Day 1 Bowls World Indoor Championships

Welcome to pilots from the 2014 World Indoor Bowls Championships.

First, the trophy on the line as Paul Foster and Alex Marshall go for

the fourth successive win. Paul Foster, Alex Marshall! This is

very pleasing, especially to defend it.

We're both relax now and are enjoying our bowls even better. We

were dominating purely because we are of the formidable pair. Standing

in the way was the English pair, Greg Harlow and Nicky Brett. They

want the first set. -- they won the first set.

Very close bowl. Can you go. Keep swinging. Well played, Paul. Come

down. Interesting line. Come on, Nick.

Just one run, Nick. Good boy. Keep swinging. Down here. In the

area. One red. The better head here for great. A

shot against him. Doesn't have the running? A couple

of feet. That was all. Try and get as close as you can. It is dangerous

leaving it as it is. They could give a shot away here and still be better

off in some respects. Yes, it is an awkward one. I would agree. They

will probably try and put another bowl and here. Hopefully he doesn't

move it. Even if he does, it is better losing one in three or four.

They will be dropping short. At this will drop short, I would be

surprised. That is what has happened. Too frightened to go near

it. Can't blame him. Alex thinks it has finished in a

good place. I don't think it has. There is plenty of room around the

bowl. If it can get in there and move that bowl, what you were

talking about is bringing up through here. If the jack moves across into

this area with the bowl dropping, we have four shots will stop not only

that, the short bowl is hampering him. Exactly. They think it is just

a reach. Maybe he is looking at a drive. He is looking at the corner

of the bowl. On the forehand. I wouldn't play that. Greg Harlow is

close to that. I wouldn't have any more than that.

You know that Nick is an attacking player. Greg has to think, I'm here

to play my own shot, he is. I think you will play this one at one foot

away. He is looking at it. A good angle. It is not too heavy. It is

too heavy. It won't get back. It was just over the draw. Just too strong.

I'm surprised Alex is going down to play this. He is going down to play

his fall because it is nowhere near it.

He is on the line to draw. What are you doing? Surely, he can't... That

was courageous. Berry. -- Very. He is just over. About 1.5 feet,

mate. There is still room here for Paul.

16 inch short, your last one. They won't want to get caught on that but

he is not prepared to move on to the forehand. 16 inches. He will feel as

though his bowl will come around and draw the short. Drop, drop.

That has a shoulder for Greg to rest on. He has given us a good look.

Keep running. Keep running. Yes! Another day. It falls away. They are

finding the centre in space was to upgrade will -- centre in space.

Greg will be happy. He is close. Down. He got the full

in that hand, surely. Paul thinks it is against. That is

one marker. Definitely favours green, so do we. Very close, just

slightly. I think it is green. The ring is a very accurate. The camera

is right over the top of the head. It is all down to the expertise at

the end of the day. Here We Go, slightly favouring the

green. The backend is slightly bought out.

It is an awkward one. I don't know where the best place to put this one

is. Maybe on the forehand, yet near the red one. It is very difficult.

He is having a really good go at this. No! He falls back on the red.

That is so unlucky. If it was closed... It certainly isn't, that

was so unlucky from Greg. It has to be red now. Yes, a massive

difference. In one of the red. One red.

Alex Glenn with confidence. -- Alex can play with confidence.

I think it is just the case for taking the one, Alex. Two to go. Two

up. No high drift. I am going to predict Alex to be

shot. I don't think he should go near this. One shot is quite good

here. It is all about your own confidence.

That was one that wasn't really worth bothering with. You will see

that. Greg may question whether he should have gone near that. When you

give a shot away in a situation like that is act ever easy? It could be

quite crucial. The run for home in the last two

ends. Scotland is looking for the three and tie-break. England is

looking to win. Good match. I have enjoyed this one.

Yes, yes. This is all about pace from Paul

this time. The big swinging bowl. Drop back. Very close.

Alex and Greg have been playing. Maybe they could fit one of their

4-ball inside that. I would agree. This is why a don't think the short

bowl will be the short bowl. Unlucky. Very unlucky. The other

side was perfect. He is coming down to have a look. I

can understand what he was thinking. That is a shot that rate will be

playing. I reckon I am faster than you.

This time it is Greg's turn on the green.

That arrived quickly. That is what Greg will be looking for. Give it a

chance, mate. It helps others if you lift it wants. Harsh! That is hard.

You are asking for absolute perfection.

He is very close! Will he left at? OES. That was wonderful. -- Will he

lift it? Oh, yes. That is absolutely cracking. That

was the difference of Alex Marshall not getting an. -- getting in. Alex

is on the backend now. I don't think Alex and Paul will be very

disappointed. Two said massive difference.

