Day 4 Bowls World Indoor Championships

Hello and welcome to highlights from the world championships. The

third trophy of the week was of for grabs in the final of the Ladies

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Yes, its former champion Alison Merrien in her 4th final up, up

against a local girl, Rebecca Field. It is time for the lady's world

matchplay title. Alison Merrien is contesting her 4th singles final

beer. She was the runners-up twice before she got the better of Karen

Murphy. The Channel Islander will be looking to build her consistency

in the ring. North of's own Rebecca Field is making her first final

appearance and will certainly have the local support. Field edged past

Kerry Packwood in a great advert for women's bowls. Can she produced

her a game for the second consecutive day on the big stage?

The experience and Arthur's of Merrien against youth and ambition.

It has all the makings of another cracking encounter. This is proving

cracking encounter. This is proving to be a superb final. Rebecca took

the first set but the 2011 champion came back to take the second set

meaning that this went to a tie- break.

Now, tie-break, rules changed slightly for this. Three N so.

Whoever wins the end is sufficient. When we get to the third end you

can destroy the end and we play it. That is the only time in the match

you can do that. So, a slightly is understandable. Both girls very

anxious to get their hands on the the line is very good for Alison.

Just need to run to make the jack. I agree, the line was absolutely

perfect. That is going to kill that hand for her. Seven inches. The

problem is the accuracy. These two girls are so good now that really

anything within five or six inches may not be good enough. You are

This will be an attacking ball, Alison is pushing it with a bit of

weight. No point even attempting to draw it.

She has the last ball. Move it into the open and take your chances.

I am surprised she's playing beforehand. Should that is the

forehand drive. She has got a great strike. Day you go, that is the way

to deal with those things. perfect strike. She plays the

weight shot very heavily. Probably the heaviest of the women players

in terms of the power where she generates for the weight shot. Now,

where are we going with her that jack? For it has not been put down

yet. I was wondering where it was, she was clearing the debris out of

does she not likely? The line looks good. I think it is slightly short.

I tell you what, that is pretty close. That is very close. What we

she worried about? The body language suggested she did not like

it. We can see from our commentary position which is directly below

the backhand that Alison, settle down folks, that is it. Settle down.

Will she take the ball or draw it? Oh, she will draw it. It has to be

a draw. She as 15 inches. Nonchalant! Much wider. Her road is

very good. It is all about pace. it is close for that as well. What

a drop back to be sure. That is close. Yes that is a good ball. The

hit and a recovery. This is great stuff, isn't it? Just brilliant.

At times I watch things like the snooker and like all professionals

in other sports I think, this is fantastic what they can do with the

cue ball and the safety and everything and then you come here

and you see this and you think, and on, it is just the same. Yes, there

are a few men's games to come yet and they will not be as exciting as

the opportunity on television to introduce new people to bowls. This

is what it is all about. This is both players. Yes, just dropping in

bit short on occasions. She is just making sure she is through with

this one. There is still room. Nobody feels as though they have

got the shot yet. Beautiful action good. Didn't push through it.

Alison, you have a third opportunity to get one really close

nervy end. Understandable. This is a chance for Rebecca. She should

stick to the backhand, there is no reason to change. But Alison will

be disappointed. She is tempted with the the 4th and because there

is a shoulder to play-off. She has played the backhand well. I would

expect her to be drawing this. The waiter looks better. Everything

looks good about this one. Everything looks good about this

one. That is it. No. 1, she held her nerve. Played the back can. --

backhand. On green. Now, Alison. She is not even coming to have a

look at this. Must just be the run- up. It is big. She likes it. Bowl-

out. She has got her own as well. Very unlucky to take her own ball.

It is going to be one to Rebecca Field. It will be 1-1. Second end

to Rebecca Field. A everything level. I can understand why Alison

played that. She was looking for the jack and she was unlucky.

got the ball but unfortunately she took her own ball out as well.

Would you believe it? It is going to go down to the last end.

Alison's mum. She has been with Alison fall of the championships.

