Women's Singles Semi-Final

:00:36. > :00:44.Hello everyone and welcome to the World Indoor Championships at the

:00:45. > :00:48.Potters Leisure Resort. Taking place on the coast of England. We have

:00:49. > :00:52.seen two trophies handed out in the pairs and mixed pairs but today it

:00:53. > :00:53.is all singles action and two of the best players in the world are ready

:00:54. > :01:05.to roll. Both defending singles champions are

:01:06. > :01:09.on the rink today, first up, Alex Marshall, bidding for a seventh

:01:10. > :01:16.world title. He is up against Mark Dawes in second-round action.

:01:17. > :01:20.And Lady semifinals day, defending champion Laura Thomas the first

:01:21. > :01:25.Welsh woman to win a world title, takes on former champion Ellen

:01:26. > :01:30.Falkner of England for a place in the final.

:01:31. > :01:36.But first it is the bowling boys, Alex Marshall against Mark Dawes. We

:01:37. > :01:39.will take a closer look at Mark, 33 from Lancashire. Looking to make it

:01:40. > :01:44.to the quarterfinals for the first time, and even though he faces an

:01:45. > :01:52.opponent who knows his way around the venue, he remains undaunted.

:01:53. > :01:59.Alex Marshall takes his first world singles title here at Potters

:02:00. > :02:03.leisure Centre. Alex Marshall is a true force in the game as he takes

:02:04. > :02:11.the professional title. Unbelievable. Winning the title for

:02:12. > :02:16.the sixth time, Alex Marshall. I do the same home work and preparation.

:02:17. > :02:20.I have all my rituals that nobody knows. Rituals, I will show you

:02:21. > :02:38.rituals! I watch whoever I can play. I enjoy

:02:39. > :02:42.playing most sports to an OK level, but bowls is the one I found I was

:02:43. > :02:47.better at than all the rest, so that is what I stuck to main way. But

:02:48. > :02:50.yes, I would place board every day if I could.

:02:51. > :02:59.I must beat Alex. There's more to do than you could

:03:00. > :03:06.ever imagine those that when you first come down you think it is just

:03:07. > :03:12.bowls... I must beat Alex.

:03:13. > :03:17.Archery, snooker, golf... I must beat Alex.

:03:18. > :03:22.Quite often a lot of people will want to come and have a chat with

:03:23. > :03:26.you. You must beat Alex. About any tips you can give them

:03:27. > :03:31.about bowls, so it is great to be around the venue and have a lot of

:03:32. > :03:37.people watching you and support you. I must beat Alex.

:03:38. > :03:42.This is the first time I have got through the first round. On two

:03:43. > :03:48.occasions I have played pretty well but come up against tough opponents.

:03:49. > :03:53.It has been nice to spend a bit more time at the venue, a bit more

:03:54. > :03:57.relaxed, because I have been here three or four days rather than a

:03:58. > :04:07.couple of days. It is a nice, easy game to the second round. Alex is a

:04:08. > :04:11.legend of the sport, and at Potters e-zines to love the venue and has

:04:12. > :04:15.won it six times. Ultimately all you can do, to the best of my ability,

:04:16. > :04:18.and if I can do that I hope I can put Alexander pressure and

:04:19. > :04:25.hopefully... Must beat Alex.

:04:26. > :04:35.My brother and my mum and stepdad are here supporting, so that is

:04:36. > :04:40.good. Quite often at Potters, they like to go for the underdog. Yes,

:04:41. > :04:44.Alex is loved down here and well respected, but sometimes, if I can

:04:45. > :04:52.just get a few of the neutral people on my side, that might help.

:04:53. > :04:56.For the 10th and final event of my decathlon, the blue rink.

:04:57. > :05:00.I will beat Alex Marshall. The multi-skilled Mark Dawes up against

:05:01. > :05:06.Alex Marshall, knows just about every square inch of this venue at

:05:07. > :05:10.Potters. He has been coming here since 1999 and won the title six

:05:11. > :05:17.times. He has won the pairs title five times. All but one of those

:05:18. > :05:18.titles have been won here at Potters, where he feels very

:05:19. > :05:31.comfortable. I just take one game at a time. I

:05:32. > :05:34.was happy with the way I played my first game against Gary. I got

:05:35. > :05:37.through that one. I always think that is the hardest game to win. You

:05:38. > :05:42.look forward to the second game and I just take one game at the time,

:05:43. > :05:44.one step at a time. You just look forward to the next game. I am

:05:45. > :05:48.looking forward to it this afternoon.

:05:49. > :05:52.I do think I have played against Mark before in a singles match. I

:05:53. > :05:56.know a lot about him. I watched his first game and he was very

:05:57. > :06:01.impressive. Mark is a very impressive player, has all of the

:06:02. > :06:05.shots. It will be a hard game, so I will have to be at my best.

:06:06. > :06:09.So many players are playing well just now. Everyone in the event has

:06:10. > :06:14.a chance. I think you just have to concentrate on your own game. If you

:06:15. > :06:17.can play well yourself, then you know everybody has to try and beat

:06:18. > :06:21.you. I just concentrate on my own game, but there are so many players

:06:22. > :06:24.who can win it. Alex Marshall continues his quest

:06:25. > :06:31.for a seventh world title. Standing in his way, Mark Dawes. Time to

:06:32. > :06:36.introduce the players. Thank you, our first player after winning a

:06:37. > :06:41.tour card in last season's bowling calendar, certainly made good use of

:06:42. > :06:43.the opportunity by playing his way into the world's top 16. Ladies and

:06:44. > :07:05.dental men, England's Mark Dawes. And now to one of the finest

:07:06. > :07:10.all-round bowlers on the international circuit, a record six

:07:11. > :07:15.times and defending world indoors singles champion, Alex Marshall,

:07:16. > :07:31.MBE. Great atmosphere in the arena at

:07:32. > :07:35.Potters. Just a reminder if you have any questions or thoughts on who

:07:36. > :07:41.might win today, send us your tweets using hashtag BBC bowls. Our

:07:42. > :07:46.commentators will try to answer as many as they can. Good afternoon

:07:47. > :07:51.boys. COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon. Alex Marshall, we all know, six

:07:52. > :07:56.times champion but Mark Dawes is a very good international bowler and a

:07:57. > :08:02.very good singles player. There are 13 or 14 places between them in the

:08:03. > :08:09.rankings list, but there is not much in this. Certainly not. As you say,

:08:10. > :08:11.Alex's performance in the mixed wasn't great yesterday but I think

:08:12. > :08:16.we will see the true Alex this afternoon. Four balls makes all the

:08:17. > :08:48.difference and he will be able to adapt much quicker.

:08:49. > :08:54.I've got my tablet with me. I keep a check on all the tweets that are

:08:55. > :09:09.coming through. Given Andy won as well, he's looking

:09:10. > :09:14.at it as if it something from a different planet. Unfortunately I

:09:15. > :09:18.don't have my glasses with me, so that will come in handy this

:09:19. > :09:28.afternoon. Make sure you send them in.

:09:29. > :09:35.Perfect start Mark Dawes. Alex wasting no time. Close to the tour

:09:36. > :09:44.balls with this, yes, got them. Jack out.

:09:45. > :09:55.That jack will be taken out and put on the re-spot. Second round match

:09:56. > :09:59.played over nine sets. Alex will be trying to shake up Mark Dawes on the

:10:00. > :10:06.draw shot particular, because that is where his real strength is. Alex

:10:07. > :10:12.has seen Mark playing a lot and well aware his strength is in the draw.

:10:13. > :10:21.And right away, Alex's second ball disturbing the head. Confident Alex

:10:22. > :10:31.Marshall will be drawing a shot here. He has a yard to draw.

:10:32. > :11:01.Well, that one chubb Dawn -- chugged on a little bit.

:11:02. > :11:18.Had a fantastic match this morning. Stewart Anderson against Mervyn

:11:19. > :11:22.King. If you don't want to know the score of that put your fingers in

:11:23. > :11:30.your ears for a moment. Stewart Anderson won the first set 11-2.

:11:31. > :11:33.Mervyn King won the second 11-3. And then a fantastic tie-break, all down

:11:34. > :11:38.to the last ball. Stewart Anderson just got over the line. We will see

:11:39. > :11:40.him in the quarterfinals. This looks better, just needs to stop and it

:11:41. > :11:54.has. There he is, Stewart Anderson.

:11:55. > :12:05.Phones are never too far away these days, are they? Certainly not. An

:12:06. > :12:08.silent, of course. -- an silent. He will be taking an interest in

:12:09. > :12:13.this game, Stewart Anderson playing the winner.

:12:14. > :12:28.Jack links, 29 metres. -- jack length. There is Diane Marshall.

:12:29. > :12:31.Always hear, watching Alex play. Alex has a tendency to have family

:12:32. > :12:37.with him, especially in the last number of years in particular. Likes

:12:38. > :12:45.to have that support mechanism in there as well. It's good for him.

:12:46. > :12:57.Two week tournament and Diane always comes down for the second week.

:12:58. > :13:06.That was a long jack length, but the ball didn't make centre ring. Always

:13:07. > :13:10.a slight concern for the players. Yes, there has been a tendency on

:13:11. > :13:16.this backhand for the ball to stay high.

:13:17. > :13:36.The four sessions that are played each day, in the ideal situation it

:13:37. > :13:39.is to be on the first run or the first lunchtime game or the evening

:13:40. > :13:44.game, because you get a half an hour before to roll up and down and get a

:13:45. > :13:49.good opportunity to see what is happening. And then, within a

:13:50. > :14:03.five-minute break and walk ons, it's great.

:14:04. > :14:17.You can see the little marks on the green, indicating one metre jack

:14:18. > :14:24.lengths. Just not getting back for that ball, Andy. He was shaking his

:14:25. > :14:42.way to little bit. Still one shot to Mark Dawes. This could be numbered

:14:43. > :14:47.two, if it Ben -- bends. There is a shot on for Alex, if he wants it.

:14:48. > :14:57.Don't think so... Maybe just a forehand draw. I think so. Has about

:14:58. > :15:06.7-8 inches on the forehand side. But locked out with Mark's ball. Well,

:15:07. > :15:13.Alex... I don't know if he's going to make this. I think he will go up

:15:14. > :15:18.and have a chat, to be honest with you. There was a disturbance here.

:15:19. > :15:20.He will go and have a chat with the official. There was, there was a

:15:21. > :15:35.movement. Well, Alex not being allowed the

:15:36. > :15:40.opportunity to play his ball. I thought they may have given him

:15:41. > :15:43.that. I thought that would have been reset for five seconds, to be honest

:15:44. > :15:49.with you. Yes. Surprise that that, because usually if there is any

:15:50. > :15:54.issue of movement in the crowd or whatever, the officials are very

:15:55. > :16:00.generous about that. Yes, they are, but not in that case. Hopefully Mark

:16:01. > :16:15.Dawes doesn't add anything here. Not had a great effect on it.

:16:16. > :16:29.1-1 after two ends. Mark Dawes is a crown green player as well, and a

:16:30. > :16:34.very good one. He is a good driver, and you will see it in his delivery,

:16:35. > :16:41.he has a crown green delivery, especially when he drives. Normally

:16:42. > :16:54.pretty accurate. The marker for this match is Alan Thornhill.

:16:55. > :17:07.We are getting the questions through. Some people asking about

:17:08. > :17:13.the blue carpet and if it makes any difference. No, it certainly

:17:14. > :17:17.doesn't. There are a number of indoor centres in the country now

:17:18. > :17:20.who have decided to go to the blue carpet, but I think it is exactly

:17:21. > :17:25.the same material, as far as I'm aware. It plays no different,

:17:26. > :17:32.exactly the same as the green. Certainly in my experience... The

:17:33. > :17:41.gap is six inches. In my own club, that has a large membership, it has

:17:42. > :17:47.two greens. 17 rink and 16. And they are both blue. How long ago was

:17:48. > :17:53.that? About three years ago, two or three years ago. The time is right

:17:54. > :18:01.and the club made a decision. It does look well, I have to say. It's

:18:02. > :18:09.very bright. It makes absolutely no difference to the running of the

:18:10. > :18:13.bulls. -- balls. Can Alex just get to the ball here? Previous delivery

:18:14. > :18:23.with six inches. Looks better with this one. Cleaner road. Got it.

:18:24. > :18:33.Stop the clock. Now working for the Aero company, based in Australia. He

:18:34. > :18:45.does spend a lot of time in Australia now. Yes, both playing and

:18:46. > :18:52.working for the employer. They have a disturbance in the crowd. They

:18:53. > :19:00.have locked off the shot clock, so we will try to find out. They are

:19:01. > :19:02.have locked off the shot clock, so looking up to the crowd, which means

:19:03. > :19:08.there has been a slight problem there. No doubt they will try and

:19:09. > :19:12.get it sorted out, if they can. This can happen in any sports event, the

:19:13. > :19:19.players have a tendency to be quite good. Robert Paxton looking on, Mark

:19:20. > :19:25.Royal, Jimmy Smith. Still here, doesn't want to go home! There he

:19:26. > :19:27.is, the Aussie man. They are always very quiet and subdued, aren't they?

:19:28. > :19:44.Yes. You can understand sometimes one or

:19:45. > :19:46.two people are a little dehydrated. I think it is wise for the boys just

:19:47. > :20:14.to do that. We are back in action again. A

:20:15. > :20:16.slight disturbance, but not for too long. The players will get on with

:20:17. > :20:28.it. Just trying to get that feel back in

:20:29. > :20:33.the hand after two or three minutes. It doesn't seem very long, but it

:20:34. > :20:44.can be. Yes, the concentration just goes a little bit. A buyout -- about

:20:45. > :20:49.five feet through the head. Exactly the same for Alex. Stopped his

:20:50. > :20:55.concentration a little bit. Yes, he's coming into a good position

:20:56. > :20:59.though, a good cover ball. Might be tempted to run this down the

:21:00. > :21:04.forehand. Yes, I think there's a good chance. Quite a wide target,

:21:05. > :21:14.the deepest ball, worth a go, I think.

:21:15. > :21:24.Well, looks more like two or three at yards away. That's never in a

:21:25. > :21:30.million years coming back from there. Not with that pace. Needed

:21:31. > :21:34.strong ditch weight. I'm surprised that that, if you play that, the

:21:35. > :21:40.general consensus is to play a little stronger. You just can't play

:21:41. > :21:43.it like that. Onwards and upwards, Alex will be looking to drop on the

:21:44. > :22:00.green ball to make a double. A touch on his own. Not enough to

:22:01. > :22:20.push... Just the one. 2-1 after three games.

:22:21. > :22:25.Some people are very aware of the crowd and various other things when

:22:26. > :22:29.they are playing, but I think the problem is it's very quiet on

:22:30. > :22:34.delivery. If there was a constant back row noise, players would just

:22:35. > :22:40.move on. Exactly. Darts players are used to noise and disturbances and

:22:41. > :22:44.just get on with it. But you are right, any movement of paper or

:22:45. > :22:50.sweets or anything like that, it disturbs the players a little bit. I

:22:51. > :22:55.think sometimes a bit of background music or something would be good,

:22:56. > :23:02.just to have that. I quite agree. It just might make it a slightly

:23:03. > :23:10.different atmosphere. Yes, it would. Mark Dawes, he's used to crown green

:23:11. > :23:14.atmosphere so who just going off and whatever else, wouldn't bother him

:23:15. > :23:19.too much. The international series these guys play in, there is noise

:23:20. > :23:24.everywhere. I think it is the silence that is the problem. I think

:23:25. > :23:25.it is. Something our tournament director may consider for the

:23:26. > :24:54.future. The questions on twitter is very

:24:55. > :24:57.busy. One says, Andy, you had a glittering career playing in England

:24:58. > :25:04.but what was it like in Scotland, especially at the start? At the

:25:05. > :25:07.start it was quite nerve wracking, playing for your country, but as the

:25:08. > :25:13.years have gone on, it is something I really look forward to. In a

:25:14. > :25:18.month's time I look forward to seeing the England team defending

:25:19. > :25:24.their title. But yes, it is quite scary to start with. I got a little

:25:25. > :25:28.stick and still do, from the Scottish supporters, but all in good

:25:29. > :25:38.humour. Mark just shaking his head about that running ball. We like to

:25:39. > :25:41.concentrate on the questions coming through, but the game is more

:25:42. > :25:49.important at the moment. Alex trying to drop another one in. Yes, good

:25:50. > :25:59.head, good balls from Alex. That's perfect. Do you think he will draw

:26:00. > :26:05.back? I think he will. It is not much of a target. A big driver, he

:26:06. > :26:09.has already played one and I think getting back down to dead weight

:26:10. > :26:14.will be very difficult. Good on him if he draws this.