They still have to win the last ten. The jack is available on the backend

he gets straight. He could pick up three or four shots.

Not too bad at all. That is very close. Under the line.

A thinking has to be careful. Editors to it is almost better

rocking away from it. You can drop his own bowl away.

If they favoured two, they could defend. Yes, two shots. That is a

lot different. Yes, I think that is what he is talking about. Let it be.

I think it would be better taking the two and leaving it. That bowl is

sitting on its age. I think most of the players ever

two. -- favour. That is not getting through. I am

going to put two down on my card. I agree.

A little question here for the English pair. They could afford to

lose one but not to. -- not two. Paul and Alex Marshall are defending

champions. They have been playing red or blue through the event.

Reasonably happy with that. Both of these passive managed to stay using

the same coloured bowls or later the pairs.

Good start, good start. I think Alex is happy with the bowl behind the

jack. They were deliberately making sure

that it was behind this one. They are slightly up. It won't be lost.

That one is better that. That is OK.

Always better than being in front of it. Draw the shot. Get the bonus,

just a draw. He is very close. He has got this

perfectly. He makes two out of it. Two red. This is a simple backhand

draw. It has to be backend. Very pensive. A large crowd have really

enjoyed this. It has been a wonderful game. Not always the

bowling, just attention. He is definitely one of the best

players on the rack. Can he draw to win the game?

He is on a white line. I think it is too heavy. That looks quick. There

is no way it will be getting back. Can't blame him. Yes, you can't

blame him for reaching. You won't get anything if you are short. .

What does he do? He wants a close one. He wants to put the pressure on

Greg. Both bowls are about nine inches

away. Greg doesn't really want to change

the line much. We still have two thirds if you wanted to arrive at

Pier. Nicky! No! He likes putting the bowl down. I would be telling

him, draw the shot in the background. He takes one bowl out at

a time then you have to draw the shot. Yes, it draw the shot. The

fingers, F Greg pops one in that it will be hidden, out of the way. It

will be almost impossible for Alex. I think that is what it is saying.

There is too much space. Yes, that is why I think it should be the

backhand draw. Nicky lost the run out it is has to be a draw.

We will be looking at him coming into this position. What he is

looking at is coming down in the forehand, either bowl right there or

their small... That space is too big.

Exactly. 18 inches in front. He could drop on the forehand. The

jacket is off centre which helps a bit. I don't think you likes the

forehand down here. Sometimes you have to say to your partner, I

really fancy playing this. He is so undecided. It is not a good sign. He

is really taking his time over this one.

You have to give him 100% on the back when you decide what you want

to. You can't keep the? In the mind. He has been the run. Alex Marrow. --

Bend the narrow. 18 inches, two feet. That is too far. Evatt had is

then a definite streak against them... I still don't think that was

the right shot. They did the best they could with it.

There is pressure on Alex here. There is a lot of pressure. It is

still tough. He is telling him to take his time. Iraqi people you

would want on the mat and Alex Marshall. -- on the mat then Alex

Marshall. Often running to stay in the

championship. He is on a high line. This needs to steady. It looks good.

It didn't drop! It didn't make it back.

What a dramatic finish, that was. Receiving the goblet, a cheque, and

the title of the 2014 World Indoor Bowls Championships, Greg Harlow and

Nick Brett. They've finally gone and done it -

one more time, the 2014 just retirement world indoors pairs

champion, Greg Harlow and Nick Brett.

So a great day for Nicky Brett and Harlow. It is their names on this

year's men's pairs trophy. Now it's time to switch our attention to the

men's singles and Stuart Anderson's attempt to become the fifth man in

the last 35 years to successfully defend his crown.

Well, the defending champion took the game against Josh Grant and

we'll join him in the second end of second set. The 19-year-old leads

2-0. Now it's John Price alongside Corky.

Starting to go with the first delivery.

Very good ball there for Stuart Anderson.

Provisionally equal with Jason Gleanslade. And this will bolster

the rankings here at the moment. One behind!

Yes, it's all very congested in the middle part. Nice to be fighting for

the Champions League spots rather than fighting off the relegation.

I've been there a few times in recent years! Could be there with

Swansea the way that things are going as well. And Stuart is looking

to improve his ranking position. Two great balls again there. This looks

like it will be a little bit of weight from Josh. He's been very

good with the weight shot. In the area there with that side

green, gets it. Good run through. Well played. That was the perfect

way to play it in many ways. You've got to get in off the ball and on to

the red and stun the weight off and carry through. Played well! Yeah, a

good shot! Stuart has to do it again. These

aring looking good, though. Looking very good indeed.

