00put that down to play a longer jack length. We know where the jack is

1:03:00 > 1:03:09going.Michael Stepney having a wee word, saying, "Come on, what are you

1:03:09 > 1:03:20afraid of?" Now, at the moment, he is in a groove. Eight straight ends,

1:03:20 > 1:03:25Michael Stepney needs to find a way to get his hands on the jack will

1:03:25 > 1:03:28Michael Stepney needs to find a way to get his hands on the jack will.

1:03:28 > 1:03:34There is the long Jack Lang. That is why David played his last bowl to

1:03:34 > 1:03:46that length. Taking a bit of chalk off the mat.

1:03:52 > 1:04:0028.5 metres for David Gourlay. APPLAUSE

1:04:00 > 1:04:08His last bowl singles title came in to 15, beating David Chestney.

1:04:10 > 1:04:14I guess, David, it is all about stepping up, but this is the best he

1:04:14 > 1:04:18has played so far this week.Oh, without a doubt. He has played some

1:04:18 > 1:04:25very good matches. He's consistently getting the first bowl in. And

1:04:25 > 1:04:31that's been the difference, really. It has in this match.

1:04:42 > 1:04:49Looking to try to come around. Again, well played. APPLAUSE

1:04:49 > 1:04:57It's a constant bombardment of close first two bowls, Michael. Moving to

1:04:57 > 1:05:03the forehand, and as I said before, beforehand, you can often drop short

1:05:03 > 1:05:12on it after playing the backhand. -- the forehand. Yeah, there it is.

1:05:12 > 1:05:22Yeah.It's been a feature, and it's happening all the time.

1:05:22 > 1:05:27Anything behind the jack for David Gourlay. Just doesn't want to drop

1:05:27 > 1:05:31jack hi.

1:05:39 > 1:05:54The second shot, 18 inches, he must be trying to draw, then. Well...

1:05:54 > 1:05:59Looking to add the weight inside the green bowl.

1:06:01 > 1:06:09Hasn't made it. REFEREE:Three green.

1:06:09 > 1:06:14Not 1 million miles away, but three inside him.Not like Michael.

1:06:14 > 1:06:17Anything up to his own bowl, anything through, would have given

1:06:17 > 1:06:24him position. David Chouly will go through with this one. He has to go

1:06:24 > 1:06:29deeper this time. -- David Gourlay. He will only expect Michael to hit

1:06:29 > 1:06:31this.

1:06:34 > 1:06:40A useful bowl, no doubt about that. Surely, Michael will play right up

1:06:40 > 1:06:47at this. All sorts of things can happen to reduce this.A bagatelle

1:06:47 > 1:06:51may be in order here.

1:06:54 > 1:06:59Move the jack Ford on one of his drives. Let's see what happens here.

1:06:59 > 1:07:06A spin of the bowl, took one out. REFEREE:Two shots, David Gourlay.

1:07:06 > 1:07:09APPLAUSE

1:07:15 > 1:07:18Slightly symbolic, because he's spinning around at the moment,

1:07:18 > 1:07:22trying to find a way into this match. David Gourlay is keeping him

1:07:22 > 1:07:27firmly at bay.

1:07:29 > 1:07:364-0 at the start of this second set.

1:07:37 > 1:07:46Just looking back, David, 11 finals, ten finals we have had here. I am

1:07:46 > 1:07:52trying to see if anyone has gone on a similar run.Well, there have been

1:07:52 > 1:07:56some, thinking back to the Greg Harlow and John Price in their

1:07:56 > 1:08:01final, that would probably be the only one that could get close to it.

1:08:01 > 1:08:08Greg Harlow lost only one end in the second set. One of the sets, 16-1.

1:08:08 > 1:08:17John Price had been to reflect up to the final. -- terrific up to the

1:08:17 > 1:08:24final. In many ways, that event, kept him in the World Bowls Tour.

1:08:24 > 1:08:27He hadn't been having a good couple of years, then suddenly it went

1:08:27 > 1:08:31right for him. Although he lost in the final, it was a major, major

1:08:31 > 1:08:37performance for John at the time. It kept him going. And he's going to

1:08:37 > 1:08:44the qualifiers now. He's decided to try to get back in. Good on him.We

1:08:44 > 1:08:50wish him well, always a popular figure, especially up here in Perth.

1:08:50 > 1:08:59Once again, David all over it with the two bowls. John Price, five

1:08:59 > 1:09:08games in qualifying, tough going. Our commentary partner at the

1:09:08 > 1:09:12Commonwealth Games in 2013.I'll not say anything else about his age,

1:09:12 > 1:09:17going through the qualifiers. He will send me a text.

1:09:25 > 1:09:31Many a bowler will be feeling how Michael Stepney is feeling at the

1:09:31 > 1:09:35moment, and that is, how do you get back into a game when you are not

1:09:35 > 1:09:42playing particularly badly, and your opponent is certainly outperforming

1:09:42 > 1:09:46you.That was a double opportunity for David Gourlay, make sure you get

1:09:46 > 1:09:50the red bowls. If you don't get there, you get deep. Close to his

1:09:50 > 1:09:53own two.

1:09:56 > 1:10:02He is in a heap of trouble. The only good thing for Michael, slightly in

1:10:02 > 1:10:08his favour, he has a longer set to play.

1:10:11 > 1:10:19Enjoyed good success in Perth, with a tournament won here in Perth. Some

1:10:19 > 1:10:27happy memories for him. Scottish Champion of champions on a couple of

1:10:27 > 1:10:30occasions, two on this portable surface.

1:10:33 > 1:10:36Sensible bowling in behind.

1:10:39 > 1:10:44Well, you can't cover everything. The respot is against him, the two

1:10:44 > 1:10:51bowls going out, one red. Jack on red, maybe two. Worth going again

1:10:51 > 1:11:03with weight.He needs this, Michael Stepney. Got the jack.Good bowl.

1:11:03 > 1:11:09The green bowl will go off, it will be two red, I think. One might be

1:11:09 > 1:11:18close, but I still think it will be two.Two shots.

1:11:18 > 1:11:22REFEREE:Two shots, Michael Stepney. Good strike shot from Michael

1:11:22 > 1:11:29Stepney. Bang on target.

1:11:31 > 1:11:41Nine straight ends scored by David Gourlay comes to an end.Yes, and it

1:11:41 > 1:11:46was with another drive where David was lying two shots.All were

1:11:46 > 1:11:55weighted shots, the fifth end of the opening set have come from Michael

1:11:55 > 1:12:03Stepney.Love the way Michael plays the game. Still has a smile on his

1:12:03 > 1:12:08face, chatting to David. Good, hard professional player with a good

1:12:08 > 1:12:13attitude on the rink. I've played against him myself, I know what he's

1:12:13 > 1:12:20like.APPLAUSE

1:12:22 > 1:12:28Excellent player to play against. Good friends back in Elgin will be

1:12:28 > 1:12:35watching. They might be in the club watching, Andrew Barker, with a Diet

1:12:35 > 1:12:39Coke in his hand. And Graham Donaldson, of course, who is

1:12:39 > 1:12:49celebrating winning his event here this week.He did well, Graham

1:12:49 > 1:12:56Donaldson, took it to the tie-break. That was at Elgin Bowling club. 230

1:12:56 > 1:13:04members playing in the top division, men's and women's sites. They will

1:13:04 > 1:13:11be cheering that one on -- men's and women's sides.That is what he needs

1:13:11 > 1:13:18to do more of in close. First two bowls, a decent sized club, a couple

1:13:18 > 1:13:21of hundred members, very competitive. I think we have got

1:13:21 > 1:13:29about 1500. Chaos even trying to get practice time! It really is!

