Semi-finals - Highlights Bowls: Scottish International Open

The Stone Of Scoon, Upon Which The

Ancient Kings Of Scotland Were

Crowned. But A Few Miles From Here

Another King Of Scotland Will Be

Crowned.

Delighted to get to the

semifinal. A great that you gain, I

have a lot of us points from this.

It isn't about being a bully and

every single time. It's all about

the battle.

Tie-breaks and it is

difficult and sometimes things fall

for you.

He is up at the top and is

therefore a reason and here is

hoping he has an off day and I have

a good one.

Top player. One of

Scotland's best.

Darren has the

ability to win games even when he

isn't playing well, but when he is

playing the top of his game he is

impossible.

Every game is a final. I

know everybody knows it if I play

how I can play, I won't be beat.

A

lot of players go big and the

semifinal is probably the hardest

game to lose because you are one

game away from the final.

The

Scottish semifinal, four men

standing.

Go hard or go home.

Semifinals day here in Perth.

The action got underway a week ago,

ten represented nations, one nation

left, four men still standing. The

first match, Paul Foster against

Michael Stepney. Michael knocked

other people out in the first round,

we know how good this man is. When

picking a shot of the day our

commentator struggled to see beyond

Paul Foster with his conversion sort

this week nothing short of

miraculous. Joining the match for

the fourth set with foster leading

31.

It is a good starter but he won't be

happy with it.

It is a good starter but he won't be

happy with it.

A long way round. He has got it.

On

two beforehand for Paul Foster. --

the forehand. He has turned his back

on it all

the gap is half an inch.

APPLAUSE

Well, a chance here. Michael if you

were very confident you could turn

it around the corner, Paul wouldn't

have a chance. If he leaves it, he

is playing the backhand because he

has put to good holes in. Leading a

gain on the forehand. If he tops its

down it will be better. Almost just

as good, actually. Touching the

back. Nothing here for Paul Foster

to strike. He has gone for the

timing shops, trying to get around

his own ball. It looks very narrow.

Best result may be the front bowl

into yet.

Two. Two read. Just move

to the jack forward an inch or two

on his last bowls.

Any touch on the

jack and he will make four. All Paul

Foster can do is watch. Starting to

come round now, has he enough there?

He has.

Set score four - three after four

ends.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE

Just enquiring to see if it was Jack

high.

That is very good, there.

Beautiful

receiving position offering

opportunities to play either side,

forehand or back

opportunities to play either side,

forehand or back. Backhand just

struggles to get back. Michael might

be tempted with this. I think it is

only one, still.

I think it is still

only one.

Backhand just looking to

nibble into the jack. It is a hard

shot. Dives away very quickly. And

there it goes. Michael and I were

talking about these shops over the

last few days. They look the right

shot, tempting but low percentage.

Foster trying to come in a little

more than the previous ones. Might

help the second bowl.

The difficulty

Michael has is that he only has the

one bowl in there against the three.

Only one shot

one bowl in there against the three.

Only one shot. He will be unlucky to

take his own bowl out and not come

out into the jack.

The sort of

weight has to be very accurate to

get into the jack. He might just nip

in that way. APPLAUSE

Beautifully played. Beautifully

played.

Two read.

He deserved

everything he got for that. Hard to

play! He will be elated after that.

He is close, just a matter of

stopping in time to get second. He

had the right line, just chucked

through. Does look like two.

Two

shots, Michael Stepney.

APPLAUSE

So, five shots and two hands for

Stepney, claiming singles in the

next two ends his first set it was.

We would join him in the second set,

he Stander 5-4 advantage with three

ends left the play.

APPLAUSE

One Red.

It has been a great game of

tactics as well, superb play. The

Mac has been all over the place,

Jack Short and long. A little bit on

the quick side. Chance of turning

the jack himself. That's what he's

after. Bucking this one down.

Just

dipped away.

One macro Red.

He set up a delightful shot, he will

play it.

Long way back from there. Beautiful

weight. Paul Foster realises he has

no back position. He has at least

three.

Time-out. Paul has four

time-outs remaining.

What he is

looking out is can he get the jack

there on the backhand. If he doesn't

like that there is a good shot on an

beforehand. -- the forehand. Let's

see what he wants to do. Forehand.

He will play the other side.

Doesn't

matter which side. The thing about

playing the backhand you can take

the bowl out and run off the gap.