It's a bit of a choice here. Does he draw? Try to keep it tight? So if he

loses anything, he only loses a single. Does he go again? Took the

ball out and leave it to Stuart to have to draw the shot. I think he

may be tempted to go aagain -- again. Yes, it's a non-toucher here

to get in to the jack, it's not a problem. If he gets in to the rank

there. No, that's conservative drawn ball on the wide line. Not easy

after playing weeth. You're more likely to be able to run through

heavy. The running ball and then getting

back down again to dead weight. It's difficult at the best of times,

John, but in the portable rink, you really need a lot of experience to

play that sort of shot. Yeah, and you'd think that Stuart would

probably get in with this one. He's got the line and weight and I would

expect him to draw another. It's not the end of the world for Josh. It's

only the second end. No mistake. Two beauties from Stuart

Anderson. That was a good end for Stuart, he

played two good first balls and two really good second balls. You could

almost see two sections off singles play. The first section with the

first two and then the second section and he played a really good

end. A cracking line dead-centre of the

ring. So, if he thought that that one was

absolutely the same as the previous delivery. But it doesn't always work

out that way. This is good. Really good

correction. That's a good ball. It looks like a lovely line for

Stuart Anderson. Has he got the weight this time? Oh, not quite.

Good grouping, though. Good bowling. I like the way Stuart Anderson play

the game. I thought that the first tile that he arrived at the

championships. He doesn't go for the big drive. He's conservative and he

draws well. He thinks about the game.

That is close again. It's a very good goal. It's a good end. Really

good bowl. That's a beauty. I quite like the look of this lad as well.

He's playing well. First time in the rink and he's giving a good account

of himself. A few more goes like this and it will raise an eyebrow.

Doesn't look too ruffled, does he? Oh, he's trying with this. He's

trying to get on to the jack past his own. Oh, what a ball! Goodness

me. Josh looking to score a potential two shots in this end and

suddenly sees it taken away from him. What a bowl by Stuart Anderson.

There's not a lot that you can do about that one. If someone plays a

bowl as good as that. Just say, "Well done." Check his pulse!

Good frt. Had to be there. Had to give it a chance.

I'm not sure that Anderson isn't getting it all his own way in the

second set. That's what we expect from Stuart

Anderson. Josh, you just get another one close again, and build up the

head like the last one and opportunities are abound for both

players. That's good zuf. It's a very good reply. Good and quality

game at the moment. Not so good close bowls being played. And good

with the running ball. Yes, absolutely. It's good bowling.

He had a good line. I think that he thought he was closer than that.

Very good line in. It just didn't run.

The same problem for Josh. He would really be playing the same ball

rather than try to adjust anything. The balls looked good. UMPIRE: Two

inches past jack height here. Nothing easy about this one. The lie

of the ball has now gone to the backhand side. He's not happy. He

didn't push it through. I think that the line was pretty good there, he

just didn't lay in to it. You could see from the follow-through in the

action that he hadn't pushed it. He's very close again. Wants to just

miss the jack and get the green one. Well, it may not be in but it's a

very good ball. A decent line. Now, then, what's the

weight like? Decent line if he runs, Dave. He's got to run on that line.

Yes, this is just the weight. Big effort.

Well, Stuart Anderson kept up the momentum and went on to take the

second set to book his place in the last 16. But Josh Grant will take

plenty away from the first experience of the big time. So, who

will play Stuart Anderson in the next round? That's a match between

Michael Stephanie up against the man who is the former World Champion and

current Commonwealth champion, Rob Wheel.

Has he got the edge? The edge? Oh, he has. Oh, he got them all!

Precision, drive! Got a chance, he's got it. Oh, great ball, Robert. If

he pushes the red ball out, it's Wheel. That's the one. Meet the new

World Champion. Very close to it. Edge. Oh, what a perfect ball that

was. Rob Wheel took the first set before

Stepney fought back to take the second. All credit to Michael

Stepney. He came back strong and won it 8-3 and now it's all to play for

in the 3-end tie-break. In tie-break situations, it only

takes one good one and one lucky one to win it for you, Dave. The way

that tie-breaks work. It's not accumulated shots like in the

previous two sets. You just have to win the end. So the rules are

slightly different. Not a bad bowl, but not close enough.

Well, Michael Stepney has really worked his way in to this match. He

was blown away really in the first set. Robert Weale was very

consistent. He's come back strong. Still not operating with his first

bowl, but the recovery bowls have been good. He's been particularly

good with the third bowl in the back end of that second set. That was a

good second ball then. Robert needs to react to this.

Tighter line by Robert. -- Robert. It's in the area.

Oh, he's got to get something with this. But how far is he going to go?