1:13:32 > 1:13:40Good effort. Look where that is.Of course, we're not in Elgin, where in

1:13:40 > 1:13:45Belfast, there is a nice pool of 300,000 people to come in.Slightly

1:13:45 > 1:13:49bigger than Elgin, just...

1:13:58 > 1:14:03Elgin is on my list, one of the football grounds I am yet to work

1:14:03 > 1:14:10at, I have most of them under my blog.I will call in at Elgin

1:14:10 > 1:14:15one-time, see if I enjoyed it. I am not sure I would survive an evening

1:14:15 > 1:14:20with Michael, Andrew and Graham, but it would be worth it...

1:14:23 > 1:14:32David Gourlay again going close. Still one shot for Michael Stepney,

1:14:32 > 1:14:39one bowl each to come.When you get a you want to it up pretty quickly

1:14:39 > 1:14:47with another shot. Michael, full of concentration on this one.

1:14:55 > 1:15:04Just needs it to pull back inside. Yeah, he's looking good. Well

1:15:04 > 1:15:09played.APPLAUSE Well played. Difficult job for David

1:15:09 > 1:15:14Gourlay here. You might think about playing a shot to it.He's got

1:15:14 > 1:15:19options, he has the best back bowl, that red bowl. He can push it

1:15:19 > 1:15:23through, I don't see him being worse off.A good strike on here for David

1:15:23 > 1:15:30Gourlay, lots of options. Got it away well. Likes it.

1:15:30 > 1:15:36Took one out.One away.

1:15:47 > 1:15:52That's why it's so important to get the extra shot in.

1:16:01 > 1:16:0725.5 metres missed last time, it is the way he played it, brought the

1:16:07 > 1:16:14mat up. Trying to find a slightly different line.

1:16:14 > 1:16:25REFEREE:Jack length 25 metres. Important Michael Stepney got on the

1:16:25 > 1:16:29card, it was threatening to get away from him.

1:17:41 > 1:17:49A good day of sport on the BBC. The Scottish International Open, the

1:17:49 > 1:17:58best indoor players around. David Gourlay proving just that.APPLAUSE

1:17:58 > 1:18:03Later, Scotland and the first of the autumn internationals, taking on

1:18:03 > 1:18:20some more. -- taking on 2-1. I am glad I am commentating on this,

1:18:20 > 1:18:25rather than the players from Samoa. Good stuff, Michael is fighting

1:18:25 > 1:18:33hard, as we expected.

1:18:45 > 1:18:49Two bowls touching, and David knows if he pushes the red bowl, his own

1:18:49 > 1:18:55bowl will go out quickly. Needs the jack. Well... Not the best

1:18:55 > 1:18:59connection, obviously. He didn't get the shot, but he has pushed it into

1:18:59 > 1:19:02a position where he can have a go at it with the next one. Bit unlucky

1:19:02 > 1:19:06not to pick it up clean.

1:19:07 > 1:19:24Yeah. Disappointed, but not a disaster.

1:19:44 > 1:19:48That is what it looks like from the overhead television camera, but it

1:19:48 > 1:19:53looks different from the mat.Worth coming down at it to do something.

1:19:53 > 1:20:00If he can take one away, that would be good. My goodness me, he is

1:20:00 > 1:20:05coming out of this very good.He can score two, I think it is three. What

1:20:05 > 1:20:15a result, onto the respot. It is three.To take out any thing is

1:20:15 > 1:20:22good, but to take out the jack at that angle with his bowl.When we

1:20:22 > 1:20:26look back at turning point in the final, that could be a big one.That

1:20:26 > 1:20:37was a massive result. Michael Stepney had really fought

1:20:37 > 1:20:43his way back into the set, and now he's behind again.

1:20:45 > 1:20:52After two, 7-3 down after five, David Gourlay taking the opening set

1:20:52 > 1:20:589-4.

1:21:08 > 1:21:17APPLAUSE He gets to look after the mascot,

1:21:17 > 1:21:23yes.He is hiding behind it. You can see him. Jack Green is the mascot,

1:21:23 > 1:21:29not a boy.We knew that was the mascot.John McKee, what ever way

1:21:29 > 1:21:33you want to pronounce it. The 11-year-old celebrating his birthday

1:21:33 > 1:21:42here.He is certainly enjoying what he's ceiling. The crowd really

1:21:42 > 1:21:45enjoying this one.

1:21:49 > 1:21:54The players love playing in front of a big crowd, and a very

1:21:54 > 1:21:57knowledgeable crowd. They appreciate exactly what they're trying to do.

1:21:57 > 1:22:05David Gourlay back to putting his first two or bowls close again. --

1:22:05 > 1:22:09first two bowls.

1:22:17 > 1:22:20Michael is trotting up after this, which is unusual with the second

1:22:20 > 1:22:26bowl. He must think he's close. And he is. It's going to drop. Second

1:22:26 > 1:22:36bowl.

1:22:44 > 1:22:54David Gourlay looking to join in bond and Brett, players that have

1:22:54 > 1:22:58won the Scottish International Open on two occasions. Greg Harlow has

1:22:58 > 1:23:01now won it three times.

1:23:03 > 1:23:07Michael Stepney looking to become the 12th player to win this title,

1:23:07 > 1:23:10but he's got a lot to do.

1:23:20 > 1:23:30Off the forehand. Again, just a little bit like, unless you can move

1:23:30 > 1:23:35it. But not enough. Just under, wasn't it.Always pulls up a little

1:23:35 > 1:23:41bit more than you think. You think your there, but you are half a yard

1:23:41 > 1:23:48short. You can end up jack hi.

1:23:57 > 1:24:02Needs to be wider, I think, unless he has enough weight to carry it.

1:24:02 > 1:24:07Has he? He has! He wasn't sure about that, because there you go. You can

1:24:07 > 1:24:13see, he thought he was inside the line, and I thought he was, too,

1:24:13 > 1:24:19looking at his body language. But he seemed to get a kick out. By moving

1:24:19 > 1:24:23the jack, he has taken the front part of way. Look at that, he didn't

1:24:23 > 1:24:29know for sure.Wasn't sure.He just said there, it just stood up.