Forehand, you get the ball and run

into the jack. That is why he played

the backhand. Didn't matter, same

shot that I had indicated but that

is why he played it. The ball is

going through nicely.

APPLAUSE

That isn't a spare shot opportunity,

Paul, that is a tremendous ball.

Makes a massive difference in the

game.

Two shots, Michael Stepney.

Well this is interesting now.

Stepney. Keeping himself focused on

winning the end if he can get a

single shot here they shake hands.

Paul Foster realistically has TB

two.

Got to be a two. That isn't

finishing off that hand, for him.

That looks good. APPLAUSE

Foster a five-time Scottish

international finalist. Forced to

work exceptionally hard here.

One

green. I expect that Jack would have

moved to read.

Gavin, your bowl, it

is half an inch.

Good old-fashioned stuff. None of

this five millimetres or anything

like that, Paul. Half an inch. That

will do. It is close!

He is closing

this heads down, still has a shot to

get the shot but outside green bowl,

nudge it across. It is making Paul

Foster's life really difficult to

get more than one. He is going for

the two halls, not surprised. He

needs the two balls away. APPLAUSE

Really good ball.

Two green.

In many

ways the only shot he could play to

develop the head to get two or

three. That was a nod to Michael on

the way past. Congratulations to him

for that shop.

Pressure on Michael to get close to

hear. Can't afford to lose this. Has

he got to wait to mark? He is

therefore a second, well played,

Michael Stepney. Well played Michael

Stepney. A really good bowl.

Questions asked, he is answering

consistently. Paul Foster would love

to take that TrackBack just a touch.

-- Jack back just a touch.

He played

to extend it, played to get into the

red ball and move. Well what an end!

Paul Foster needs a three at final

ends to force a tie-break. Michael

Stepney would mean his first world

Bowls tour singles final.

Short bowls don't help you. Your

opponent needs a three. Don't drop

them short.

Michael Stepney went into that for

shocks up and nearly lost a count.

Doesn't want that to happen again,

doesn't want to give Paul Foster a

chance for three. Here is the

answer! Good placement. Good place

but not safe.

That is two.

They goes a time-out, he hasn't used

any so far.

Playing to that, if it comes across

and misses the green bowl, if he

gets a lock on the green bowl on

that would be perfect.

That is the one he wanted. APPLAUSE

Locked that in and it will be now

difficult for Paul Foster to develop

three shots out of this. He will

take a time-out, eight second or

two.

Paul has three time-outs

remaining.

What is he looking for

here? This is the

only way. He wants to progress it

on, taking two balls out, both

disappear, and you are looking and

just wondering... Yes, that's what

he's looking for, edged the red ball

onto the other one. He has just done

so much this week, is their magic

left in it? Very nearly! Paul Foster

six, Michael Stepney eight. --

seven. APPLAUSE

A nice moment. And Michael Stepney,

the wild card coming into the event

finds himself into the final of the

Scottish international open.

Michael

you have knocked a 510 bowl champion

out of the event.

Unbelievable. I

have seen Paul play a lot better

than that and I had just to keep on

going and keep my game going and

that was not the full Paul Foster

out there today.

We have seen the

full capability you have, not your

best game by any means but Michael

was pressure you.

I'm not going to

stand here and criticise myself.

Michael deserved the win, that was a

poor performance from me, going away

from the commentary box was fine but

going towards it it was not working

for me. Some days it just doesn't

work. All praise is due Michael, he

deserved this win, I have no

complaints. Absolutely.

You must be

particularly pleased about the way

you have gone through this week

because you not Stuart Anderson out

the first round, Mervyn has gone as

well and you have knocked all manner

of seeds out so far. I spoke to you

but you came here with a good game

and you seem to look like the

occasion didn't get to you in the

slightest. I had to stick to my game

plan which was to try to get the

bowl is as close to the jack and

obviously it did work. It kept me in

and kept me going so yes, delighted!

This is the seventh end of the

second set, yet was important for

you to keep the pressure on Paul at

that point, such a great shot.

I was

trying to get inside the green bowl

and touch the jack and a boy three,

but it just held off like it was

doing to the game but it had a great

way to that swung in and the end.

Paul, and unusual situation, knocked

out by wild card. The quality he has

got, what is he like as a player,

he's pretty good isn't it?

