Ladies' Singles Semi-Final

:00:36. > :00:46.Hello and welcome to the World Indoor Bowls Championships. So far

:00:47. > :00:49.this week, two finals on the blue rink, won in dramatic circumstances.

:00:50. > :00:54.The action has kept this crowd on the edge of their seats. He is

:00:55. > :00:57.drawing for the match. Is he running?

:00:58. > :01:51.I was within two inches of the jack and he played a wonder bowl, so you

:01:52. > :01:53.raise your hand and say congratulations. Not champion for

:01:54. > :02:06.nothing. The thrilling action so far this

:02:07. > :02:14.week. Two fascinating match-ups for you live on BBC Two. The defending

:02:15. > :02:19.champion Nick Brett against 71 Scot Charles Bence. And the defending

:02:20. > :02:23.champion in the ladies singles Alan Faulkner takes on Janice Gower, in

:02:24. > :02:49.the semifinal for the first time. -- Ellen Falkner.

:02:50. > :02:55.BBC commentator David Corkill, alongside me. Let's talk about those

:02:56. > :02:59.two finals we have seen so far. Yesterday, perhaps as good a match

:03:00. > :03:04.as I have ever seen in the pairs. Yes, the best pairs I have seen I

:03:05. > :03:09.have to say. It had everything, drama all the way right down to the

:03:10. > :03:13.end. Paul was absolutely right, if you lose to a bowl like Mickey

:03:14. > :03:18.played, you have to raise your hands and say well done. Hopefully we will

:03:19. > :03:22.get more excitement today. Ellen Falkner against Janice Gower, she

:03:23. > :03:27.has won the title three times before. What can we expect?

:03:28. > :03:31.Defending champions, it's always hard to come back and defend the

:03:32. > :03:40.title. Janice has been here and practised a lot, Ellen 's CV is

:03:41. > :03:44.three pages long, so much information! She is just back from

:03:45. > :03:49.New Zealand, where she has been very successful. The other match, Nick

:03:50. > :03:54.Brett against Charles Bence. People used to think bowls is a game for

:03:55. > :03:58.the elderly, but Charles is actually one of the players who does not

:03:59. > :04:02.conform to the normal, because most of the players are younger and he is

:04:03. > :04:08.a rarity these days, it seems. Very much so. At this level, most of the

:04:09. > :04:11.players are in their 20s, 30s and 40s, the key moment to win

:04:12. > :04:14.championships. But it's a great story, you enter and play, and

:04:15. > :04:20.suddenly he is going against the best in the world. That is coming up

:04:21. > :04:25.live on BBC Two. We will show you a match that took place earlier, the

:04:26. > :04:30.former 2013 world champion Stuart Anderson was up against Graham

:04:31. > :04:34.McKee. Only one separated them, but the gulf of experience was much

:04:35. > :04:39.greater. 30-year-old Graham McKee was making his first appearance in

:04:40. > :04:45.the second round, against Anderson, 31, the champion in 2013. Anderson's

:04:46. > :04:50.runner in the first end gave him a triple and he took the first four

:04:51. > :04:55.ends to build up a seven-shot advantage. Graham McKee won the next

:04:56. > :04:59.three but went into the last end trailing by four. He was unable to

:05:00. > :05:04.conjure a miracle with his last, leaving Anderson to secure the first

:05:05. > :05:08.set 11-4. The qualifier had seen world champion Andy Thompson in the

:05:09. > :05:14.first round. A repeat looked unlikely as Anderson made a full

:05:15. > :05:17.house in the third end of second set. Graham McKee failed to register

:05:18. > :05:21.another end, and Anderson Silva a comfortable win with another three

:05:22. > :05:25.shots, and he is in the quarterfinals where he will meet the

:05:26. > :05:54.winner of Nick Brett and Charles Bence. -- Anderson sealed.