Look at that! Steady up, Wayne! is more nervous than Rebecca.

likely Keith -- he is like a kitten out there. I think it deserves a

last end. You know what it is like for family. With your wife and boys

here. It is more tense for the family than for the players on the

green. They are going nuts! Anyway, here we go. One end shoot-out for

the ladies's world Bolton Paul needs to stop. It is not a bad

who wins because both girls have been brilliant in this match.

agree. Absolutely brilliant. Sometimes you come off the game and

you say, I deserve to win this. I do the either deserves more. They

both played really good. It is just to play this one could end. Neither

deserves to lose but best I is the nature of sport. -- This is the

nature of sport. What Rebecca would little bit. They just need to

settle down. He looks so nervous, it is frightening. We need to get

him out in the championship to see Alison has two bowls to recover the

shot. Oh, dear me! Rebecca's dad very nervous. They certainly have.

It emphasises the importance of the championship. Both players have one

bowl each. There is Rebecca's dad. He is thinking, come on, I put you

through university. Payback time. Get this for me. She is really

calming herself here. One very big it. When the player runs after it,

you know there is something good about it. She is still beyond it.

She has made a short one inch closer. -- she has made the shot

one inch closer. A bit of disturbance from the crowd, so

Alison will have to take her time. She has one foot to draw the shot.

There is no drive, because the front bowl is killing that. She has

to settle herself. One bowl to win the championship for the second

not like it. She knows she has not pushed it. This crowd is going to

erupt at the winner of the World Match Play Championship. A

marvellous game between two great players. Rebecca Field, 23 from

Norwich, her boy friend celebrating now. And Alison Merrien will be

disappointed, no doubt about it. She had her chances but it was a

marvellous game of bowls. Rebecca Field took the first set and lost

the second, but she took the tie- break all the way through. It is a

marvellous achievement. The 2013 Match Play Championship, Rebecca

Well done to Rebecca Field who at 23 is the youngest to ever hold the

title. Commiserations to Alison Merrien, who has now been runner-up

three times. Time to focus on the men's singles and the remaining

matches in the last 16. First, Mark Royal against Robert Paxton. Ladies

and gentlemen, Mark Royal and Mark Royal, against a man ranked

three places below him, Robert Paxton. Royal took the first set

convincingly and is in control in the second as we join the

to make his way through to the quarter-finals. He might even be

happy to lose a single. Three up into the last end is good. Robert

Paxton, realistically, has to score his slippers up for the rest of the

tournament, I think. -- getting his slippers out. He never gives up,

though. That is a good starter. knows if he could get a big three

this end, it would put -- put a lot head and give yourself a chance to

mark will be tempted, or whether he the head. He is at the back, and

that is pretty good. Interesting one from Robert Paxton. One bowl

goes into the ditch, but the other stays in place. It has given Robert

it becomes a real problem for Mark Royal. The problem with playing a

weight shot is that it is great when you are successful but it

lands you in a lot of trouble if you miss. This is game on now.

should take time out there. This is an important bowl. It could win him

the match. Yes, you do not want to reaction tells you everything. That

bowl was just overplayed in terms of weight, and now he is going to

see his lead disappear. Game on. The big bowl hear for Robert Paxton.

He needed two a shot to give himself a chance. He is lying three

and has a bowl for four. Using his time out. Very sensible. Steady

yourself. Played the same bowl Again. Very important, this bowl,

the 4th. Very close. Four shots to Robert Paxton. Four it is. From a

very strong position, Mark Royal sees himself into a heap of trouble.

The scores are level with one end to go in the second set. That is

absolutely incredible. That came from nowhere. Mark has been playing

so well. Having said that, full marks to Robert for putting the

been scoring singles after singles, one, two, 3, four singles. 1 double,

not even a sniff of a three, never mind a four, and he got the full

house exactly when he needed it. behind him. As you say, they must

play this lack a tie-break end. So bad thing. I think Robert will go

break, here we come. He is on top. There it goes. He is on top.

knew that was it. It is absolutely unbeatable. Mark Royal has got a

toucher, so he will try to pump the toucher into the ditch. This is a

driver was. A really good end of toucher if he can, to block the way.