I've

known Mike for a number of years, he

plays in the Scotland team and he is

a class player. I didn't

underestimate him at all in this

game. Doesn't matter who's he's beat

along the way, he can beat anyone on

his day and he is a class act and I

wish him all the best in the final.

Michael Stepney through to the

final. Fantastic performance from

him. Next April along with David

Durie and Adam Burnett will be

heading to the Commonwealth Games

after that's great success in 2014

in Glasgow.

So many happy memories

of the Glasgow I feel myself

drifting back to some of them the

mound at Kilburn Grove will last for

ever.

A beautiful event, to play in

the Commonwealth Games. Something I

will never forgetful Glasgow

probably the best ever, not just

because it was in Scotland but

coming away with two medals in your

own backyard you can't beat it! It

will never happen again in my

lifetime, common wealth games in

Scotland and with the whole crowd

and your family there... Dream come

true.

We are all looking forward to

going to the Gold Coast. The team

has been announced and been ratified

by Commonwealth Games Scotland so

put us in a good place stop it sends

a message to say we are confident

that that is our team and we have

chosen quite early compares to some

other countries but we are confident

with the team that we have chosen

and we can spend the next eight

months reaffirming that.

Getting

back on that

months reaffirming that.

Getting

back on that, its professional,

everybody has been so professional

looking after us very well. We will

be well prepared and hopefully we

can have another successful game.

The games will be amazing, it there

is an incredible place to play

bowls. The venue is incredible, the

Greens will be challenging and the

Aussies will make sure the Bowls

will be as quick as possible. Able

maximise the advantage at home as we

did in Glasgow. We have some of the

best players in the world and we

will be well prepared, and everybody

is really up for it.

It's not too

long to you head off to the goal

post, so it looks forward it will be

difficult for Davis to pick the

squad because there are so many

class players up here. Some guys are

going to be unfortunate and others

very happy but the five dies going

out there will be jubilant.

Going

out after Glasgow, it is just... It

is five months down the line but I

am so excited, I can't wait.

The

Commonwealth Games is a huge

challenge for our sport. It is like

the Olympics of our sport because

there are no top teams are missing,

there are no other sports where

other teams are missing and we are

playing the best countries in the

world, it is going to be difficult

and a challenge.

We wish both teams

a lot of success in the Commonwealth

Games next year. Back here it is the

semifinals.

Four quarterfinal finishes last

year, consistent but not spectacular

from Darren Burnett, the former

world champion used to get into the

business end of tournaments. Despite

David Gourlay's commitment to the

Commonwealth team he remains one of

the best players in the game.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE.

He is going early, inside his own

ball. Jack. Perfect and he is in

with that.

He is right next door

with it. That is the extra bonus,

hit it right in the middle, no

chance of beating it. Could not ask

for anything better.

The advantage

of having the heavy shot available

and in your armoury. The best he can

do is try and trundle up beside it.

That is a decent second.

APPLAUSE.

He has gone very close to the edge.

You get to the stage for once you

are ball away, it will drag you in.

His eyes Jo Scott wider and wider

there as he realised it was going.

-- his eyes just got wider and

wider. He has to do that to get the

shot.

The crowd joining in with that

one. Another good ball.

Does he draw them or try and plan

them off?

Even if you stun it, you

will go yourself. He does not have

another shot past them.

No, he would

need to be holding the fourth shot.

He has had it again.

Just had not

pushed it. He will take it.

Absolutely, big swinging balls, bad

is the only time that a fixed

running ball is a disadvantage. It

is rare. Girl would go on to take a

triple in the next end but burn-out

fought back -- David Gourlay. -- but

Burnett would.

APPLAUSE.

It is as good ball.

Europol is five

inches shorter. -- your ball.

Not

all of them have managed to meet

jack hi.

-- jack high. They are so good these

guys and you sometimes wonder is the

surface changing a little bit, it

can do that, especially between

matches.

It is very warm out there, it was

very warm yesterday and it is very

warm again today. Just hanging off

slightly.

About 105. It is the warmest place

in Perth.

David on the wrong side, looking to

turn that jack around the corner.

All a bit strange at the moment as

we get to the last few balls of this

set.

Darren Bernat needs to score at two.

Plaintiffs to trying it back green

ball off. He wants the green ball. A

big chance of him getting his own

ball and that is exactly what

happened. He must've felt it was the

only way he was going to achieve

what he wanted to do.