Portable rink. The jack moves quite a lot. On nom normal club carpets,

the jack almost attaches itself to the bowl. But not here. Goes on to

the forehand side for a good bowl to go around and around the bowl. He's

high and he's wide. It's still useful, though. Three red, you only

need one. So, what does Robert do, John? Does he go deep or go in to

the spot? I would probably go to the re-spot position on the forehand

side. So where the last bowl is there in the area. Or go past the

re-spot and cover the green bowl. I think that Michael will probably run

at this and gamble if Robert doesn't get a bowl in the back position.

He's slow on the mat, Robert, and the time clock is coming down.

Plenty of time - two seconds! Not even close! Wow! I tell you what, if

the hooter goes off, he'll certainly hear it. That's a good bowl. It's on

the green. Well, he's covered almost everything now. He's got the re-spot

covered. He maybe could have done with a little bit more on that to

have the best back. But the big question being asked here now. The

thing is - is there still enough room to draw the shot? There is.

UMPIRE: Time out called. Two time outs remaining. If he hits the

percentages with Robert, got three bowls in the end and a good cover

bowl. But it's still open for the bowl there. Good weighted bowl

there. Either that or play the percentages on to the jack and try

to run it all the way through if he can. Got to be a little bit lucky on

the bounce to get that, though. That's what he's looking for. Oh,

he's in the area. Depends where it goes now. It didn't go right because

the jack is now off the confines of the rink. It will go on to the

re-spot position. We'll see that. There it is. And it's the first end

to Robert Weale. Using the mat on the backhand, the

shorter jack length will allow the bowl to pull back in to the centre

of the rink. Here it comes. On the late draw. All

the way back in again. That's a very good opening by Robert. That's what

you're looking for, isn't it? That's really good. . Michael might be

tempted to go early at this. I think if I was Michael, I would be

starting to go for that one? He has to really get in to it quickly. Yes.

He's in the area by the looks of it. Just on the edge there. He was

having a good look at that on the way down, but that just holds off.

Yeah, just brought it a little wide. A lot of weight on that and never

looked like getting down. I can't see Robert going close with this.

The re-spot position. Stay wide on the line in this situation and you

definitely don't need another one close, unless he's going to block

it. Oh, he's going for the block. He's got the re-spot position

covered, probably. Oh, that's good. That's a really good blocker. I have

to say! Maybe he would have liked it to be a little bit shorter. Still

did well to find the centre there. It was a good bowl. It's always a

gamble when you play a bowl like that. You could send up not making

the centre line and you could give the guy a target. Yeah, well,

looking at the re-spots there, you've got one there and you've got

one there. I think that he's got a time out. Really, I think that he's

needing to be crunching the jack in this sort of area to try to spring

it out to this. You know, if he gets it absolutely right, it will go in

to there and that brings the other bowl in to play at the bottom. There

you go. So that's the way to do it. Got all of the options covered

there, Dave. I bet he's trying it, though. And he is.

Looking for the crunch bowl on the jack. Just missed it!

I would go a little bit deeper than the green bowl there. I would too.

He's got everything covered. Anything at the back of the rink.

Maybe three or four feet behind the green bowl would be good.

Where are you going with this? Just past it. Owe's OK. That's pretty

good, actually. Well, he had that covered, really, to be truthful.

It's a bowl to save the match for Mike Stepney.

You know, that's really where he needs to be, John. But again, if

he's fortunate in that sort of area, if a bowl goes with it, you know,

he's coming in here. He's trying to bring the jack through. If he comes

with the jack in to that sort of area, he could stop on it. It's a

solid connection he needs, really. He's got to get the jack solid and

hope that the bowls flies through with it. He's going on the forehand

side and he's going to play a different shot. Oh, this is stuff if

he's playing this shot. This is a really hard shot to play. Trying to

rest the bowl off with maybe a yard of weight on that forehand. Well, if

he gets this, it's going to be a fantastic bowl. No, never going to

get back there. That was never really on for me. Good effort,

though, by Mike Stepney, I have to say. Fought back very, very well in

this match. Took it really back in to Robert Weale, but it's Robert

Weale, number 16 in the world, who gets through the first round match.

A match that he had to win against the Scott, Mike Stepney.

So, the last 16 line-up is complete. Stewart Anderson will play Rob Weale

and Greg Harlow up against Darren Burnett.

Eight former champions still feature in our draw for the men's singles,

so the quality is all there. A reminder of what's still to come on

the BBC. We're on the red button at ten am. We're on BBC Two at one pm

for the final for the mixed pairs. That brings to a close the coverage

of day one of the World Championships at Potter's. There's

lots more still to come from the biggest names in bowls.