It is all very tactical now. Not enough. No chance of getting this

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at the right angle, surely. One in won the second set, goes into the

tie-break feeling really good, on a high. Mark Royal realises he really

should be off the rink by now. He should be enjoying a nice cup of

tea. But this man has fought back don't think you would dream of

getting a four and then burying the jack on the next end for a 1-get

into the tie-break. But we all start again now, the first to win

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have to win this end, not covers the sport but Robert Paxton

has to get the ball a clean and there is still plenty of room to

draw the spot after but. That is one sport covered. Can't see the

spot on the Mac but that is within inch-perfect. He is not bad. He is

better than not bad. I think he has done this. Yes, side toucher. There

it goes. That new spot position becomes very valuable to Mark Royal.

He will attack it, try and get the Robert Paxton on the running balls

selection, David. Drive the ball off the spot on the rink. You will

not draw closer than that. He has been so accurate. He is so accurate.

He has the respot covered with the other green ball. Yes, he is going

for it. It looks wide. That was good thinking. It was a good shot

to play because he could not be tough on the draw. It was a good

choice of shot. I don't in mock has hit to run all day. He needs to hit

one now. He hasn't. He has been off-target most of the match.

better this time. Incredible. me! Got the connection on the jack

and just jammed against a green one. Really unlucky Mark Royal. How on

earth? He just got quarter inside. to Robert Paxton for the last few

ends. More proof of it on the tie- the second end. If he wins this he

has done it the hard way. Not only the hard way, but to be truthful

with you on the scoring alone I think Mark Royal has been the more

consistent player. Definitely. that is not what it is about. It is

all about winning and he is a fighter, Robert Paxton. Sometimes

in a match you have to get down and dirty and get on with it and

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ball will take the command. He keeps the extra pressure on. It is

arriving a bit too quick. I would expect Robber to draw the shot. --

say it could be a touch quick. If You are a touch quick you will not

get back. A decent line to make it back. He knew he was a touch quick.

He would have made it right back into the centre rink but he was

over and he is going to have one bowl to save this match. I still

think that shot bowl is just not close enough. Robert Paxton, there

is no doubt about it he has scratched out a very good position

in this game. On many occasions he has been outplayed. But there are

times when you just have to get in there and scratch it out and fight

for the win. He has certainly done that, as you say, I think he also

backhand. He can draw close on this and also get cover at the same time.

It is a 241 shot. He is good. He is very good. That could be the ball

that -- that could be the bowl that and squeeze in his ball. The most

difficult shot to play on a portable rink. He cannot afford to

squeeze it too far because Robert has the last ball. Two inches to

save his world championship. Two inches to save his world

championship. No, he is not here. It is all here. Game, set and match

Robert Paxton. He really did get out of jail. He was on death row

and he got a lifeline. He won the tie-break. A great win by Robert

Paxton but Mark Royal, the world No. 7 goes out of the world

championships and Robert Paxton moves into the quarter-finals.

So congratulations to Robert Paxton who produced a remarkable comeback

and he is through to the quarter- finals.

Next up it is Nicky Brett against Phil Bennett. Nicky Brett won the

first set comfortably and we joined He will do well to work that three

out of this. It is very difficult. Doing well to score a shot out of

this one but he has to have a go at risen to the heights he played in

the first game. That is quite deliberate by the way, he wasn't

trying to go to the jack read, he was trying to go back and dig. He

is going for the respot. He will try and hit the respot and Ningo

for the jack and the drive. It is a rare tactic but it is one that is

interesting to see if he goes this early or if he goes for the respot.

Yes, out for the respot began. -- it so Nicky will be better with

this one, surely. An interesting tactic. Yes, it is an interesting

tactic. I can't see a working really. He has only got one ball

close to the spot now. Oh, Nikki, I wouldn't go there. That was not

what he was trying for. Will fill attack this now? Yes. He have to go

controlled rage. He will try to get the the jack and run with it. That

is a hard shot. A portable rink just does not lend itself to that

he could run the drat -- jack into that triangle of red balls. Yes,

very possible, not very likely, but possible. Well, we can see one of

the red balls at the bottom of the picture but the key to it all it is

chance with this. He is close. He has paid it well and he has got it.