David Gourlay

will pick up three, but it matters

not. Any score was going to see him

over the line. Into the second set

and we rejoin it, it Gourlay is

leading 3-2 going into the fourth

end.

This is a set that Darren Burnett

house to win. -- Hass to win.

APPLAUSE.

Good opening bowls from David

Gourlay. Everything is following

across the head. This one is

struggling.

Some distance. It won't

be in the way for the two players.

Once again, that backhand takes its

toll and I wonder if he does go

slightly outside the line sometimes.

Just a little bit slower. I'd even

if he picks the jack up. Wasn't

needed, though. -- it would be a

deal if. Let us see what the angles

are, it looks like it needs a little

bit of weight into it. Let us see

what Darren decides to do.

The green

bowl is the target and he would take

the jack if he could. Alternatively

he could go through two gaps and

miss the lot.

That is what happened

next type shot.

That gap and that

gap.

It wouldn't have made any

difference if he had taken his own

ball away because he is still three

down anyway, but that little edge

would have been enough to get the

jack.

APPLAUSE. That is different now if

he takes his own ball away, it will

cost another shot. At 3-2, that

isn't never clever. For hands, he

could take everything away in the

forehand with regards to the green

ones. Clean jack he is looking for.

Goes again, plenty of weight, the

strike is read out, it is going to

be four.

There was a danger. He knew

the danger and is prepared to accept

that that could happen.

Four shots,

David Gourlay. He picks up the jack,

it is three apiece, he picks up his

own ball and it is 7-2.

Hammer blow

therefor Burnett but he dug deep to

take three shots from the next two

Emnes and went into the eighth by

two.

-- from the next two ends. This is

all about getting one shot for both

players, Darren Burnett needs to

score at least a single to give

himself a chance for a double. David

gets a single, Darren is looking for

a four.

Two feet past jack hi.

-- jack high. One green.

Has to correct with this one. He is

in a good line.

The pace looks

better.

Well played. The choices for

David Gourlay... Three and a half

inch gap. Understandably so.

It is a

shop that could win the match for

him.

The jack is through, it depends

on the web really. It is good if he

gets the jack, don't get me wrong.

That jack into a back position, the

best that Darren can do is a single

and David has her last bowl as well.

This is well worth a go. There is

only one danger and that is getting

through the gap and taking his own

ball out, that is the only danger to

it. He has angles for the draw, but

let us just say. Very controlled

weight, he is allowing the ball to

bend. Now, has he got the jack or

his own ball? A bit unlucky. Really

unlucky. That should have been in

the ditch.

David Gourlay should have

been in the final. If he picked that

through, if that had gone in with

him, that was game over.

He knows

that. That was game over if it had

not hit the green. He is still

holding the shot but he will expect

Darren to draw it. The best he can

do is get a single now. Interesting

choice, Darren going across the

head. He has picked up the lying

anyway. Good ball. It varies with

players, if they want to go down

that open side. David quite often

would go narrow side, I wonder if he

would be tempted to go for it the

jack or that all.

If he takes the

Jack and sneaks it across, he has

got the bowl in the ditch and he

could make it three and win the

match. There is only one against

him.

It is going into the last end,

your opponent needs two. Take the

ball out claim and he gets a one.

Choices, choices. He is thinking.

That is what he is going for, bowl

or jack.

If he takes the jack here's

the final, if he takes that, he has

done himself a favour.

No edges on

that one, he hit it to the right.

One shot, David Gourlay. He knew if

he held it he can easily get the

jack in the ditch.

Brilliant by

David Gourlay.

Burnett needed to

make a miraculous pinball runner if

he was to grab the four shots

required to take the match to a

tie-break. He could not make it an

David Gourlay was through to the

final after a 2-0 win.

Congratulations. We are delighted to

be in the final in Perth. It has

been a long time coming but I am

really happy with the way I played.

I put Darren under pressure. He was

not getting the right connections. I

don't think he missed a try.

Maybe

now and again to adjust a millimetre

or two offside.

I thought I ran

pretty well today. I can't remember

getting a decent results.

Sometimes

they do not come off. That is the

thing, putting Darren under

pressure, you know all about that. I

knew that I had to play better

today, get my first ball closer than

I have been getting, to put Darren

under pressure and thankfully that

happened today. When you were

driving and running quite well, it

is so difficult when they are not

coming off when you're getting the

results you want. The pressure that

you were under made you play them.