1:24:29 > 1:24:36Time-out taken. There are certain things you don't want to see. That's

1:24:36 > 1:24:41not the kind of bowls that gives you many options.This could be costly

1:24:41 > 1:24:45for Michael. If he plays a running bowl, his own closest one good pop

1:24:45 > 1:24:49out and he will leave three. If he goes hard at it, he could manage to

1:24:49 > 1:24:54clear more than that out of the head.That's what he's trying. It

1:24:54 > 1:25:07rattles just wide.If he had the other front red, it was costly.

1:25:07 > 1:25:12David's strike shop was profitable, and Michael hasn't been able to save

1:25:12 > 1:25:21-- strike shop.His opponent replied and picked up five -- strike shot.

1:25:21 > 1:25:26David Gourlay methodically making his way to the title as things

1:25:26 > 1:25:30stand.

1:25:34 > 1:25:40They have played a couple of times before, in Wales, in 2007. One shot

1:25:40 > 1:25:47in both sets in favour of David Gourlay. They met at the

1:25:47 > 1:25:52International open earlier on in 2017. Michael Stepney took the first

1:25:52 > 1:25:58set, David Gourlay took the second, 9-6. He described it as daylight

1:25:58 > 1:26:08robbery, and won the tie-break 2-0. Different surfaces, of course.

1:26:08 > 1:26:14That tournament was on the normal carpet. As opposed to the portable

1:26:14 > 1:26:18rink.

1:26:24 > 1:26:27Which makes this performance by Michael Stepney to get to the final

1:26:27 > 1:26:31even more impressive.Yeah.

1:26:46 > 1:26:52Now, once again, David in which the first two bowls. It has been a major

1:26:52 > 1:26:56part of his success today.

1:27:07 > 1:27:16Clear road he needs.He got past. David Gourlay was always going to

1:27:16 > 1:27:27get in with his second shot.

1:27:48 > 1:27:56He has just asked for the state of play for the moment. Goes for two.

1:28:07 > 1:28:13Needs the gap. Without that touch, he would have been very close to the

1:28:13 > 1:28:23shot. And he knows it. Pushing the ball might have slid him

1:28:23 > 1:28:30into second position, but once again, David Gourlay's got position.

1:28:30 > 1:28:36Bowls in the head.Takes a time out. Getting back up with nine seconds to

1:28:36 > 1:28:44spare.Fit guy, David. Looks after himself, why wouldn't he, where he

1:28:44 > 1:28:52lives. Many hours spent walking the dog on the beach.Not a bad way to

1:28:52 > 1:29:01be. So he's going to say, he's happy. He will come around the back,

1:29:01 > 1:29:07in case of the respot as well.I don't know if Michael can afford to

1:29:07 > 1:29:11attack this. If he gets the jack, he will be further down. He has got to

1:29:11 > 1:29:13try to draw it.

1:29:20 > 1:29:27Go goodness me. Well played. That was brave. That was really brave. He

1:29:27 > 1:29:35was an inch away from that jack is going onto the college-macro.

1:29:38 > 1:29:49But he took the shot. And with it comes a glimmer of hope.Typical

1:29:49 > 1:29:52Michael Stepney, of course.But my goodness, that was brave. That was

1:29:52 > 1:30:09almost a mad shot.It keeps him in it.

1:30:16 > 1:30:21He needs six shots in the next four ends without conceding to force a

1:30:21 > 1:30:29tie-break.Certainly the way David Gourlay has been playing, that is

1:30:29 > 1:30:41going to be a difficult target.The last four Scottish International

1:30:41 > 1:30:43Open finals have gone to a tie-break. 2012 was the last time we

1:30:43 > 1:30:54didn't have one.

1:31:16 > 1:31:31Good opening bowl.He hasn't failed too much with one, if not both those

1:31:31 > 1:31:44first deliveries. This one is all over the jack now.If he has got the

1:31:44 > 1:31:57feeling it is not his day, he is certainly not letting it show.

1:32:04 > 1:32:11So much damage being done with those first two bowls. Creating havoc for

1:32:11 > 1:32:18Michael Stepney. Once again, it looks like it might be a forehand

1:32:18 > 1:32:24shot. He could attack it if you wanted to, but he must be thinking

1:32:24 > 1:32:32to himself, give me a break, David! There is a shot there if he wants to

1:32:32 > 1:32:50play it. Second at this stage isn't good enough. There is a backhand

1:32:50 > 1:33:02running bowl if he wants to play it, but that is also difficult.

1:33:06 > 1:33:17Trying to make the gap.It was hard. You can see what he wanted to do.He

1:33:17 > 1:33:23knows it is a hard shot. It is a low percentage shot, but you have to

1:33:23 > 1:33:40play it. No choice. He has nothing on the backhand.

1:33:42 > 1:33:46David Gourlay is looking to add a third here. He is not leaving any

1:33:46 > 1:33:56form of target.

1:34:10 > 1:34:24He has to get under his own bowl. Excellent play.Really good bowl. He

1:34:24 > 1:34:29might have just made the jack if it had been a bit tighter. It was a

1:34:29 > 1:34:40very good second bowl.David Gourlay walks up the rink, bowl in hand, and

1:34:40 > 1:34:56just said, how do you play that? The ends are running out.

1:34:57 > 1:35:04David Gourlay is looking to add to those seven titles. If my research

1:35:04 > 1:35:09is right from last month, he has never won a World Bowls Tour singles

1:35:09 > 1:35:25title. He has never won it in an odd year. Others even years, 96 setting

1:35:25 > 1:35:32the tone. Can he win in an odd-numbered year? He has played so

1:35:32 > 1:35:42well and so steady.

1:36:17 > 1:36:22He is just on the outside. If he scores a two or better here, David

1:36:22 > 1:36:32Gourlay, the final is over.

1:36:36 > 1:36:43Well, this is a rare situation for Michael Stepney. Unfortunately,

1:36:43 > 1:36:55there is still plenty of room.

1:37:02 > 1:37:13He is watching this one closely.

1:37:16 > 1:37:21Quite often, Michael has been a foot away and David has had a couple

1:37:21 > 1:37:42inside it. Looking for a turn of the jack here. He is very close.

1:37:45 > 1:37:55Great effort.

1:37:58 > 1:38:10Things are working out very well for David Gourlay.

1:38:19 > 1:38:23He will be happy enough.Mike on a pickle of the jack to make three.

1:38:23 > 1:38:29Earlier in the match, he might have been tempted, but he can't afford to

1:38:29 > 1:38:38play like that any more. So he will try and draw it. Oh, no. No,

1:38:38 > 1:38:45Michael.If he is going down, he's going down in a blaze of glory. Man,

1:38:45 > 1:38:54what a bowl! I can't believe he played that. He has played it well.

1:38:54 > 1:39:02Not only has he played it well, he has given himself a massive chance.

1:39:02 > 1:39:06Well, he has had a few unlucky ones. But he will take that. He wasn't

1:39:06 > 1:39:19sure at first.They were shaking hands anyway. It is funny how this

1:39:19 > 1:39:25game can change around. That could have been 11-4 and the game all but

1:39:25 > 1:39:32over.That was incredible.The circumstances of the match meant

1:39:32 > 1:39:49that he played the runner. Good lad, Michael. Well done.