Not only has he got it, but he has got to bite the look of it. He

might have got to. Has he gone too far? Match to Nicky Brett. There

was a little green ball lurking at the back of the head and that was

enough to stop Phil Bennett getting the three he needed. That was a

great attempt on the last ball. He was just unfortunate that it ran

probably a foot too far and so he probably could have got the three.

He really thought he was good. Just run too far. The only picks the

single up. How one fortunate. knew there was a green ball down

there. Nicky Brett from Peterborough lifts the first to set

and the second. It is a steady performance and he will be

challenged more in the quarter- final. Nicky Brett has confirmed

And that is the last match that we will bring you from the last 16.

Either Ray Pearse or Colin Walker will make it through to play Robert

Paxton. Let us see how this one acquitted themselves very well in

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a little unlucky because he has half locked in the short ball.

not think that Ray wants to get keeping it wide, even into that

sort of area. I think that is the best place to go. It is difficult

to cover the two directly behind the jack. You would have to get

fairly close to the line for the shot ball macro and he does not

want to move that. Backhand, couple of feet overweight and fall into

long way short. He was certainly missed the line and the weight. Not

an easy shot for Colin Walker, but credit to Ray Pearse. He kept his

head down and worked hard at it. He has come back strong. He takes the

second set. We are into a three end Walker. He wanted the last ball

macro of the end, so he can give the jack away to Ray Pearse. Always

a good one to win, against the run It only takes one good one, or one

very lucky one, doesn't it? Well, the jury is out on what you want to

do. The vast majority of players would take the last ball macro.

Personally, I think it has a lot to do with variation in length, who

has been playing what. With these two, they has not been much in

last bowl is that you could lose by a fluke and you have no right of

does not get much better in a tie- break end. I think we will see

distance between them? The red one is a toucher. They will have to

check with distance. It is not that attempt. -- for a first attempt.

am not sure it will be quite close backhand. I wonder if Ray will move

on to the forehand. I thought Colin would have gone for broke with that,

trying to draw the shot. Even if he had lost it in the ditch, you know.

The problem is that he is slightly in his own line-out on that side.

He still needs this, because if it is only one... Favour two. That

makes a massive difference. No guarantees. He has moved to the

perfect. That is a very good bowl. That will take some beating. This

will be either an absolute draw to the edge of the ditch, or it chop

him. He had to give it a go. Advantage to the Aussie. And he has

taken the shot against the last bowl, and now he will have the last

shots scored for both players in the first two sets is equal, 12

reach. There really has been nothing in it. -- 12 each. That is

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just think three bikes of the jack is just one too many. -- three

bites. He had a great chance to put just when he needed it. At this

level, you cannot give them three spot position. It would be

difficult to get the jack over there. Wisely, he has not only

covered the re-spot, but also the deepest bowl. This is going to be

very difficult to get out of, John. He either has to play the perfect

draw, which is really difficult, he has to strike the green and wing of

fit and may be run with the jack and get another connection. It is

hit and hope, really. A little bit of side, bottom and come off the

problem, the second delivery. It has cost him. Concentrate, that is

the thing. Start asking the only is it too far from the jack,

but also it is in the way of the Colin Walker. That may not be close

enough, but at the moment it is the Still plenty of room there. It is

forehand, where the shoulder existed. He is now going to be in a

position, Ray Pearse, of having the last bowl to save the match. There

are no time-outs left. It does not really matter in terms of the time-

outs. The space is there to draw the shot. The problem for Colin is

that there is probably still enough room for Ray Pearse to draw the

shot. I think he needs a close of inches. The gap is 10 inches. It is

much, just a foot. But it is enough for Colin Walker. He qualified

through the Scottish qualifiers in a tough competition and has won

this match against Ray Pearse from Australia. And it is Colin Walker

who goes into the quarter-final to Well done to Scotland's: walker,

through to the last eight, when he plays Robert Paxton. The quarter-