As you look at the match, it was

tight, and four in the second work I

went through a gap, I did not think

it was possible, they were big ends

in such a tight game.

David Gurley

and Michael Stepney are in the final

of the Scottish International Open.

There was another final this

afternoon, the ladies Masters final

between Leanne Furia and Caroline

Brown. Lady bowler of the year,

Caroline is hugely talented

competitors with a plethora of

plaudits to their name a world

indoor champion in 2010 followed by

titles in the US and Australia she

has experience to burn. Just a Mayor

years ago, Leanne Thierry picked up

the title here in Perth and knows

all about playing under the glare

off lights and cameras. The opening

set was a tight affair and it with

the scores are level with two Emnes

to play.

-- with two ends to play.

Caroline will be very keen to

recover from the last end, trying

get something back. It has been a

run of four singles. A very good

starter.

It is building up nicely.

Furye is in a bit of trouble here,

she needs a close second shot.

Drifted away.

Not seeing very many attacking

balls. I was just thinking that,

women play an entirely different

game from men. They tried to out

draw.

It is almost a defensive sort

of game in terms of that. They

really do screen to be head. A

single ball target, that is not

easy. She misses it. The chances are

she will lose a three. A good draw

sharp-macro, even third shop that is

close within a foot, that is doable,

in terms of getting something out of

it.

The jack is locked in. In between

the green balls but she is going for

the runner and that is a hard shot.

I understand why she is plain that,

on the re-spot she was getting a

single, but by missing that it is

giving Caroline the opportunity to

get a third. I promise she could not

hear us.

Pressure of Michael Caroline about

now. It is a big bowl, going into

the last end 3-0 up. Just needs to

stop. She has made it.

She has made it.

Best end for Caroline Brown takes

the benefit of it with a Them

Changes. -- with a triple. Furye

could not come back and Brown took

the first set 9-4. In the second

set, Furye had mounted a comeback

and was leading 5-1 when we rejoin.

Excellent staff, this final has been

high quality. -- excellent staff.

That is a rare loose ball in this

set.

Correction made but just sliding

under. Just needed a little bit more

on the width on the backhand. It

does bend back.

It is under, missed the line. That

is a good sign in many ways, because

if a player plays a bad ball, you do

not want to see them following it up

really. It is important that they

recognise it early. Then dismiss it,

forget about it and move on.

Caroline will probably try and get

another one in here, not worried

about cover at the moment.

Big ball, this one.

Just needs to start in time, it is

struggling through, they have not

saved anything. The scoreline in

this set is going to change quite

dramatically after this end. Has not

played a loose end in the set so

far, Leanne Furye, but this one is

going to hurt.

It is kind of ball

over the shop this time. -- it is

kind of all over the shop this time.

Perfect line. Good weight again. It

is in. It is a good four. If your

opponent has an end, you have to

capitalise all of a sudden. It is

all level after six ends. Leanne

just needs to steady herself. The

momentum is now firmly with Brown

and Furye was not able to recover,

Brown took the second set 9-5 to

complete victory and make the trophy

hers.

Huge congratulations to

Caroline Brown, your champion, 2017!

APPLAUSE. Congratulations to

Caroline Brown, winner of the

Scottish Masters. Lots of brilliant

shots throughout the day here at the

Dewars Centre, Corky will tell you

which one is the best.

My shot of

the day comes from Darren Burnett

and the David Gourlay match. David

double-macro the first set but

played really well going into the

second set, Darren started to take

control but he fought back, 7-5 and

Darren holds the shop but watch how

David played this poll, it was

absolute perfection. -- holes the

sharp-macro. Back and coming across

the head, very difficult to pick out

the line, allowing the ball to bend,

it goes between the gap. It does not

get any better when it comes to take

out shots than that and that meant

that David Gourlay moved into the

last end up with a very comfortable

lead and Darren had to score four

shots, the set was over and so was

the match and David Gourlay was

through to the final.

Wonderful. We

have a final in the Scottish

International Open, it is Michael

Stepney against David Gourlay. If I

was you, I would want to watch that

on television. We will be back on

BBC Two Scotland from midday for all

the action from that final. Join us

if you can. It has been a truly

amazing week, they are the Bears,

who will be the top of the pile?