:05:55. > :05:59.It's Nicky Brett against Charles Bence this afternoon and it promises

:06:00. > :06:06.to be a cracking match. We can catch up with the man who is 71 and from

:06:07. > :06:07.Scotland, and he knocked out Mark Doors in the first round. Charles

:06:08. > :06:14.Bence. I was born in Motherwell. June four,

:06:15. > :06:30.1945. I used to play football at school. I

:06:31. > :06:39.had an ankle injury. That was that done. I used to play golf. Since I

:06:40. > :06:49.had a heart attack seven years ago, I've not played since. I played

:06:50. > :06:56.darts as well when I was 20. I qualified for the world finals at

:06:57. > :07:01.Livingston. Went to the Scottish finals in front of 300 folk. That

:07:02. > :07:12.was it! I was too nervous. The nerves got the better of me. My

:07:13. > :07:18.mother was a bowler, my mum started at 40, my dad played up until 90. He

:07:19. > :07:23.had an accident on the Bowling green, and I said, that's enough,

:07:24. > :07:28.you can come and watch but you're not playing. He stopped playing at

:07:29. > :07:35.90. He didn't take it up until he was about 70, 60 odd. I enjoy my

:07:36. > :07:41.bowls. This has been a brilliant experience. Absolutely great. The

:07:42. > :07:54.crowd here has been absolutely perfect. Brilliant. The support I've

:07:55. > :08:00.had, after I came off... Even English supporters, well done, well

:08:01. > :08:06.done, when's your next game? They kept asking me that. I'm here for

:08:07. > :08:13.the entire fortnight. I used to say it was an old man's game when I was

:08:14. > :08:19.younger. Now I'm an old man... It's good. Really good fun. I've always

:08:20. > :08:28.said, you always lose more than you win. You have a good day, you have a

:08:29. > :08:37.bad day. I have watched Mick for the last three or four years. -- Nick. I

:08:38. > :08:43.have watched them all. But to play against him is absolutely brilliant.

:08:44. > :08:50.The pressure will be more on Nick than me. He will not want to get

:08:51. > :09:04.beat by a 71 old man. No pressure on me. -- 71-year-old man. I am not a

:09:05. > :09:15.defeatist. I will give 100%. If I win, I win. If I lose, I lose. What

:09:16. > :09:19.a story. Started playing about three decades ago, survived a heart attack

:09:20. > :09:23.seven years ago and here he is on the biggest stage of the sport of

:09:24. > :09:25.indoor bowls, against the number one ranked player and defending

:09:26. > :09:39.champion, Nicky Brett. Loads of pressure as a defending

:09:40. > :09:43.champion in the first game and it showed. His opponent played some

:09:44. > :09:47.really good stuff, had to find a few big bowls in the first and second

:09:48. > :09:51.set, just found enough at the right time luckily. The last couple of

:09:52. > :09:56.years, I've managed to find a way to win rather than find a way to lose,

:09:57. > :10:02.and that makes a huge difference at important times in the set. The

:10:03. > :10:06.eighth end, when you have to have the last bowl to make two to get

:10:07. > :10:12.within striking distance to grab a draw out of a set which you haven't

:10:13. > :10:16.really been a part of. I've just learnt to find a way, hang on when

:10:17. > :10:21.it hasn't been going my way. I know very little about Charlie, to be

:10:22. > :10:25.fair. A fantastic win in the first round, which I'm sure he is still on

:10:26. > :10:29.cloud nine about. I'm sure he's looking forward to his next game. I

:10:30. > :10:34.don't know much about him, I'm going to pay him as much respect as anyone

:10:35. > :10:38.else on tour and play as well as I can, because he has earned the right

:10:39. > :10:43.to be here. Now you are in the thick of it, you have to hit the ground

:10:44. > :10:54.and keep moving forward, find some good bowls. If he plays a good one,

:10:55. > :10:56.tried to beat it quickly and not let it build up against you. Now is the

:10:57. > :10:59.time to step right into the tournament and get my A game going.

:11:00. > :11:02.Will it be business as usual for the defending champion Nicky Brett or

:11:03. > :11:14.will we witness the fairy tale of the week with Charlie Bence. Our MC.

:11:15. > :11:18.First to a real character, who at the tender age of 71 is the oldest

:11:19. > :11:24.person ever to qualify for this event. So there is hope for you lot!

:11:25. > :11:28.Will you please welcome Charlie Bence.

:11:29. > :11:56.This world number one has proven time and again what a formidable

:11:57. > :11:59.opponent he can be. The recently crowned mixed pairs match play and

:12:00. > :12:01.defending world indoor singles champion, the world number one,

:12:02. > :12:19.Nicky Brett! 29 years the difference between

:12:20. > :12:23.these players. I wonder what kind of match-up they will provide? To

:12:24. > :12:30.describe the action, three-time former world champion in the singles

:12:31. > :12:35.Andy Thompson alongside Corky. What a story. I had a long chat with

:12:36. > :12:40.Charlie and he is really looking forward to it. It's a dream, really.

:12:41. > :12:46.A fantastic story, up against the world number one live on TV, it is

:12:47. > :12:53.wonderful for Charlie, he is the big star today. Jack length 29.5 metres.

:12:54. > :13:05.As he said, he has absolutely nothing to lose.

:13:06. > :13:11.71, he's recovered well from the heart attack a few years ago to come

:13:12. > :13:18.back and play bowls at a competitive level. Nick Brett has played a lot

:13:19. > :13:43.of matches on the single rink. So it's going to be a fairly nervous

:13:44. > :13:48.end or two for Charlie until he settles into things. He prefers

:13:49. > :13:53.Charlie rather than Charles. When his mother was alive, she was the

:13:54. > :14:00.only one to call him Charles. I agree, David, he has to come out of

:14:01. > :14:01.the traps fairly quickly. Have to make sure he starts well, Charlie.

:14:02. > :14:29.Doesn't want Nicky to get away. Nick is very much one of the players

:14:30. > :14:35.who will give Charlie full respect. I think most of them would anyway to

:14:36. > :14:39.be truthful. Very easy to say this is a match where you can put a name

:14:40. > :14:43.down into the next round, but he doesn't treat things like that. He

:14:44. > :14:49.will get out there and look to play a good game. Charlie beat Mark

:14:50. > :14:54.Dawes, in the previous round, and Nicky has a lot of respect. If

:14:55. > :14:59.Charlie beat him, he is a good player. Are you running? Just under.

:15:00. > :15:15.A little bit of both. Nick will be delighted with this

:15:16. > :15:21.start. He has gone deep. Happy with three in the head. A position ball.

:15:22. > :15:26.Maybe worth Charlie thinking about having a little go at this, try to

:15:27. > :16:02.remove something. A hard draw shot. The last bowl of the Ning, Charlie

:16:03. > :16:05.trails the jack. A perfect trail. -- of the inning.

:16:06. > :16:14.That is the key in many ways, you want to get that shot on the board,

:16:15. > :16:19.then you can relax a little bit. The players are allowed 30 minutes for.

:16:20. > :16:28.I was watching Charlie practising, and he was playing well. -- before.

:16:29. > :16:34.That bowl wasn't a fluke. Jack length 27.5 metres.

:16:35. > :16:43.He was telling me the young players at his club call him Chico. His

:16:44. > :16:50.midnight. We will stick to Charles. For everybody watching at his home

:16:51. > :16:59.club, he has started the second end extremely well. -- his nickname.

:17:00. > :17:05.Just to correct something from another match. Stuart Anderson, I

:17:06. > :17:17.should know better than to believe everything on the profile...

:17:18. > :17:23.Blantyre, he is in. The same club as Charlie. Absolutely. I stand

:17:24. > :17:29.corrected, I got a couple of messages. The moral of the story,

:17:30. > :17:35.don't believe everything you read. He has been there a few years now.

:17:36. > :17:38.He will be looking at this to see who he is going to play in the next

:17:39. > :18:00.round. Two touchers. Wasting no time. Great strike. Hits

:18:01. > :18:07.the target often. Plenty of room all around it.

:18:08. > :18:15.Just have to wait a second until they sort out the toucher in the

:18:16. > :18:24.ditch. And the jack to go back on. Charlie was on the mat, ready to go.

:18:25. > :18:38.I favour one green. Most players would probably be

:18:39. > :18:46.playing the backhand, but it is his choice. Sweeping away very early.

:18:47. > :18:55.You need to be crossing the middle line about three or four metres

:18:56. > :18:59.before the jack. That last bowl has probably forced Nicky onto the

:19:00. > :19:22.forehand side. Crossing the centre line at that

:19:23. > :19:26.point. Charlie on the other side now, Andy. A chance to pick up the

:19:27. > :19:41.jack if he is heavy. He was encouraging it forward. Not

:19:42. > :19:52.far away. Oh, yes, what a shot. Brilliant stuff.

:19:53. > :20:18.Nicky, attacking. On the high side. The bowl in the ditch... A single.

:20:19. > :20:28.Many people feeling quite happy about Charlie being here, not least

:20:29. > :20:34.Andy of course! I'm waiting for the next sentence to come out! It's

:20:35. > :20:38.always good to know you are not the oldest in the tournament, isn't it!

:20:39. > :20:41.I thought you might make reference to that! Yes, nice that somebody

:20:42. > :20:54.else is older than me. Charlie definitely not in his

:20:55. > :21:03.twilight years if he is playing in qualifying. It is not easy. Where

:21:04. > :21:08.did he qualify from? Falkirk? Probably. Easy enough to check.

:21:09. > :21:10.People travel around to qualify but they try to keep them within their

:21:11. > :21:36.own countries. Charlie will certainly not be

:21:37. > :21:42.wanting to leave it to his last bowl again.

:21:43. > :21:56.A little white. -- a little white dot indicates that it is a toucher,

:21:57. > :22:00.so if it goes into the ditch, it stays live. If it goes into the

:22:01. > :22:02.ditch without touching the jack, it's taken away and forms no further

:22:03. > :22:22.part in the end. He's picked the pace up really well,

:22:23. > :22:40.Nicky, right away. Into his groove. Two and a half feet.

:22:41. > :22:49.Just had to run. Lacking a yard of pace. Once again, we'll have to play

:22:50. > :22:54.a big last bowl. The only problem is there's a certain amount of good

:22:55. > :22:59.bowls in the locker, you don't want to be dipping into it every end. No,

:23:00. > :23:05.because you are going to fail eventually. That was a bit heavy.

:23:06. > :23:38.He's having a wee clot after it. He will get a nickname of last bowl

:23:39. > :23:44.Charlie. -- trot. Mark Dawes, sitting at home thinking, well,

:23:45. > :23:52.welcome to my world, Nicky! Again the last bowl draws the shot and

:23:53. > :23:53.it's difficult for Nick to get at. A little run down beforehand. Not

:23:54. > :24:12.easy. -- the forehand. A good try. Really good effort.

:24:13. > :24:14.Another single, another last bowl. He's enjoying this, Charlie. He

:24:15. > :24:33.certainly is now! I'm just not sure how long it's

:24:34. > :24:39.going to be, Andy, before I call him Charles dance. It's only a matter of

:24:40. > :24:46.time. If he does win, there will be a jig, never mind a dance. I'm sure

:24:47. > :24:47.everyone back in Blantyre will be watching and enjoying every minute.

:24:48. > :25:37.A great start. Once again, Nick putting in good

:25:38. > :25:43.bowls. Very steady. He will be very much aware of the fact that's what

:25:44. > :25:48.he'll keep doing until there is a mistake somewhere. The trouble is

:25:49. > :25:51.that's not always guaranteed. I don't think Nick will be pressing

:25:52. > :25:59.the panic button quite yet. But he is aware that he's in a game here. A

:26:00. > :26:17.good effort from Charlie. Close. Shot. Well played. Waving it in.

:26:18. > :26:27.Good again. He wants the jack this time. Well played.

:26:28. > :26:41.Les Gillett up in the green seats. Applauding that bowl from Nicky.

:26:42. > :26:47.Charlie running after it, he must like it. In the area again but just

:26:48. > :27:01.slipping under. A good try. What a tough audience, groaning! How

:27:02. > :27:06.far away? 18 inches away and barely got a murmur. They are hard today.

:27:07. > :27:18.Expectations are high. Good again from Nicky. Not sure if

:27:19. > :27:28.it's number two, but we will find out. Two red. Two it is. Charlie

:27:29. > :27:31.will have to be reaching through this one, but no guarantee if he

:27:32. > :27:39.hits the target that he's going to score. But he is two down so can't

:27:40. > :27:43.be any worse off. Probably just a draw on the forehand. Got it away

:27:44. > :27:49.with five seconds to spare. Had to pull back quick. Could

:27:50. > :28:09.promote. Well played again! He's had some unease shots taken off

:28:10. > :28:16.him already in this match. -- so many shots. Charlie just look up to

:28:17. > :28:25.the commentary box, absolutely loving this! Saying, what on earth?

:28:26. > :28:31.Nicky has played a good end and he is still down.

:28:32. > :28:52.Both players are enjoying this. A very good bowl by Nick. Nick will be

:28:53. > :28:54.thinking, I've done very little wrong and I could have been 4-0

:28:55. > :29:11.down. Darren Burnett, up in the players'

:29:12. > :29:13.lounge. Billy Anderson beside him, Stuart's father, and there he is,

:29:14. > :29:25.with his fiancee Claire. Anderson, waiting on the winner

:29:26. > :29:31.here, looking at this game with a lot of interest.

:29:32. > :29:39.If Charlie was to win, the whole of Blantyre will be down for that one.

:29:40. > :30:03.There would be no seats available. Almost sold out here.

:30:04. > :30:15.It is a good start for both players. Something in there, about half a

:30:16. > :30:20.yard away. Bit of a mixture between yards and metres, we can't help it.

:30:21. > :30:24.All the measurements are done in metres. Just to be consistent with

:30:25. > :30:36.the Southern Hemisphere as well, but we still talk in the arts. -- in

:30:37. > :30:43.yards. That is the way we have been brought up. 15 centimetres. I think

:30:44. > :30:56.they are all struggling to work that out. Six inches. We will stick to

:30:57. > :31:13.inches and feet, that is closer. He is going to drop. Yes. He is looking

:31:14. > :31:28.in expectation. Ten inches short of jack hi. Favours one green. There

:31:29. > :31:39.you go. A clear path and he is OK. Yes, that is good. That is the

:31:40. > :31:44.beauty. Right in front, you can see the jack. A good call by Dan

:31:45. > :31:48.Fletcher. He had a tricky couple of measures to look at yesterday and

:31:49. > :31:52.questions to be answered. He got them spot on. It was not easy.

:31:53. > :32:09.Again, that was a good call. You could say you were waiting for

:32:10. > :32:17.the opportunity for Nick to pick up a counter. He had to force his way

:32:18. > :32:24.to get one last time. Nick will be trying to add another, knowing full

:32:25. > :32:32.well how good Charlie is with his last ball. He has done so much

:32:33. > :32:36.damage, hasn't he? Just the one down, but probably sticking to the

:32:37. > :32:41.backhand drop. I think he prefers the backhand side. I think he is

:32:42. > :32:53.also looking at the Gap and the possibility of running the ball out

:32:54. > :33:12.on the forehand. -- bowl. In the back. This one I think is going a

:33:13. > :33:13.bit on the quick side. No one ball heroics from this side.

:33:14. > :33:58.There you go. I think Charlie is saying to Nick, you need glasses. He

:33:59. > :34:05.is telling the world number one he needs glasses to look at measures.

:34:06. > :34:15.Brilliant! Nick is normally quite good as well. He is, but there was a

:34:16. > :34:19.big distance on that one. He will take that all in good heart, he

:34:20. > :34:27.really will, but that is just brilliant. It is very important.

:34:28. > :34:33.It's the biggest event in the indoor calendar and I have two said Charlie

:34:34. > :34:41.is just enjoying every minute of it. He is having a ball. He just needs

:34:42. > :34:43.to keep his concentration because he is a dangerous player, this man from

:34:44. > :35:48.Scotland. A good correction from Nicky.

:35:49. > :36:07.Charlie once again is on a very good line. One red. Both players are

:36:08. > :36:16.quick on the mark, David. No hanging about here. Good to see. Nick Brett

:36:17. > :36:19.is particularly fast I have to say. With Paul Foster, if he was playing

:36:20. > :36:28.him, it wouldn't take long. Good to see. In recent years it has been

:36:29. > :36:34.difficult to cover them on the mat because they are so quick. Time to

:36:35. > :36:58.stop. I think he is under the line with this one, Charlie.

:36:59. > :37:20.Quite a deliberate shop. Nick to go on the side after the respot

:37:21. > :37:22.position. Rightly so, Nicky puts the back bowl in, just in case he took a

:37:23. > :37:45.gamble. He needs to pass the short bowl. He

:37:46. > :38:01.looks to be under. Just wait really. Just a single. Still, six ends, 5-3.

:38:02. > :38:20.Still in the game. Still a lot to play for here in the last three

:38:21. > :38:51.ends. Jack length 26.5 metres. I think Charlie thought about a

:38:52. > :39:00.change of hands, but is sticking to what he knows. Perfect line. It just

:39:01. > :39:28.needs to run. We knew it was close. The line once again for Charlie

:39:29. > :40:13.Bence. Is he running? Make giving it a chance this time. A

:40:14. > :40:22.narrower line. Looking for at least second. Through the gap, but a

:40:23. > :40:28.second bowl. That will force Charlie onto his forehand, but it will block

:40:29. > :40:42.the path. He could try it on the forehand side.

:40:43. > :40:59.Not a bad bowl that. Looking for the jack. Nicky running down. He doesn't

:41:00. > :41:09.want to lose any time-outs. He's still got 20 seconds. He is on the

:41:10. > :41:14.inside. He needs to have a lot away. I think he is running with this one.

:41:15. > :41:21.Not running enough. He does not want to turn the green one end. Oh, my,

:41:22. > :41:27.that could be two. That is a mistake at this stage in the game, Andy.

:41:28. > :41:31.Yes. He was always under. A good chance to score a three and take the

:41:32. > :41:57.lead two ends to go. Well, his line is very good. Urging

:41:58. > :42:03.the ball up. No bad thing in some respects. Happy to take the double

:42:04. > :42:12.and level the score 5-5. Two good last bowls from Charlie. There will

:42:13. > :42:20.be time shortly when Nicky will be thinking I'm not enjoying this as

:42:21. > :42:22.much as I should be really. But yes, good on them both. A bit of pressure

:42:23. > :43:26.on Nicky. Jack length 27 metres. That is a yard short. No real reason

:43:27. > :43:32.to change, but I think Charlie is changing to the forehand. That last

:43:33. > :43:37.bowl of Nick's was in the way. Up on before hand side now for Charlie. --

:43:38. > :44:01.on the forehand side. APPLAUSE One of the rare excursions onto this

:44:02. > :44:09.site. He needs help with this one. Oh, dear, Nick, you are in trouble

:44:10. > :44:15.here. Yes. He realises this is getting tough now, especially if

:44:16. > :44:25.Charlie puts this one on top of the jack. He knew right away he was

:44:26. > :44:30.under. He is holding up, I tell you that, but he might get the plant

:44:31. > :44:40.with his own bowl. That is not going to help. Two shots. Not an easy path

:44:41. > :44:46.in here for Nick. He has to be confident to go out on the wide

:44:47. > :44:52.side. He really needs this one in. His own bowl has just dropped down.

:44:53. > :45:00.He can punch it in for second. One green. He's in trouble, and he knows

:45:01. > :45:10.it. Charlie going back to the backhand. There is still room to

:45:11. > :45:16.draw this on the backhand side. He has thrown the bowl out. It's all

:45:17. > :45:31.about pace. The pace is good here. Just needs to stop. Chuck it through

:45:32. > :45:38.a little bit. A couple of chances on the forehand side. Draw the shot or

:45:39. > :45:42.Paul Shaw own bowl in. It had trouble with the first two

:45:43. > :45:52.deliveries, Nicky. I'm not sure this is going to come back in time. Bence

:45:53. > :45:55.is going to take a 1-shot advantage. That would've been a very

:45:56. > :46:02.interesting bet to tick off a few people. He was long odds to win the

:46:03. > :46:33.game. Nick is still smiling. Oh, it is

:46:34. > :46:42.dead on the edge. 28 metres. Goodness me, is it Charlie's day.

:46:43. > :46:46.That took the smile off his face. 6-5 up against the world champion,

:46:47. > :46:57.playing the last set of the last end. What would he give for a front

:46:58. > :47:09.touch now? Not for away. A good opener.

:47:10. > :47:19.He was infused about what he had been doing over the years will stop

:47:20. > :47:22.he was in coach building and various other things he's done over his life

:47:23. > :48:00.span. Fascinating. The line is very good. Nick will

:48:01. > :48:04.need another one in. He has certainly push this one out. Lots of

:48:05. > :48:12.work to do to get inside the green one. Here it comes. Nick is waving

:48:13. > :48:17.at it. Caught on the green bowl. I think it is just the one. For one

:48:18. > :48:38.red. Once again, I think Charlie has

:48:39. > :48:44.picked a good line. He's running after this, I think he likes it.

:48:45. > :49:00.Very close to be shocked. Rate shop. Goodness me. -- very close to be

:49:01. > :49:13.shot. The plant pushes the ball onto the jack. -- bowl. He could go for a

:49:14. > :49:20.respot position. He is not getting a good results with the drive, that's

:49:21. > :49:30.why he is playing the backhand. He has got to draw within seven or

:49:31. > :49:31.eight inches. He might have taken a risk, just to open it up and give

:49:32. > :49:54.himself the last bowl. Charlie has got a good shot. He

:49:55. > :49:58.catches the red onto the green. He is walking down and he is just

:49:59. > :50:10.smiling at everyone. Time-outs as well. Now the concentration comes

:50:11. > :50:14.in. It's important. If he gets this, well, it is monumental. We will see

:50:15. > :50:23.the plant in a minute. Lining himself up for the big one here.

:50:24. > :50:36.He is close. He's got it, he's got it. What a shot! Paul Foster is

:50:37. > :50:47.sitting there thinking, what is going on here? Fantastic! Well,

:50:48. > :51:08.Nicky, you'll have to repeat exactly the same bowl is your third bowl.

:51:09. > :51:13.Charlie will have to wait to see if he has won the opening set. He is

:51:14. > :51:34.not happy with that. It looks heavy to me. It is to heavy. Opening set

:51:35. > :51:40.to Charlie Bence. What a story. Regardless of what happens now,

:51:41. > :51:51.David, this is fantastic! It is certainly fantastic for us, Andy.

:51:52. > :51:59.Fantastic to be commentating on a match like this. Darren Burnett is

:52:00. > :52:10.watching and thinking, what on earth is happening? Nick Brett, dear, oh

:52:11. > :52:19.dear. I think also there hasn't been one flick. He has played really

:52:20. > :52:20.well, I'd agree. A good standard of bowling really. Both players have

:52:21. > :53:09.played well. There he goes again. Two inch gap to your shot bowl.

:53:10. > :53:23.Still keep the backhand, Charlie. Try to draw another.

:53:24. > :54:02.I think that might set up the heavy bowl now. Good advice for Charlie

:54:03. > :54:25.would be to get behind the jack. Just needs to make the gap. Good

:54:26. > :54:35.bowling though. Yes, very good bowling. Tidy staff. I'm not sure if

:54:36. > :54:46.the angle will take his own bowl Alps, so sticking to the draw. --

:54:47. > :54:58.bowl out. If he gets the green one, the red is going to lock. Just

:54:59. > :55:28.enters the group... Six bowls played. Good bowling.

:55:29. > :55:38.Passing ahead with this bowl. That is a good bowl. Good bowls, good

:55:39. > :55:49.tactics. He knew he needed a back bowl. These matches aren't long

:55:50. > :55:57.enough to bring in fatigue. Matches years ago used to be three hours

:55:58. > :56:01.long. Lots of pressure and difficult to keep things going. These are

:56:02. > :56:07.pretty quick matches now. Not that that will help Charlie. An hour and

:56:08. > :56:37.a half maximum. That's a bit dangerous.

:56:38. > :57:37.It is only the start of the second set, but there is no sign of Charlie

:57:38. > :57:45.losing the line and weight. He is continuously playing to a high

:57:46. > :57:48.standard. Nicky Brett has got the game here now, no question about

:57:49. > :58:07.that. Didn't look desperately happy with

:58:08. > :58:14.that bowl when it left his hand, but it's coming up. It is close.

:58:15. > :58:27.Slightly under the line. It might make the gap. Close to the second.

:58:28. > :58:52.One green and a measure. Yes, a good call again.

:58:53. > :59:03.Well, still a backhander off of Nicky. Try to beat his last bowl and

:59:04. > :59:12.that would have secured a shot. I'm not sure he is going to reach this,

:59:13. > :59:22.anti. The hype is good, but... Struggling for pace. -- Andy. He

:59:23. > :59:32.will start to not enjoy this game if Charlie keeps playing well.

:59:33. > :59:41.Charlie changing to the forehand. I don't think he needed to, but he

:59:42. > :59:47.could still draw the shots. I suppose he is looking at his own

:59:48. > :59:58.bowls. Any touching the jack will guarantee another shot. That is good

:59:59. > :00:04.enough. It is not looking good for Nicky Brett. The last bowl has

:00:05. > :00:09.stopped back and dropped just in front of the jack. This is awkward

:00:10. > :00:16.for Nicky. He is playing his favourite forehand side. It looks to

:00:17. > :00:27.be under. He doesn't want to hit the green one. Oh, that was a result!

:00:28. > :00:30.That has definitely taken one of them off. I think he has gotten away

:00:31. > :00:48.with that. Charlie will be thinking, I could

:00:49. > :00:52.have been 4-0 ahead. Exactly. Very fortuitous. World champion in

:00:53. > :02:04.trouble. That's what he needs. The gap on the

:02:05. > :02:10.shot bowl, 3.5 inches. Charlie has had the answer most of the time Nick

:02:11. > :02:17.was lying three and four. Took a lot off him with the last bowl often,

:02:18. > :02:22.but you have to keep doing it. Eventually you think he's going to

:02:23. > :02:51.miss one. That's what Nicky will be hoping, really.

:02:52. > :03:01.One red, measure. Enjoying this. Nick is really going to have his

:03:02. > :03:06.game face on. He certainly has. Serious now. Charlie just needs to

:03:07. > :03:10.keep the weight from the previous delivery. Not bad, just sliding

:03:11. > :03:21.under. May have got second. Nick would do

:03:22. > :03:29.well to draw one a foot short and block the way in for the draws. Has

:03:30. > :03:34.only had to drive once, albeit a 100% record.

:03:35. > :03:46.Not running. That's a mistake. Even on the draw line, just something to

:03:47. > :03:50.get in the way. Yes, that's not in the way, Charlie has a clear run to

:03:51. > :03:55.the jack. Nothing in the way on the backhand, so it is the backhand

:03:56. > :04:26.draw. That's what I was saying, just

:04:27. > :04:34.something to block the way in. One green. Once again, Nick Brett is in

:04:35. > :04:54.trouble. The last bowl has been unbelievably good for Charlie.

:04:55. > :05:06.Charlie takes a single, 3-0 in front after three. Started the second set

:05:07. > :05:35.the way he did the first set. Charlie dominating. That's big,

:05:36. > :05:39.isn't it? LAUGHTER.

:05:40. > :05:47.They thought the jack was in the ditch there. A couple of times he's

:05:48. > :05:56.done that, just stopping on the edge. I just wonder, is it Charlie's

:05:57. > :06:00.day? Could be. Nicky is starting to get a little bit serious now. He

:06:01. > :06:09.knows Charlie is absolutely revelling in this atmosphere and

:06:10. > :06:17.playing rate bowls. -- great bowls. My goodness, fantastic.

:06:18. > :06:24.He's got his supporters in the crowd absolutely loving it. I'm sure every

:06:25. > :06:32.Scotsman will be just really enjoying this afternoon so far. I

:06:33. > :06:33.bet there will be no bowling going on at the Blantyre club, they'll be

:06:34. > :06:46.watching this. Very close... