Men's Singles Semi-Final 2

:00:38. > :00:46.Take one game at a time. I am confident in my ability. If I can

:00:47. > :00:51.play my best I am hard to beat. Nobody plays better than Alex

:00:52. > :00:57.Marshall, six times world singles champion, a game away from winning

:00:58. > :01:03.an incredible seven titles. Two years since he last lost here.

:01:04. > :01:09.Today, he faces Robert Paxton in the semifinal of the world indoor

:01:10. > :01:15.singles championship. COMMENTATOR: Just tremendous, what a

:01:16. > :01:17.bowl. Hello, and welcome to semifinal

:01:18. > :01:22.Saturday of the world Hello, and welcome to semifinal

:01:23. > :01:25.championships. Behind me, there is a full house, just waiting to find out

:01:26. > :01:31.who will make it to the final on Sunday.

:01:32. > :01:34.The draw sees Alex Marshall, six times champion, against Robert

:01:35. > :01:39.Paxton. David Gourlay, former champion,

:01:40. > :01:45.against Player of the Year in 2015, Nicky Brett.

:01:46. > :01:49.Six world singles titles is evidence of why Tattie is widely regarded as

:01:50. > :01:53.the king of Potters, in sublime form this week which is why it is hardly

:01:54. > :02:02.surprising given he loves this venue.

:02:03. > :02:13.It feels great, getting to the semifinal in the singles. I won't

:02:14. > :02:18.worry about it too much. My form is good. I just hope I can take that

:02:19. > :02:24.form into the semifinal against Robert. I don't put too much

:02:25. > :02:30.pressure on myself. Seven is not in my mind at the minute. Two massive

:02:31. > :02:36.games to go. I have been here set 18 years, I love the place. The

:02:37. > :02:40.quarterfinal -- it has done so much for bowls and I have to thank them

:02:41. > :02:46.for what they have done for bowls in general. I love the surroundings, I

:02:47. > :02:49.love the carpet. A lot of the players know this has been a happy

:02:50. > :02:58.hunting ground for myself, let us hope it continues.

:02:59. > :03:04.You know, for the players who are left in, there are four terrific

:03:05. > :03:12.players, anyone can win it. It comes down to who plays best on the day.

:03:13. > :03:15.If I can carry my form on from the quarterfinal, into the semifinal,

:03:16. > :03:19.then I will be happy. I have not played Robert too often,

:03:20. > :03:26.the most recent was in Blackhill, two years ago in the final. I played

:03:27. > :03:30.fantastic. It is always good to get one over somebody you have not

:03:31. > :03:34.played often before. Robert, he will be after his

:03:35. > :03:37.revenge, I am sure it will be a classic game and I hope it is good

:03:38. > :03:42.for the spectators. What about his opponent, Robert

:03:43. > :03:49.Paxton is in the semifinals for the first -- fourth time in his career.

:03:50. > :03:55.Seeded number four. Today may be the moment to bring him some pleasure.

:03:56. > :04:00.The crowd are all set, the players are set for the semifinal. Let us

:04:01. > :04:03.join our MC to introduce the players.

:04:04. > :04:08.Thank you. This world number four is suddenly on top of his game,

:04:09. > :04:10.Thank you. This world number four is his fourth appearance in the

:04:11. > :04:28.Thank you. This world number four is semifinal, ladies and gentlemen,

:04:29. > :04:35.And now to one of the finest all-round bowlers on the

:04:36. > :04:38.international circuit, hoping to make his eighth final, six times and

:04:39. > :04:42.defending world indoor singles champion, ladies and gentlemen, Alex

:04:43. > :05:04.Marshall Really a great atmosphere inside

:05:05. > :05:08.this famous arena at Potters. A reminder to send us your tweets and

:05:09. > :05:13.tell us who you think will win the semifinal today. In the commentary

:05:14. > :05:19.box, former three-time champion Andy Thomson and the BBC's David Corkill.

:05:20. > :05:24.Hello, an interesting walk on, Alex Marshall looking at home already.

:05:25. > :05:29.The question for us is can he carry on from the quarterfinal where we

:05:30. > :05:36.think he was in absolute 100% maximum he can play.

:05:37. > :05:38.I agree, David, can he turn on that form again. Robert is a class tear

:05:39. > :05:48.and could beat him here. Robert will be challenged in this.

:05:49. > :05:53.Alex Marshall knows just how well he can play. He openly admitted that

:05:54. > :05:58.was the best he has ever done here in the quarterfinal. Any of the

:05:59. > :06:03.years he has won, he feels he was at his absolute best.

:06:04. > :06:06.When he is like that, no one can touch him.

:06:07. > :06:10.I agree 100%. He needs to produce that form again. Always quite

:06:11. > :06:13.difficult two days running to keep such good form.

:06:14. > :06:49.We shall find out very shortly. Immediate adjustment to the second

:06:50. > :06:58.bowl. REFEREE: One inch past.

:06:59. > :07:02.Robert doesn't look like the look of the first one, trying to get around

:07:03. > :07:05.it. It might just get caught. More than happy to move to the forehand

:07:06. > :07:31.and use Alex's last bowl. REFEREE: Five inches past jack high.

:07:32. > :07:37.Not an easy choice of shot here for Alex.

:07:38. > :07:42.The shot clock is running down, now it is three seconds.

:07:43. > :07:45.Not like him to get that close. This is a difficult one.

:07:46. > :07:53.He properly doesn't want to be running through his third delivery.

:07:54. > :07:56.-- probably. It is early days to go looking at

:07:57. > :08:06.the weight shot. Robert, just trying to beat his own

:08:07. > :08:12.bowl. Anything behind the jack to the next red would be good. That is

:08:13. > :08:22.handy. So much tactics when it comes to the

:08:23. > :08:25.flat green game. It is different. A good tactical battle between these

:08:26. > :08:33.two players. Yes.

:08:34. > :08:38.They know how to play all the shots. As I say, this is quite a hard task

:08:39. > :08:50.for Alex in the first end to score the shot.

:08:51. > :08:58.It was always going to be a good second touching the green bowl. He

:08:59. > :09:03.had to get past it and drop off his own bread. Still, two good bowls in

:09:04. > :09:05.there. -- red. Making it awkward for

:09:06. > :09:30.Robert. Robert playing the safer backhand.

:09:31. > :09:39.It is not running. There could be a single in doubt.

:09:40. > :09:47.Semifinal still played nine ends over two sets. That will extend to

:09:48. > :09:53.11 ends each set in the final. And the usual three and a if needed. --

:09:54. > :10:03.end tie-break. REFEREE: Jack length 28 and a half

:10:04. > :10:19.metres. Robert Paxton was going very strong

:10:20. > :10:25.last year. Two titles. By the time he came into the quarterfinal, he

:10:26. > :10:34.just wasn't able to repeat the form. Alex Marshall was so good in that

:10:35. > :10:39.quarterfinal. You just wonder can he repeat it?

:10:40. > :10:43.Not easy to do. I would agree, David. With all sportsmen, it is

:10:44. > :10:44.difficult to keep that peak performance every single day.

:10:45. > :11:26.Here we go, that is perfect. REFEREE: One green. Quarter of an

:11:27. > :11:33.inch short of jack high. Quarter of an inch gap.

:11:34. > :11:40.Alex Borg than happy to play the backhand to see if he can drop it

:11:41. > :11:44.down. If he comes inside and get the jack, he could get a double, he is

:11:45. > :11:50.very close. -- Alex is more than happy. The bowl

:11:51. > :11:57.didn't drop, don't believe it. A superb bowl really.

:11:58. > :12:02.I thought he had made the squeeze when he hit the jack onto the green

:12:03. > :12:09.bowl and transferred the forward motion. He is shaking his head.

:12:10. > :12:14.He knew it was a great bowl but unfortunately the jack rebounded

:12:15. > :12:19.back to the green. I don't know if Robert is trying to

:12:20. > :12:27.block out the forehand on but it is certainly not running.

:12:28. > :12:37.The same bowl from Alex, trying to wrest Robert's shot bowl.

:12:38. > :12:46.He is close again. Better this time. He has got this

:12:47. > :12:52.perfectly. It just held beautifully.

:12:53. > :13:04.Fantastic shot. Look at the position he has left

:13:05. > :13:10.Robert in. He has no position, he had to cope to remove at least two

:13:11. > :13:18.of the red bowls, difficult to get all three.

:13:19. > :13:20.-- has two hope. A little on the wide side, he had to get around the

:13:21. > :13:47.green ones. Well, three touches to Alex, is

:13:48. > :13:50.there a possibility to get a fourth, it looks awkward.

:13:51. > :13:55.Easier to score another shot. That is what he will be aiming for,

:13:56. > :14:08.try to make sure the four... He is close to this. Absolutely brilliant.

:14:09. > :14:12.Only the second end. REFEREE: Four shots, Alex Marshall.

:14:13. > :14:27.He created that, Robert was lying the shot, it was Alex who made the

:14:28. > :14:36.four out of it. It might take a while to take all

:14:37. > :14:51.the chalk from those bowls. First bowl, no shot clock involved.

:14:52. > :14:54.Always nice to be able to stand there and take the chalk from the

:14:55. > :14:59.bowls. It looks quite good, a good feeling.

:15:00. > :15:06.It makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

:15:07. > :15:09.There is always a slight psychological battle going on out

:15:10. > :15:19.there. A lot of players don't like to lift the bowl and take the chalk

:15:20. > :15:23.off before they click it. -- bowl it.

:15:24. > :15:28.The shot clock has brought that into focus.

:15:29. > :15:33.Both players have chosen here to lead on different hands, did --

:15:34. > :15:38.interesting to see how this develops into a different tactic as the game

:15:39. > :16:34.progresses. Robert on the back, Alex on the forehand.

:16:35. > :16:45.Alex looking to add 18 inches onto his previous delivery.

:16:46. > :17:14.Robert looking to come around short on to the jack. Just need to run a

:17:15. > :17:36.little bit. Just lacking the weight. The back position is covered by the

:17:37. > :17:43.red bowl, if Robert Gates adventures with the last delivery...

:17:44. > :17:50.No danger for Alex here. The deepest green bowl rests as a fullback. It

:17:51. > :17:54.looks to be lacking pace here, not running.

:17:55. > :17:59.He could close down the shot if he touches the red one. It is gone.

:18:00. > :18:02.Well, if Robert is going to play this, he will have to be very

:18:03. > :18:07.fortunate to get the right connection.

:18:08. > :18:12.Before that bowl was turned down, he had got a shot, now he is looking to

:18:13. > :18:16.get that front bowl and push it in, that is difficult. He might decide

:18:17. > :18:20.to draw this. Or he might decide to take a gamble.

:18:21. > :18:28.The Red Bull could also take the bread bowl out. Play the forehand,

:18:29. > :18:33.the shot Alex was trying to play. Down to two seconds on that

:18:34. > :18:38.delivery. He need this one to pull back very

:18:39. > :18:46.fast now. A great effort. Good weight. Just

:18:47. > :18:52.held out slightly. REFEREE: One shot, Alex Marshall.

:18:53. > :19:07.The school is 5-1 after three ends. -- score.

:19:08. > :19:10.Always a packed house. Quarterfinals, semifinals, final. It

:19:11. > :19:18.is always busy before that, to be fair.

:19:19. > :19:19.This venue, I've never seen it less than three quarters full for any

:19:20. > :19:39.match. Just finding this line, this weight,

:19:40. > :19:45.superb in this direction. It is almost like he doesn't have to

:19:46. > :19:48.think about the line, his full concentration on getting the weight

:19:49. > :19:57.right. Like putting the bowl down a chute.

:19:58. > :20:07.It hones in on the jack. Good reply, Robert. Very good reply.

:20:08. > :20:28.REFEREE: The gap is two and a half inches past jack high.

:20:29. > :20:35.He is close again. Backhand and now on the forehand.

:20:36. > :20:40.Super. Three touches in this direction the last time, two now. A

:20:41. > :20:47.bit of talk going on, indicating it is a touch. -- chalk. This is what

:20:48. > :21:07.the spray chalk is for. Robert Paxton played Alex Marshall

:21:08. > :21:10.in the final one year, and Alex was absolutely outstanding, blew him off

:21:11. > :21:16.the carpet. Very similar pattern developing

:21:17. > :21:19.here. Beginning to think, oh, no, not again.

:21:20. > :21:22.What have I done to deserve this question mark I think he scored

:21:23. > :21:27.about three shots in that final and, to be honest, he played well.

:21:28. > :21:35.He will be starting to think, Alex, please go for a walk just to let me

:21:36. > :21:38.in to this match. The world number four we are talking

:21:39. > :21:45.about. Exactly.

:21:46. > :21:52.I think it is Bobby just a draw here for Robert.

:21:53. > :22:14.-- probably. The strike doesn't look on.

:22:15. > :22:24.Just has to get down onto the jack. Close, this time.

:22:25. > :22:34.Well played. Outstanding bowl. Absolutely brilliant.

:22:35. > :22:39.One is to green. Roberts Bird delivery coming in,

:22:40. > :22:46.touches the jack. Hold onto one. -- Robert's delivery. Just thinking

:22:47. > :22:54.Alex may try to tap this. You get the other option. Again, either he

:22:55. > :22:58.gets into this one, he has a chance of coming back onto the jack.

:22:59. > :23:04.That is what he is indicated with his hand. Move the jack backwards.

:23:05. > :23:09.A third option if he really wants to play it, down the forehand to edge

:23:10. > :23:12.the bowl off. He is playing that backhand so well.

:23:13. > :23:22.He is. Less chance of giving a double away.

:23:23. > :23:33.It is the backhand, to move the jack back up the green.

:23:34. > :23:43.Just need to hold. Can't believe he has missed it.

:23:44. > :23:46.I think Robert would do well to walk away from this.

:23:47. > :23:54.Quite right, Robert. Take the one, be happy.

:23:55. > :23:55.That is what Alex was looking at. He had to work very hard for that

:23:56. > :25:38.single. Once again, Alex Marshall getting

:25:39. > :25:45.that first bowl in. This is struggling.

:25:46. > :25:53.The problem is if you know you are going to miss your second bowl, Alex

:25:54. > :25:58.will be all over it. She certainly is. With Alex putting

:25:59. > :26:04.the opening close bowl, it adds a little bit more pressure to Robert's

:26:05. > :26:08.shot which is probably why am Robert can't leave himself having to play

:26:09. > :26:15.wonderful bowls to get out of trouble. Otherwise he will be quick

:26:16. > :26:27.at losing this set. It is a good one here.

:26:28. > :26:42.Leaving himself in trouble. In three matches, Alex is ahead 2-1.

:26:43. > :26:50.Not quite sure if they played here, I don't recall them playing here.

:26:51. > :27:03.2009. Right. Alex won 2-0, 10-5, 6-5.

:27:04. > :27:12.That actually turned out to be a very good bowl.

:27:13. > :27:13.Certainly has. Probably now just a draw for Robert. It wasn't meant to

:27:14. > :27:19.be there but it suddenly turned out to have a value.

:27:20. > :27:26.-- certainly. to have a value.

:27:27. > :27:30.down has got a value attached to it. I agree. The short bowl was

:27:31. > :27:30.down has got a value attached to it. meant to be there but it has

:27:31. > :27:35.down has got a value attached to it. out to be a good blocker. Robert

:27:36. > :27:39.looks to be under with this, I don't think it has the weight, he might

:27:40. > :27:46.give another away. It could be three. Oh, yes, it is

:27:47. > :27:52.indeed. Alex will be back onto his favourite forehand. And drop that

:27:53. > :27:56.in, the second four of the match. And no way back for

:27:57. > :27:59.in, the second four of the match. though there are

:28:00. > :28:09.in, the second four of the match. I agree. The way this man is

:28:10. > :28:12.playing. 18 inches to draw another. I would expect him to add.

:28:13. > :28:21.playing. 18 inches to draw another. Here it comes. The crowd are

:28:22. > :28:29.starting to clap already. Four it is. Robert takes the jack away

:28:30. > :28:38.quickly, move on. Ominous signs for Robert, really.

:28:39. > :28:43.9-2. That side of the rink, backhand towards us, forehand away from it,

:28:44. > :28:47.he is absolutely deadly. Yes, he is finding it well.

:28:48. > :28:52.We talked about early tactics, I am sure Robert had a plan to play one

:28:53. > :28:58.side. However, I think he will have to be forced onto Alex's side. Alex

:28:59. > :29:01.is getting a free run on his favourite sides. He is experienced,

:29:02. > :29:25.he will know what to do. There we go. Once again. Just can't

:29:26. > :29:32.stay away from that jack in this direction.

:29:33. > :29:33.Starting to run out of words to describe the performances Alex is

:29:34. > :29:42.putting in here at the moment. I think when someone is playing

:29:43. > :29:50.well, you really have to accept the fact it is the way Alex can play,

:29:51. > :29:53.the big question was, could he repeat his performance in the last

:29:54. > :29:59.round. At the moment, he is doing exactly that.

:30:00. > :30:07.balls he certainly has. 24 hours ago it was exactly the same. This is

:30:08. > :30:16.just phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. You have to have a very

:30:17. > :30:21.good short-term memory. Robert thinking about attacking this. He is

:30:22. > :30:27.on the draw. But you still have to do it. That hand eye coordination is

:30:28. > :30:32.not easy to get right every single time. At the moment it is working

:30:33. > :30:36.for Alex and working very well. Robert is making the corrections.

:30:37. > :30:42.Alex is already there in front of him. Once again lifts looks a head

:30:43. > :30:52.that is difficult for Robert to scoring. -- this looks airhead. Just

:30:53. > :31:07.dropping behind the jack. -- just dropped in.

:31:08. > :31:22.Well, it is not behind budded shamrocks the Bulls. -- but it

:31:23. > :31:30.shamrocks the bowls. Two choices for Alex. The blocker at the front

:31:31. > :31:40.beside the green, which is the only shot Robert Harris to hit it or go

:31:41. > :31:47.deep. Just leave it as it is. He is 9-2 in front. I do not think Alex

:31:48. > :32:00.needs to go near this. Three shots here and he has definitely won the

:32:01. > :32:08.set. Not on this end. Robert needs to get him. He is not going to draw

:32:09. > :32:16.another one behind the jack, Izzy? -- is he? I would not be one bit

:32:17. > :32:27.surprised if he was trying that. Well, Robert... This is not easy.

:32:28. > :32:40.Even if he hits it there is no guarantee he will take any off.

:32:41. > :32:50.Playing the four, I think that was the only way he could score here.

:32:51. > :32:51.Very difficult. He has given it a good goal. Just holds off on the

:32:52. > :33:10.forehand. It is nothing new for Alex. But

:33:11. > :33:21.Robert has held -- felt this pain before. It is just difficult to make

:33:22. > :33:27.a case for Robert. He has two change the hand. Change the length. Get a

:33:28. > :33:30.hold of the jack. It is not easy, Robert. He could always hide Alex's

:33:31. > :34:38.bowls extract that might work. --! Alex just going for cover. He does

:34:39. > :34:51.not need any more shots on the head. Just trying to match Robert's balls.

:34:52. > :34:59.Robert needs to score two here to keep this game, to keep this set

:35:00. > :35:11.going. Good try here. Well played. Good ball. Keep in the rink, just

:35:12. > :35:49.try to change things around. He will not win this opening set, Robert.

:35:50. > :35:57.Alex will be quite happy to see that one go there. He needs to score a

:35:58. > :36:01.double to keep this set going but it has gone too wide and heavy. He

:36:02. > :36:37.draws one. He has done it again. This is

:36:38. > :36:44.getting outrageous. Robert is in the drive. Get the frustration

:36:45. > :36:48.getting outrageous. Robert is in the Robert. Good strike. There was

:36:49. > :36:56.getting outrageous. Robert is in the little frustrating. -- frustration.

:36:57. > :37:01.However, gets the opening set. This is what happens when you get a

:37:02. > :37:06.player in top form. To be fair and eager make you get any of the

:37:07. > :37:08.player in top form. To be fair and ten playing at their best, the

:37:09. > :37:17.opposition has not got a hope, really. No. The way Alex is dying at

:37:18. > :37:23.the moment is unstoppable. Robert cannot do anything. Alex is closing

:37:24. > :37:24.the ends down every time. He has got to try to score and change the

:37:25. > :37:50.length. Full jack length. Alex has been

:37:51. > :38:26.playing very well every jack length. A strange old game. You can lose the

:38:27. > :38:34.first set comprehensively and sneak the next one by one shot. The match

:38:35. > :38:41.is level. That is what Robert will be trying to do. Alex is aware of

:38:42. > :38:47.that. He has to keep his form up. He will not let go of this. Quite often

:38:48. > :38:56.the player who wins the first set has a dip for the first end or two

:38:57. > :39:00.in the second. The more experienced players know how to counteract that.

:39:01. > :39:18.A bit of work to do here. That is amazing what the averages of

:39:19. > :39:30.there. Alex Marshall averaging four shots. Three shots, probably. That

:39:31. > :39:40.is too much really. Simple mathematics, I suppose. Four ends

:39:41. > :39:44.is too much really. Simple has won, you cannot afford to lose

:39:45. > :39:54.one full house. Losing two almost guarantees you will lose the set.

:39:55. > :39:59.This is a better end for Robert Paxton. The contact avid solid. I

:40:00. > :40:12.think it might just be one. Sandra McLeish, Aramark, just saying

:40:13. > :40:39.measure for a shot. They can only give an opinion.

:40:40. > :40:42.Sandra has quite rightly called this a close shot. It is a matter of

:40:43. > :40:56.opinion. It is probably fair to say this has

:40:57. > :41:03.been Alex's worst end of the game. He needs to hurry with this. The

:41:04. > :41:10.inside of the green ball... Another little foot or two on that, that is

:41:11. > :41:16.what he needed. Robert, are you going to take a chance? Draw

:41:17. > :41:35.another? Draw another. Very hard to remove that red ball.

:41:36. > :41:45.Very difficult. He wants to get off to a decent start. The chance for a

:41:46. > :41:54.double. He did have a score at the opening end in the first set. Not

:41:55. > :42:01.the jack. He has been a bit unlucky there.

:42:02. > :42:18.He was always going to have the shot. One in, one out.

:42:19. > :42:27.Another day you hit your own ball fairly solid and you might even

:42:28. > :42:44.score three. A better end from Robert.

:42:45. > :42:51.27.5 metres. It is not a big variation of the length. Get the

:42:52. > :43:01.opening ball in, Robert, that would help. A change to Alex's forehand

:43:02. > :44:01.side. That is a good move. Once again Robert forced into

:44:02. > :44:44.playing a really good second ball. Good ball. Robert made it better.

:44:45. > :44:54.That is a pity. He wanted to get in to the inside of the green and red.

:44:55. > :45:00.Roll off them. That was a chance. The difficulty here is you do not

:45:01. > :45:06.expect Alex to mess with both of these two. His previous delivery was

:45:07. > :45:22.three feet through. I would expect this to be closer.

:45:23. > :45:32.A click of the fingers suggests it is heavy. Not quite. It needs to

:45:33. > :45:56.drop in. If it had have dropped it was definitely number two.

:45:57. > :46:03.Definitely giving this one a chance. Yes, that is it. A good result.

:46:04. > :46:24.Perfect play. We'll Alex try to draw or play the

:46:25. > :46:31.running ball? A choice of shots. Alex may take a chance. He has got

:46:32. > :46:43.the position for it. No doubt about that. He is going for it. To me. He

:46:44. > :46:53.was unlucky. I thought he was just a bit inside. The question is, which

:46:54. > :47:04.one is closer? I think it is one to Robert. REFEREE: 1-shot, Robert

:47:05. > :47:05.Paxton. Did not get the best result on the

:47:06. > :47:31.run-through. I think the matter is slightly up

:47:32. > :48:16.the green. Slight change of length for Robert. -- the mat.

:48:17. > :48:25.Right Robert, second ball. This is where you need to repeat it. But the

:48:26. > :48:38.pressure on Alex. Force him to play the difficult shots. Much better

:48:39. > :48:45.with this. That is better from Robert Paxton. The second bowled has

:48:46. > :48:55.been a recovery ball or dropping them short. Does look a forehand

:48:56. > :48:59.shot. Alex is so confident on the back and side, he feels as though he

:49:00. > :49:24.could draw the shot on the wide side.

:49:25. > :49:54.Alex changing this time. A good forehand shot. He has got his own

:49:55. > :50:03.ball to use and also drop onto the green one. Double option with this.

:50:04. > :50:11.That would have been the perfect angle. Just a nickel of the ball

:50:12. > :50:17.would have sliced it into the jack. -- in Nick of the ball. That would

:50:18. > :50:25.have been a bit cruel. -- in Nick of the ball. That would

:50:26. > :50:44.better for Robert. The chance to add a fourth.

:50:45. > :50:51.that... That is where he wanted it. Play the same ball again and hope

:50:52. > :50:57.she gets inside. Or he Play the same ball again and hope

:50:58. > :51:01.this. I think he will play the same ball. He was only two feet heavy.

:51:02. > :51:03.Takes a slight pace ball. He was only two feet heavy.

:51:04. > :51:16.think he can draw this still. He likes it. He

:51:17. > :51:54.it. A better line. Brilliant. Superb. Three down, green falls in.

:51:55. > :51:56.The difference between 6-0 and 2-1. Robert Paxton is back in this game

:51:57. > :52:30.now. Encouraging signs for Robert. When you are out there playing

:52:31. > :52:39.someone of the highest quality you are just hoping for the odd mistake,

:52:40. > :52:44.a chance to build on things. Even 6-0, there is a long way to go and a

:52:45. > :52:50.lot of work to be done. Yes, he played well that last end. He has

:52:51. > :52:55.slightly changed his hand, which is a good move. Alex will be thinking

:52:56. > :52:57.how well he has played. Robert, such a talented player, he can come back

:52:58. > :53:27.into this yet. Robert, just keep working hard. Try

:53:28. > :53:41.to secure singles all the way if you can. If you are in touch, you have

:53:42. > :53:49.got a good chance. That has given Alex bit of Ashok here. Alex has got

:53:50. > :53:54.so much confidence on this forehand side, I would not be surprised to

:53:55. > :54:04.see him draw this. The running ball is on. But the way he is drawing, he

:54:05. > :54:10.will feel confident he can draw. Once again he is trotting after the

:54:11. > :54:19.ball. You cannot see him but we can. There he goes. The line was perfect.

:54:20. > :54:24.The problem here for Robert is if he leaves these two, they can be taken

:54:25. > :54:34.out. The back position is not clever. I would be trying to draw

:54:35. > :54:42.another here. I would be trying to draw a third shot. I'm with you on

:54:43. > :54:52.that. Pack the head and hope she gets a good turn-off.

:54:53. > :55:04.He tried to draw another one on the back and side. -- backhand side.

:55:05. > :55:09.That is not bad. It is a protector. If Alex was thinking about the

:55:10. > :55:18.forehand, it is not there now. I think it is only two.

:55:19. > :55:30.REFEREE: close for a third. Just a draw from Alex. He ran after

:55:31. > :55:42.his last delivery and was a yard through. It still needs to stop. He

:55:43. > :55:49.has played it. Every question that has been asked, he has the answer.

:55:50. > :55:58.Robert must be thinking, what have I got to do? Here we go, Alex, same as

:55:59. > :56:08.the last end, three down. A brilliant final delivery. Takes the

:56:09. > :56:17.shot. Sometimes there is not a lot Robert can do. He has played a good

:56:18. > :56:19.end again. He has given us a chance. A little touch on the jack would be

:56:20. > :56:31.good. He has got its! Great ball. A little touch on the jack would be

:56:32. > :56:42.Good ball to put away the disappointment of Alex drawing the

:56:43. > :56:46.shot. Just how important have these last balls being? Yes, here is the

:56:47. > :56:51.final delivery from Robert. The jack was good. He establishes a small

:56:52. > :57:18.lead in the second set. These games have been pushing on.

:57:19. > :57:23.The one thing we do get occasionally asked about is if two balls were

:57:24. > :57:29.equidistant from each other, what happens? There is no score for

:57:30. > :57:36.either player. It is the same if two bowls are touching the jack. Does

:57:37. > :58:02.not happen too often but it does happen.

:58:03. > :58:09.REFEREE: half inch past. Robert Paxton is fighting hard. Digging

:58:10. > :58:47.deep. As all good players have to do to

:58:48. > :58:51.get to the semifinal of the world singles, you are not going to let it

:58:52. > :59:03.go easily, are you? You have to put everything into it. Robert is now.

:59:04. > :59:11.The forehand looks odds-on favourite to turn the jack.

:59:12. > :59:23.I do not know if he is shaping up for a heavy ball here.

:59:24. > :59:32.He looks narrow. He will not hold up that line. No damage done. I think

:59:33. > :59:37.it was more the weight than anything else. He probably would have held

:59:38. > :59:45.the line with another five or six feet on it. Another opportunity for

:59:46. > :59:50.Alex. Alex still playing the backhand. Still confident he can

:59:51. > :59:58.draw around the balls. It looks under. Yes.

:59:59. > :00:04.Again, no damage done, if anything he might protect his own bowl a

:00:05. > :00:10.little bit. Still a draw, though.

:00:11. > :00:17.I think some players would be running at this.

:00:18. > :00:22.Quite a good forceful shot in here. But too wide and heavy.

:00:23. > :00:30.Alex's last bowl forced him a little.

:00:31. > :00:37.There is an opportunity for the extra shot here for Alex. The way

:00:38. > :00:42.things have been going today, he will draw this.

:00:43. > :00:51.Deciding to change to the forehand for his final delivery.

:00:52. > :00:57.He knows he can play right up to the green bowl and drop in.

:00:58. > :01:14.Falls in, it scores two. The last bowl, he knew he wasn't

:01:15. > :01:19.going to leave Robert anything. 3-3 at five ends, the spare shots he

:01:20. > :01:22.has picked up have been considerable.

:01:23. > :01:23.has picked up have been Certainly have. A lot of good last

:01:24. > :02:03.bowls, Alex has. Once again,

:02:04. > :02:16.reliable forehand, exactly knows where to go on it. End after end.

:02:17. > :02:26.Roberts has been matching himself well in this set.

:02:27. > :02:32.He has with this bowl. Dropping away.

:02:33. > :02:43.REFEREE: Inch and a half. A very small gap. Behind?

:02:44. > :03:10.No, it is exactly jack high. Not just going to make it but it is

:03:11. > :03:17.a protector. Forcing Robert onto the backhand

:03:18. > :03:21.side now. REFEREE: Eight inches. He can afford

:03:22. > :03:23.to be positive here. He would be very unlucky to take his

:03:24. > :03:46.own bowl out, put it that way. It was positive, but always on the

:03:47. > :03:54.high side. Coming to a good home. Alex knows

:03:55. > :03:58.that. Robert has a good bowl on here. He might decide to go deep

:03:59. > :04:30.himself. I think he will.

:04:31. > :04:39.Robert will be looking at all the angles here. The shot really is the

:04:40. > :04:44.attacking shot, to bowl onto the jack.

:04:45. > :04:49.Very unlucky to remove his own bowl out. If he clips it, he could slice

:04:50. > :04:56.it out but he would be very unlucky. This is a positive shot on the

:04:57. > :05:00.backhand. There is the positive shot. If he

:05:01. > :05:06.does get it and brings it right out into the open, that is good. At the

:05:07. > :05:09.moment, it will be very difficult. Those two back bowls are pretty well

:05:10. > :05:16.matched. If he is slightly under, he could

:05:17. > :05:19.remove both red bowls as well. Play this with a difficult weight,

:05:20. > :05:28.that will never hold up. That is so hard to play. Five feet

:05:29. > :05:35.of weight. You might get it, Andy, but you will probably get it less,

:05:36. > :05:39.maybe three or four times if you are lucky.

:05:40. > :05:45.You have to be more positive on the backhand to play that shot.

:05:46. > :05:54.Terribly frightened of removing his own. I think he will be very unlucky

:05:55. > :05:57.to take it out of the head. Once again, Alex making sure he is

:05:58. > :06:03.beyond the jack. Another one in position.

:06:04. > :06:08.If you hit this, and it goes wrong, you will be in trouble.

:06:09. > :06:12.Now, the last delivery, he might not be so adventurous. One down is not a

:06:13. > :06:17.disaster. This is where tactics coming. The

:06:18. > :06:22.psychological aspect of the game. He is forcing Robert into playing a

:06:23. > :06:32.very hard shot here. Simply by putting the position bowls in. It is

:06:33. > :06:36.understandable. Those two bowls from Alex, by doing that and keeping it

:06:37. > :06:42.on the high side, the jack, he left him with nothing.

:06:43. > :06:44.Robert was happy to be one down there. He knows the set is tight.

:06:45. > :07:11.Still with chances. I don't think I've ever seen Alex

:07:12. > :07:15.Rob so much chalk from the bowls. We will be able to reveal how many

:07:16. > :07:36.at the end of the game. I suspect there are a few.

:07:37. > :07:43.Forehand and backhand he has been very happy on. When he is moved to

:07:44. > :07:48.play good bowls on the other side, but most players have a favourite

:07:49. > :07:55.start off on the side of the rink. This is good from Robert.

:07:56. > :08:23.Unlucky. A good try. Just wanting to snaffle that up.

:08:24. > :08:34.Now, Robert, turning it into the jack would be a real bonus.

:08:35. > :08:44.Backhand draw. He is close here, very close. He has got it. Depends

:08:45. > :08:48.how far it bounces. On a club green, you would hit that and run up close

:08:49. > :08:54.to it. On the Portable Rink, it floats to the top very quickly.

:08:55. > :09:04.A good bowl. Excellent bowl. A shot down. Trail is the jack, lies two. A

:09:05. > :09:10.bit of room for Alex. Asking Alex some questions.

:09:11. > :09:54.I think he was really put off with that movement in the crowd.

:09:55. > :10:02.There is a chance here for Robert. A bowl on top of the jack, Alex

:10:03. > :10:09.struggling to score. He wants this really close.

:10:10. > :10:32.No problems with this one, got away nice and sweet. Has he got enough to

:10:33. > :10:39.carry him? I think he has got enough to get

:10:40. > :10:46.second. Reasonably happy with that. That is a good effort. Second bowl,

:10:47. > :11:05.the best Robert can do is a double. Not a time to lose a loose four.

:11:06. > :11:16.Three touches, going from number four.

:11:17. > :11:20.Any prizes that this year, David? Just as well because he has made the

:11:21. > :11:23.four. Well played. There was in the past.

:11:24. > :11:37.There was in the past. REFEREE: Two shots, Robert Paxton.

:11:38. > :11:43.There we go, final delivery, final touch.

:11:44. > :11:50.More importantly for Robert, that puts him in a much better position.

:11:51. > :12:26.Looking to score here. Possibly forcing a tie-break.

:12:27. > :12:33.It is going to be an interesting last two ends here.

:12:34. > :12:38.It certainly is. Alex will be try to get over the line quickly, doesn't

:12:39. > :12:43.want this to go to a tie-break. He certainly doesn't want to go to a

:12:44. > :12:45.tie-break. The danger of the tie-break if it takes two really

:12:46. > :12:51.tie-break. The danger of the good bowls or really a lucky one.

:12:52. > :13:32.REFEREE: One inch past. Allowed to do that with a shot clock

:13:33. > :13:36.in play, he has to make it back in time, though.

:13:37. > :13:37.in play, he has to make it back in little bit on the

:13:38. > :13:45.in play, he has to make it back in will come around into a very good

:13:46. > :13:51.back position. He hasn't missed too many on the forehand.

:13:52. > :13:58.The tactics for Robert is to try to draw the winner, try to secure a

:13:59. > :14:00.single on this end. Worst case scenario really is dropping a one

:14:01. > :14:21.com he doesn't want to drop two. Looking at this one. It is a bit

:14:22. > :14:27.heavy. Robert loses a single. Looking to win the next hand, if he

:14:28. > :14:32.manages to get the shot, it gives him a buffer. That will apply to

:14:33. > :14:34.Alex Marshall as well. If he can gain a double, he can afford to lose

:14:35. > :14:57.a single in the last end. There is a chance here for Robert. I

:14:58. > :15:02.think it is just a draw, David, nothing trails or drives, just a

:15:03. > :15:10.draw. The hard shot is to pull the jack back. If he goes looking for

:15:11. > :15:12.the tight line, it will whip across. He has to be confident with the

:15:13. > :15:21.weight here. He likes this. It has two reach.

:15:22. > :15:26.Oh... His other green bowl has actually dropped which has taken

:15:27. > :15:31.about six bowls that to happen. No one was near it.

:15:32. > :15:36.That is unusual. Rare. It is a bonus. Normally you would

:15:37. > :15:43.see that if someone was walking around, looking at measures, but no

:15:44. > :15:55.one was within five feet of that for a long time. Suddenly, it dropped.

:15:56. > :15:59.And that does make a difference. It put Robert Paxton two up on the

:16:00. > :16:03.last end. The danger for Alex, and he had to

:16:04. > :16:08.be very careful, he could just drop on the bowl. If he gets the inside

:16:09. > :16:13.edge and runs through the gap, it could lead more. I do think he will

:16:14. > :16:18.do anything other than draw. He will take his chances in the last end. He

:16:19. > :16:23.plays this forehand so well. He has the back position of course. He has

:16:24. > :16:28.been drawing so well, you think, I have got to draw this.

:16:29. > :16:35.He has also played a lot of big last bowls on the draw. There is too much

:16:36. > :16:41.risk in attacking this. Forehand draw.

:16:42. > :16:48.Is he saving the best till last again? Down this line, he just loves

:16:49. > :16:56.this forehand. He just needs to tap his own bowl for it to drop.

:16:57. > :16:59.Unbelievable. What happened was that the forward motion was transferred

:17:00. > :17:04.through the Red Bull onto the green, fell back again onto the other Red

:17:05. > :17:08.Bull, and transferred to the back one.

:17:09. > :17:11.Still sitting up there. Alex has 30 seconds but I think that is now

:17:12. > :17:21.passed. It is well out -- well up.

:17:22. > :17:25.That is why Alex is waiting. Absolutely right, you are allowed 30

:17:26. > :17:29.seconds of forward movement of the bowl to drop. In this situation, you

:17:30. > :17:35.certainly couldn't walk away from that.

:17:36. > :17:40.Alex was within his rights to delay kicking the bowl is in. You can't

:17:41. > :17:42.blame him. It took so long for Robert's bowl to drop.

:17:43. > :17:55.That was a surprise. Alex needs to score two to make the

:17:56. > :18:03.final. Robert, anything less and it is a tie-break.

:18:04. > :18:11.All credit to Robert Paxton fighting back in this match. He was really

:18:12. > :18:14.under the cosh in the first set, 12-3 come he didn't play the last

:18:15. > :18:26.two ends. He has come back very strong on the second.

:18:27. > :18:33.Staying with the long jack length, the length Alex Marshall has been

:18:34. > :18:38.really doing a lot of damage. I think it is also Robert's

:18:39. > :18:42.favourite length. I would agree, if your opponent is getting sat in the

:18:43. > :18:54.than you, you should try to change it. Once again, it is Alex in first.

:18:55. > :19:04.I think the jack is on the T every single end. No variation. If any

:19:05. > :19:10.variation, it is where the mat has been placed. This is short which is

:19:11. > :19:13.not good. Under pressure now because Alex will count two.

:19:14. > :19:19.Should have been aiming for the same bowl as his last. Keep matching the

:19:20. > :19:23.red roles. That short one will also hamper any

:19:24. > :19:27.drive he might need to get out of trouble.

:19:28. > :19:32.Exactly. This is a loose one from Alex.

:19:33. > :19:35.That is under. What is going on out there?

:19:36. > :19:44.That is not counting. Very unusual. I would expect Robert

:19:45. > :19:48.Paxton to draw the winner with this bowl.

:19:49. > :19:54.I know there is pressure out there, Andy, but these two have been here

:19:55. > :20:05.so often, particularly Alex. This is very important for Robert,

:20:06. > :20:08.he has two, at the very left, beat the back bread bowl, it is looking

:20:09. > :20:12.like it is heavy. I think he will catch the red, this

:20:13. > :20:19.is going to be good enough. APPLAUSE

:20:20. > :20:23.Still 15 inches behind the jack so there is still room for Alex to draw

:20:24. > :20:29.the winner. He is not out of the woods yet. I

:20:30. > :20:30.expect Alex to draw this shot. Then, the pressure really will be on

:20:31. > :20:53.Robert. It is looking good. The shot bowl

:20:54. > :21:00.coming in. In by some distance. A little bit less weight. Last time he

:21:01. > :21:04.tried that he dropped a yard short. The pressure on this bowl from

:21:05. > :21:14.Robert. It needs to be within six inches.

:21:15. > :21:25.He is close. He is encouraging it. It is already starting to pump the.

:21:26. > :21:29.He knew he was close, he knew he had a great chance. That last bowl will

:21:30. > :21:37.force Alex into playing a very hard shot.

:21:38. > :21:42.He kept it late. A brilliant bowl. Fantastic bowl. He

:21:43. > :21:48.knew if he failed, he was probably going to lose the game.

:21:49. > :21:53.Robert's shot bowl. The going to lose the game.

:21:54. > :21:59.there is another front bowl in front of that top of the screen, a red one

:22:00. > :22:10.beyond that which is awkward to negotiate.

:22:11. > :22:15.Fairly difficult I think to score two.

:22:16. > :22:19.The top red one is the problem, Andy, because Alex would really love

:22:20. > :22:23.to get into that bowl but he has to shave the front one with perfect

:22:24. > :22:27.weight to do it. The backhand shot, he has to carry the jack and trail

:22:28. > :22:32.it across to the red. The forehand looks the favourite.

:22:33. > :22:35.Certainly be the forehand. I think this is a low

:22:36. > :22:41.Certainly be the forehand. I think target here. This will be difficult.

:22:42. > :22:46.The front bench makes it very hard to get around. It is possible,

:22:47. > :22:51.though, he has a very strong bias bowl and where he is standing on the

:22:52. > :22:58.front edge of the mat, it will help this bowl get back.

:22:59. > :23:01.It looks under. I am not surprised, to be truthful

:23:02. > :23:05.with you. It is tie-break.

:23:06. > :23:08.A very hard shot, Alex knew that. It is tie-break.

:23:09. > :23:13.All credit to Robert Paxton. It is tie-break.

:23:14. > :23:18.match by winning the second set, 7-4.

:23:19. > :23:28.A major effort. Yes, he dug deep, did Robert.

:23:29. > :23:32.Better bowls in the second. Alex, bubbly not as dominating as the

:23:33. > :23:53.opening set. It was all about this man. He has upped his performance.

:23:54. > :24:08.Tie-break. The rules change yet again. REFEREE: 28.5 metres.

:24:09. > :24:15.Just when the end. Still going for the long jack length.

:24:16. > :24:16.Alex hasn't changed this all game. To be fair, Roberts has been happy

:24:17. > :24:34.to stay with it. -- Robert. This is forcing Robert on the

:24:35. > :24:36.backhand, he had not played many bowls well on this backhand, a

:24:37. > :24:37.cardinal called him bowls well on this backhand, a

:24:38. > :24:50.short, that is where the problem is. bowls well on this backhand, a

:24:51. > :24:52.He has always been under all high. You really want to get in first, in

:24:53. > :25:00.a tie-break end trying to You really want to get in first, in

:25:01. > :25:03.really good touching bowl. I am surprised actually with Robert, I

:25:04. > :25:05.thought he might have stayed with the forehand.

:25:06. > :25:08.thought he might have stayed with He has been playing the forehand

:25:09. > :25:15.more in the second set. I don't think he has mastered the back.

:25:16. > :25:23.There are still room on the forehand side.

:25:24. > :25:27.Robert still sticking to it. I'm sure he will prove

:25:28. > :25:28.Robert still sticking to it. I'm He looks wide over this one. But a

:25:29. > :25:38.bit of work to come back He looks wide over this one. But a

:25:39. > :25:46.worry. Has it got enough? Maybe. Yes, he has. It is a jack high bowl.

:25:47. > :25:51.He can use the bowl and get onto the jack. It depends how much weight he

:25:52. > :25:56.wants to use. The choice for Alex, keep the door

:25:57. > :25:59.on the forehand will be posted on the back. I wouldn't be surprised if

:26:00. > :26:05.he tries to take this jack into the ditch.

:26:06. > :26:07.That is what he's playing, bowl or jack.

:26:08. > :26:15.Very positive. And he's in the area. Certainly is.

:26:16. > :26:21.Oh, perfect. Always looked good for the bowling

:26:22. > :26:29.jack. He hit the bowl. Take a lot of the weight off. And running through

:26:30. > :26:33.onto the jack. It is beatable. Alex's third delivery, uses the

:26:34. > :26:36.green bowl, trails the jack, finishes about 15 inches away. This

:26:37. > :26:51.can be a draw. This is the one that Robert will

:26:52. > :26:57.want to do with with, he will want to get very close to it if you can.

:26:58. > :27:05.-- do it with. I am not sure with the weight, it looks heavy to me. Is

:27:06. > :27:18.it going to drop back? It is going to be close. Favour red.

:27:19. > :27:21.That was the one to do it with when you didn't have to play your last

:27:22. > :27:24.bowl. Robert will be disappointed, he

:27:25. > :27:28.thought he was good. I would expect Alex to be shot here.

:27:29. > :27:34.That creates a big problem for Robert. It is on the high side. I

:27:35. > :27:41.think Roberts will still have room here.

:27:42. > :27:45.That is the shot bowl. Dropping in for number one, the one to beat.

:27:46. > :27:52.Absolutely anything off his last bowl and he's in.

:27:53. > :27:58.Diane is still cheery. I think Roberts would be disappointed not to

:27:59. > :28:13.draw this. Get first things right. Is it? It

:28:14. > :28:19.looks a bit on the narrow side, had to negotiate the front bowl. That is

:28:20. > :28:29.the problem, he was narrow. Oh, dear me.

:28:30. > :28:38.It looked a bit narrow out of the hand.

:28:39. > :28:41.Always on the narrow side. Alex Marshall, started favourite,

:28:42. > :28:53.sadly favourite now after winning the opening end of the tie-break.

:28:54. > :29:01.Alex Marshall will have the last bowl in this second end. And Robert,

:29:02. > :29:06.oh, dear me, he will be thinking about that last bowl for a while.

:29:07. > :29:13.Yes, had a chance to take a 1-0 lead.

:29:14. > :30:35.Is this the winner? Just need to hurry. It is very close. Yes, it is

:30:36. > :30:52.the number one. Yes, no attacking option here for

:30:53. > :30:59.Robert. Still seven or eight inches to draw. Just a drawing shot on the

:31:00. > :31:08.backhand. It was a couple of feet the last time, Andy, but pressure

:31:09. > :31:18.tells. It certainly does. Cannot afford to be too wide. Wide and

:31:19. > :31:23.heavy. He was trying to force the jack and the bowl. He has got the

:31:24. > :31:32.back position. Alex asked to take a chance. Alex will try to get a

:31:33. > :31:33.closer bowl. He has got the last delivery of Robert does decide to

:31:34. > :31:58.attack it. Yes, that is why he is just trying

:31:59. > :32:03.to get down to it. That is good. I think now we will see a weight shot

:32:04. > :32:08.from Robert. Yes, forcing Robert into playing the weight shot. It is

:32:09. > :32:17.going to be hard to actually get this jack clean, the way they have

:32:18. > :32:24.angled the balls. You would expect Robert so hit this target. However,

:32:25. > :32:27.it is not a good head. No, it is not. The ideal result for Robert

:32:28. > :32:34.would be to get onto the jack and run it all the way back. What is

:32:35. > :32:40.also possible for him to get is, if he is in the inside, the jack could

:32:41. > :32:47.bounce of the green ball and back into this position. He cannot afford

:32:48. > :32:54.to be white. Correct. I think you will be positive. He is shaping up

:32:55. > :32:58.for a draw. That is incredibly difficult. I think the way the

:32:59. > :33:11.angles were, it was difficult to run at this. You know what, he is close.

:33:12. > :33:16.What a bowl! Absolutely amazing. A really pressure bowl. Fantastic

:33:17. > :33:22.pressure bowl. Alex would normally tap his leg when the opposition

:33:23. > :33:30.plays a bowl. He is clapping that one. What a bowl from Robert Paxton.

:33:31. > :33:42.Got a shot. Alex is in a position where the back bowl is against him.

:33:43. > :33:44.It has to be a forehand runner. 100% agree with that, David. A backhand

:33:45. > :33:54.runner takes the jack over away agree with that, David. A backhand

:33:55. > :34:00.back bowl. The forehand, he has got a chance to punch a front bowl

:34:01. > :34:04.straight through and get it on the re-spot. The bowl on the left-hand

:34:05. > :34:10.side, that is the target ball really. -- bowl. Either way it will

:34:11. > :34:33.have to be a forehand Yes, forehand runner. He is looking

:34:34. > :34:38.at this. He is not getting back. There was a chance of the got the

:34:39. > :34:43.outside edge under the jack. But it is going to be a last end shoot out

:34:44. > :34:54.in this match. What a fantastic game. That last bowl from Robert

:34:55. > :35:05.Paxton was unbelievable. Superb. What a bowl. A shoot out for a place

:35:06. > :35:30.in the world singles final. Diane waiting there, nervously, I

:35:31. > :35:38.suspect. Just a little. Every right to be. I think this year there have

:35:39. > :35:46.been more tense matches. We have had a lot of tie-breaks. A lot of last

:35:47. > :35:58.end shoot out. Alex going very short with this. A big change of length.

:35:59. > :36:04.23.5 metres. He did this with Mark Dawes, changed the length. He is

:36:05. > :36:08.very good on the short jack. One of the best in

:36:09. > :36:09.very good on the short jack. One of particular distance. The rules

:36:10. > :36:13.change again on the third end. particular distance. The rules

:36:14. > :36:17.Players can nominate to destroy the end and they have to play it again

:36:18. > :36:22.in the same direction. They can nominate as often as they wish. They

:36:23. > :36:33.are actually allowed to destroy at once. And what I mean is destroying

:36:34. > :36:38.the end is you push the jack out of the confines of the rink. The

:36:39. > :36:42.re-spot do not count. But if you do not nominate and it goes outside the

:36:43. > :36:46.confines of the rink, the jack is put back onto the re-spot position.

:36:47. > :36:52.This is why Alex likes his short jacks. It is a length they

:36:53. > :36:59.This is why Alex likes his short as yet played. It is not foreign to

:37:00. > :37:02.them. They are used to playing it. But the jack has basically been on

:37:03. > :37:08.the tee all game. This is a completely new end. Still not close

:37:09. > :37:17.enough, I don't think. No. A good bowl. A foot away more or less. What

:37:18. > :37:24.Robert would give now for a front torture. I am not sure about this

:37:25. > :37:34.one. Just have to wait to see if it comes back from that wide line.

:37:35. > :37:38.Doing its best. Absolutely. I think the crowd have given Robert a lot of

:37:39. > :37:41.respect, coming back into this game. A lot of players would have folded

:37:42. > :37:51.under the pressure. They certainly have. Not easy. No. But you would

:37:52. > :37:58.still expect Alex to get this. Just a slight change on his weight. Just

:37:59. > :38:04.needs to put another ten inches on it and he will draw the perfect

:38:05. > :38:08.bowl. He has got a perfect line. Has he got the weight? I do not think he

:38:09. > :38:12.is running. He hasn't but Robert will be forced into playing another

:38:13. > :38:17.good one because he cannot leave this. Either way Alex Marshall, the

:38:18. > :38:23.defending champion, will have one bowl left to stay in this

:38:24. > :38:27.championship. We may see a different bowl from Alex on his final

:38:28. > :38:35.delivery. You are right, Robert needs another one in. This has to be

:38:36. > :38:42.good. It must be good. Struggling for weight. I think he likes this.

:38:43. > :38:50.Yes. Very clever. Alex has got a shot on.

:38:51. > :38:58.It is not going to be easy but it is still available to them. The

:38:59. > :39:08.players's Lounge is starting to look very busy up there, Andy!

:39:09. > :39:15.If there is anybody going to get you out of trouble, it is this man.

:39:16. > :39:30.However, Alex Marshall is in trouble here. This is going to be difficult.

:39:31. > :39:41.The bowl there would be ideal. It is not easy. The problem for Alex is if

:39:42. > :39:52.he gets the bowl, he needs to stun onto the jack. I think this might

:39:53. > :39:54.have been worth a call here. Forehand in this direction, his

:39:55. > :40:10.favoured shot? Yes. This is hard. He is very interested. Very

:40:11. > :40:23.interested. Has he got past the front one? He is under. He is gone!

:40:24. > :40:27.Very generous applause from everyone for this match. Robert Paxton, how

:40:28. > :40:33.on earth did he dig that one out? What a wonderful performance. Robert

:40:34. > :40:38.Paxton totally outplayed in the opening set. He dug deep, hung on in

:40:39. > :40:44.the second, played the tie-breaks well. Through to the final. Alex

:40:45. > :40:50.Marshall was unbelievable in the first set. 12-3. Everybody on their

:40:51. > :40:56.feet in the international arena. Marvellous game of bowls. Tension,

:40:57. > :41:09.pressure, everything was there. An amazing game, no doubt about that.

:41:10. > :41:16.Both of these players acknowledging the crowd. There was a they would

:41:17. > :41:24.provide entertainment and did they ever. An brilliant game of bowls for

:41:25. > :41:30.an hour and three quarters. Alex Marshall getting his worst four in

:41:31. > :41:33.the set. Robert Paxton saying, I am not going to get lets you away with

:41:34. > :41:39.it. Once again Alex Marshall playing a brilliant third bowl. Again on the

:41:40. > :41:52.draw with three against him to save three. Robert, brilliant draw shot.

:41:53. > :42:01.Settles for one. And Robert playing the perfect bowl to save the set.

:42:02. > :42:10.And that was a brilliant bowl again from Robert to save the match. And

:42:11. > :42:14.in the end, that last bowl was enough to get Robert over the line.

:42:15. > :42:19.Alex just did not make it. The statistics will favour Alex Marshall

:42:20. > :42:25.a little bit because of the first set.

:42:26. > :42:29.Yes, they do indeed. Look at the ends won by Robert Paxton. That is

:42:30. > :42:35.due to the heavy scoring that Alex was making. Brilliant, brilliant

:42:36. > :42:37.game. Alex Marshall really could not do any more in defending the title.

:42:38. > :42:48.Robert Paxton through to the final. Just the most wonderful match we

:42:49. > :42:55.have witnessed. One perhaps worthy of a final. The crowd loving every

:42:56. > :43:00.minute of it. Alex, first of all, I would imagine you have not played

:43:01. > :43:07.that well and lost a match in a long time? Yes, quite right. Put under a

:43:08. > :43:11.lot of pressure but I always knew Robert was going to come back and he

:43:12. > :43:18.did that. The big change in the game was in the sixth end. I think that

:43:19. > :43:22.was a big turning point. Credit to Robert, he came back really

:43:23. > :43:27.strongly. The pride in defending your title, you must take a lot out

:43:28. > :43:33.of it? Definitely. I was happy with how I performed during the last

:43:34. > :43:36.couple of weeks. I cannot take anything off Robert. He played

:43:37. > :43:41.sensational and I wish him all the best for the final.

:43:42. > :43:48.Very noble indeed. Robert, the first set, Alex was in

:43:49. > :43:51.flying form. From the second set to the end of the tie-break, have you

:43:52. > :43:57.played better than that? I played some good long bowls to be honest. I

:43:58. > :44:04.was playing massive pressure bowls and getting myself out of trouble,

:44:05. > :44:12.which will have to change tomorrow. I would not have hesitated at a 2-0

:44:13. > :44:16.defeat. Alex was superb. He has come here to defend his title. He is the

:44:17. > :44:21.best player the world has ever seen. To get past him in the semifinal is

:44:22. > :44:28.fantastic. That is true. Everybody acknowledges what a great player he

:44:29. > :44:32.is but today is your day. You produced wonderful bowls. The crowd

:44:33. > :44:42.enthralled from start to finish. You are in your first world final on

:44:43. > :44:47.Sunday. How good is that? Very good. Obviously there was all the hype

:44:48. > :44:52.last year after the mixed pairs and the open pairs. To come back this

:44:53. > :44:57.year and reach the final is pretty good. A lot of people are excited

:44:58. > :44:59.about what is going to happen tomorrow, but having gone through

:45:00. > :45:05.what you have gone through today, what happens in the next 24 hours?

:45:06. > :45:11.How do you prepare? A bit more time on the green. I change colours

:45:12. > :45:21.tomorrow. I changed to red. A couple of hours on the green today.

:45:22. > :45:24.Congratulations on winning today. Alex, commiserations. Ladies and

:45:25. > :45:29.gentlemen, we have seen one of the most wonderful semifinals here

:45:30. > :45:34.between Alex Marshall and Robert Paxton. Robert Paxton goes through

:45:35. > :45:39.to Sunday's final. Earlier today the other semifinal took place between

:45:40. > :45:43.David Gourlay, hoping to get his hands back on the title for the

:45:44. > :45:50.first time since 1996 and make his third appearance in a world singles

:45:51. > :45:54.title final. His opponent, Nicky Brett, the man voted player of the

:45:55. > :46:01.year in 2015. He was appearing in his second semifinal. We are going

:46:02. > :46:07.to pick this up in the second set. David Gourlay narrowly took the

:46:08. > :46:14.first set 7-6. As we pick it up, David Gourlay is leading 2-1 in the

:46:15. > :46:26.fourth and. David Corkill and Greg Harlow are the commentators.

:46:27. > :46:39.A quiet little on assuming number, that one.

:46:40. > :46:46.There is a competition to see which jackets you were on the final day.

:46:47. > :47:25.That goes to charity. Many charities have benefited over the years.

:47:26. > :47:40.REFEREE: your ball is seven inches. -- hole.

:47:41. > :47:53.David just looking for a small correction. The trouble

:47:54. > :47:59.David just looking for a small that almost every bowl must

:48:00. > :48:03.David just looking for a small value. Yes, if Nick

:48:04. > :48:06.David just looking for a small control of this end. Perfect bowl.

:48:07. > :48:18.Absolutely nailed on. It is control of this end. Perfect bowl.

:48:19. > :48:24.definite double. Back can strike now possibly for David, open things up.

:48:25. > :48:33.He has to be careful of his own bowl. That is the only danger.

:48:34. > :48:40.He has to be careful of his own draw. He misses it. It comes behind.

:48:41. > :48:48.That will force Nick to cover that on the forehand. I am surprised by

:48:49. > :48:54.that. Probably only one bad connection on the red. He is running

:48:55. > :48:57.out of time out. He did not want to go up and visit the head. Hanging

:48:58. > :49:22.onto them for later the set. I think all David has probably got

:49:23. > :49:27.is draw second now. Not too many other options. The second shop would

:49:28. > :49:52.be good. -- shot. It had to be absolutely perfect.

:49:53. > :50:23.Just the two. The advantage of this venue is a lot

:50:24. > :50:35.of spectators will be staying for the weekend. Some were becoming in

:50:36. > :50:36.on day passes. But a lot will be availing of the accommodation

:50:37. > :51:40.supplied here. As I was saying before, every bowl

:51:41. > :51:42.really need a value. That was short but it is in the way of a runner,

:51:43. > :52:04.which is a problem. David would have wanted that right

:52:05. > :52:40.on the jack at this stage. A touch of the front bowl. David

:52:41. > :52:52.needs a close bowl here. That number one is looking a little bit lonely.

:52:53. > :53:06.It looks pretty good. Well, there is a little Trail shot on, there is the

:53:07. > :53:10.running ball available and two balls will probably go. It is a very

:53:11. > :53:18.narrow target. Watch this bowl dropping in. He is in a very -- Nick

:53:19. > :53:24.is a very aggressive player. He will be interested in it, that is for

:53:25. > :53:32.sure. Shaping up quite straight. Going for the two red bowls. Level

:53:33. > :53:45.in this set. He got them. David Gourlay knew the single bowl would

:53:46. > :53:53.get that treatment. He put his own ball close to it. Good conversion. A

:53:54. > :53:54.bit of pressure on this one. It is the sort of shot you can easily

:53:55. > :54:11.miss. Yes, it is not always easy to repeat

:54:12. > :54:28.the bowl. He has lost at least two here.

:54:29. > :54:40.Nick is very good at looking at measures. Two shots, Nick Brett.

:54:41. > :54:47.That little bit of daylight now. A very good conversion shot by Nick.

:54:48. > :55:00.He is hoping to defend that lead over the next couple of ends.

:55:01. > :56:54.We may get a drive this time from David. This looks inside.

:56:55. > :57:12.More controlled off the backend time. That was very quick on the mat

:57:13. > :57:26.there. It is not like him to miss two running bowls. He is in bother

:57:27. > :57:32.here, Greg, because he has only got one bowl on the rink. I don't think

:57:33. > :57:35.you will take it out what he is just trying to manufacture a result out

:57:36. > :57:43.of this. You do not want to bring that jack out. That just gives David

:57:44. > :57:53.a chance, that doors. David needs the jack clean for two. He is on a

:57:54. > :58:02.better line this time. Perfect! Massive bowl by David Gourlay. That

:58:03. > :58:03.was a set saving bowl. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. And very

:58:04. > :59:00.brave. Absolutely spot on If Nick had picked up

:59:01. > :00:03.could have defended that lead. The pushing this one

:00:04. > :00:05.sure he has sent it. Very good judge. Not much but just

:00:06. > :00:13.enough. Very good judge. Not much but just

:00:14. > :00:20.Still plenty of room for either of these guys to get in.

:00:21. > :00:33.This is good, how good is it going to be?

:00:34. > :00:43.Dropping back. Two red. Crucial and seven.

:00:44. > :00:49.Nick, definitely closer this time, doesn't need the gap, needs a little

:00:50. > :00:55.bit of something. Just slightly heavy, just a matter

:00:56. > :01:02.of a contact. These holes and gaps are very useful at the moment.

:01:03. > :01:09.David will still be trying to draw right on top of that jack. You would

:01:10. > :01:12.like to secure a really good one. He will feel those two of vulnerable.

:01:13. > :01:25.Chasing after it, a good sign. It wants to miss the green one at

:01:26. > :01:32.the front. He has narrowed down the target area

:01:33. > :01:34.very slightly. But Nick was so close with the last one, you expect him to

:01:35. > :01:51.draw it. Played some good recovery bowls on

:01:52. > :01:57.this site. You doesn't like it. It must be too

:01:58. > :02:02.heavy. The line looked good. Here it comes. Coming back into the centre

:02:03. > :02:09.of the rink. But it was a bit heavy. He gets a double. All of a sudden,

:02:10. > :02:16.from being in a one bowl away from virtually securing the set, at 8-2,

:02:17. > :02:24.it is level, two ends later. A run for home for both players.

:02:25. > :02:44.At this stage, with David having the first set in the bag, the draw very

:02:45. > :02:51.much on his side. If you can draw this set, it is enough to get him

:02:52. > :03:14.through. That one extra shot is massive.

:03:15. > :04:05.He has passed it. That is a very good bowl. At this stage.

:04:06. > :04:12.Just dropping off the front one. The way that is sitting, I don't know

:04:13. > :04:17.how close it is to the jack, it looks about an inch. David can run

:04:18. > :04:23.for cover and just leave that. Perfect bowl would be dropping in

:04:24. > :04:27.behind the jack, six inches, to try and make the double. But he can't

:04:28. > :04:39.afford to leave a shoulder therefore Nick to use.

:04:40. > :04:50.Very confident two red called. If that is two red, Nick will be

:04:51. > :04:54.playing the forehand drive straight through his green bowls into the

:04:55. > :05:00.red, break open the head. Can't afford to lose a double here.

:05:01. > :05:03.Here it comes. It must be two read him to play this shot, he needs to

:05:04. > :05:07.split the head open. There it goes, he came out of it

:05:08. > :05:15.very well. The jack will go on the re-spot. It shows the value of that

:05:16. > :05:24.money bowl, both players have been using it very well. -- running. It

:05:25. > :05:37.looks close. It is hard for us to tell.

:05:38. > :05:40.Apart from the perfect front touch, David will be hoping to get

:05:41. > :05:53.something close but not too close. Is it one or two, that is the

:05:54. > :06:00.question. The back position is good. Nick has

:06:01. > :06:06.had a good look, he has a good life. As Nick Allen said... He did say one

:06:07. > :06:11.red. Nick has a choice, does he want to draw or drive the bowl.

:06:12. > :06:17.Drive the bowl, I would have thought. That is why he is going for

:06:18. > :06:28.the draw but... Not easy. Perfect road.

:06:29. > :06:44.Probably the back position which stopped Nick from going for it. Even

:06:45. > :06:55.if he lost one, he is in with a chance of picking up a double.

:06:56. > :07:04.REFEREE: Jack length 28.5 metres. Last end, second set. David Gourlay

:07:05. > :07:10.can afford to lose a single but no more than that. If it is a double or

:07:11. > :07:11.more we are into a tie-break. Nick Brett knows exactly what he has to

:07:12. > :07:24.do. It is amazing, Greg, one bowl really

:07:25. > :07:31.that Nick Brett was away from almost securing the second set, to go 8-2

:07:32. > :07:45.in front. David Gourlay had the perfect runner.

:07:46. > :08:10.REFEREE: Four inch gap. It is a feast of bowling for this

:08:11. > :08:15.large crowd which has really been enjoying this.

:08:16. > :08:34.Brilliant match. It looks a little bit quick.

:08:35. > :08:43.Nick is certainly on an excellent road. Definitely coming in for

:08:44. > :09:07.number two. Perfect. Absolutely right on. Is it a touch? -- toucher.

:09:08. > :09:11.I think it stopped just short. REFEREE: Time out, one time at

:09:12. > :09:12.remaining. Definitely going to be a forehand

:09:13. > :09:23.drive. He is right down the middle, what is

:09:24. > :09:27.he going to get? All the way through, he was that green bolts to

:09:28. > :09:32.go into the ditch and it just makes it but there is a lot of room.

:09:33. > :09:39.The green bowl is taken away. One to read at the moment but it is a

:09:40. > :09:48.distance away. You expect Nick to beat it. The difficulty for nicks,

:09:49. > :09:55.no matter where he puts this, if David were to drive the bowl off,

:09:56. > :09:59.the match is over. -- for Nick is. I think David will play a draw

:10:00. > :10:07.wherever it finishes. He really should unless he feels confident.

:10:08. > :10:17.How close is Nick going to get? Close enough. Very good. This is an

:10:18. > :10:28.interesting position, isn't it? Fascinating game. One of the two

:10:29. > :10:33.Nick Brett needs. This is not easy. Obviously he would love to draw the

:10:34. > :10:39.shot but, if not, get as close as he Busby can

:10:40. > :10:53.shot but, if not, get as close as he bowl to take it to the tie-break.

:10:54. > :11:07.I don't think so. I think it is one to green, I think it will be

:11:08. > :11:09.I don't think so. I think it is one me? I don't think so!

:11:10. > :11:19.I don't think so. I think it is one still bet that Nick will get this.

:11:20. > :11:27.These are the pressure bowls. Got to get this in to stay in the

:11:28. > :11:27.These are the pressure bowls. Got to Championships. Looks very confident.

:11:28. > :11:34.These are the pressure bowls. Got to Looked happy with the delivery. Yes,

:11:35. > :11:39.he is chasing up now. Is it going to make the distance? It is not. He is

:11:40. > :11:42.under by the looks of it to me. I think it is just the one.

:11:43. > :11:50.Close. That is interesting. think it is just the one.

:11:51. > :11:54.away a little. But Nick has a good eye and he won't mess about. If he

:11:55. > :12:00.thinks it is very close, then fine. If you think it is against him, he

:12:01. > :12:03.will shake hands. He is asking for a measure. I don't

:12:04. > :12:10.will shake hands. He is asking for a confident ask. Always hard to tell,

:12:11. > :12:15.Greg. The TV angles are hard to tell. They are standing above it and

:12:16. > :12:19.they can't tell. Nick has a good eye, if it was red, he would hold

:12:20. > :12:27.out his hand. He is a very honest player. It is also the drop into the

:12:28. > :12:37.ditch. Goodness me. Can't be any more tense. I wouldn't

:12:38. > :12:40.want to be doing the measure. We trust these two guys. The players

:12:41. > :12:47.will be looking to see where this is going.

:12:48. > :12:52.Well... I think it is green. I think it might be green. David hasn't

:12:53. > :13:07.moved in. My goodness me. He has just made it.

:13:08. > :13:13.A faction. REFEREE: Match tie-break. David had one foot into the wild

:13:14. > :13:20.final and it has been snatched away. An amazing finish to this match.

:13:21. > :13:23.REFEREE: First and tie-break, Nick has won the toss, given the jacks to

:13:24. > :13:29.David. He had to stay away from the Red

:13:30. > :13:33.Bull, I understand that. It looked to be going short.

:13:34. > :13:37.Absolutely. Inch perfect. As you say, we didn't fancy it from here

:13:38. > :13:43.but just on it on the nod, on the measure.

:13:44. > :13:49.A little shake off David's head, he realised just a fraction has taken

:13:50. > :14:11.him away. Three and tie-break, massive pressure now.

:14:12. > :14:17.How can they get the adrenaline under control here, this? Nick is

:14:18. > :14:29.there first. Note that United shots, just a

:14:30. > :14:34.matter of try to get as close as possible and win the end. Usually

:14:35. > :14:38.very attacking, I wonder what effect this will have on David Gourlay. I

:14:39. > :14:43.think Nick Brett will be thinking to himself, my goodness, I have got out

:14:44. > :14:51.of jail here. He has opened it up a bit. It is harder on the guy who is

:14:52. > :15:00.leading the match virtually into the next round. Harder for them to

:15:01. > :15:02.refocus. And the guy who's has just sneaked into the tie-break is fully

:15:03. > :15:17.pumped and up for the challenge. REFEREE: Four inches past jack high.

:15:18. > :15:20.Interesting to see whether he played aggressive and draws it. If he draws

:15:21. > :15:27.the perfect bowl, it will be difficult to get out. It is the

:15:28. > :15:35.harder of the two shots. Not quite going to get back. That has made it

:15:36. > :15:45.hard now. Oh, dear, didn't want that touch. Nick is in a very strong

:15:46. > :15:46.position now. He can afford to leave the head alone, just run to the

:15:47. > :16:10.re-spot. David Gourlay has got very few

:16:11. > :16:13.options here. The re-spot covered. Still have to try and draw this.

:16:14. > :16:24.That is all he has got. I know how hard it is. Everything

:16:25. > :16:45.has to be inch perfect. Just under. Lovely weight to

:16:46. > :16:51.Troutbeck but just under the line. For the first time in this match,

:16:52. > :16:57.Nick Brett is looking really good to go through.

:16:58. > :17:06.He has only been in France in this match once and that was in the sick

:17:07. > :17:14.and the first set, 5-4. -- sixth end.

:17:15. > :17:21.Now, he needs just one more for his first world final.

:17:22. > :17:28.For a while, it didn't look like it was going to happen.

:17:29. > :17:50.Only four bowls away from it on this end.

:17:51. > :18:03.20 years since David Gourlay last on the world title, 1996. He is still

:18:04. > :18:09.fighting hard in this one. I believe it was at his first attempt. And I

:18:10. > :18:16.believe, is he the first, or the last player outside of the 16 to win

:18:17. > :18:25.it as well, I think. All the other winners have been from the seeded

:18:26. > :18:28.positions. Great bowl from Nick. With his last bowl to beat Tony

:18:29. > :18:35.Allcock. He came in as a qualifier, 100-1

:18:36. > :18:43.qualifier, 20 years ago. He needs that same sort of bowl now.

:18:44. > :18:50.I think he is slipping past. Nick, this is a run for cover here.

:18:51. > :18:54.The perfect second delivery. Here we come for the re-spot.

:18:55. > :18:59.Let's see how close he gets to it. Very good. They have to think about

:19:00. > :19:19.playing this off. Not allowed to destroy the end until

:19:20. > :19:26.the third end of the tie-break. The first two ends, the jack was on the

:19:27. > :19:34.re-spot. Going for the runner. Forced into this. He is in so much

:19:35. > :19:43.trouble now. The re-spot is not available.

:19:44. > :19:54.Nick has a choice, he can either block David's draw. I think I would

:19:55. > :19:58.go into there, Greg, and hold the second shot so David hasn't got the

:19:59. > :20:03.drive to take the bowl out. Stay away from it at the same time. The

:20:04. > :20:12.last thing he wants to do is make a target, that is for sure. He can

:20:13. > :20:16.this forehand, maybe even close to three feet away from the jack and

:20:17. > :20:24.still get a very good bowl. He has the re-spot covered. Is it going to

:20:25. > :20:28.stop in time? I think it is, exactly what he was looking for.

:20:29. > :20:30.Perfect. He obviously can't see what we put

:20:31. > :20:33.on the screen but that is a He obviously can't see what we put

:20:34. > :20:41.wonderful bowl, it has forced David He obviously can't see what we put

:20:42. > :20:42.Gourlay. He is suddenly one bowl away from going out of the world

:20:43. > :20:54.singles. The perfect draw to keep his World

:20:55. > :21:10.Championship alive. He is playing the only shot

:21:11. > :21:18.available to him. How close can he get? Just going to go under, I

:21:19. > :21:22.believe. He is an inch under. REFEREE: Second game and match to

:21:23. > :21:26.Nick Brett. The world number one has snatched

:21:27. > :21:32.success away from David Gourlay in the last three end of this match. A

:21:33. > :21:37.wonderful exhibition of bowls. 7-62 David Gourlay, 7-6 to Nick Brett,

:21:38. > :21:40.and Nick Brett takes the tie-break 2-0.

:21:41. > :21:45.Age Matic match this morning on the blue rink at Potters. David, first

:21:46. > :21:54.of all, give us your thoughts how you felt the second set ended up? It

:21:55. > :22:00.final once again? To be honest, I

:22:01. > :22:03.final once again? Nick's bowl wasn't running. Still

:22:04. > :22:08.when it was coming I thought it would fall back. When I looked at

:22:09. > :22:10.it, we both fancied my bowl. Suddenly I had to take a tie-break.

:22:11. > :22:19.At that point, Suddenly I had to take a tie-break.

:22:20. > :22:25.difference in your Wadi language, how difficult was that this -- in

:22:26. > :22:31.your body language, how difficult was it to throw off?

:22:32. > :22:35.your body language, how difficult You are back in a battle again. To

:22:36. > :22:38.play a tie-break and I didn't perform in the tie-break.

:22:39. > :22:42.Commiserations but a good effort until that point. Nikki, first of

:22:43. > :22:46.all, as David said, you delivered that final bowl of the second set,

:22:47. > :22:53.did you think as you release that, that you were still in this match? I

:22:54. > :22:58.can't tell you what I said! But I thought it was short and tight. At

:22:59. > :23:03.the moment that the measure was going on, what were you thinking?

:23:04. > :23:04.Waiting for the inevitable one green, to be honest. It didn't look

:23:05. > :23:12.as if I had done enough. green, to be honest. It didn't look

:23:13. > :23:15.the markers more money! In contrast to David in the

:23:16. > :23:19.tie-break, you were, there In contrast to David in the

:23:20. > :23:22.spring in your step, you looked really confident.

:23:23. > :23:29.David was far the better player. Getting in the tie-break was a bonus

:23:30. > :23:35.for me. I'd scratched around, David's first two bowls were good. I

:23:36. > :23:40.had worn out sheepdogs trying to find mine! I was relieved to get

:23:41. > :23:46.into the tie-break. I felt like wearing a balaclava, I robbed him of

:23:47. > :23:51.a win. Fair play, David played well. I hung in and managed to sneak a

:23:52. > :23:56.measure. This is your first final tomorrow.

:23:57. > :24:04.Looking forward to it. However it is, it will be a monster of a task.

:24:05. > :24:08.I can hang in when I have not gone great so hopefully I can find a few

:24:09. > :24:14.more good ones. Congratulations to Nick Brett.

:24:15. > :24:20.It is Nick Brett who will play Robert Paxton in the final on

:24:21. > :24:25.Sunday, both players preparing for their first appearance in a Potters

:24:26. > :24:30.singles final. David Gauke and I are in the players

:24:31. > :24:34.lounge overlooking the blue rink. Nick Brett was outstanding coming

:24:35. > :24:38.back into that match but there was a very pivotal moment at the end of

:24:39. > :24:42.the second set. Absolutely, no doubt, that measure

:24:43. > :24:46.was remarkable. We were chatting about this and I spoke to Nick

:24:47. > :24:53.afterwards. He said he was thinking about shaking hands, but measure it

:24:54. > :24:58.just in case. Normally, Nicky would get it right. The difficulty with

:24:59. > :25:03.that is one bowl was going straight down and coming in at an angle, a

:25:04. > :25:09.flat angle, that is the difference. Half an inch in it. Nick, Player of

:25:10. > :25:12.the Year in 2015, something he is desperate to get hold of, a spot in

:25:13. > :25:17.the final. He is delighted he realised over the

:25:18. > :25:20.whole game that David was more consistent. You have to dig out the

:25:21. > :25:27.big bowls. The other semifinal was a belter.

:25:28. > :25:31.Andy Thompson described it as Andy Thompson described it as

:25:32. > :25:37.He was totally blessedness, no doubt. We are in a situation of

:25:38. > :25:38.saying when Alex is at his best no one can touch him, even

:25:39. > :25:42.saying when Alex is at his best no number one would have been

:25:43. > :25:47.struggling to cope with this shot. An amazing bowl. He continued

:25:48. > :25:53.throughout the first set. The second set, slightly different. Again,

:25:54. > :26:00.bangs another one in. He drew in the next one for four.

:26:01. > :26:07.Bowl after bowl. Robert did the right thing. He let it happen. And

:26:08. > :26:11.concentrated on the next step. From the second set, Robert was in superb

:26:12. > :26:15.form, taking him all the way into the tie-break.

:26:16. > :26:20.He has been there before, on the other side of Alex playing like

:26:21. > :26:27.this. It didn't go well. But this time he fought really hard, got back

:26:28. > :26:30.into it. It was anybody's game. The second end of the tie-break, you

:26:31. > :26:35.were saying as he was getting ready to play the draw, you said you were

:26:36. > :26:39.surprised this was the choice. Every other player would have played that

:26:40. > :26:43.on the forehand. The difficulty was, if he had hit it on the forehand, he

:26:44. > :26:49.was leaving a lot of room for the next bowl. That was an unbelievable

:26:50. > :26:51.pressure shot. He left Alex very little to play out of that.

:26:52. > :26:56.The most amazing match. The crowd The most amazing match. The crowd

:26:57. > :27:01.were so into it. Everybody was into it, no doubt. The number of messages

:27:02. > :27:05.coming through saying the same thing, a brilliant game. One of

:27:06. > :27:10.those games you want to review and think about, the psychology was very

:27:11. > :27:14.strong. Alex being so good. A great learning curve for anyone who wants

:27:15. > :27:19.to enjoy bowls. The type of day we can put together

:27:20. > :27:24.a long highlights package. It would be that long but tonight if you want

:27:25. > :27:30.to catch it, you can do on BBC Two at 11:35pm. Both semifinals most

:27:31. > :27:35.certainly worth watching once again. And tomorrow, the final on BBC Two

:27:36. > :27:40.at 2pm, Robert Paxton against Nick Brett.

:27:41. > :27:43.We are going to have a new name on the trophy. Any idea who might come

:27:44. > :27:47.out on top? I am really not sure, to be

:27:48. > :27:52.truthful, the other two guys could have been in the final. Both these

:27:53. > :27:56.players scraped their way through and showed what true champions they

:27:57. > :28:00.are. Will it be a tie-break, I hope so.

:28:01. > :28:06.Two Casbah battled hard over five years coming up through the ranks

:28:07. > :28:09.and now getting their rewards -- two players.

:28:10. > :28:12.I remember when they were outside the top 20, coming through

:28:13. > :28:19.qualifiers, making second round. They really have played well. They

:28:20. > :28:23.deserve this. They beat David Gourlay and Alex Marshall, a

:28:24. > :28:30.fantastic thing to do. Sadly, Alex Marshall's quest for a

:28:31. > :28:34.seventh title has come to an end. We have two new finalists at Potters,

:28:35. > :28:39.Robert Paxton and Nick Brett, battling it out for the title here

:28:40. > :28:43.tomorrow on the blue rink, the most famous arena in the world indoor

:28:44. > :28:47.bowls. Whatever happens, there will be a new name on the trophy come

:28:48. > :28:55.close of play on Sunday, will it be Robert Paxton of Nick Brett Quetta

:28:56. > :28:57.Mark join us on BBC Two at 2pm to find out, goodbye. -- Nick Brett?