:26:15. > :26:23.I thought he might have played for the two balls out and try to take

:26:24. > :26:28.something. Just a little target. I think probably after this ball he

:26:29. > :26:32.will wish he had. I really didn't fancy him after the drive. I think

:26:33. > :26:40.once you have a bit of space, go back to your draw. Otherwise, try

:26:41. > :26:47.and take two out and lose one. He just didn't have enough room, that

:26:48. > :26:52.was the problem. I think, obviously, played your strengths. Mark Dawes'

:26:53. > :26:56.strength is to draw. A confident matadors would have drawn the shot

:26:57. > :27:00.there. He's just not quite settled. A confident that doors would have

:27:01. > :27:13.drawn that shot. The questions continue and sometimes

:27:14. > :27:20.people ask me about the tie-break. We will get there, possibly, in this

:27:21. > :27:25.game... Maybe not. It can be destroyed, if the jack goes off the

:27:26. > :27:31.rink, it is played in the same direction again. In normal play we

:27:32. > :27:36.use the re-spot if the jack comes off the rink. Hopefully that's all

:27:37. > :27:40.that one out. In the international series this year, I think they are

:27:41. > :27:52.going to be adopting that as a new rule this year. Re-spots. Single

:27:53. > :27:56.re-spot on the T. Very confusing, because it doesn't work on a

:27:57. > :28:01.tactical sense, it really doesn't. But they will trial it, I'm sure

:28:02. > :28:08.there will be an assessment of it afterwards. If it's not right,

:28:09. > :28:25.they'll change, if not, it was day. -- it will stay.

:28:26. > :28:31.Mark sticking to his forehand, it has been more reliable for most of

:28:32. > :28:39.the players, not all, but most of them. Dropping short. That was

:28:40. > :28:45.really a chance for Mark. I think he is a bit is appointed with that one.

:28:46. > :28:50.I would say so, because Alex has been very good on his forehand. He

:28:51. > :28:58.has played a lot of top-quality balls on it. He just needs to bend

:28:59. > :29:04.to get back to the green one. Yes, it's there. Cannot afford to leave

:29:05. > :29:10.those. That second ball from Mark, that is the key to the game. First

:29:11. > :29:20.two balls have to beat Alex, if he's not beating him, he's in trouble.

:29:21. > :29:30.Changing to the backhand side. Big edge about has it been enough? I

:29:31. > :29:37.think he has the shot. Wasn't too far away. He was in the area. A

:29:38. > :29:44.clean miss on the ball and he would probably have dropped back another

:29:45. > :29:52.ten inches behind. Alex is still playing this, so...

:29:53. > :29:56.The forehand. His own ball coming in, so if he catches that with a

:29:57. > :30:15.little bit of weight... Looks to be under. Yes, just under the line.

:30:16. > :30:20.I wouldn't say this is a great chance, but if he draws within six

:30:21. > :30:55.inches, he scores another. Very important, that one, for Matt

:30:56. > :30:59.Dawes. Perfect backhand raw, interested to see where he goes with

:31:00. > :31:06.the jack from here. Alex has been savouring the jack on the tee. I

:31:07. > :31:08.think Mark has brought it up a little bit here, slight change of

:31:09. > :31:50.length. Another question in. Must be some

:31:51. > :31:55.international connection between the two commentators.

:31:56. > :32:07.Too many. I think that is quite easy. I have 103 and you have 100.

:32:08. > :32:16.102. Sorry. I think you have 105. You can only get three caps a year.

:32:17. > :32:25.Thank you for that, Barry, it makes me feel so young!

:32:26. > :32:26.So, a chance for Mark to drop in on this, second opportunity. Must be

:32:27. > :32:33.close. Struggling to get close to the jack

:32:34. > :32:57.in this direction. It just looks a little bit under,

:32:58. > :32:59.but if he gets off his own ball it should be good. Just needs to fall

:33:00. > :33:31.back. Yes. Well, Mark, will you bend? Yes you

:33:32. > :33:49.will! It's exactly Jack high. This is quite inviting for Alex. Two

:33:50. > :33:58.bowls will go. A Jack and a ditch should be fine. He's got a perfect,

:33:59. > :34:10.absolutely perfect. Jack across. As the green bowl moved out enough?

:34:11. > :34:15.Great bowl. Lovely conversion shot. That is the benefit of not going for

:34:16. > :34:20.the big drive where you are trying a re-spot or something like that, a

:34:21. > :34:30.deliberate conversion shop. Great timing though, allowing the bowl to

:34:31. > :34:31.come back. It is a pressure bowl. Needs to hold up!

:34:32. > :35:01.APPLAUSE Now we see Mark's bowl coming in. I

:35:02. > :35:14.think Alex is asking on the third shot. Time-out called. Yes, I would

:35:15. > :35:21.say the position slightly favours green. I would say it's just a draw,

:35:22. > :35:26.Andy. I think so. He doesn't want to take his own out. Alex has four

:35:27. > :35:39.time-outs remaining. Yes, with the jack being off centre,

:35:40. > :35:45.I think this might be a good road for Alex, actually. A lot of the

:35:46. > :35:54.bowl have been finishing high. It worked in his favour. I think this

:35:55. > :35:57.is probably an easier lined to find. It's all about getting the right

:35:58. > :36:04.weight, because the line looks pretty good to me. He's very close

:36:05. > :36:11.to making this. And back! He's pushed it back to the green bowl! He

:36:12. > :36:17.did absolutely brilliant to drop off the bowl and onto the Jack. Yes,

:36:18. > :36:30.that's one of the unfortunate things in our sport. He unfortunately

:36:31. > :36:39.pushes the Jack back to Mark. Great try, Alex.

:36:40. > :37:15.The seventh end of a nine end set. A big push to score in this one, for

:37:16. > :37:27.Alex Marshall. Both players favouring different sides. Alex the

:37:28. > :37:33.backhand side, Mark beforehand. -- Mark the forehand. Just holding off.

:37:34. > :37:38.That frustrates players often, doesn't it? You know that you're on

:37:39. > :37:44.a good line and your weight is good but the just doesn't come down.

:37:45. > :37:48.You're waiting for that sweep, aren't you? Oh dear, Mark, what

:37:49. > :37:56.happened to that? Not his best delivery. Just as well you are not

:37:57. > :38:02.out there skipping him on this one, Andy! I'm very kind, I would not be

:38:03. > :38:06.telling him off! The guys are frightened of you! I seen the fear

:38:07. > :38:15.in their eyes! Well, Alex wasn't happy with his first delivery, so he

:38:16. > :38:18.has changed to the forehand. I think you will probably find he will start

:38:19. > :38:27.leaving more now on the forehand side. -- start leading on that side.

:38:28. > :38:35.A better reply here from Mark. That's a great bowl.

:38:36. > :38:55.APPLAUSE One green. Very good bowl. Here we

:38:56. > :39:05.see Mark's third delivery. Goes in, moves the jack, but not far enough

:39:06. > :39:11.for Alex. Alex running through here on the backhand side, just trying to

:39:12. > :39:14.for Alex. Alex running through here clip the bowl away. Got to be under,

:39:15. > :39:19.I think. Well, he had two seconds and that is the reason why he played

:39:20. > :39:22.it. I tell you what, he was watching that all the way down, you could see

:39:23. > :39:26.that from our commentary position, and he was very interested right up

:39:27. > :39:36.until the moment it hit the bowl. Was about an inch away from clipping

:39:37. > :39:45.the green. However, this is advantage Mark Dawes at this end.

:39:46. > :40:00.Good effort with this. Wow. It looks like he's made the double. Alex

:40:01. > :40:08.hasn't got anything on the re-spot on the left-hand side where the Jack

:40:09. > :40:16.would go. Can't afford to take his own bowl out. Well, the body

:40:17. > :40:25.language says he doesn't like it. Well, the big seventh end, Mark

:40:26. > :40:46.Dawes takes a slight lead. That seems strange to identify one

:40:47. > :40:50.end, but even with 11 ends it is number nine, and with nine ends its

:40:51. > :40:54.number seven. That is what the players focus on. If you are behind

:40:55. > :41:14.at that point, you really need to score. Jack length 27 metres.

:41:15. > :41:24.Mark Dawes plays out of the Blackpool club, Newton Hall. Been

:41:25. > :41:25.there many times. International Open there in about five or six weeks'

:41:26. > :41:38.time. Yes, something to look forward to.

:41:39. > :41:41.Always a good event. But this is the one everybody wants to win the most.

:41:42. > :42:00.This is the big one, David. Good correction from Mark. He takes

:42:01. > :42:13.the shot with that, I think. Well, it didn't drop back. Alex is also

:42:14. > :42:16.using the mat, he is out at the extreme edge, trying to get that

:42:17. > :42:20.little bit of extra bend on the bowls.

:42:21. > :42:56.APPLAUSE Great shot, both players adjusting

:42:57. > :43:10.well. The bowl has just fallen over as well. The bowl has fallen, since.

:43:11. > :43:16.Alex onto the forehand side. A little bit of weight here, possibly.

:43:17. > :43:27.Again, he's watching it, he's interested! Oh! Just around the

:43:28. > :43:31.outside. He really needs to hit that on the thin side. That is probably

:43:32. > :43:40.why he was on the high. If he caught a thin edge, he was going to take

:43:41. > :43:45.Mark's out. Alex is in trouble on this end. He's got nothing on the

:43:46. > :43:49.re-spot and the Jack is only going in one direction. This is not good

:43:50. > :43:59.for Alex, this end. Mark is looking to see whether it is one or two.

:44:00. > :44:09.Time-out called. I love your positivity there, it's only one!

:44:10. > :44:26.I don't think Mark needs to go near this one. It is a good position but

:44:27. > :44:32.he is such a good draw player, you are thinking he might go for another

:44:33. > :44:38.one. He is now saying to Alex that if you hit this and get it wrong,

:44:39. > :44:44.you're going to lose three. Alex can't afford to hit this. He's going

:44:45. > :44:51.to have to draw. Draw on the forehand, draw the perfect bowl. He

:44:52. > :44:59.has still got a bowl waiting to receive it. He's on the backhand.

:45:00. > :45:09.Fair enough, still a perfect draw. Worth the risk with the third one.

:45:10. > :45:17.Just going through, I think. Not much, good effort. Within seven or

:45:18. > :45:22.eight inches. One shot, academic three.

:45:23. > :45:34.-- 1-shot, Mark Dawes. A good run from Mark Dawes. The last three

:45:35. > :45:39.ends, he has scored very nicely. Two singles -- the last four ends, two

:45:40. > :45:43.singles and two doubles. He is not over the line here. Alex Marshall

:45:44. > :45:51.will be thinking to himself if I can get two here it will be a tide set

:45:52. > :45:55.and he can get something out of it. Mark basically needs a good opener,

:45:56. > :45:57.he doesn't want to put any added pressure on to himself as the end

:45:58. > :46:50.progresses. He needs a good opener. Well, he really needs a close bowl.

:46:51. > :46:54.That's just not close enough. I'm surprised, takes bated Alex to

:46:55. > :46:59.punish him with his first bowl, but he has still got another chance. He

:47:00. > :47:06.will, with this one. He will not make the same mistake twice.

:47:07. > :47:14.Yes, here it comes. That is the winner.

:47:15. > :47:19.APPLAUSE You might get away with that with

:47:20. > :47:29.Alex with one bowl, but you're not going to get away with it with two.

:47:30. > :47:34.Mark needs a big bowl here. I still think he is a bit on the wide side.

:47:35. > :47:40.He is pushing the bowl back, but as you said, a bit wide.

:47:41. > :47:54.Even the bowl dropping in has made no difference. You expect Alex to

:47:55. > :48:00.repeat the dose and get this one in. Well, Alex looks under. He will be

:48:01. > :48:04.very unhappy with that one. That was a big pressure bowl to get Mark into

:48:05. > :48:09.a bit of trouble. If he had got that and got it in he was looking at a

:48:10. > :48:13.possible winning of the set, but now he is looking at the chance of

:48:14. > :48:17.drawing it. Look at his expression on the way down there. He almost

:48:18. > :48:24.couldn't understand how that one came across. He didn't. It seemed to

:48:25. > :48:34.sweep away. I wouldn't be surprised to see Mark Dawes drawing the shot.

:48:35. > :48:38.I think he's wide, I really do. There it goes. Well, that is a poor

:48:39. > :48:54.end by Mark. It really is a poor end. One red. You can't expect to

:48:55. > :48:58.win the set whenever you play bowls one away. That was a very nervy end.

:48:59. > :49:06.That is why I said it was so important to get a good opening

:49:07. > :49:14.bowl. You would expect Alex to draw this one and win the opening set. We

:49:15. > :49:19.both know what he's like, he plays the opening bowl very well. Darren

:49:20. > :49:26.Burnett relaxing at the back, I don't in key could look any more

:49:27. > :49:30.chilled. -- I don't think he could look any more chilled. Well, he has

:49:31. > :49:35.put his head to the air but the line looks pretty much perfect. Surely

:49:36. > :49:44.he's drawing it. Yes. That looked good. It looks good to me. He

:49:45. > :49:50.thought it was under. APPLAUSE

:49:51. > :49:57.A shake of the head. He's got something out of the set but it's

:49:58. > :50:07.almost like you're saying "Well, I'm just not sure". I think he will be

:50:08. > :50:12.relieved to have tied the first set. Well, a poor end by Mark Dawes has

:50:13. > :50:29.cost him that set. Jack length 27 metres.

:50:30. > :50:41.APPLAUSE One like that and the last set was

:50:42. > :50:53.in his pocket! Exactly! It's typical, isn't it? So, it's almost

:50:54. > :51:01.like a one set shoot out now. Yes, we have had a game before where we

:51:02. > :51:02.had two tied ends but it is very unusual. The players are looking to

:51:03. > :51:27.try and win this and get it done. Great reply from Alex! I think it is

:51:28. > :52:27.still Alex. A slap of the thigh from Mark. Yes,

:52:28. > :52:30.but it will not help Alex. He might still need to have to play this

:52:31. > :52:34.around the backhand and try and drop it in there. Prior to that he had a

:52:35. > :52:39.good chance to try and drop in, but that front green bowl makes it

:52:40. > :52:44.difficult. Certainly does. However, I think he's going to try and ignore

:52:45. > :52:49.it and go around it, but hard to get enough weight to push Mark's nearest

:52:50. > :53:00.bowl out. Yes, you had to force it out to get

:53:01. > :53:10.around the green one, and he just held off. Around the backhand, very

:53:11. > :53:17.dangerous. Not a bad bowl, that. Mark has only got one on the head,

:53:18. > :53:32.another one close. I don't think it's going to get back

:53:33. > :53:37.in time. This is interesting. Yes, yes...

:53:38. > :53:45.I'm just looking at this, Andy. The first end, it looks like a pretty

:53:46. > :53:50.safe shot if Alex wanted to play it and that is to get into that bowl

:53:51. > :53:56.and take it away, that brings his other two bowls into play. I don't

:53:57. > :54:00.see any danger on the backhand. The front plant, it is his own bowl

:54:01. > :54:06.coming in, very hard to draw another. He's going for it! Could

:54:07. > :54:10.get a bad result here. He nearly got a good result! He knew he had pulled

:54:11. > :54:26.the shop. Getting in a lot of questions in

:54:27. > :54:30.about things like bowls, do the players use their own bowls? Some

:54:31. > :54:37.do, some don't. There are a range of accurate temp one here from

:54:38. > :54:42.manufacturers available on the World Bowls Tour. You would know this, you

:54:43. > :54:54.are in the trade. What is a minimum and maximum bowl size? The smallest

:54:55. > :54:57.bowl size is double nought, and the biggest, difficult question, I think

:54:58. > :55:02.we produce Pfizer and sixes but there might still be sevens? Yes

:55:03. > :55:07.there are. And strangely enough I was talking about it at lunch with

:55:08. > :55:15.one of the manufacturers. -- fives and sixes. You won't get many with

:55:16. > :55:19.size sevens. Many years ago it used to be size five was the most popular

:55:20. > :55:25.for men but it is now size three and size four.

:55:26. > :55:37.David Brand size seven Canon bowls we saw rolling down onto the jack.

:55:38. > :55:43.Yes, David, hope you are watching the television, enjoying the bowls.

:55:44. > :55:49.Hope you're keeping well. The great man himself. Absolutely, some great

:55:50. > :55:59.battles, as you have had with him over the years, Andy. Just drop in.

:56:00. > :56:02.A chance now for Mark to slide this bowl around the red ones and slide

:56:03. > :56:16.it away. Mark really struggling to get back,

:56:17. > :56:20.isn't he? He's going to have to think about this one, isn't he? That

:56:21. > :56:25.is a long jack length and they're not getting back. You can see he is

:56:26. > :56:35.just thinking, why is this bowl not getting back? Both players slightly

:56:36. > :56:39.struggling at the moment. Got a chance with this one to slide into

:56:40. > :56:48.the green. Yes, I think that will do. The problem for Mark is that

:56:49. > :56:51.he's not finding centre rink, and if you don't, it's very hard. The

:56:52. > :56:58.opposition, just like Alex did there, we'll just reach and right

:56:59. > :57:03.into the jack high bowls all day. What players want to find is the

:57:04. > :57:06.centre of the rink. Pace is something that you pick up. But

:57:07. > :57:13.that's been a problem for both players really. I think a change in

:57:14. > :57:18.jack length would really benefit both players here. It's always on

:57:19. > :57:40.the D. They need to change things about.

:57:41. > :57:50.Well, again... It's just holding off. Well, squeezed in between the

:57:51. > :57:56.two. There wasn't really a gap there, but he forced the issue. It

:57:57. > :58:07.looks like one and a measure, I think.