1:40:01 > 1:40:06It is a packed house here, and it is good to see it. We have had all ages

1:40:06 > 1:40:12as well, from kids from the Grampian area all the way through. They have

1:40:12 > 1:40:18been watching bowls for a long time. There you go, you are on the big

1:40:18 > 1:40:32screen! Hello! A wave and a smile. That was coordinated. Nudge, nudge.

1:40:38 > 1:40:49David Gourlay, looking to close the match out here.

1:41:03 > 1:41:16Well, four shots need in two ends. That is possible.

1:41:21 > 1:41:27Even if David closes it down to one, he will be quite happy because going

1:41:27 > 1:41:34into the last end, where Michael needs to pick up a three, the last

1:41:34 > 1:41:38end was the only time he scored a couple in the last match. It was a

1:41:38 > 1:41:49very risky shot to play.

1:42:21 > 1:42:31Onto the backhand.

1:42:35 > 1:42:46I think Michael will have to play this.

1:42:51 > 1:43:08He will take a time out here.If he draws it, that is fine.

1:43:10 > 1:43:21There is nothing easy about this one.

1:43:22 > 1:43:25My goodness, Michael, you have played the shots that I thought you

1:43:25 > 1:43:37might play.He is annoyed at himself.You just get nothing on the

1:43:37 > 1:43:46inside. He is tapping his head. Didn't mean to do it.As soon as it

1:43:46 > 1:43:50came out of the hand, he realised he was a bowl or a bowl and a half

1:43:50 > 1:44:00tight, and there is no way back.One against him. If he finds the shot

1:44:00 > 1:44:11here, he wins the title.No heroics needed here, just a really good,

1:44:11 > 1:44:22perfect draw shot. And he is close. David Gourlay has won it!What a

1:44:22 > 1:44:37shot.Brilliant by David Gourlay. What a week it has been for Michael

1:44:37 > 1:44:44Stepney. But for the first time since 2002, David Gourlay rules in

1:44:44 > 1:44:55Scotland. What a performance by the Scottish coach.

1:44:58 > 1:45:01Well, the crowd are really enjoying this. What a performance by David

1:45:01 > 1:45:07Gourlay. We expected everything from these two players and that is

1:45:07 > 1:45:10exactly what we got. Michael Stepney was all over the jack at the start

1:45:10 > 1:45:18of the match. David Gourlay under pressure. In the second end, once

1:45:18 > 1:45:26again Michael Stepney found a perfect bowl behind the jack. And he

1:45:26 > 1:45:33was able to play the heavy shots, but it didn't always come off. David

1:45:33 > 1:45:38Gourlay now had started to put the pressure on and Michael were

1:45:38 > 1:45:43struggling to get anything out of the first set. Another hit that

1:45:43 > 1:45:49time. Picked up a double, but David Gourlay could also play the white

1:45:49 > 1:45:57shots. Got the edge, picked up a three in the fifth end of the second

1:45:57 > 1:46:02set and that put him into a good lead, but he was playing superb

1:46:02 > 1:46:06bowls, David Gourlay. Thoroughly deserved his wing. He was the man on

1:46:06 > 1:46:13the day. What a champion.Due to the victory was the winning of nine

1:46:13 > 1:46:18straight ends, mostly singles and doubles. But he did so well and that

1:46:18 > 1:46:29was what got him away.

1:46:35 > 1:46:40He is the champion, but what a final it was. Ladies and gentlemen, give a

1:46:40 > 1:46:44huge round of applause for our finalists this year in the Scottish

1:46:44 > 1:46:56International Open of 2017! And let me introduce you to the presentation

1:46:56 > 1:47:02party from the tournament sponsors, Co-op Funeralcare, the director of

1:47:02 > 1:47:04operations in Scotland and Northern Ireland John Williamson and director

1:47:04 > 1:47:08of the royal bowls tour, Martingale!

1:47:13 > 1:47:18And the fellow who has been playing some wonderful bowls all week and

1:47:18 > 1:47:21entertaining as thoroughly. Please give a warm welcome to the runner-up

1:47:21 > 1:47:31this year, Michael Stepney!

1:47:42 > 1:47:47But the window and Co-op Funeralcare Scottish International Open Champion

1:47:47 > 1:47:572017, David Gourlay!

1:48:09 > 1:48:19CHEERING.

1:48:33 > 1:48:37Well done, beautiful stuff. 11 years since you won it. You have taken a

1:48:37 > 1:48:42while to win it again. Congratulations.Yeah, a few grey

1:48:42 > 1:48:47hairs since 11 years ago. But it is really special to win it here in

1:48:47 > 1:48:50Perth in front of a Scottish crowd. That is always special. I knew I

1:48:50 > 1:48:58have to play well today to beat Michael. Thankfully, my first bowl

1:48:58 > 1:49:01but Michael under pressure. He was unlucky in the first set. It could

1:49:01 > 1:49:07have gone either way. Probably one of the best games I have played.It

1:49:07 > 1:49:11certainly was. Michael, if you are up against David Gourlay, you are

1:49:11 > 1:49:15going to have to work pretty hard. He was outstanding from the first

1:49:15 > 1:49:23bowl to the last. He was always there. Most ends were deadly. He put

1:49:23 > 1:49:32me under pressure.David, the first bowls are hugely important and you

1:49:32 > 1:49:35were just peppering the jack.It takes a lot of pressure off yourself

1:49:35 > 1:49:39if you get the first bowl in, particularly on this rink, because

1:49:39 > 1:49:43it can be pretty lonely out here. So I was putting Michael under

1:49:43 > 1:49:47pressure, but what a week Michael has had. Broke through to the top

1:49:47 > 1:49:5416. This is no surprise to any of us. He deserves to be in the top 16.

1:49:54 > 1:49:57He does. Michael, you were supposed to play in a club match today. You

1:49:57 > 1:50:04might get dropped now.By good fortune, I am the manager!Picking

1:50:04 > 1:50:10yourself. You can't pick yourself for the Commonwealth Games. Looking

1:50:10 > 1:50:16ahead to that must be exciting.It is going to be a special year. In

1:50:16 > 1:50:19Scotland, we have a great talent pool. The guys and girls we have

1:50:19 > 1:50:26picked are some of the best players in the world. So it is all focusing

1:50:26 > 1:50:30now at the Gold Coast.What you want is players who can show a lot of

1:50:30 > 1:50:33guts on the final bowl, exactly what you did in this final. You played

1:50:33 > 1:50:38the perfect bowl to pick up that trophy. It is on the big screen

1:50:38 > 1:50:42there.In the back of my mind, I'm thinking, if I lose one, I'm OK but

1:50:42 > 1:50:45there was danger here.

1:50:49 > 1:50:54I knew it was pretty close, but it depended what happened at the end.

1:50:54 > 1:51:06Pretty nice way to finish off.It was an outstanding bowl.I know you

1:51:06 > 1:51:11will be focused on the Gold Coast, but you are up to second in the

1:51:11 > 1:51:15world rankings now picking up this title. My goodness, it's

1:51:15 > 1:51:21extraordinary. You must be going from strength to strength.There is

1:51:21 > 1:51:25a danger that if you put too much focus on the coaching, you can lose

1:51:25 > 1:51:29your own game. But I have been playing more in the last four months

1:51:29 > 1:51:32in Scotland that I have played in the last ten years and it is paying

1:51:32 > 1:51:39dividends. I look forward to the World Championships.It has been

1:51:39 > 1:51:43unbelievable week. Michael, for you to come last Saturday, will the

1:51:43 > 1:51:46people you've knocked out along the way, playing some amazing bowls and

1:51:46 > 1:51:50having a great smile on your face, you have been wonderful. David

1:51:50 > 1:51:55Gourlay, always good to see you here. That was the best I have ever

1:51:55 > 1:51:59seen you play on this rink at Perth. You deserve to be the Scottish

1:51:59 > 1:52:10champion of 2017!

1:52:18 > 1:52:22Here's a delighted man, David Corkill.

1:52:25 > 1:52:29And he should be. David Gourlay has played some last matches -- great

1:52:29 > 1:52:34matches in the last year, but having played in Scotland in the last few

1:52:34 > 1:52:37months has made the difference. I said to him after the first game, it

1:52:37 > 1:52:41has been a long time since I have seen you play that well, and he was

1:52:41 > 1:52:44delighted. But that was the best game I have seen him play for many

1:52:44 > 1:52:52years.It is amazing to think that David is 51 now. He has been in the

1:52:52 > 1:52:55top 16 since 1996. He is so consistent, but to still be picking

1:52:55 > 1:53:03up trophies with such style and ability is astonishing.It is, but

1:53:03 > 1:53:07quality is always there. It is all to do with, have you got the time to

1:53:07 > 1:53:12practise, have you got the drive and the will to win?That is what David

1:53:12 > 1:53:16has had all his life. Let's talk about Michael Stepney. He has

1:53:16 > 1:53:22entertained us this week. He had an incredible drive in the seventh end

1:53:22 > 1:53:25of the second set, when you were saying this was the wrong shot to

1:53:25 > 1:53:30play, but he turned it around.It was in the ninth end. He was in

1:53:30 > 1:53:35trouble. He was so close to being able to turn the jack with his third

1:53:35 > 1:53:39bowl that I thought he would repeat it, but he decides to go for it. If

1:53:39 > 1:53:43he had hit the front bowl onto the jack, they were shaking hands. There

1:53:43 > 1:53:47was no way there was any way back after that. But by not taking his

1:53:47 > 1:53:56own bowls out, that was amazing. A little bit of luck, but very brave

1:53:56 > 1:53:59and typical Michael Stepney.And thoroughly entertaining. He will now

1:53:59 > 1:54:06be in the world top 16.Yes, he is firmly in there in terms of the

1:54:06 > 1:54:10provisional list. Michael is a good guy. I have known him a long time

1:54:10 > 1:54:15and never can I remember having any problems with him on the rink. He is

1:54:15 > 1:54:19just one of those blokes who enjoys bowls and enjoys life and he

1:54:19 > 1:54:23deserves everything he gets.He will be disappointed he has not been

1:54:23 > 1:54:26selected to go to the Commonwealth Games, but that selection was made a

1:54:26 > 1:54:31while ago. Amazing for David Gourlay. If you need to have any

1:54:31 > 1:54:35respect from your team, being the Scottish International Open champion

1:54:35 > 1:54:39when you are paying these bowlers what they should be doing, they are

1:54:39 > 1:54:42going to be listening.They will listen anyway, but David will put in

1:54:42 > 1:54:50all the factors that will help them play their best. From the point of

1:54:50 > 1:54:55view of the players, he knows what they need, and that is the key to

1:54:55 > 1:54:58it. He's not just some manager who will make sure they turn up on time.

1:54:58 > 1:55:02He will have a major impact in putting all the bits and pieces

1:55:02 > 1:55:06needed to facilitate the players to play the best they can on the day.

1:55:06 > 1:55:11It is going to be amazing. David Gourlay has been fantastic this

1:55:11 > 1:55:16week. He is the deserving champion in Perth. There was a match earlier

1:55:16 > 1:55:21this morning, and it was a fantastic match. It was the junior Scottish

1:55:21 > 1:55:30Masters. It was between Rebecca Houston and Stuart McAleese.

1:55:47 > 1:55:54Rebecca Houston taking the first set. Playing very good bowls, both

1:55:54 > 1:56:01these players. Beautiful action. We will see Rebecca's delivery later.

1:56:01 > 1:56:06She takes her back league behind her front leg, which is lovely to see.

1:56:06 > 1:56:14Makes room for the arm to go through. Much more of an outdoor

1:56:14 > 1:56:26delivery and a traditional big step forward for Stuart.

1:56:27 > 1:56:33It has been a gamer some quality, Paul. We have already had some

1:56:33 > 1:56:39excellent bowls.Both players settled into the mat quickly. They

1:56:39 > 1:56:42have a chance to practise on the blue portable rink. Both have found

1:56:42 > 1:56:53a good line and length.

1:57:11 > 1:57:23Stewart will be looking to make a good start to this set.

1:57:45 > 1:57:53She knew exactly what to do.

1:58:10 > 1:58:25That was close. A lot of power from the 16-year-old.

1:58:27 > 1:58:31So often when you see younger players, they drive much too

1:58:31 > 1:58:36quickly. But with these two, they have only been using the power when

1:58:36 > 1:58:46absolutely necessary.

1:58:55 > 1:59:11That is a really good bowl.Very impressive.

1:59:16 > 1:59:29Even if he removes one, it is damage limitation. It is a hard draw.

1:59:31 > 1:59:33Going for the draw.

1:59:40 > 1:59:47Third shot would be a decent result. Just going to slip by, though.That

1:59:47 > 1:59:51was a tough shot, to be truthful with you. He was so close on the

1:59:51 > 1:59:57running board, I thought he might have popped it again. -- running

1:59:57 > 2:00:02bowl.

2:00:06 > 2:00:12Stewart taking the first set, a near-perfect start to the second for

2:00:12 > 2:00:14Rebecca.

2:00:24 > 2:00:28So, Rebecca Houston's mum and dad just seeing themselves on the big

2:00:28 > 2:00:34screen. They know we're talking about them.Just glancing over to

2:00:34 > 2:00:41the big screen at the same time, warps, big smile.Yeah, big smiles.

2:00:41 > 2:00:56Daughter is doing well. -- whoops. When you get two finals, especially

2:00:56 > 2:01:02in this event, which is highly regarded, it brings you to the

2:01:02 > 2:01:07notice of selectors of the ability to play. Under 18 and under 25

2:01:07 > 2:01:13level, always looking for talent that is coming through. Nurture that

2:01:13 > 2:01:19talent all the way through to senior internationals.

2:01:23 > 2:01:29That leg tucked in behind the front leg on it is just a beautiful

2:01:29 > 2:01:34action. Especially for the indoor, it is fast surfaces, it makes room

2:01:34 > 2:01:40for the hand to follow all the way through. She's been playing the

2:01:40 > 2:01:49backhand very well. I have been surprised playing the forehand.

2:01:55 > 2:01:59Well, he thought he had left that short. You can tell by his reaction,

2:01:59 > 2:02:11it is a missed opportunity. As you'd expect Rebecca to draw in here.

2:02:16 > 2:02:28Well, a bit of an off end for both players. These are dangerous ands.

2:02:28 > 2:02:30-- dangerous ends.

2:02:42 > 2:02:46Puts the breaks on...

2:02:48 > 2:02:55So, another measure.These are ends that you can lose two or three and

2:02:55 > 2:03:02it is a very cheap end. Needs to just get the shoulder behind this

2:03:02 > 2:03:05one a little bit more. Line's good enough.

2:03:10 > 2:03:17Yeah, knew that was better.APPLAUSE

2:03:19 > 2:03:26One of the rare loose ends.

2:03:29 > 2:03:35A lot of Paul Foster about that delivery.Certainly is. One of his

2:03:35 > 2:03:44bowling heroes, Paul Foster. He's taken too much weight off.

2:03:48 > 2:03:56A scratch of the head there. A loose end. There is at least one, and

2:03:56 > 2:04:03opportunity. He has not made it with his first bowls. Stuard not getting

2:04:03 > 2:04:24where he wanted to be. -- Stewart.

2:04:40 > 2:04:42APPLAUSE

2:05:03 > 2:05:07Yes, both players playing very well in this direction. Look at that.

2:05:07 > 2:05:17Goodness me.APPLAUSE Good touchers, first two bowls. That

2:05:17 > 2:05:23is his mother, goodness me, she looks nervous.She certainly does.

2:05:28 > 2:05:35Always more difficult for the parents.Chance with this. Just

2:05:35 > 2:05:48needs a little tap. Oh, yes. Oh, yes! Three perfect deliveries.And

2:05:48 > 2:05:50acknowledged by her opponent as well.

2:06:07 > 2:06:12Stay on the backhand, come around the red bowls, drop in behind would

2:06:12 > 2:06:14be good.

2:06:19 > 2:06:23Well, a mixed junior event, can you imagine these two playing?It would

2:06:23 > 2:06:33take something to stop them.This is good again. But those three perfect

2:06:33 > 2:06:36deliveries.

2:06:40 > 2:06:46Certainly, none of the top players in the world would have played that

2:06:46 > 2:06:51end any better than Rebecca has. And Stewart's in the area here.He will

2:06:51 > 2:07:00take the shop bowl out.He's got it. The Jack moved. Without the jack he

2:07:00 > 2:07:04was lighting on three.Exactly why should Rebecca put her bowl round

2:07:04 > 2:07:16there.It was a beautifully placed position shot. Bowl on to bowl,

2:07:16 > 2:07:20without the jack, line three, Rebecca in trouble, and now she has

2:07:20 > 2:07:29a chance to add another. Beautiful. I love to see that.

2:07:29 > 2:07:34Absolute, complete follow-through, no whipping of the arm across her

2:07:34 > 2:07:39body. Goes with the flow, and the angle of the bowl pops another bowl

2:07:39 > 2:07:44in.Yeah, that's lovely. APPLAUSE

2:07:48 > 2:07:54Well, I've watched a lot of women players in the last number of years,

2:07:54 > 2:08:00coach and manager, and she is certainly one of the best I've seen.

2:08:02 > 2:08:08Well, if she wins this title or not, she will be, I'm sure, marked down

2:08:08 > 2:08:13as a future senior internationalist.

2:08:14 > 2:08:22Got a chance with this. He's played it. He's played it well. Is he going

2:08:22 > 2:08:30to drop? No. It is enough for number one. That is a brilliant end.That's

2:08:30 > 2:08:37the way to play bowls at this level. Fearless from both. Great response.

2:08:37 > 2:08:45I could use all eight of those bowls of eight coaching masterclass of how

2:08:45 > 2:08:54to play the game of singles. Perfect end from both players.

2:08:59 > 2:09:07The question now for Stewart McAlees is Jack length, then getting the

2:09:07 > 2:09:16first one onto it. Needs to start applying a bit of pressure.

2:09:24 > 2:09:27APPLAUSE That's a good opener.

2:10:09 > 2:10:13Just tap that ball. Without that, he was all the way in. Narrowed down

2:10:13 > 2:10:24the angles, Rebecca moving to the backhand. She knew that was over the

2:10:24 > 2:10:40hand. Struggling a bit more, coming in this direction. Stewart can

2:10:40 > 2:10:43capitalise, pop another one in.

2:11:06 > 2:11:11Just needs to stop. I think it's just trucking on a bit. Yeah, again

2:11:11 > 2:11:16she knew that. You could see by her body language. This is a chance for

2:11:16 > 2:11:21Stewart. In the first set, he was able to fight his way back in,

2:11:21 > 2:11:25mainly going this direction. He was playing some very good stuff, just

2:11:25 > 2:11:35away from the commentary position.

2:11:44 > 2:11:53Gently off the backhand. Just want to try to draw in a third.

2:11:55 > 2:12:00He's waving at it to come back in again. But it was always going to

2:12:00 > 2:12:06make centreline.

2:12:36 > 2:12:40Looks like the recovery bowl.

2:12:44 > 2:12:50Second shot.APPLAUSE Very good.

2:12:50 > 2:13:08REFEREE:1-shot, Stewart McAlees. Set school, 4-2 after six ends.

2:13:08 > 2:13:14He was going to take the game up. Just watch Paul Foster, big step

2:13:14 > 2:13:22forward. Arm still extended. Big step forward, arm still extended.

2:13:22 > 2:13:30It's quite similar, isn't it.It's obviously been an influence, because

2:13:30 > 2:13:34everyone's got their own delivery. You can just see it there, it's

2:13:34 > 2:13:39very, very like Paul Foster. Who can complain about that? Absolutely.

2:13:39 > 2:13:46He's going the right way. Results have been very good, too.

2:13:47 > 2:13:53As you say, Paul, Paul Foster has been one of his heroes. And no

2:13:53 > 2:14:00reason why not.

2:14:01 > 2:14:07His other inspiration is John Fleming Junior, who is a very, very

2:14:07 > 2:14:10good player.

2:14:15 > 2:14:17REFEREE:Ten inch gap.

2:14:23 > 2:14:26The only difference with the left hand is Paul Foster doesn't use is

2:14:26 > 2:14:37left hand for balance. Stewart does. He's played this well.APPLAUSE

2:14:37 > 2:14:43Humming this direction, the bowling has been a lot tighter on occasions.

2:14:43 > 2:14:49REFEREE:Ever so slightly short.

2:14:52 > 2:14:55Your bowl was a gap of ten inches. Rebecca Houston checking exactly

2:14:55 > 2:15:01where things are.

2:15:14 > 2:15:16Out of Prestwick club, lots of talent coming out of there,

2:15:16 > 2:15:25including Darren Weir. Took the under 18 bowling

2:15:25 > 2:15:32Championship last year in Scotland. A lot of players from that area as

2:15:32 > 2:15:40well. It's full of world champions from the past as well. That's out of

2:15:40 > 2:15:46Scotland.

2:16:09 > 2:16:15Going strong at this. An edge and that would have been useful. It was

2:16:15 > 2:16:21OK to do that with the third bowl. Very risky to play it with the next

2:16:21 > 2:16:31one. It made contact, you have the recovery of the last bowl, but the

2:16:31 > 2:16:39jack back isn't good to her.The position of against it at the back.

2:16:39 > 2:16:42-- up against it.

2:17:00 > 2:17:09Just wanted it to run out. APPLAUSE It has made the double.

2:17:20 > 2:17:24Well, there's nothing easy about this, but he thinks he needs to play

2:17:24 > 2:17:30it on the forehand. If she gets the jack, she goes through with it. If

2:17:30 > 2:17:37she gets the bowl, great. Not an easy situation, but I don't think

2:17:37 > 2:17:42she can afford it. Either way, she must make contact with a bowl.

2:17:42 > 2:17:46Backhand or forehand, it is available. She could come off the

2:17:46 > 2:17:52red bowl and come in, or hit it off her short bowl. Either way, she

2:17:52 > 2:17:57cannot afford to hit that jack too hard.

2:18:00 > 2:18:06Two shot, but the potential for losing more is there. Yeah, that's a

2:18:06 > 2:18:12good decision. Now just a matter of getting back

2:18:12 > 2:18:18down again to the centreline. Just holding off. Well, it was the right

2:18:18 > 2:18:29shot. REFEREE:Two shots, Stewart McAlees.

2:18:29 > 2:18:33Nothing rash, and that was the important bit.

2:18:35 > 2:18:42REFEREE:Set school, 4-4. Tying things up at 4-4, it has been

2:18:42 > 2:18:56a good fight back will -- fightback from the young man from Inverclyde.

2:19:01 > 2:19:05REFEREE:Jack length 26 metres.

2:19:31 > 2:19:36Forehands, she struggled the last time in this direction. The jack is

2:19:36 > 2:19:39a bit shorter. A really good bowl with her last delivery on the

2:19:39 > 2:19:46backhand. See where she starts.

2:20:08 > 2:20:12The backhand, it is good. It is an open hand, but a slight correction

2:20:12 > 2:20:24on the four. This line's different. They look different from this end.

2:20:24 > 2:20:29Over correction problem. It happens so easily, but she's sneaked up and

2:20:29 > 2:20:37is close for a shot. REFEREE:It is very close.

2:20:37 > 2:20:46Straighter ball.Stewart McAlees from Inverclyde looking to follow

2:20:46 > 2:20:54Michael Stevenson, who won this title last year. Also in Inverclyde

2:20:54 > 2:21:02junior player.Really should move on to the backhand now, because jack to

2:21:02 > 2:21:17move. Good tactics. She knows what she's doing.

2:21:17 > 2:21:24APPLAUSE I thought she should be on the

2:21:24 > 2:21:33backhand in the first place. She's played it well. Stewart has a back

2:21:33 > 2:21:38position. And you are a good driver, I have seen him hit a few.

2:21:46 > 2:21:54Again, an open draw still available on the forehand, and two bowls with

2:21:54 > 2:21:59the back position. He is going for the draw. 50-50 choice, one is as

2:21:59 > 2:22:08good as the other. He is close. Just needs a run... He probably had the

2:22:08 > 2:22:18running.I think he did, just getting killed on his own one there.

2:22:18 > 2:22:27George second shot.

2:22:45 > 2:22:55Close to making the second shot. It needs to stop.

2:22:58 > 2:23:05That's a very good spare shot to hit.A lot of room to draw it, but

2:23:05 > 2:23:10she did so with three ends to play in the first set already in the

2:23:10 > 2:23:22bank. Rebecca Houston, re-gains the lead.

2:23:25 > 2:23:29Prestwick ladies champion, 2016-17, the youngest ever.I'm not

2:23:29 > 2:23:37surprised.Absolutely.15 years old and able to do what she is doing.

2:23:37 > 2:23:41Not only that, great understanding as well of the game. At that age,

2:23:41 > 2:23:46she's been very, very well looked after. She must be playing with and

2:23:46 > 2:23:53against top-quality players.

2:23:54 > 2:24:05APPLAUSE Noh Rebecca's mum and dad, they must

2:24:05 > 2:24:10be delighted with the way she is going. Just behind there is Marie,

2:24:10 > 2:24:13Stewart's mum.

2:24:29 > 2:24:32A lot of senior players will look out for the young ones coming

2:24:32 > 2:24:36through to see how they can help in their development. And quite often,

2:24:36 > 2:24:46try to play in competitions with them. Well done again.APPLAUSE

2:24:46 > 2:24:55Stewart's already a regular in the Inverclyde men's team.

2:24:58 > 2:25:05Plenty of players around him able to help.

2:25:09 > 2:25:16There's Michael Stepney of Elgin.He looks suitably relaxed and chilled,

2:25:16 > 2:25:27doesn't he.Ahead of a very, very big final.Just drop it this bowl on

2:25:27 > 2:25:31the short side. Wanted in the same as the last one.

2:25:31 > 2:25:37REFEREE:An inch past.We have got some very good young players at the

2:25:37 > 2:25:45club in Belfast. I played the qualifiers with young Robert

2:25:45 > 2:25:49Kirkwood. I played lead, he skipped away on that, and we just lost out

2:25:49 > 2:26:01in that qualifier. Two international players. Stuart Bennett and Mark

2:26:01 > 2:26:06peat will represent Ireland in the world pairs in January.

2:26:06 > 2:26:12I was only disappointed for Robert, not myself. You know, I really

2:26:12 > 2:26:17wanted him to get there, but we'll have a go next year.An excellent

2:26:17 > 2:26:28effort falls down.

2:26:43 > 2:26:47Robert is in Hong Kong at the moment, so an interesting, nature,

2:26:47 > 2:26:53those two. I don't think they played too many competitions, though, the

2:26:53 > 2:27:04brothers.Sometimes it is success, other times not.

2:27:05 > 2:27:13You have to be fairly laid-back in temperament, though.

2:27:13 > 2:27:23He's trying very hard on this line. That's a real good effort.Still

2:27:23 > 2:27:32think it is one to red. REFEREE:1-shot, Rebecca Houston.

2:27:33 > 2:27:48A really good pick up. Two to play.

2:27:51 > 2:28:00So four shots required, going this direction, Rebecca's been playing

2:28:00 > 2:28:10the forehand. Mailing it much better with her third and fourth bowl.

2:28:12 > 2:28:19Playing on the backhand. See how she starts. Didn't look too confident

2:28:19 > 2:28:23with it.

2:29:04 > 2:29:10Here comes the correction. Is it enough? Just trying to push it up.

2:29:31 > 2:29:43He has got the line, has he got the legs?

2:29:58 > 2:30:10That is not going to help over the next bowl either.

2:30:14 > 2:30:30Both players are coming up to their last bowl. This is looking good.

2:30:30 > 2:30:33That is the number one shot. This is also the shoulder for Rebecca to

2:30:33 > 2:30:44play that backhand.

2:31:05 > 2:31:22Gentle, gentle. We could have a one end shoot out here. Rebecca has

2:31:22 > 2:31:25scored shots coming this way, but the first two bowls have been a

2:31:25 > 2:31:31problem for her. She's playing recovery bowls. Going the opposite

2:31:31 > 2:31:41way, very strong.

2:31:45 > 2:31:56Going for a chance to make it seven apiece, with a final end to play.It

2:31:56 > 2:32:10has run out. That will give Rebecca a bit more hope in the next end.

2:32:15 > 2:32:23Disappointed as he picked up the jack.Well, to be fair to him, he

2:32:23 > 2:32:35gave it a chance.Absolutely.He needs a double this end to force a

2:32:35 > 2:32:40tie-break, but both these players have been so impressive. That is

2:32:40 > 2:32:47also good, the way he delivered that jack. A lot of people just play the

2:32:47 > 2:33:00jack down at club level. I am very impressed by both these players. You

2:33:00 > 2:33:04can go overboard with young players sometimes, but it is the control of

2:33:04 > 2:33:13their play that is important to me. The choice of shot is important.

2:33:13 > 2:33:25Their execution will get better as they get older.

2:33:27 > 2:33:39Almost a free bowl here for Rebecca. A bit of nerves creeping into both,

2:33:39 > 2:33:54and it is understandable.Given what is at stake.

2:34:11 > 2:34:20At this age, I skipped a rink at 15. I was on an outdoor green, no big

2:34:20 > 2:34:24crowd, nothing like this. And it was good, but nothing like this sort of

2:34:24 > 2:34:31pressure. At this age in front of a big crowd, single rink, not always

2:34:31 > 2:34:36an easy week, and television cameras new, it is tough.

2:34:40 > 2:34:47He has missed a chance here to put the pressure on. That jack was a

2:34:47 > 2:35:02couple of yards short. Rebecca just needs one really good bowl. That

2:35:02 > 2:35:19looks better. That is making it very difficult. She doesn't look even in

2:35:19 > 2:35:25the slightest perturbed by this.She has come through a lot. An

2:35:25 > 2:35:33experienced player even given her age, with the Scottish international

2:35:33 > 2:35:41for under 17s and under 25.The talent has been identified very

2:35:41 > 2:35:51early.

2:35:52 > 2:36:03That is a hard one.

2:36:08 > 2:36:16It is all over. Rebecca Houston wins both sets. She takes the match and

2:36:16 > 2:36:25the title. A steady, consistent performance. Impressive throughout.

2:36:25 > 2:36:29Yes, both players giving everything. My goodness me, weren't they

2:36:29 > 2:36:34impressive?Congratulations to Rebecca Houston, the first time a

2:36:34 > 2:36:36girl has won the Scottish Young Masters. Stewart McAlees as well is

2:36:36 > 2:36:40someone to look for for the future. But the highlights of this afternoon

2:36:40 > 2:36:45here at the Dewars Centre in Perth were the final of the Scottish

2:36:45 > 2:36:50International Open between Michael Stepney and David Gourlay. As you

2:36:50 > 2:36:55can see, David Gourlay won the title like he did in 2006. He is a

2:36:55 > 2:36:59delighted man and very happy to take up the trophy for the second time.

2:36:59 > 2:37:03Corky has been watching all week and been in the commentary box. What a

2:37:03 > 2:37:09final it was. And David was a happy man to pick it up.Yes, and he got

2:37:09 > 2:37:13even better. David played really well in the first match. I washed it

2:37:13 > 2:37:16up at home before I came over and thought to myself, that is the first

2:37:16 > 2:37:20time for a long time I have seen David play so well.Michael Stepney

2:37:20 > 2:37:26has been entertaining us all week. He beat the five-time world champion

2:37:26 > 2:37:30and we thought there was a real challenge on.And there was, because

2:37:30 > 2:37:36when you take Paul Foster out, you know you can win it. David just held

2:37:36 > 2:37:42it together. The key to it was the first two bowls.There were some

2:37:42 > 2:37:46mighty moments, particularly in the first set. He was getting relentless

2:37:46 > 2:37:50with those first two bowls. This shows you how deadly he is,

2:37:50 > 2:37:55peppering the jack.That is the way David plays. We all know in singles

2:37:55 > 2:38:00play that you have to get close. He struggled a bit in the previous

2:38:00 > 2:38:04game, the semifinal, with the first two bowls. But this time, he seemed

2:38:04 > 2:38:11to step up a gear. The first two bowls were really good, especially

2:38:11 > 2:38:18in the second set. Michael was under pressure end after end.It was

2:38:18 > 2:38:23unbelievable, but those first two bowls were so important. At the

2:38:23 > 2:38:26start, Michael did have the advantage.He did, but it means when

2:38:26 > 2:38:32you are playing your second or third bowl, you are facing a head against

2:38:32 > 2:38:35you every time. And when you do play well, David Gourlay has a different

2:38:35 > 2:38:41shot available.The conversion shot in the second set was a great

2:38:41 > 2:38:46conversion shot from the three he played. It was a delight to watch.

2:38:46 > 2:38:54Under pressure, he can play all the shots.David is so good at them. He

2:38:54 > 2:38:58got a very good result by the jack going sideways, but he played to get

2:38:58 > 2:39:03the jack through the head. If it had gone into the ditch, it would have

2:39:03 > 2:39:09been the same result. Those sort of counts will make a massive

2:39:09 > 2:39:15difference in any tight match.It was amazing for Michael Stepney,

2:39:15 > 2:39:20because David seem to have his foot on Michael's throat! He had to play

2:39:20 > 2:39:23some big shots himself. The ninth end of the second set, he played

2:39:23 > 2:39:27unbelievable shot just to keep himself in the game.He did and I

2:39:27 > 2:39:34have spoken to him about it. He was going for the edge of the bowl, and

2:39:34 > 2:39:38actually hit the edge that he didn't want. By hitting the edge of the

2:39:38 > 2:39:43bowl on the inside, he was going to take his own bowls out. He was

2:39:43 > 2:39:46aiming for the outside.David Gourlay is going on to the

2:39:46 > 2:39:51Commonwealth Games as the Scotland coach as well. And we know he is a

2:39:51 > 2:39:57man who has great respect from other bowlers.And they all know him well.

2:39:57 > 2:40:02He will put everything in place to enable them to play well and to play

2:40:02 > 2:40:07at the perfect level.Corky, thank you very much. It's been a truly

2:40:07 > 2:40:16brilliant week here at the Dewars Centre in Perth. David managed to

2:40:16 > 2:40:19win. Michael Stepney entertained us, but it wasn't to be his year. From

2:40:19 > 2:40:31all of us, thanks for your company. Bye for now.

2:40:37 > 2:40:47MUSIC.