:58:08. > :58:21.Well, he's got all the back position here, but it still just about eight

:58:22. > :58:30.gun draw. I don't think he likes it. The line

:58:31. > :58:39.is good enough, it must be heavy. Yes. Well, he knew that out of the

:58:40. > :58:41.hand. Most players are good judges when the ball leaves the hand. He

:58:42. > :59:08.knew he was just slightly heavy. Set score, 3-0, after two ends. Once

:59:09. > :59:11.again another good start by Alex Marshall to the second set. In the

:59:12. > :59:22.first set he was 5-1 up after four ends. The thing is, Andy, they both

:59:23. > :59:29.players with long jack lengths. Almost frightened to go shorter just

:59:30. > :59:34.in case the bowls don't get back and end up going wide. I think it's fair

:59:35. > :59:37.to say that the bowls are not getting back. I think especially

:59:38. > :59:42.Mark should be trying a different length. I think Alex is always going

:59:43. > :59:45.to go on the T. APPLAUSE

:59:46. > :59:55.Good opener. Another question coming in, this

:59:56. > :59:59.time from David, "Does Andy prefer indoor or outdoor?"

:00:00. > :00:11.That's a good question. It's a very short outdoor season these days,

:00:12. > :00:14.isn't it, Andy? It is. I think I'd probably put more into the winter

:00:15. > :00:19.months and I prefer the indoor game slightly. But I play the sport all

:00:20. > :00:20.year round. I still enjoy the outdoor but I probably favour the

:00:21. > :01:07.indoor. We will just see if this will hold

:01:08. > :01:15.up. Holding, I thought that was inside the line. He doesn't want to

:01:16. > :01:25.move the jack. Gentle, gentle. Sprayed chalk, that means it is a

:01:26. > :01:38.touch. If not, it will be taken out. A little spray chalk indicates a

:01:39. > :01:44.toucher with the jack. Problem here for Mark, you will have to be

:01:45. > :01:54.positive through the head. He needs the movement of the jack. Mark has

:01:55. > :02:01.two time-outs remaining. Well, not easy. Not easy, but he has to hit

:02:02. > :02:11.the target, really. Playing the right shot. Very close. Two balls.

:02:12. > :02:23.Excellent. That was a bonus. Great shot. Was under heavy drive, it was

:02:24. > :02:31.controlled. -- it wasn't a heavy drive. If you play a good ball, Alex

:02:32. > :02:38.has a tendency to tap his leg, but that was a bit special, so a clap of

:02:39. > :02:41.the hands on that one. Alex good sport, always acknowledges if you

:02:42. > :02:49.play a good bowl and that was a great strike from Mark. Alex, this

:02:50. > :02:59.one looks way under. The last one held a long, long time. The line was

:03:00. > :03:03.pretty good. Oh dear. The line would probably have been bang on for what

:03:04. > :03:07.he wanted to hit the ball, but a metre short. You are never going to

:03:08. > :03:13.get a better opportunity here to draw. I played Alex in the pairs

:03:14. > :03:17.this year and we had a very good game, chatted throughout it.

:03:18. > :03:25.Unfortunately he played a little bit too well for my liking. That was

:03:26. > :03:38.all. Looks like number two coming in, not sure if it is two or three.

:03:39. > :03:52.There is, taken away. Three it is. It really was a very good strike

:03:53. > :04:04.from Matt Dawes, has turned this set around. Once again, this jack is on

:04:05. > :04:24.the T just about. If Mark holds out here, it's his own fault.

:04:25. > :04:31.Can't believe that, not finding the centre of the rink. Why doesn't he

:04:32. > :04:37.played shorter? Yes, definitely struggling with it. Maybe having a

:04:38. > :04:41.good look to see where he is standing on the Matt is normally the

:04:42. > :05:01.way to counteract that, straightening. -- on the mat.

:05:02. > :05:24.Better, that. That was good. A very small gap, Alex. At last, he has won

:05:25. > :05:51.in the centre. -- he has Fox and one.

:05:52. > :06:00.Not too bad to stay wide this time, but he needs to run and the jack

:06:01. > :06:04.will come over. A good waiting ball. I think Alex will be playing the

:06:05. > :06:13.forehand side. The stats are level everywhere.

:06:14. > :06:23.It is a close game. 7-7 in the first set and 3-3 in the second. Certain

:06:24. > :07:21.things will be level. Yes, it is a tight game, nobody dominating.

:07:22. > :07:33.Just trying to get back to the jack. Got the toucher, but didn't pull the

:07:34. > :07:35.jack Black. An inch closer to the jack and he would have trailed that

:07:36. > :07:53.the three. Set once again a beak crowd at

:07:54. > :07:57.Potters Leisure Resort. We knew this was going to be a good match and it

:07:58. > :08:01.has turned out to be exactly that. It was going to be a big challenge

:08:02. > :08:10.for Matt Dawes, playing against Alex at his favourite venue, but Alex

:08:11. > :08:20.would have known how good a player Mark is. Mark played three in the

:08:21. > :08:22.international last year and back to lead this year. That is his

:08:23. > :08:36.strength, drawing. Two inches past, jack high. The

:08:37. > :08:44.restart has been mentioned a few times now. People tweeting about the

:08:45. > :08:52.international series in March, where they are bringing in the re-spot

:08:53. > :08:58.position two meters. Wondering if it will be better to go three metres? I

:08:59. > :09:01.would agree entirely. I don't think it is a great decision, however we

:09:02. > :09:09.have to abide by the rules and get on with it. Just because we're used

:09:10. > :09:16.to be playing with the T with the re-spot on the side. Once again, you

:09:17. > :09:19.have to adapt to new rules and get on with it, basically. But I am sure

:09:20. > :09:46.there will be discussions after it, if it was good or bad.

:09:47. > :10:06.A good waiting ball for Alex. Alex's last ball.

:10:07. > :10:17.Just trying to nudge the ball to drop it away, but Mark's ball going

:10:18. > :10:22.through has given him option, but I think the jack is going to Alex.

:10:23. > :10:27.Mark is in a bit of bother here. He's going to have to play a very

:10:28. > :10:34.exact ball to get anything out of this end. Alex also has to be care

:10:35. > :10:36.for, he doesn't want to give a shot away here. That looks like a decent

:10:37. > :10:58.one. Just a draw here for map doors --

:10:59. > :11:28.Matt Dawes. Trying to be very gentle to it,

:11:29. > :11:34.couldn't afford to hit the front of the red and brings the jack back to

:11:35. > :11:41.the two red ones. A bit of danger here... But it's possible. That's

:11:42. > :11:45.what he's looking at. It's one of those shots that pops up every now

:11:46. > :11:52.and then. If he does get into their, it is possible. Just to move the

:11:53. > :11:57.jack into this direction. If he gets into their, makes at least a double.

:11:58. > :12:02.His own ball, in real terms, if he does get that connection, will

:12:03. > :12:09.travel through to hear. So he might make a three. Can he give a shot

:12:10. > :12:14.away? I don't know, the green onto the green also do the same. It

:12:15. > :12:18.depends how adventurous he is, he could also slice the jack and give a

:12:19. > :12:24.shot away. Always an element of risk. Yes, there is a whiz at risk,

:12:25. > :12:30.but it would need a lot more weight. He is playing. I tell you what, if

:12:31. > :12:40.this comes off, it will be a great shot. There it is now. That plant

:12:41. > :12:47.slightly heavier and it would have got a result, but didn't want to be

:12:48. > :12:53.as heavy. Ten out of ten for even attempting it. Close to getting it

:12:54. > :12:58.right, but one of those shots, a shop to nothing. There was a bit of

:12:59. > :13:03.risk but it wasn't far away. It keeps the set tight, four ends to

:13:04. > :13:57.go. We have already had a match where

:13:58. > :14:02.there have been two tied sets this year. That has got everybody fishing

:14:03. > :14:10.around for their statistics. It was 6-6 in the mixed pairs, the

:14:11. > :14:18.defending champions in action. The second set was 7-7. It went on to a

:14:19. > :14:25.tie-break, right down to the last ball. Alison Murray and Chris Brett

:14:26. > :14:53.got through. Well, Mark, two short balls. Those

:14:54. > :15:04.are the balls he normally relies very heavily on.

:15:05. > :15:14.Well, if Alex blocks the forehand here, Mark will be in a bit of

:15:15. > :15:20.trouble. I fully expect this one to be in a con and even better, its

:15:21. > :15:25.round the back. These balls are a long way away, in terms of playing

:15:26. > :15:29.them out of their head. Have to draw away from this and hope to get a

:15:30. > :15:34.result. His forehand, he is fighting with it a little bit in terms of

:15:35. > :15:38.getting the right line. I agree. He must think he has no confidence

:15:39. > :15:43.whatsoever in trying to draw the shot. This is much better, where did

:15:44. > :15:55.this come from? Exactly, perfect ball. Fighting with the hard, shall

:15:56. > :16:02.we say. -- the hand. His last ball, coming in. Three down, the draw's

:16:03. > :16:10.the winner. Not easy for Alex to get the ball out. I think this will just

:16:11. > :16:16.be a draw from Alex. Well, he must be able to see it through the gap.

:16:17. > :16:22.That was always wide. A hard shot, just hit the target, let alone make

:16:23. > :16:28.a gap that is seven inches wide. Alex didn't fancy flooring it round

:16:29. > :16:31.the short ball. A difficult shot, he knew he couldn't take the ball out

:16:32. > :16:46.by drawing it. A little chance here for Mark to get a double.

:16:47. > :16:55.He is having another good go at it, his third shot. Needs it to drop, I

:16:56. > :16:58.don't think it has this time, I think it just held up. Yes. Just the

:16:59. > :17:17.one. Yes, just the one. Always good to have experts in your

:17:18. > :17:24.ear to tell you there is not two shots in it. Yes, the umpires have

:17:25. > :17:28.good knowledge. They are well miked up and we can pick up everything

:17:29. > :17:32.they are saying, which is good for us. Of course, the crowd have a

:17:33. > :17:35.tendency to know as well. They are quite good about telling you. Yes,

:17:36. > :18:30.they wanted that ball to fall down. Just sliding under. Just to let our

:18:31. > :18:34.viewers know, we will be opting out in Scotland for one hour for First

:18:35. > :18:39.Minister 's question time, but you can follow us on the BBC sport

:18:40. > :18:47.website. That is just in Scotland for one hour.

:18:48. > :19:01.A good second ball from Mark, that is going to give Alex problems. This

:19:02. > :19:13.is not easy, Alex. Might be on for a heavy one here.

:19:14. > :20:26.Good drive from Alex. Two balls would have been ideal, but jack on

:20:27. > :20:32.the re-spot, not even going to the re-spot, is it? The ball is in the

:20:33. > :20:41.ditch. Re-spot coming now. Just wondering where the jack was. One

:20:42. > :20:46.ball shoot out now. Another ball has just been lifted up there, thank you

:20:47. > :20:53.for showing that, that was good. Straight from Alex. One ball shoot

:20:54. > :20:58.out depends how close this is, if Alex tries to drive it off or try to

:20:59. > :21:06.draw it. Once to make it inside the jack. He will be tempted by this.

:21:07. > :21:12.Jack in the ditch is worth a double, a ball out is worth a single. This

:21:13. > :21:19.is quite a wide target, I would expect Alex to hit this. Yes, it's

:21:20. > :21:28.certainly right up his street to play this one.

:21:29. > :21:43.He's interested. He's got something. Great ball. Ball and jack. Two shots

:21:44. > :21:48.for Alex Marshall. Nice weight as well. The extra bonus was getting

:21:49. > :21:56.the jack so the ball didn't run off the head. A good shot, that one.

:21:57. > :22:02.Again, Alex using the conversion shot, rather than trying to do

:22:03. > :22:26.anything else. Two good strikes with his third and fourth deliveries.

:22:27. > :23:01.That was a very important ball, that last ball, for Alex Marshall. Matt

:23:02. > :23:08.Dawes would have been two up with two to go, and that little gap, just

:23:09. > :23:10.had one end to win. An inviting target and I would've expected Alex

:23:11. > :23:17.to get it. Two inches past. Just two inches

:23:18. > :24:05.past. This was the hand Mark has been

:24:06. > :24:10.struggling with, the centre ring, and the same thing, good weight.

:24:11. > :24:18.Cannot believe how many balls have finished in that area. It's also

:24:19. > :24:29.been a big provider of shoulders. Yes, exactly. Alex now just trying

:24:30. > :24:38.to arrest the green ball. -- trying to rest. Can afford to play that

:24:39. > :24:47.extra bit of weight. Will he get down? No, he hasn't. Just the wrong

:24:48. > :24:56.green ball. Mark cannot afford to lose this shot, he has to get at

:24:57. > :25:04.least one here. Running onto the mat. He has loads of time-outs,

:25:05. > :25:09.doesn't need to hurry. He is a quick player when he gets on the mat. A

:25:10. > :25:13.typical crown green player, when he plays back game, they are all the

:25:14. > :25:21.same. This has a lot of work to do. It needs to bend had. It looks like

:25:22. > :25:29.it was coming back, maybe carrying a foot. Yes, but once again... Can't

:25:30. > :25:32.get to the centre here. Nothing more frustrating for the player. He will

:25:33. > :25:40.be thinking, how am I going to beat this shot?

:25:41. > :25:58.Alex will be trying to get a back toucher here. Make it secure. Think

:25:59. > :26:02.he tried the blocker. Realised the hard shot was on the backhand, but

:26:03. > :26:06.trying to force him slightly wider. I don't think that one has worked. I

:26:07. > :26:12.think it is not bad from Alex, forcing Mark to play very heavy or

:26:13. > :26:18.stick to the draw. He knows he is struggling with a draw to get to the

:26:19. > :26:23.centre, so problems for Mark. We can see the red ball. Yes, if he gets to

:26:24. > :26:29.their... But his best result might be to hit that ball and try to hit

:26:30. > :26:33.it over, because of the way it fits. That's the way it is. LAUGHTER

:26:34. > :26:39.That scared him a little bit. He had asked for a time-out. The trouble

:26:40. > :26:46.was, they didn't reset the bottom quick enough. At a pretty crucial

:26:47. > :26:51.time. It certainly was. Now time to get the concentration back again.

:26:52. > :26:57.Going for that, trying to slip around the front ball of Alex

:26:58. > :27:03.Marshall. He has to have a chance... Will he get back? That's the

:27:04. > :27:15.problem. Will he get back? That might be enough. Wow, what a result!

:27:16. > :27:19.Could be three, as you say, Andy. Don't think he really played that,

:27:20. > :27:24.but he has a result if he got two or three out of that. I think he was

:27:25. > :27:30.just trying to get a single. One out. Alex is pretty good at this.

:27:31. > :27:37.He'll know, at this stage of the game... That is very close. It

:27:38. > :27:45.really is. I have a feeling he might have made two. I think so as well. I

:27:46. > :27:54.think Alex fancies morphing one down. Alan Thornhill indicating he

:27:55. > :27:56.thinks it is two shots. Two out. They will check the measure with

:27:57. > :28:09.this one. He will ask for a quick measure. You

:28:10. > :28:14.cannot take a risk. 100%, it is worth the measure. What a result for

:28:15. > :28:19.Matt Dawes. He played a good ball, definitely coming in for the shot.

:28:20. > :28:27.Touching the jack would have made a three, but the four back on the

:28:28. > :28:31.dough was the bonus. -- on the red was the bonus. Both players saying

:28:32. > :28:46.it's not coming back! Mark Davies will sort this one out.

:28:47. > :29:00.Two shots, Matt Dawes. That's what we thought. Very accurate. 7-6. What

:29:01. > :29:05.are the chances of two tied sets? You just cut a feeling we going into

:29:06. > :29:12.the tie-break. Alex has the last ball here and I would favour him to

:29:13. > :29:23.score at least a one. But... It's going to be close. The last end in

:29:24. > :29:25.the first set, Mark didn't have a good one. No, he didn't play it

:29:26. > :30:11.well. Well, neither player with a good

:30:12. > :30:15.opener. Yes, I'm surprised to see that Mark is just slightly on the

:30:16. > :30:21.inside of the mat, when he's trying to get his bowl back into centre

:30:22. > :30:31.rink. This has a lot of running to do. That is short. That is a nervy

:30:32. > :30:37.one. As you say, he played a bad end of the first set, and that is two

:30:38. > :30:40.loose bowls. He's annoyed with himself and he should be, because

:30:41. > :30:46.Alex gave him a wonderful opportunity to mail the jack. I

:30:47. > :30:59.expect this bowl now to be the winner. That is number one. There is

:31:00. > :31:03.good distance there on the forehand, and on the backhand his wacko temp

:31:04. > :31:09.one is just not strong enough to guarantee centre rink. Again, he's

:31:10. > :31:13.on the inside of the mat. We will see if this one makes its way back.

:31:14. > :31:23.It needs to hurry. It really needs to hurry. Well, that's very good.

:31:24. > :31:29.Alex will be tempted to run this. It's not an easy bowl to draw off,

:31:30. > :31:36.but he has got the last bowl in this end, so a bowl at Jack would be

:31:37. > :31:38.good. I agree, inviting target and Alex will not be short here. Lots of

:31:39. > :31:53.chances. Well, slightly under. I think he's

:31:54. > :31:57.got it. He's got a perfect. Looked good for the bowl all the way.

:31:58. > :32:01.That's better than getting the jack. If he had got the jack and it had

:32:02. > :32:07.gone on to the restart, there would have been even more room for Mark

:32:08. > :32:12.Dawes. Still a testing one, Andy. Yes, OK Alex's nearest bowl is 18

:32:13. > :32:17.inches, but there is a lot of pressure on this final delivery. The

:32:18. > :32:24.difficulty here is that he does not want to drop short. Well, he's

:32:25. > :32:31.looking at it, he fancies it. It's coming in!

:32:32. > :32:40.APPLAUSE It didn't drop down. He wanted it to

:32:41. > :32:53.drop. Now Alex is wondering all sorts of things. Well, quite simply,

:32:54. > :32:59.the world champion is game down. What he's looking at is a re-spot

:33:00. > :33:04.there, a re-spot here. He scores on both of them, doesn't he? You put

:33:05. > :33:08.the jack in there and he can see right on the spot, he holds both.

:33:09. > :33:14.The shop for Alex is also available if he wants to drive the bowl out it

:33:15. > :33:19.is the other red bowl that will count, or if he gets the jack... He

:33:20. > :33:23.still has a draw available if he really wants to play it, although

:33:24. > :33:27.that is a very difficult shot. I don't think he will be playing the

:33:28. > :33:32.draw. His third delivery was on the backhand, however this looks more

:33:33. > :33:38.forehand. I think he would have been happier being on the backhand side.

:33:39. > :33:48.Yes, it is the second round for Alex Marshall, defending his title. He

:33:49. > :33:56.has already made history having six, but he is one bowl away from not

:33:57. > :34:00.getting to the seven. Could you imagine if he forgot about the

:34:01. > :34:07.time-out! It doesn't bear thinking about! She was very worried about

:34:08. > :34:12.him remembering the time-out! Well, I'm sure he's been in awkward

:34:13. > :34:17.positions before. He needs a big bowl here. I think actually I would

:34:18. > :34:21.be striking this on the backhand. Yes, because you are coming into the

:34:22. > :34:26.jack almost all the time. You slice it, you could get a re-spot.

:34:27. > :34:30.Forehand is harder. I think that's what he's going to go. He's looking

:34:31. > :34:34.to save the set but he can also win the match. He would be happy to go

:34:35. > :34:44.into the tie-break, in this situation. He's looking he's

:34:45. > :34:50.interested! Come on! Yes, that's it, it's a re-spot, and he's got the

:34:51. > :34:58.shot. It's going onto the re-spot position. Match tied, match

:34:59. > :35:04.tie-break. My goodness me, I tell you what, Andy, that was close. That

:35:05. > :35:11.was a brilliant bowl. Absolutely fantastic. He thought he hit two

:35:12. > :35:19.actually. He was just hoping to clip the green bowl. Look how much he got

:35:20. > :35:25.of the jack, though. Happy with that, Alex. That was the first

:35:26. > :35:32.target. He thought he had the double, you can see the

:35:33. > :35:36.disappointment at the end. He's happy to take the tie-break. If you

:35:37. > :35:43.are game down, you are happy with a draw. He will look at that drive

:35:44. > :35:49.again, it seemed to straighten out a little bit. Yes it did. At one stage

:35:50. > :35:53.I thought he was going to get a difficult result, bounce the jack up

:35:54. > :36:13.the green. Everybody is taking a breather after that, I think.

:36:14. > :36:35.Alex Marshall going for his seventh title. Defending champion. Just

:36:36. > :36:42.moved into the tie-break, following a brilliant drive, with the match

:36:43. > :36:48.against him. The first two sets, would you believe, tied at 7-7 on

:36:49. > :36:56.both occasions. This is going to be a very nervy last two, maybe three

:36:57. > :37:01.ends. Mark Dawes had one foot in the quarterfinal. He certainly did. He

:37:02. > :37:04.has to regroup now and start all over again. Start with the

:37:05. > :37:31.tie-break. The gap is four inches. I'm not sure if Alex is happy on

:37:32. > :37:37.this site and trying to draw the shot. Yes, but at least he is behind

:37:38. > :37:52.it, which gives him an option. It does. So many good bowls in this

:37:53. > :37:57.match. Well, second shot coming in. Mark realises that Alex rested that

:37:58. > :38:23.bowl. It has given Alex a guide. It's heavy again. Well, I tell you

:38:24. > :38:31.what, I think I would like to take that Jack high bowl away. I know.

:38:32. > :38:36.That is just too inviting and you don't want to give Alex another bite

:38:37. > :38:43.at that. He can afford to play to it and just turn it around the corner.

:38:44. > :38:49.If he misses, he will come to the two red. But you just don't want to

:38:50. > :38:53.leave that shoulder rest. Well, he's on a decent line here. He wants to

:38:54. > :39:03.tidy it up. He's coming round and it's still there. That is a good

:39:04. > :39:06.shot. I don't think Alex is overly happy or confident, should we say,

:39:07. > :39:21.in drawing this on this side. But he's got to play a big one.

:39:22. > :39:30.I was going to say, check the body language, check to see if he runs

:39:31. > :39:34.after it. He thinks he's close, he's dropped a yard away, that is the key

:39:35. > :39:38.to it. I don't think he was confident of drawing that. First

:39:39. > :39:59.end, Mark Dawes. Hard to tell. The danger was that he

:40:00. > :40:03.ran off the bowl, which suggested he liked the bowl. I think it's got

:40:04. > :40:09.more to do with the characteristics of the rink rather than the bowls.

:40:10. > :40:18.There are four Noble bowls profiles out there that do very well. --

:40:19. > :40:25.normal bowls. Jack length, 27 metres. Those four bowls are

:40:26. > :40:39.normally very, very good. So, advantage Mark Dawes. Yes, but

:40:40. > :40:59.last bowl Alex Marshall. Could be crucial.

:41:00. > :41:06.Tie-break rules are different, of course. You get to the third end,

:41:07. > :41:09.way you can destroy the end, but you have to nominate it. You can

:41:10. > :41:14.nominate as often as you wish but you could our only allowed to

:41:15. > :41:19.destroy the end once, in the same direction. Both players can do that.

:41:20. > :41:26.Your bowl is ten inches past Jack high. That is about 20 inches short.

:41:27. > :41:27.That may give him problems here, if Mark happens to put this on top of

:41:28. > :41:41.the jack. APPLAUSE

:41:42. > :41:47.Well, it's not very adjacent but it is useful, in a way. It's not in the

:41:48. > :41:50.way for Alex, he feels he can get around that. If he slips this one

:41:51. > :42:02.around, it will be completely hidden. It is first in, here. Alex,

:42:03. > :42:08.it looks on the high side. It's got a bit of work to do! Well, it's

:42:09. > :42:14.still there. Mark Dawes can still draw will stop he's got his own

:42:15. > :42:21.bowl, just dropped out, which has opened the gap a bit. He needs to

:42:22. > :42:25.control this one. You feel that none of the bowls at the moment will

:42:26. > :42:30.probably lie. He needs to get into the pocket here between the two

:42:31. > :42:35.bowls. This looks better, this looks like the winner.

:42:36. > :42:43.APPLAUSE That's very good. That is a very

:42:44. > :42:49.good bowl under the circumstances and under this sort of pressure as

:42:50. > :42:52.well. Yes, great bowl. Needed a closer bowl and that is what he's

:42:53. > :42:59.got. However, I don't think this will change Alex's shot. I think he

:43:00. > :43:06.will still play the backhand draw. He's got about six inches, here.

:43:07. > :43:13.Well, again, he's looking very carefully at this one. I think his

:43:14. > :43:25.weight is quite good. I think he's very close. Very close indeed.

:43:26. > :43:29.Surely he's got it! What a bowl! He's going to force mark onto the

:43:30. > :43:37.forehand. There's no backhand shot now. Alex's final delivery only had

:43:38. > :43:43.six inches to play with. What a bowl, brilliant. Missed the front

:43:44. > :43:49.won by an inch or so. Pressure here for Mark. Will he play the runner?

:43:50. > :43:56.100%, take Alex's bowl out, don't hold back with this one. He's wide.

:43:57. > :44:02.Looked wide all the way. He's done it again, Alex Marshall. Digging

:44:03. > :44:09.deep, we say? Second end, Alex Marshall.

:44:10. > :44:16.I have to say, he is a man who doesn't want to give up this title.

:44:17. > :44:20.He certainly doesn't. He's digging deep, he's finding every ounce of

:44:21. > :44:29.experience here. This is really tense stuff now. Alex contemplating,

:44:30. > :44:38.where do I want this Jack? This is great stuff! It really is. That's

:44:39. > :44:42.what they're playing for. If he goes here, I don't think he is confident

:44:43. > :44:46.of getting it out of trouble on the backhand side, so he's still very

:44:47. > :44:51.undecided. He doesn't know where to go. I think short three quarters is

:44:52. > :45:06.probably better for you, Alex. You can understand this. You can

:45:07. > :45:12.certainly understand. No time clock, of course. I think he's gone

:45:13. > :45:17.correct, I think this is a good decision. He's going for the very,

:45:18. > :45:21.very short Jack length, which in many ways is his signature. It is,

:45:22. > :45:26.but I think it will allow him to play both halves if he is in

:45:27. > :45:33.trouble. He has not led on the backhand on the full length. Missed

:45:34. > :45:46.the line. Short Jack length, if you miss the

:45:47. > :45:51.live by just a bowl's width, it pulls it away very quickly. The same

:45:52. > :45:55.can happen on the forehand. I'm amazed that Mark is playing at that

:45:56. > :46:00.from the inside of the mat. But he's doing well with this one. Needs to

:46:01. > :46:08.come back, right in behind. He's picked out the line. Once again,

:46:09. > :46:18.quickly Alex is on the forehand side. I think he likes this one

:46:19. > :46:28.better. It looks better. Oh! He's close. Is this the matchwinner? He's

:46:29. > :46:36.very close. There it is. Choices now, for Mark. Your bowl is now 14

:46:37. > :46:43.inches. Does he nominate? He certainly won't be short. He's tried

:46:44. > :46:48.to draw this. This is a hard shot at this length. You just hold off.

:46:49. > :46:54.Didn't like the look of that one, really. I think he has to drive it

:46:55. > :47:00.off, nominate to destroy the end, that is if he remembers, of course!

:47:01. > :47:09.That's true, one or two players have forgotten that. You would not be

:47:10. > :47:16.surprised if he said he has had enough of this, he will go for

:47:17. > :47:24.cover. He's gone for cover. Can't blame him. He's done the work with

:47:25. > :47:31.the second bowl. Well, if this gets very close to the spot, then Mark as

:47:32. > :47:41.to nominate this. He can flick the bowl off on the edge, but he has to

:47:42. > :47:50.nominate this to be played again. Two left, yes. This is the only time

:47:51. > :47:57.when you're allowed to do this, you're killing the end or destroying

:47:58. > :48:02.the end. If the bowl goes outside the confines of the rink, all the

:48:03. > :48:08.bowls are brought back and you play again.

:48:09. > :48:16.Mark has nominated to kill the end with this bowl. That's what he's

:48:17. > :48:21.trying for. You can nominate as often as you wish, but you're only

:48:22. > :48:27.allowed to successful once. So basically he is striking here, he's

:48:28. > :48:37.hoping to clip the bowl out. If he kills the jack... He has got it!

:48:38. > :48:44.What a bowl! It's all about the pressure. A lot of pressure on this

:48:45. > :48:49.man now. No matter where he puts it, there is still an option. What a

:48:50. > :48:55.bowl under pressure. Fantastic strike. Nominated to kill, however,

:48:56. > :49:10.clipping the bowl was perfect. Not only that but he has already

:49:11. > :49:14.saved it twice, can he do it again? If there is any man in the world to

:49:15. > :49:21.put your money on to draw this shot, it would be this man here. If I

:49:22. > :49:26.definitely have my last few pounds in my back pocket, it would go on

:49:27. > :49:35.this. Certainly would. Forehand drop a draw within 15 inches. -- forehand

:49:36. > :49:42.draw, draw within 15 inches. He has played some big bowls. Watch his

:49:43. > :49:48.body after the delivery. He knows when he's good. I think he likes it.

:49:49. > :49:55.The line is good and the weight looks good to me. He's done it. He's

:49:56. > :50:02.there. What pressure, what absolute pressure. That's just tremendous. He

:50:03. > :50:12.really is not going to let this go, is he? What a bowl! Here we go, 15

:50:13. > :50:18.inches to draw the shot and he comes perfectly, match bowl. That is even

:50:19. > :50:25.better than his last one. Mark has no time-outs remaining. He can

:50:26. > :50:30.nominate again and go for the edge of the bowl. I think the danger in

:50:31. > :50:38.going for the edge of this target is that he would probably not his own

:50:39. > :50:46.green bowls. I think this is a forehand draw. Wow. On that forehand

:50:47. > :50:54.he has been struggling to catch it. He might just find a better line.

:50:55. > :50:57.Here we go. I have to say, I'm a little bit surprised he's playing

:50:58. > :51:05.this, because it hasn't been his favourite hand. I think he's outside

:51:06. > :51:09.it. Too wide. Definitely too wide, it just didn't look the right line

:51:10. > :51:12.to me. Third end and the match, Alex Marshall.

:51:13. > :51:21.APPLAUSE The quest for his seventh title

:51:22. > :51:29.continues for Alex Marshall. However, he really had to dig deep,

:51:30. > :51:32.Andy. He went to the well. Unbelievable bowls from Alex. He

:51:33. > :51:37.will be delighted. What a performance. The crowd on their feet

:51:38. > :51:42.for both players. Mark Dawes really couldn't have done any more than

:51:43. > :51:49.what he did. He did absolutely everything. Seen it all before, of

:51:50. > :51:58.course, but I tell you what, Alex Marshall will come off a very

:51:59. > :52:03.relieved man. 7-7, 7-7, and 2-1 in the tie-break.

:52:04. > :52:09.So many good bowls in this match, as the players come out acknowledging

:52:10. > :52:16.the crowd, and it'll did they know what they were going to get over the

:52:17. > :52:22.next couple of hours. Mark Dawes was brilliant, dropping in for a second

:52:23. > :52:26.on the fifth end of the first that, and Alex Marshall showing what you

:52:27. > :52:33.can do, I can do, but he didn't, because he rolled back on the jack,

:52:34. > :52:42.which was unlucky. The third bowl in end eight, look at this, absolutely

:52:43. > :52:47.perfect again, Mark Dawes. That bowl just dropping in for Alex Marshall.

:52:48. > :52:54.That took the first set. A brilliant drive to take three bowls out at the

:52:55. > :52:58.end of the second set. Alex Marshall once again playing a conversion

:52:59. > :53:07.shot, bowl and then Jack. Makes the double. Mark Dawes proving that he

:53:08. > :53:14.can play under the pressure. Last bowl draw, and then Alex Marshall

:53:15. > :53:21.saves the match for the first time, on end nine of the second set. He

:53:22. > :53:29.saves the match again on the third bowl on the second end of the

:53:30. > :53:35.tie-break. And Alex's final bowl of the match. A perfect draw onto the

:53:36. > :53:41.green bowl, drops back, and he's through to the quarterfinals. Mark

:53:42. > :53:43.Dawes was brilliant in this game. But it is the six time world

:53:44. > :53:46.champion who goes through to the quarterfinals. A magnificent

:53:47. > :54:01.performance from Alex Marshall. Just one end separating the two

:54:02. > :54:05.players. Both players preferring the long jack length. A magnificent

:54:06. > :54:10.performance. So much pressure, as Alex saved the match three times.

:54:11. > :54:15.A standing ovation from the crowd well and truly deserved after a

:54:16. > :54:19.wonderful match between the two players. First of all, Mark,

:54:20. > :54:23.defeated but I'm sure quite proud of your performance today? Yes,

:54:24. > :54:27.obviously disappointed with the way the result went but proud of how I

:54:28. > :54:34.played and I had to push Alex into playing the big bowls. Absolutely,

:54:35. > :54:39.give us and idea of what it was like against Alex today? You see how you

:54:40. > :54:44.perform under pressure. I played some decent bowls but unfortunately

:54:45. > :54:50.Alex had the answers. Did you at any point think that you were going to

:54:51. > :54:55.cross the line? No, because when he has got a bowl in his hand, he has

:54:56. > :54:58.got a chance! A lot of people talk about experience playing an

:54:59. > :55:05.important role. How much did you have to keep calm and draw on the

:55:06. > :55:13.experience today? I just had to keep calm and pull out some of the

:55:14. > :55:16.biggest bowls of my life. I had to fight and fight and fight.

:55:17. > :55:21.Eventually just got there at the end, but what a match. A lot of very

:55:22. > :55:26.important bowls. Talk us through your final one of the match.

:55:27. > :55:30.Obviously Mark played a great bowl to Nick mine out without touching

:55:31. > :55:35.the jack. I cover the spot but he nominated to kill, so there was only

:55:36. > :55:39.one shot to play. We're going to take a look at the final one in the

:55:40. > :55:44.second set. Again, another very important moment. Yet, again, that's

:55:45. > :55:50.when I just tried to nick the jack to kill it but one of the bowls

:55:51. > :55:54.followed through and got the shot. I thought if I killed that shot was

:55:55. > :55:58.going to get two shots, but I was relieved it still put me into the

:55:59. > :56:02.tie-break and gave me a chance. When you won your first-round match a lot

:56:03. > :56:06.of experts around the arena today were saying that you started off

:56:07. > :56:10.from a level you could build on. How much did you have to step up from

:56:11. > :56:16.that performance to today? That was like a final out there. It was bowl

:56:17. > :56:23.for bowl at times. You've got to give credit Mark. He could have won

:56:24. > :56:28.that on that performance, to be honest. He will be back. With that

:56:29. > :56:34.performance, he was ready on. I had to dig deep to win. That's what

:56:35. > :56:38.champions are made of. Ladies and gentlemen, to tremendous players.

:56:39. > :56:42.We've seen a wonderful match today, Mark Dawes and Alex Marshall. We're

:56:43. > :56:46.going to switch our attention now to the ladies singles competition, the

:56:47. > :56:52.two players received a hearty round of applause here.

:56:53. > :56:59.We pick up the action at the semifinal stage, Laura Thomas

:57:00. > :57:12.against Ellen Falkner. We are featuring the match first of

:57:13. > :57:19.all between Laura and Ellen. Laura is bidding to become the first

:57:20. > :57:23.player since Debbie six years ago to defend her crown.

:57:24. > :57:41.What was it like when you first came to Potters, knowing that this was

:57:42. > :57:47.the level you always wanted to play at? When I came to Potters, you know

:57:48. > :57:51.you want to play at that level, you watch the sport on the telly and

:57:52. > :57:57.Potters is the pinnacle really. So to come here and to play in front of

:57:58. > :58:00.the crowds, with the players you had watched on the telly and aspired to

:58:01. > :58:06.be as good as, it was nerve wracking, but I think I settled

:58:07. > :58:11.pretty quickly. It was such a great experience. I don't get nervous. I

:58:12. > :58:15.think every bowler gets nervous before they go on the green. It's

:58:16. > :58:22.good to have nerves, it's good for the adrenaline. I'm used to the

:58:23. > :58:27.crowds now and I am getting used to the camera, slowly! Your record here

:58:28. > :58:33.is quite outstanding. Each visit to Potters has resulted in success in

:58:34. > :58:38.one competition or another. Last year something even better than the

:58:39. > :58:41.doubles. I think the period from the first two years of playing the mixed

:58:42. > :58:51.pairs and getting through to the later rounds gave me that experience

:58:52. > :58:56.to then go further and I did that last year in the singles. What can I

:58:57. > :58:59.say? It just went my way. It was great.

:59:00. > :59:17.And the first person from Wales to win that title! I was. Which I

:59:18. > :59:20.wasn't aware of at the time. I wasn't aware of that coming into the

:59:21. > :59:25.competition, that I was the first lady bowler to win the singles, so

:59:26. > :59:31.it is a great accolade for Wales and for myself and for my country

:59:32. > :59:34.really. You get to know the people from your country, you're playing

:59:35. > :59:39.with them regulate, but when you're playing against people from another

:59:40. > :59:44.country, you usually get the same crowd going through the competition,

:59:45. > :59:47.you get to know one another. You do get that camaraderie that builds

:59:48. > :59:53.over the years. Do you think you're going to win it again this year? I'm

:59:54. > :59:58.going to give it my best. Laura was lovely and relaxed when we chatted

:59:59. > :00:01.yesterday, but what of her opponent, Ellen Falkner? She is a two-time

:00:02. > :00:08.winner of this title, in 2005 and 2006.

:00:09. > :00:16.She's having a great time here at Potters. I have really enjoyed it,

:00:17. > :00:22.enjoying playing. It's great to be back here. I have not played here

:00:23. > :00:27.the last three years. I have had a good time here at Potters, I have

:00:28. > :00:30.won the title here twice. So I would love to be able to get over the line

:00:31. > :00:36.against Laura and give myself a chance of getting a third title.

:00:37. > :00:39.There is certainly a lot of younger emerging talent coming through,

:00:40. > :00:43.obviously Katherine again has picked up the world mixed pairs title to

:00:44. > :00:47.add to her singles title here. There is a lot of players coming through

:00:48. > :00:52.and Laura is one of those that's firmly put a stamp on the world

:00:53. > :00:56.stage. I have got a lot of experience since 2002 as a first

:00:57. > :00:59.time I played in a major event in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester

:01:00. > :01:03.and I will be looking to draw on that experience I have gained to

:01:04. > :01:08.take into the game. The crowd appreciate great bowls. But also it

:01:09. > :01:12.is a surface where if you are not in your game it's a lonely place to be

:01:13. > :01:14.but it's a wonderful place to play. You just hope that everything goes

:01:15. > :01:18.right for you when you are out there. Laura played superbly well

:01:19. > :01:22.last year. She's come into the tournament in great form in the

:01:23. > :01:25.singles. But at the end of the day it's all on the day. It's about who

:01:26. > :01:32.performs best out there on the rink when we are there. I just hope that

:01:33. > :01:37.it's me that gets my bowls closer. Well, looking forward to this match

:01:38. > :01:41.with Ellen Falkner and Laura Thomas. David is alongside me. Two players

:01:42. > :01:46.who won the title in the past, but it's been a while since Ellen has

:01:47. > :01:51.won this title here and having won in 2005 and 2006 kind of expected to

:01:52. > :01:55.see her on the role of honour after that. She has had a couple of bad

:01:56. > :02:00.runs, went out in the first round and when that happens you then go

:02:01. > :02:04.out of the selection process for the qualification. Having said that,

:02:05. > :02:05.look at all that experience. Years and years

:02:06. > :02:09.look at all that experience. Years of her age. And you are thinking to

:02:10. > :02:14.yourself, Laura is going to have to play very well to win this match. I

:02:15. > :02:17.mentioned that Laura is trying to become the first player since six

:02:18. > :02:21.years ago to repeat success in this event. How difficult is it for her

:02:22. > :02:24.having won it last year to try and defend it this time? I think the big

:02:25. > :02:27.hurdle is getting over the first game. After that you are thinking

:02:28. > :02:31.you can relax. If she goes out, she goes out. She will not worry about

:02:32. > :02:35.it too much but she will be up for it and knows exactly what she wants

:02:36. > :02:40.to do. How difficult will it be for them to come on after the match we

:02:41. > :02:45.have just seen following on after the Lord Mayor's show. That's the

:02:46. > :02:49.tough bit, simply because a match like that was unbelievable. You are

:02:50. > :02:53.talking about one of the best games we have ever seen. For Alex Marshall

:02:54. > :02:59.to do what he did shows how deep he had to go to get those bowls. But

:03:00. > :03:02.this is different. The women are always supported, people will go out

:03:03. > :03:05.and come in, it's just how much disturbance there will be and

:03:06. > :03:08.whether it affects the two players. Alex Marshall showing the heart of

:03:09. > :03:13.of a champion to come through in his match against Mark Dawes and Laura

:03:14. > :03:16.Thomas will be hoping to do the same up against Ellen Falkner. Time to

:03:17. > :03:21.introduce the players. Here is Richard.

:03:22. > :03:28.Thank you, Rishi. Our first player is four times a finalist and twice

:03:29. > :03:35.winner of this prestigious event. 2005 and 2006, ladies world

:03:36. > :03:47.matchplay champion, it's Ellen Falkner!

:03:48. > :03:51.APPLAUSE And what a World Championships our

:03:52. > :03:56.next player had last year. A runner-up in the world mixed pairs

:03:57. > :04:03.final and, of course, the defending ladies world matchplay champion, it

:04:04. > :04:14.is Laura Thomas! APPLAUSE

:04:15. > :04:21.Good luck to both players in this upcoming semifinal. Don't forget to

:04:22. > :04:26.send us your tweets, hashtag BBC bowls with questions or views on

:04:27. > :04:27.today's action and David now has Robert alongside him in the

:04:28. > :04:35.commentary box. Thank you, Rishi, it was a sprint

:04:36. > :04:46.but no real problem! I take the stairs two at a time these days,

:04:47. > :04:51.Rob! Both players are very experienced,

:04:52. > :04:56.but at the very top level Ellen would come out favourite on that but

:04:57. > :05:00.Laura has shown how much she likes the portable rink and she's a very

:05:01. > :05:05.good draw out of the jack. A good lead.

:05:06. > :05:09.Ellen would spend a lot of time skipping pairs, triples, fours. Yes,

:05:10. > :05:13.Ellen is one of the best ladies skips in the UK at the moment, but

:05:14. > :05:17.Laura has come into form at the moment. Titles here for the last

:05:18. > :05:23.three years and she will want to keep that record going.

:05:24. > :05:27.The big advantage about this sort of match is that neither player will

:05:28. > :05:31.fold under the pressure of the television. And the big crowd.

:05:32. > :05:35.Yeah, they've both played in front of crowds before. They say players

:05:36. > :05:39.love it out here as long as you settle in early which looks like

:05:40. > :05:42.both players have done. Good opening bowls from both.

:05:43. > :06:13.APPLAUSE Another very good bowl.

:06:14. > :06:17.Doesn't get much better than that. If they keep this up for the next

:06:18. > :06:24.hour-and-a-half it will be some game. They'll be doing well to do

:06:25. > :06:29.that. Anything behind is good.

:06:30. > :06:35.Ellen played very well in her first match. Was playing a lot of good

:06:36. > :06:41.running bowls. Some very good drives. Yeah, certainly kept herself

:06:42. > :06:44.in it. Got over the line in the second, played good bowls and got

:06:45. > :06:50.across the line in the tie-break against Julie. Yes, 2-1 in the

:06:51. > :06:57.tie-break. 9-4 Julie won the first set and Ellen took the second 8-6.

:06:58. > :07:05.Laura Thomas had a fairly straightforward run through with her

:07:06. > :07:21.first match. 13-1. 12-3 against Janice. It was a real professional

:07:22. > :07:27.performance. Not sure if that was meant to be a blocker. But certainly

:07:28. > :07:30.it's worked out quite well on the forehand because Laura has the back

:07:31. > :07:38.position. Might be tempted with this on the

:07:39. > :07:43.backhand. Knowing lawyer IRA she will be more down -- -- - knowing

:07:44. > :07:50.Laura she will be more down the fore.

:07:51. > :08:00.No. Really didn't fancy the... Once you bring that line in you are going

:08:01. > :08:04.to get punished. Yeah. It's probably the right shot to play on most

:08:05. > :08:08.greens, but here the shot selection is completely different to normal.

:08:09. > :08:12.You have to hit the inside red one and got a result. The bowl could

:08:13. > :08:16.have gone out. Pushing the bowl on to the jack, well, it might have

:08:17. > :08:36.given her a shot but Ellen has the last delivery.

:08:37. > :09:20.Had to put an extra one in there. APPLAUSE

:09:21. > :10:19.Steady with the first two bowls. Ellen Falkner, life is completely

:10:20. > :10:37.taken up for bowls now. Making a big impact for the last 18

:10:38. > :10:41.months or so. Yeah, they've been doing a lot of marketing work with

:10:42. > :10:50.players, press, retail. It's always nice different countries

:10:51. > :10:56.coming into the market, to give that wider range of models and makes out

:10:57. > :11:01.there. The gap is about 18 inches. Your bowl behind is two feet. There

:11:02. > :11:03.is a unique grip on them. Ellen is using the sonic bowl, which

:11:04. > :11:21.is their strongest bias. I think those ones have been

:11:22. > :11:27.intentionally prepared for her with the green and gold.

:11:28. > :11:29.Sglp -- have been specially prepared for her. Laura using the Taylor ace

:11:30. > :11:38.by the looks of it. We will see this bowl arriving, you

:11:39. > :11:44.see the green bowls have a gold finish on them.

:11:45. > :11:50.Very attractive. I am not sure where that was meant

:11:51. > :11:57.to go. Was she really playing that deep? Not sure what Laura has done

:11:58. > :12:06.there. Can't imagine she was trying to get to the green bowls with that.

:12:07. > :12:11.Most unlike her. Still, it's left the door open here.

:12:12. > :12:25.If Ellen picks up the jack it's a real bonus.

:12:26. > :12:39.She's on a good road here. That's the winner. Backhand still available

:12:40. > :12:47.but after her last bowl would be a bit concerned. It's only a draw

:12:48. > :12:55.really, she can't afford to get on the front green. The backhand. That

:12:56. > :13:00.last bowl got a bit of a flyer, that's all. It can happen. Needs

:13:01. > :13:07.pushing up with this one, to be honest. Don't know what's happened

:13:08. > :13:42.there, the last two bowls. A bit of a loose end.

:13:43. > :14:22.It's always hard whenever the crowd disperse after a very, very

:14:23. > :14:26.enthralling match and just take a little comfort break and come back

:14:27. > :14:33.in again because the ladies matches are always popular. But it can be a

:14:34. > :14:41.little disturbing. Laura has just gone off her weight here. She's been

:14:42. > :14:45.playing good bowls, but added pressure going out trying to defend

:14:46. > :14:49.the title she won 12 months ago here. Just needs to settle into a

:14:50. > :15:09.good rhythm. It's still going through. Can't

:15:10. > :15:21.imagine what's happened here because that's just too many bowls that are

:15:22. > :15:22.heavy. Deciding that forehand is blocked

:15:23. > :15:54.up. Better with this one. That's more

:15:55. > :15:56.like Laura. Yeah. Well, it's taken a while. She knows that herself. There

:15:57. > :16:23.will be a big sigh after that one. Ellen trying to make the correction,

:16:24. > :16:25.as well. Here it goes again. A good line.

:16:26. > :16:55.Needs to hold. Same bowl from Laura again really.

:16:56. > :17:04.Only a little turn on the jack around the corner. She's got through

:17:05. > :18:15.this one again. One shot Laura Thomas. Laura is

:18:16. > :18:20.there with that single. A steady start. Both players just

:18:21. > :18:26.trying to play their way into it. It's never easy to come on after a

:18:27. > :18:29.big game. The first three, four, five ends can be just a settling

:18:30. > :18:45.down period. It's always the hardest game, as

:18:46. > :18:50.well, the semifinal because there is so much at stake. The prize at the

:18:51. > :19:12.end getting into the world final. Laura trying to get that first bowl

:19:13. > :19:23.going. That's been the key to her success when she's been here before.

:19:24. > :19:31.Ellen will be delighted to be back in the frame again for this event.

:19:32. > :20:28.Missed it for a few years. Ellen making the adjustment and

:20:29. > :20:40.dropping back in for the shot. One green.

:20:41. > :20:46.It's been a steady start for both players, just settling into the

:20:47. > :20:51.match. Laura just been struggling a little bit to find the right line

:20:52. > :20:56.and weight but starting to come into it a little bit more. Really needs

:20:57. > :21:00.to get the first two bowls going, that's been where the problem is,

:21:01. > :21:11.but the first bowl was very, very good.

:21:12. > :21:20.Oh, dear, Ellen. My goodness me, that's unusual. You put one close

:21:21. > :21:29.and you drop two metres short with the next. Just wonder if Laura might

:21:30. > :21:43.be tempted here. She will probably just stick to the backhand draw.

:21:44. > :21:53.Hasn't pushed it. Well, it's inconsistent at the start of this

:21:54. > :22:07.game, no doubt about that. But I am certain it will get better.

:22:08. > :22:19.APPLAUSE Well done.

:22:20. > :22:23.Two shots Ellen Falkner. Always confuse as player when you put two

:22:24. > :22:30.bowl that is close, why the other two are two metres away. If we knew

:22:31. > :22:38.it would be easy! Absolutely. It's more frustrating for them than

:22:39. > :22:47.anything else. But Ellen will be delighted, 4-1 up after four ends.

:22:48. > :22:53.Our Scottish viewers have rejoined us again. Alex Marshall and Mark

:22:54. > :22:57.Dawes played right through to the last bowl on the tie-break. A

:22:58. > :23:02.wonderful game of bowls. If you don't want to know the result, hit

:23:03. > :23:10.the mute button now. For all of you who do wish to know,

:23:11. > :23:17.it's Alex Marshall, 7, Mark Dawes 7 in the first set. 7-7 in the second

:23:18. > :23:21.set. Mark Dawes took the lead in the first end and Alex Marshall won the

:23:22. > :23:26.next two having saved the match three times. Alex played some

:23:27. > :23:31.massive bowls out there today, getting himself out of trouble time

:23:32. > :23:35.and time again. That's the sign of a true champion. Yes, it was a

:23:36. > :23:38.brilliant game, one of the best we have ever seen and the tension was

:23:39. > :23:45.there. Alex very gracious at the end, as well, with the performance

:23:46. > :23:52.of Mark Dawes who was exceptional. That's over and done with now. We

:23:53. > :24:00.are concentrating on this ladies singles.

:24:01. > :24:09.One red. Ellen's front bowl, the gap is just

:24:10. > :24:37.under two-and-a-half feet. APPLAUSE

:24:38. > :24:45.Came through the gap. Still plenty of room for Ellen but the open hand

:24:46. > :24:50.is available. She doesn't have to negotiate that forehand. Her own

:24:51. > :24:56.bowl sits a little bit in the front. I think with those particular bowls

:24:57. > :24:59.it would come around OK, Robert. It makes it easier playing an open

:25:00. > :25:08.hand. No point making it difficult yourself. It's down to confidence on

:25:09. > :25:14.the rink, as well. APPLAUSE

:25:15. > :25:22.Happy with that. Laura should probably turn over now to follow

:25:23. > :25:29.that in. Mike is our marker for this match, will keep us well informed.

:25:30. > :25:35.Very experienced, Mike. Just needs to run now, Laura. That's a great

:25:36. > :25:39.bowl. Yeah, well done. APPLAUSE

:25:40. > :26:02.One red. This could be a new experience for

:26:03. > :26:06.Ellen, it's probably the first time she has played under the shot clock,

:26:07. > :26:12.probably here. You have to judge when you really need the time-outs.

:26:13. > :26:17.It's not easy to run up and down and keep the concentration and get the

:26:18. > :26:24.weight absolutely perfect. I think that one's probably aiming for...

:26:25. > :26:29.Just shaving her own bowl. Just a little bit too heavy. It's important

:26:30. > :26:35.to know how to use the shot clock. It hasn't suited everybody, I have

:26:36. > :26:40.to say. Yeah, thankfully the umpires and players know what it's about and

:26:41. > :26:44.it's now - players are walking down when the opponent's bowl is going

:26:45. > :26:53.down the green and you have to and that's the hardest part to get used

:26:54. > :27:00.to which is is new for Ellen. Trying to hold this one up. Runs off the

:27:01. > :27:08.edge... It might just drop away. Just the one shot. There it is. One

:27:09. > :27:14.shot, Laura Thomas. Yes, you are absolutely right, Rob. I really

:27:15. > :27:17.don't like to see players, in normal play at club or international level

:27:18. > :27:21.or other competitions when a player has played the bowl they walk up the

:27:22. > :27:27.rink, some even watch the bowl coming from behind to see it coming

:27:28. > :27:33.in, that's just not right. They should be pulled up for it. In the

:27:34. > :27:46.shot clock situation you have to be able to walk up. Rink possession is

:27:47. > :27:48.in the rules and it's just good etiqutte, that's all. Jack length 29

:27:49. > :28:03.metres. Laura, a very upright delivery. Very

:28:04. > :28:16.smooth. APPLAUSE

:28:17. > :28:24.She's playing her well into this, no doubt about it. Laura has stretched

:28:25. > :28:30.this out to a favoured length, 29 metres.

:28:31. > :28:40.That's a great reply from Ellen, though.

:28:41. > :29:06.APPLAUSE One green.

:29:07. > :29:16.That's a good effort. Just trying to tap that and open it up a little

:29:17. > :29:17.bit, by having that little bit of weight, she's come into a good

:29:18. > :29:37.place. Close again.

:29:38. > :29:41.One green. Takes away the easier shot of the other hand. You will see

:29:42. > :29:46.the players going to the side sometimes and looking, that's where

:29:47. > :30:00.their monitors are. They'll have a look there. We also

:30:01. > :30:08.have an overhead shot available. That's about the run-through. The

:30:09. > :30:23.bowl stayed on. A touch unlucky. It was a good bowl, good delivery.

:30:24. > :30:41.I was trying to fool the ball with my eyes and with a bit cross eyed

:30:42. > :31:07.for a moment. Time-out called. Four Tomic

:31:08. > :31:11.remaining. I wonder if she will be interested in timing this around the

:31:12. > :31:20.bowl and trying to remove it and staying on.

:31:21. > :31:29.Tough shot, I think her game, I think she will stay there and try to

:31:30. > :31:32.draw the shot, to be honest. It's a tough one to draw right up to the

:31:33. > :31:42.edge of the ditch but she might get a better second. Two behind at the

:31:43. > :31:48.moment. Must be looking at the bowl I think. I think she is, I think she

:31:49. > :31:54.knows that if she gets the bowl it is not easy to beat. It's out on the

:31:55. > :32:11.draw. Always going to be a tough one but

:32:12. > :32:13.it's a better second. A bit more of a challenge for Ellen to try to get

:32:14. > :32:51.there. I'm surprised she didn't push

:32:52. > :33:01.through that, no reason to be short. Certainly worth giving it a chance.

:33:02. > :33:07.The crowd coming back in to fill up this arena here at Potters Leisure

:33:08. > :33:51.Resort, it is always popular. Have been asked on Twitter about why

:33:52. > :34:02.our officials not using a litre measure. -- laser measure. We have

:34:03. > :34:14.been down that road before with a sonic measure. I have two of them in

:34:15. > :34:22.my shed at home doing nothing. They were put between the jack and the

:34:23. > :34:29.ball, sent out a sonic wave and it was bounced back and give you a

:34:30. > :34:36.readout. It was all very clever but it didn't always work. A lot of it

:34:37. > :34:47.is down to the cost element as well I should imagine.

:34:48. > :34:54.Spoken like a true bowls retailer. Quite an interesting development,

:34:55. > :35:00.just didn't work, it was an liable. Like I say, I have got a couple of

:35:01. > :35:25.them lying around somewhere -- it was unreliable.

:35:26. > :35:37.A chance for Laura here. Just dropping short, we are getting to

:35:38. > :35:49.the crunch time. We'll be very, very hard for Laura to get back in the

:35:50. > :35:56.last two ends. -- will. Has not got through this. That was a big chance,

:35:57. > :36:03.that was the one which really needed to be at the jack to score double.

:36:04. > :36:06.Would not be at also prized if Ellen draws a shot now. -- would not be

:36:07. > :36:42.surprised. It's got a chance. APPLAUSE

:36:43. > :36:45.Too many chances. A player of the experience of Ellen, you can only

:36:46. > :36:58.give them so many chances before they take it. Massive serial now for

:36:59. > :37:08.Laura. -- massive bowl now. Going to take a time-out and have another

:37:09. > :37:14.look at it. She was looking at that, but realistically, she has been

:37:15. > :37:24.playing this for hand, she drops off that all, comes onto the green. The

:37:25. > :37:29.danger on the backhand is she could turn the green ball in so she has to

:37:30. > :37:38.be a little bit careful. Cannot afford to be too narrow on this one.

:37:39. > :37:43.Just needs to run. Certainly in the area. Jack would be good. Didn't

:37:44. > :38:18.even need the green ball. Metal calipers, always good to see.

:38:19. > :38:21.Very little in this one. I might have a slight fever for green. --

:38:22. > :38:41.slight favour. Two shots Laura Thomas. That makes a

:38:42. > :39:31.big difference. Laura Thomas from Wales, defending

:39:32. > :39:37.her title this year. Against Ellen Faulkner in the semifinal. Ellen

:39:38. > :39:43.very experienced England competitor, gold medal at the Commonwealth

:39:44. > :39:53.Games. And has won this title twice herself. That was ten years ago.

:39:54. > :39:56.2005 and 2006. Laura Thomas has already managed to get over the

:39:57. > :40:06.hurdle of the first round quite comfortably. But this is different.

:40:07. > :40:16.5- for the score, two ends to go, in favour of Ellen Faulkner. Two good

:40:17. > :40:21.bowls to start with. Certainly the standard has gone up a bit from the

:40:22. > :40:25.first few ends. It is what you would expect with these two players, the

:40:26. > :40:39.first few ends, a bit nervous, semifinal, such a big game. A

:40:40. > :40:47.crucial engineer. -- a crucial end here. On a great road again. Would

:40:48. > :41:01.prefer to slide just in front of it. Could play the forehand. Turn the

:41:02. > :41:15.jack round the corner. Using a big strong bowl. Certainly should get

:41:16. > :41:19.back. Good effort. Look at the way that was coming back at the end. A

:41:20. > :42:06.bit of the weight and she will be good.

:42:07. > :42:13.I think she's got a chance with this one. It's just too heavy again. I

:42:14. > :42:20.thought the line was even better that time. Just make sure you get up

:42:21. > :42:27.on these and they don't get back at the end, it is all when the weight

:42:28. > :42:38.comes off. Worth thinking about the backhand. Definitely, if it drops it

:42:39. > :42:53.could make a big treble. It would certainly put the pressure on. Two

:42:54. > :43:00.options on the backhand. Must reach. That's not going to help I don't

:43:01. > :43:08.think. Might well force Ellen into playing a bit more weight. Has to be

:43:09. > :43:15.careful here. Some danger that if she does get into that bowl she

:43:16. > :43:25.could remove her own green. The IDL is to get the jack and move it in to

:43:26. > :43:29.this position the ideal. We'll have to do well to get anything out of

:43:30. > :43:38.this, almost as to settle for one down. Doesn't want to take a chance

:43:39. > :43:44.of losing three bit at the same time if she turns the jack, which will

:43:45. > :43:49.require a bit of weight on it, she might well pick up three shots

:43:50. > :44:12.herself. How adventurous is she feeling?

:44:13. > :44:27.Certainly decided to go for it. But no damage done. Looks like a single.

:44:28. > :44:32.We are into one end shoot out for the first set. Always important to

:44:33. > :44:33.get the first set and put it in your back pocket, it guarantees a

:44:34. > :45:23.tie-break. Laura will be looking for a good

:45:24. > :45:34.opener here to put the pressure on Ellen. All about peace on this now.

:45:35. > :46:05.-- pace. That is what she was looking for.

:46:06. > :46:10.If you want to miss shot your better to do it on the long side, that

:46:11. > :46:22.gives you the opportunity to turn the jack with your next one. That's

:46:23. > :46:31.not going to help the forehand. Possible to draw around it but not

:46:32. > :46:42.easy. The gap is four and a half inches. You would be tempted to go

:46:43. > :46:54.at this now, to be honest. Yes, this is like a tie-break end, really. Has

:46:55. > :47:06.to have perfect weight. Good bowl, that is a brilliant bowl. We all

:47:07. > :47:12.watch the game and think bowling jack for a lot of players, but those

:47:13. > :47:19.strong weights made the difference there.

:47:20. > :47:27.She thinks she's wide but I don't think she's far away. Very unlucky

:47:28. > :47:31.that didn't come out in the end. She didn't like it from hand but very

:47:32. > :47:41.unlucky in the end to get that result. Re-spot position on one side

:47:42. > :47:44.is green. But the re-spot position on the other side is read, it

:47:45. > :47:55.wouldn't be a bad thing to cover that. -- is red. You just never know

:47:56. > :48:05.with a jack from the banks. -- the bounce. Looking very strong here.

:48:06. > :48:20.Just needs to stop. Not quite. She does have the last bowl. This is

:48:21. > :48:25.difficult now. The best result is almost to bounce the jack back up

:48:26. > :48:33.the green. I know to play that is unusual but it's certainly possible.

:48:34. > :48:38.It's one of those, the drive could kill it, so you get thin on the jack

:48:39. > :48:45.but it's ever Laura can drive quick enough to get such a thin cut. You

:48:46. > :48:47.still have to generate a certain amount of power if you are going to

:48:48. > :49:12.thin edge the jack. Looking for the perfect draw. She is

:49:13. > :49:19.close. Has she played this? Unlucky! Very unlucky. APPLAUSE

:49:20. > :49:22.Ellen Faulkner takes a first set 6-5. Very little between the two

:49:23. > :49:46.players. Good effort, just a few inches heavy

:49:47. > :49:54.and the ball dropped off. Ellen just waiting for the crowd to settle

:49:55. > :49:55.down. Always that sort of disturbance sometimes whenever we

:49:56. > :50:19.are in between sets. Just a few people coming or leaving

:50:20. > :51:09.their seats. Take a little break and they will come back again.

:51:10. > :51:47.It is to end half inches past jack high. Your gap is two feet.

:51:48. > :51:58.Very useful where they are. Need to add another one. Try to get off to a

:51:59. > :52:02.good start. The last few ends she has just started to step into it a

:52:03. > :52:07.little bit more, Laura. Started to build a few more heads. Just gets

:52:08. > :52:45.passed, very good. Chance for a to put under pressure

:52:46. > :52:57.Ellen for the first time in the game really. -- chance for Laura.

:52:58. > :53:10.Clear road will cover the back ones. Not too bad. Useful. But Ellen must,

:53:11. > :53:13.well, the first match you would be very positive, played a lot of good

:53:14. > :53:37.running bowls. APPLAUSE

:53:38. > :53:47.What the result that was. That, you did not anticipate. It's so rare

:53:48. > :53:50.that you would see that happening. But Ellen Falkner hit the target but

:53:51. > :54:10.got a 100% plus on the result. Has not left Laura with much either.

:54:11. > :54:18.Being aggressive, have to be a little bit careful here. Does not

:54:19. > :54:27.want her own bowl. France's chances but it could have gone anywhere

:54:28. > :54:32.after that. -- fancied her chances. A fortuitous result, but she will

:54:33. > :54:34.take it. Never know when it's going to come against you so you take them

:54:35. > :55:30.all when you can. Looks like a very close to jack high

:55:31. > :55:35.bowl, that is our term for a bowl which is level with the jack. I

:55:36. > :55:37.think the IS jack level is what is now supposed to be used but nobody

:55:38. > :55:52.really likes it. It's one of those things you feel

:55:53. > :56:09.like they have changed it just for the sake of it. It wasn't required.

:56:10. > :56:13.Not many players have been playing the backhand this week. It's

:56:14. > :56:43.normally the favourite hand. On a great road here. Great shot.

:56:44. > :56:59.Always bang on target. The gap is four inches.

:57:00. > :57:10.This will come back deep at the end of its travel. Good bias on those

:57:11. > :57:20.cereals mac, I think what annoys a lot of players is the short arc only

:57:21. > :57:35.really works on cereals mac with a strong bias. -- bowls with a strong

:57:36. > :57:38.bias. What we class as indoor models, the our ideal for club

:57:39. > :57:45.players to be honest. Competitive play, not as much. Especially when

:57:46. > :57:56.you're looking for the wider drawing bowl. With a tighter line in general

:57:57. > :58:03.club play you don't get punished so much.

:58:04. > :58:17.Again, this is down to wait. Good weight she will draw the shot. Offer

:58:18. > :58:26.only bowl. Still one red, good effort. A spear chance here for

:58:27. > :58:47.Laura. Slight adjustment on the last bowl. -- spear

:58:48. > :58:55.great effort. Just dropping through a little bit. It's pulled back.

:58:56. > :59:27.Don't think it is two. It is close. Just a slight favour

:59:28. > :59:37.for green. One red and a measure. Using the traditional solid red

:59:38. > :59:38.bowl. Speckled have become very popular, almost unusual to see a

:59:39. > :00:08.solid colour. All sorts of wonderful bowls over

:00:09. > :00:16.the years, actually produced a clear set one time which I tested out on

:00:17. > :00:21.the portable rink. Very strange looking things. I have seen those on

:00:22. > :00:29.the Crown green they used. Don't like them, I have to say. Jack

:00:30. > :00:38.length 28. 5 metres. Unusual, I have to say that. All the large companies

:00:39. > :00:44.are looking at different combinations on the colours. There's

:00:45. > :00:49.a few people wanted all-white when they first came out and all-yellow

:00:50. > :00:52.as well, soon discovers it leaves you exposed if you are not playing

:00:53. > :01:07.at the top of your game. This is good. Really good.

:01:08. > :01:30.APPLAUSE Well, that tells me Laura Thomas

:01:31. > :01:35.needs to go short. Doing well up to 27 but anything after that, it's

:01:36. > :02:05.Ellen Falkner who's commanding the long jacks.

:02:06. > :02:13.Can she repeat it? Two great opening bowls there. One of the best two I

:02:14. > :02:19.would say in the match so far and immediately the pressure transfer to

:02:20. > :02:30.Laura. Very hard to draw this. She's got to be attacking this now. The

:02:31. > :02:38.last bowl is about two inches past the jack high. Is she drawing down

:02:39. > :02:42.the backhand? Well, attacking it on the backhand. Interesting choice.

:02:43. > :02:48.Coming in on the narrow side with the front bowl in the way.

:02:49. > :02:54.Wider target on the forehand. That tells me just maybe she's more

:02:55. > :03:01.comfortable as a backhand runner. Definitely. Ellen here has to put

:03:02. > :03:15.another one in, repeat the same bowl.

:03:16. > :03:30.Not with having the last bowl, as well.

:03:31. > :03:38.Put the pressure on. Well, that's the back position and

:03:39. > :03:44.respot covered. I still think it's a forehand runner.

:03:45. > :03:54.Got it closer. A touch unlucky really. A little bit unluckive. The

:03:55. > :03:57.bowls always going away from it but good strike. -- unlucky. Good

:03:58. > :04:21.strike. Took one out. Ellen back to the draw again.

:04:22. > :04:27.Pushing this up. It's just struggling. Not enough. Well, that

:04:28. > :04:33.was a spare shot mis. I think Laura Thomas will be delighted to get away

:04:34. > :04:36.with just losing one. -- miss. One shot Ellen Falkner.

:04:37. > :04:47.APPLAUSE In the championships just before

:04:48. > :04:50.Christmas in Cyprus for two-and-a-half weeks. Played very

:04:51. > :05:15.well. Jack length 26. 5 metres. Fully

:05:16. > :05:20.expect her to be in Christchurch for the World Championships, if England

:05:21. > :05:27.qualify for all the events as the rest of the home nations and South

:05:28. > :05:30.Africa, they'll be competing in singles pairs, triples fours, both

:05:31. > :05:35.men and women. That's at the end of the year.

:05:36. > :05:40.Fast greens down there, Rob. You know all about the southern

:05:41. > :05:44.hemisphere, you play in Australia a lot and New Zealand is particularly

:05:45. > :05:47.difficult to play on. Lovely greens, but if the wind gets up...

:05:48. > :05:50.Definitely. I was fortunate to play in Perth for a while and New

:05:51. > :05:55.Zealand, the greens are even quicker. As soon as you get a bit of

:05:56. > :05:58.wind it can be extremely hard to play on. The hardest part is

:05:59. > :06:04.probably the mental strength you need. Yes, you have to be very, very

:06:05. > :06:10.strong to deal with having to draw your way out of trouble, sometimes

:06:11. > :06:18.within four or five feet as a good bowl. Yeah.

:06:19. > :06:24.Certainly can't afford to be too jack-focussed or used to playing on

:06:25. > :06:30.heavy greens, that's why the teams are looking at various players for

:06:31. > :06:36.that particular event. A couple of the home nations, obviously Wales

:06:37. > :06:39.and Scotland are going out shortly for a Six Nations out in New

:06:40. > :06:43.Zealand. Taking out some of the fringe players that have a chance of

:06:44. > :06:49.getting into the squads. Yeah, having another look at them and see

:06:50. > :06:52.how they get on. There might be opportunities for changes, let's put

:06:53. > :07:10.it that way. Good bowl. Ellen Falkner has played

:07:11. > :07:14.two beauties in this end. One green. Laura's just split them. That was a

:07:15. > :07:20.very good bowl. It's a good head this. Ellen just trying to drop the

:07:21. > :07:29.jack around the corner of the green bowl. If you miss that you come on

:07:30. > :07:32.to the back red one. That's a good effort. Just a foot

:07:33. > :07:38.short. One green. A chance for Laura here.

:07:39. > :07:44.A potential attacking bowl off the forehand.

:07:45. > :07:51.Could remove all three green bowls out here. She's looking for the

:07:52. > :07:59.tight draw... She's lining up the forehand. Well, looking for bowl on

:08:00. > :08:05.to bowl. Not easy to pick out the right waeth

:08:06. > :08:14.on this one. Holds a touch. -- weight. There is the red waiting for

:08:15. > :08:20.the jack. Good result, in the area. So many chances down that hand

:08:21. > :08:27.really. With Ellen arriving now at this, as well. Yes. Bowl out is

:08:28. > :08:31.worth three. If she stays in herself. Definitely worth being

:08:32. > :08:40.positive on the backhand. Needing the plant in front is not a bad

:08:41. > :08:42.result by the looks of it. Ellen has a chance off the green one. Just hit

:08:43. > :09:32.it too square. One shot Laura Thomas. That was a

:09:33. > :09:37.good chance for the spare shot. She hasn't really taken those chances.

:09:38. > :09:40.That's the difference today. Yes, in other matches she's been in there

:09:41. > :09:47.with that last bowl, half a yard at least, more than half a yard all

:09:48. > :09:55.around the bowl. Especially when you are needing to win the second set to

:09:56. > :10:11.force the tie-break. Every opportunity you have to take.

:10:12. > :10:54.Just that little bit of inconsistency on the first

:10:55. > :11:04.deliveries occasionally, not often at the moment. There's been a lot of

:11:05. > :11:10.good first and second bowls played. You always expect an adjustment to

:11:11. > :11:21.be made with the second delivery. Let's see what Laura can do.

:11:22. > :11:28.APPLAUSE An adjustment there. Certainly a

:11:29. > :11:33.better shot. The gap, the last bowl, 11 inches. It's usually going to be

:11:34. > :11:38.better, about two-and-a-half feet on that, if it's within a foot or so.

:11:39. > :11:48.Really good adjustment on it. Ellen will expect to take a little bit of

:11:49. > :11:54.weight off from her first bowl. Still up at this. Yeah. Not so much

:11:55. > :12:01.of the adjustment on that. So another chance for Laura to put one

:12:02. > :12:05.in. Something real close here, puts

:12:06. > :12:17.Ellen under pressure. Very good road. Gently in now. Great

:12:18. > :12:27.bowl. APPLAUSE

:12:28. > :12:37.Will Ellen be tempted with this? It's not a great target.

:12:38. > :12:46.It's just the single bowl target. Well, that's brave!

:12:47. > :12:54.Looks under. Yeah. Depends if she pumps it into the head. Oh! Still a

:12:55. > :12:59.two. But it's opened the jack up a little bit. She's not afraid to play

:13:00. > :13:03.the attacking shot. You would expect her to be aggressive. I think Laura

:13:04. > :13:23.has to go deep here. Laura is certainly in for another.

:13:24. > :13:29.Stays high now and it won't be too bad. Well, interesting choice for

:13:30. > :13:41.Ellen now. Yeah. Well, it's not easy to draw it. She certainly struck

:13:42. > :13:46.well. She makes a slight adjustment. There are... Even if the jack goes

:13:47. > :13:54.back or takes something out it would be good.

:13:55. > :14:04.It needs to hold. Got the gap. Just looked like it the way it was coming

:14:05. > :14:09.in. Three shots Laura Thomas. I can't blame her on the choice of

:14:10. > :14:14.shot, to be fair, I really can't, after the previous bowl which was

:14:15. > :14:17.very close. 5-2. At the risk of playing any runner is what's going

:14:18. > :15:12.to be the cost if you miss. That's a good start.

:15:13. > :15:18.APPLAUSE Needs to concentrate and try and

:15:19. > :15:24.score a single the next end. Yeah, it's crucial for Laura here.

:15:25. > :15:30.Scrappy, good. Just starts to build a little bit of a lead up in the

:15:31. > :15:33.second set. APPLAUSE

:15:34. > :16:17.Lovely play. One green. A great road again here for Ellen.

:16:18. > :16:23.Just gets that past the white now. That's a great bowl. That's

:16:24. > :16:32.fantastic. Blocked the jack in. It's Laura's turn to be in trouble with

:16:33. > :16:36.the close bowls against her. It does need hitting but she's got to be

:16:37. > :16:42.careful. It's tough for Ellen to draw another one at the moment.

:16:43. > :16:47.Well, it is. But it's just whether she's prepared to accept losing two

:16:48. > :16:50.and I am not sure she will be happy with that.

:16:51. > :16:58.Again she's moving on to the backhand. More chance of getting her

:16:59. > :17:06.own bowls out of the head. Yeah. Interesting choice of shot.

:17:07. > :17:09.Not open that, but you are also indicating to your opponent that

:17:10. > :17:12.your back - that you are a backhand running bowl player so Ellen will

:17:13. > :17:18.have locked that bit of information away to the back of her mind for

:17:19. > :17:24.later in the match, if needed. Ellen might be tempted to turn over now,

:17:25. > :17:28.as well. Just trying to get past Laura's down the backhand. She can

:17:29. > :17:30.certainly play what we call the blind side. If not, just go deep and

:17:31. > :17:47.leave it. That's a good bowl there. That's a

:17:48. > :17:52.very useful bowl. Laura is going to play this, she

:17:53. > :17:57.really has to think about playing on the forehand. The backhand... Oh,

:17:58. > :18:02.dear me. I don't feel she can play to be honest. She has, this could go

:18:03. > :18:09.wrong for her. Better off missing now. She's under. It's going to be

:18:10. > :18:13.hard to make the three. As say, Rob, sometimes it's better not to even

:18:14. > :18:19.think about it. Sometimes you have to accept the fact that it's a

:18:20. > :18:20.difficult head to get out of and hope that your opponent doesn't add

:18:21. > :18:34.another. Two it is.

:18:35. > :18:45.Two very good ones. Two shots Ellen Falkner.

:18:46. > :18:50.APPLAUSE Set score 5-4 after six ends. Laura Thomas, the defending

:18:51. > :18:54.champion, is still one in front with three ends to go but it's a set she

:18:55. > :19:09.must win. Ellen will be delighted to be in

:19:10. > :19:12.touch. Yeah, just off that one poor end, scoring a double after dropping

:19:13. > :19:36.the three. What a reply from Laura.

:19:37. > :20:31.APPLAUSE One red. It's seven inches short of

:20:32. > :20:41.jack high and the gap is seven inches.

:20:42. > :20:46.Well, sticking with the backhand. Doesn't want to do anything with the

:20:47. > :20:56.green bowl, but sneaked past it, it's good.

:20:57. > :20:58.Put a little bit more on it. Not much of an adjustment needed from

:20:59. > :21:04.Ellen here. Turns much of an adjustment needed from

:21:05. > :21:08.the corner. The matchplay is limited field but it's a high quality field.

:21:09. > :21:12.International players and people who have won a lot of titles over the

:21:13. > :21:18.years are here and some younger players who wouldn't have the same

:21:19. > :21:24.level of experience in terms of world play, as in playing around

:21:25. > :21:27.different countries, but they are experienced indoor and the portable

:21:28. > :21:47.rink and that goes a long way. Hoping to do the qualifiers again

:21:48. > :21:51.for this event next year, anyone who plays can join up and try to qualify

:21:52. > :21:57.for this event. Give yourself a chance to compete against the best

:21:58. > :22:17.bowlers in the world in this fantastic venue.

:22:18. > :22:23.Just needs to hold for the edge. Oh! Looks good. Just enough to come off

:22:24. > :22:52.that bowl. APPLAUSE One green.

:22:53. > :22:57.Well, again it's a hard shot to try and just tap your own bowl there.

:22:58. > :23:02.One shot Ellen Falkner. But certainly was possible the way it

:23:03. > :23:10.was sitting, could have afforded to be more aggressive maybe. 5-5 after

:23:11. > :23:16.seven ends. Call it from here, Rob. Massive end, Laura has to win both

:23:17. > :23:20.from the look of this, the way it is at the moment. It's an extremely

:23:21. > :23:42.tight finish here. Laura hasn't quite found the form of

:23:43. > :23:45.her first round today. But she has been under more pressure by Ellen,

:23:46. > :24:30.as expected. Who's going to be first to the jack?

:24:31. > :24:42.One red. APPLAUSE

:24:43. > :24:49.First set it was 5-5. It's 5-5 in the 7th end. Ellen Falkner, of

:24:50. > :24:58.course, can afford to draw the set. She will be very happy with that,

:24:59. > :25:04.she will win the match by one-and-a-half. --. This is Laura's

:25:05. > :25:09.chance now. She's had a few of these during the

:25:10. > :25:14.game. Ellen hasn't got there with the first two but Laura hasn't

:25:15. > :25:18.stepped in. She needs to run. Yeah, just needs to beat her own bowl.

:25:19. > :25:28.That's good. Well done. APPLAUSE That's a beauty. How far is

:25:29. > :25:39.mine? Your bowl is just under two feet. Could do with a closer bowl.

:25:40. > :25:48.Will want to win the end, Ellen, but as long as she only drops the one,

:25:49. > :25:54.if anything. She's chasing again. She indeed.

:25:55. > :25:58.That's sitting two shots. Well, Laura could do with maybe - I was

:25:59. > :26:03.thinking she could do with covering, but a bowl between the jack and the

:26:04. > :26:08.green bowl at the back, just watch this one, would be really good.

:26:09. > :26:12.Anything in that space because she's covering but at the same time

:26:13. > :26:17.scoring. Doesn't want to be too heavy. Needs to lock on.

:26:18. > :26:21.scoring. Doesn't want to be too that's always handy there. All

:26:22. > :26:28.right. Just wonder if Ellen would try to draw a second shot here, I

:26:29. > :26:42.think she probably should. Has to lose that two foot. For the win, get

:26:43. > :26:48.a tight second. Doesn't want to be dropping a double.

:26:49. > :26:54.She's still pushing through. She certainly is. That's good grouping

:26:55. > :26:59.but unfortunately they're all two feet through and this is a great

:27:00. > :27:05.chance for Laura Thomas now to lift a three. That would almost guarantee

:27:06. > :27:38.the second set. What an opportunity you had. Might

:27:39. > :27:46.just make it... Dropped away. I think it's there. Looks good. Looks

:27:47. > :27:49.good for three. Three shots Laura Thomas.

:27:50. > :27:53.APPLAUSE Looks like we are in for a tie-break

:27:54. > :28:02.unless Laura has a really bad end here. Ellen will be kicking herself

:28:03. > :28:09.there. She picked the line out three times absolutely perfectly. She's

:28:10. > :28:34.had a decent set apart from two ends where she conceded two threes.

:28:35. > :29:05.Laura looking for a decent opener here. It's her turn to push ahead

:29:06. > :29:21.now. That's a great opener.

:29:22. > :29:30.APPLAUSE She could have done with one of

:29:31. > :29:34.those the last end. You start to think now, Laura knows if she misses

:29:35. > :29:38.this one, she's going to be two down. A good second shot is all

:29:39. > :29:43.she's after. Anything up to the green bowl will be good. I don't

:29:44. > :29:52.think she's dropped any pace. Oh, a fraction. Still probably not good

:29:53. > :30:13.enough. APPLAUSE

:30:14. > :30:17.Well, will make it so much harder now. That was the chance to drop

:30:18. > :30:24.another one in and put pressure on Laura.

:30:25. > :30:37.Cannot make a mistake now with either of her last two. Good year,

:30:38. > :30:44.very good. Great shot. That is what she was looking for. She just wanted

:30:45. > :30:56.a really good second and Ellen will have no choice but to try and arrive

:30:57. > :30:58.at this. It was always a good bowl. Going to have to attack this and get

:30:59. > :31:16.rid of that red bowl. Needs to make contact. Got

:31:17. > :31:29.something. I tell you what... If that stops, depends. We will have a

:31:30. > :31:42.look. Think it's just off. It does give her a chance. It's stayed on.

:31:43. > :31:49.Definitely one, I think it only one. Has to look at angles, has do almost

:31:50. > :31:55.beware his foot was, actually. -- be where.

:31:56. > :32:19.What I am looking at is something in this sort of area. Then she will be

:32:20. > :32:28.able to cover in terms of two and if the jack goes it is covering in

:32:29. > :32:29.chances of three. Lots of room because she doesn't really have to

:32:30. > :32:49.be close to the jack. That is not where you needed to be.

:32:50. > :32:55.That really isn't. This has given Ellen at chance for the match. Jack

:32:56. > :33:00.in the ditch for the match. If she makes a connection with the jack

:33:01. > :33:06.that is it, it really needed to be behind the head. She has gone for a

:33:07. > :33:13.shot and didn't need the shot. Yeah, definitely went per shot. If Ellen

:33:14. > :33:22.ditches the jack she does not need, she just needs three. Probably a

:33:23. > :33:29.chance she didn't expect to have. Definitely. Ellen has not been far

:33:30. > :33:33.away with all her runners, not just today. It is always difficult

:33:34. > :33:53.whenever it is fine angle. Great effort. Missed it by about

:33:54. > :34:02.three inches. Laura Thomas will be very relieved at that. No emotion

:34:03. > :34:11.with Laura but she will be very, very relieved. Ellen has won the

:34:12. > :34:19.toss and has given the jack to Laura on the first end. I just wonder, was

:34:20. > :34:24.Laura even actually trying to get behind the head of that last ball? I

:34:25. > :34:37.think she was just trying to get the shot.

:34:38. > :34:45.First end of the tie-break now, different rules. Shots don't count,

:34:46. > :34:50.just win the end, you have two win two out of three. First player to do

:34:51. > :35:01.that will put themselves in the final.

:35:02. > :35:12.Defending champion Laura Thomas has fought her way back into this having

:35:13. > :35:17.lost the first set 6-5, winning the second 9-5. Into a three end

:35:18. > :35:25.tie-break. Ellen Falkner just missed her last bowl in the ninth end of

:35:26. > :35:28.the second set. If she had picked up the jack it would've been a

:35:29. > :35:33.matchwinner but as it is she is the tie-break. Has not been

:35:34. > :35:38.matchwinner but as it is she is the the two players broke this match,

:35:39. > :35:49.but a close. -- throughout this match. Pretty close. This stage of

:35:50. > :35:54.the game now, a few more nerves out there. This is where the funds

:35:55. > :35:55.starts, the attacking bowls, more aggressive generally -- the fun

:35:56. > :36:13.starts. Great reply. Fair to say that Laura

:36:14. > :36:15.has not been playing with the form she showed earlier this week, even

:36:16. > :36:34.last year. Ellen not wasting any time, going

:36:35. > :36:39.for it and very close to the bowl. That's a great shot. It's worked out

:36:40. > :36:50.well, her own bowl stayed on, one of the reds has gone.

:36:51. > :36:56.She skips for England and is showing all of the experience on the choice

:36:57. > :37:08.of weight to use. Generally been pretty close. Laura is a great road

:37:09. > :37:16.again, just need to run a touchdown. Just didn't quite get the bend. I

:37:17. > :37:22.think Ellen will just try to draw another one here. Get something just

:37:23. > :37:26.a bit closer. Has got the back position covered, doesn't need to

:37:27. > :37:39.worry about that. Just needs another one in. Stands up a little now. That

:37:40. > :37:48.is OK. Probably two, she only needs one. Will force Laura to try to draw

:37:49. > :38:17.this. Very slight adjustment. She is chasing it up. It's not

:38:18. > :38:24.there. First end, Ellen Falkner. Unfortunately wasn't reaching.

:38:25. > :38:30.Thought she might have been reaching through that, even a chance of

:38:31. > :38:36.picking up the jack. But that can happen so easily, as you know out

:38:37. > :38:44.there, very easy to drop by yard short. Definitely, Laura was not far

:38:45. > :38:54.away with her third bowl, but that bit of pace, just keeps it out. She

:38:55. > :38:56.has got last bowl this end. She knows now, no slip-ups, has got two

:38:57. > :39:48.win the next two. It's all about getting in first

:39:49. > :40:36.year. -- nothing wrong with this forehand,

:40:37. > :40:46.should come all the way back if it has the running, certainly looking

:40:47. > :40:57.good. Very good bowl. Coming up to have a look. There it goes.

:40:58. > :41:06.Choices again, has been very aggressive and it is an attacking

:41:07. > :41:10.shot if she wants to play that, unfortunately not got anything

:41:11. > :41:16.particularly close to draw that shot is very difficult. If she goes there

:41:17. > :41:22.the jack could go and if it did on the inside it would go to the

:41:23. > :41:32.re-spot position over here. I think she will certainly be attacking this

:41:33. > :41:40.down the forehand with pace. No, down the back. Must be drawing it.

:41:41. > :41:50.She has played it then the backhand. That is OK. I think she was looking

:41:51. > :41:54.for the inside of her own green bowl, or green bowl into it. Didn't

:41:55. > :42:03.matter which way she played it, the bowl was still going out. But she's

:42:04. > :42:11.got that is no position left. Could take the risk of making it bigger,

:42:12. > :42:12.or could stay away. Needs a second, bowl on jack doesn't make a

:42:13. > :42:27.difference. Just waiting to see where this

:42:28. > :42:30.finishes. That is why I thought it would be the backhand. If she had

:42:31. > :42:34.played it on the backhand and dropped off it would have been

:42:35. > :42:43.hidden. But that is a target. The difficulty here is... It is if the

:42:44. > :42:48.split will get both bowls without the jack. I don't think so, if she

:42:49. > :42:57.comes tight inside on the forehand they will go.

:42:58. > :43:08.Nothing else on the ring, so the two have to go or bowl onto jack and run

:43:09. > :43:13.through herself. Either way, has to be a running bowl.

:43:14. > :43:27.That is brave. It's a hard choice, it really is. I just and fancy that

:43:28. > :43:32.at all. It's a percentage shot, might have been lucky enough to get

:43:33. > :43:35.a good result. Robbie felt she was leaving too much room for Laura. --

:43:36. > :44:12.probably felt. It's another nailbiter. First game

:44:13. > :44:19.was gripping. All the way through to the tie-break, and this one is

:44:20. > :44:34.following suit. It's been a great day, the two matches.

:44:35. > :44:41.Laura Thomas, defending champion, has four bowls to stay in the

:44:42. > :44:48.championship. Ellen Falkner from England has pushed her all the way

:44:49. > :44:55.in this match. Until the last end of the tie-break. Two tight sets. The

:44:56. > :45:01.pressure has not eased in any way in the tie-break, it been very good

:45:02. > :45:44.stuff. Highly entertaining game. Giving Laura chance to get right in

:45:45. > :45:50.on the jack. This is looking very good, just needs to pull in. How

:45:51. > :45:59.many times have we seen that jack high bowl on the forehand? The wider

:46:00. > :46:05.draw is why they have changed models. Very beatable on the draw.

:46:06. > :46:10.Another couple of inches closer and I would have imagined Ellen would be

:46:11. > :46:15.going for it with weight but feels confident she can draw this.

:46:16. > :46:26.Certainly looks a lot better. Needs the jack and gets it. APPLAUSE

:46:27. > :46:29.That shoulder always offers up that opportunity to play a bit extra

:46:30. > :46:54.weight. Just to make sure you are arriving. Seven inches.

:46:55. > :47:05.Very close, very close. Definitely one green. I don't think it would

:47:06. > :47:06.have been in even if it had stayed up. Just needed another foot of

:47:07. > :47:29.weight. Time-out called. Just try to get a

:47:30. > :47:33.closer bowl. Maybe draw away on the forehand because if she dropped on

:47:34. > :47:43.her own ball in behind it is good and she drops onto the red bowl that

:47:44. > :47:46.is good. Definitely worthwhile just to stick on the forehand, don't

:47:47. > :47:58.think there is a lot of danger, just plays with good weight. Will want to

:47:59. > :48:04.be just a touch wide, just in front. This looks on the high side. A lot

:48:05. > :48:10.of work to do to get back from there without leaving a catch. Here it

:48:11. > :48:16.comes. Doesn't want to land beside it. That is a really good bowl. Well

:48:17. > :48:26.done, that pulled back strong at the end. Cannot say it's a shoulder rub

:48:27. > :48:35.but it's certainly something to lean on. It's whether she can see enough

:48:36. > :48:46.of the bowl to get the two away. She can, actually. Having a really good

:48:47. > :48:50.look at this. There's enough room to get past the front one but she needs

:48:51. > :48:56.to get the inside because if she gets the outside it will lock onto

:48:57. > :49:02.it. Middle bowl, her own will scoot off, this one will move away. This

:49:03. > :49:10.is a very difficult shot, because you know what the forehand is like.

:49:11. > :49:11.But one bowl left for the defending champion to stay in this

:49:12. > :49:31.championship. She is looking for the inside line.

:49:32. > :49:42.She's on a good line year. She is very close. What are bowl this is

:49:43. > :49:52.going to be! She's got the jack. A fraction of an inch. That is all it

:49:53. > :50:00.was. What a great effort by Laura Thomas, a real pressure bowl. Just

:50:01. > :50:08.got the edge. That is what it is like in bowls, just comes down to

:50:09. > :50:16.fractions. Definitely. Great effort. Such a hard shot to play. These two

:50:17. > :50:18.players have highly entertained us, no doubt about that. It's been very,

:50:19. > :50:30.very good. The usual acknowledgement for the

:50:31. > :50:31.crowd, thank you for turning up to what just because it makes all the

:50:32. > :50:48.difference in the world. Went protecting, after that Laura

:50:49. > :50:55.was a bit unlucky to fall off. Loses the set 6-5. But Ellen really

:50:56. > :51:00.getting into her stride, two doubles. Second ball draw again,

:51:01. > :51:05.putting the pressure on. Picked up a three. Ellen just missing looking

:51:06. > :51:11.for the jack in the ditch to win the match. This is the number one on the

:51:12. > :51:17.last end, that is the one which gave her the match. Really good

:51:18. > :51:21.performance by bowled players. Very entertaining, the defending champion

:51:22. > :51:44.is out but Ellen Falkner is into the final.

:51:45. > :51:52.Another wonderful match we have witnessed here, first of all Laura,

:51:53. > :51:57.it was very close, give us your thoughts on how it progressed from

:51:58. > :52:02.winning the first set? I had a bit of a tricky start, I couldn't quite

:52:03. > :52:10.settle. It put me under pressure from the off. So I felt the first

:52:11. > :52:14.set was slipping away as it was progressing. Managed to pull it

:52:15. > :52:23.together a bit in the second set and take it to a tie-break. That is just

:52:24. > :52:27.the way it went. It was a very exciting tie-break to watch because

:52:28. > :52:31.there were chances for you both. Ellen, the way the match progressed,

:52:32. > :52:39.having won the first set you then had to hang in there whilst Laura

:52:40. > :52:44.recovered again. Yes, a close second set. I had a bad eight end, dropped

:52:45. > :52:48.three which put water in a commanding position for the last

:52:49. > :52:52.end. I would just pleased to have shot only lasting to try and make

:52:53. > :53:00.three but just missed it but hey Ho, into a tie-break. Watching the match

:53:01. > :53:02.earlier today, talking about how top players like yourself always come

:53:03. > :53:10.out with important deliveries when most needed and with the final bowl

:53:11. > :53:18.you delivered Ellen, it was exquisite. It's all about timing to

:53:19. > :53:23.be honest, playing the big bowls at the right time and that's the

:53:24. > :53:28.crucial part of winning are losing. As we see the last bowl you

:53:29. > :53:36.delivered closing in, this must be a sweet moment but not one you can

:53:37. > :53:40.always set back. Leaving it where it was it gave a chance to reach and

:53:41. > :53:47.play up to it so it was nice to have another one but it also left Laura

:53:48. > :53:51.something to look at. Laura you miss out on the final this year but do

:53:52. > :53:57.you feel pride in how you have tried to defend your title? Yes, struggled

:53:58. > :54:00.a bit today, not as good as I was in my first-round match. But you can

:54:01. > :54:05.only give it your best and sometimes the best, your best is not good

:54:06. > :54:11.enough and Ellen was a worthy winner today. Very noble of you, well done.

:54:12. > :54:16.How good does it feel to be back in the final? Really looking forward to

:54:17. > :54:20.it, Laura has a phenomenal record year, winning two mixed pairs,

:54:21. > :54:23.winning the singles in the last three years, I don't think anyone

:54:24. > :54:28.can touch that but I will be time to get my hand on the trophies

:54:29. > :54:34.tomorrow. Commiserations to Laura Thomas but congratulations to Ellen

:54:35. > :54:38.Falkner, back into the final. We will switch back to the men's

:54:39. > :54:43.competition in the singles, we saw the match between two former

:54:44. > :54:51.champions, Stewart Anderson won this title in 2013 and is seeded number

:54:52. > :54:59.nine, he was up against a local lad, Mervyn King who won the title here

:55:00. > :55:04.in 2006. The first sets Joe Anderson won quite comfortable lead and in

:55:05. > :55:09.the second Mervyn King took control, to the tie-break, the first end went

:55:10. > :55:10.to Mervyn King, the second to Stewart Anderson, here is what

:55:11. > :55:29.happened in the decider. COMMENTATOR: The rules change again

:55:30. > :55:33.on the last end of a tie-break, you can destroy the end. But you must

:55:34. > :55:37.nominate it. That is unusual for Mervyn King to drop short on the

:55:38. > :56:17.first ball. Needs to avoid his order short bowl,

:56:18. > :56:24.has done. APPLAUSE The drop down was important. No

:56:25. > :56:27.solid jack available, it will be a half and Stewart will be looking to

:56:28. > :56:36.turn around the corner. Going for it. The crowd loving this from both

:56:37. > :56:45.players. Where is the jack going? Onto the re-spot? Yes it is. Mervyn

:56:46. > :56:47.will lie but Stewart will have the last bowl in this end which could be

:56:48. > :57:08.crucial. Great road from Mervyn, does he have

:57:09. > :57:18.the pace to get all the way to the jack? Close. The trouble with that

:57:19. > :57:23.is it a tempting running ball but at the same time it is beatable, but

:57:24. > :57:30.it's very close. This will definitely be a draw. Nine or ten

:57:31. > :57:41.inches to win the shot. This is the one you want to do it with, the

:57:42. > :57:46.third. Perfect approach. Excellent stuff. One red, that's a very strong

:57:47. > :58:00.call. Mervyn just needs the smallest

:58:01. > :58:08.adjustment from his last. How is he? He's chasing it down. Has he turned

:58:09. > :58:14.it? No, he needed to turn the bowl but he will have moved it along the

:58:15. > :58:23.carpet, but is it enough? The shot clock hasn't even started, it has.

:58:24. > :58:36.Caught up in the excitement! It's made it a lot closer.

:58:37. > :58:49.Stewart the red bowl, but that is only an opinion. -- favours the red

:58:50. > :58:54.bowl. He must be confident, declaring the end. Mervyn is a very

:58:55. > :59:07.good judge and he will have a look and decide himself. APPLAUSE

:59:08. > :59:14.We knew it was going to be very, very good, Mervyn King very much in

:59:15. > :59:18.the ascendancy and the second half of the match. Looked very good for a

:59:19. > :59:23.long time to take the full tie-break but as it turns out George Anderson

:59:24. > :59:33.takes it 2-1. A great game I must say -- Stewart Anderson takes it.

:59:34. > :59:38.One of those games where you are not sure what was going to happen.

:59:39. > :59:44.Absolutely and right until the end Mervyn had the perfect weight.

:59:45. > :59:50.Didn't quite have enough to turn the bowl and that was the difference in

:59:51. > :59:53.the end. Great match to watch. The crowd obviously enjoyed it, I'd

:59:54. > :59:58.knowledge in the two players as they walked down the right. Have put on a

:59:59. > :00:05.real exhibition here for an hour and a half and it was highly

:00:06. > :00:06.entertaining. And the perfect precursor of what to come from a

:00:07. > :00:31.highly entertaining day. David, three matches we have seen

:00:32. > :00:35.today, all went to a tie-break. It highlights the quality of the

:00:36. > :00:38.players we are seeing at this stage. Not just the quality, but also how

:00:39. > :00:42.far they're prepared to go to get through to the next round. They were

:00:43. > :00:45.digging deep, everyone of them, and of course you had defending

:00:46. > :00:50.champions on show and they're not going to give up lightly. The Laura

:00:51. > :00:54.Thomas the defending champion in the women's competition knocked out by

:00:55. > :00:59.Ellen Falkner. Ellen back in the big time again here at Potters which is

:01:00. > :01:04.something she's missed. She has, but in the meantime she's been winning

:01:05. > :01:08.medals around the world. She hasn't been out of the game, she's been

:01:09. > :01:12.gaming more experience and getting better and that makes her a

:01:13. > :01:17.dangerous opponent. Stewart Anderson won the title three years ago, he

:01:18. > :01:21.had to battle very hard in what was a sporting match today against

:01:22. > :01:25.Mervyn King. Yes, you always have to because you know what you are going

:01:26. > :01:28.to get with Mervyn, good draws, occasional running bowl but will

:01:29. > :01:30.never turn him over easy. Stewart will be delighted to get through

:01:31. > :01:34.because he has put out a player seeded above him and that's a big

:01:35. > :01:38.bonus. No doubt, the highlight today was the match with Alex Marshall and

:01:39. > :01:42.Mark Dawes, many saying the best of the tournament so far. It was

:01:43. > :01:46.probably the best of the tournament but arguably the best of any

:01:47. > :01:50.tournament for a while. That was superb. Mark Dawes put all the

:01:51. > :01:53.pressure on, as Alex said, the pressure that he was under was

:01:54. > :01:57.incredible but he pulled out the big ones. He said it, champions need to

:01:58. > :02:03.produce it when it matters most and he did it today. Absolutely. The big

:02:04. > :02:07.thing there was just getting the edge of the jack. It could have

:02:08. > :02:12.bounced up the green. It didn't. But he was bang on target. This one, for

:02:13. > :02:17.me, was superb. It really was. So much pressure. This was his third

:02:18. > :02:22.bowl. He didn't want to be in a position of having to play it with

:02:23. > :02:27.his last. Absolutely amazing. Again Mark Dawes he had a chance, but Alex

:02:28. > :02:30.had another bowl. People talk about nerves, Alex sometimes dismisses the

:02:31. > :02:34.fact that nerves plays a part. He says you win, you win, you lose, you

:02:35. > :02:38.lose. Do you not think it must come into his mind a little bit? I don't

:02:39. > :02:42.think it's as easy as just that, you win, you win. We know when a

:02:43. > :02:47.champion loses they're not happy. It has to hurt t has to bleed for a

:02:48. > :02:50.while. They go away and they contemplate and bounce back. But

:02:51. > :02:55.when you have won any title you are prepared to dig very deep down into

:02:56. > :02:58.that we will to bring out the big bowls, two or three of those there

:02:59. > :03:01.was probably a couple of players in the world that could play that. He

:03:02. > :03:08.was wonderful today, Alex Marshall. Let's remind you of what's coming up

:03:09. > :03:14.on the BBC. Highlights tonight in England and Northern Ireland. Half

:03:15. > :03:24.an hour later in Scotland. Then we are on 1. 15am in Wales.

:03:25. > :03:34.Tomorrow afternoon it's the ladies final. Ellen Falkner against either

:03:35. > :03:42.Rebecca Field or Cliodhna Eadie. We have been treated to some

:03:43. > :03:46.magnificent stuff at Potters. Laura Thomas sadly out, knocked out by

:03:47. > :03:53.Ellen Falkner. Here is Alex Marshall, his quest for a 7th title

:03:54. > :03:55.continues at Potters. Don't miss any of the action with us, we will see

:03:56. > :04:03.you soon, bye. Then get involved

:04:04. > :04:08.in Sport Relief 2016 and walk, run, swim or cycle

:04:09. > :04:13.yourself proud at an event near you.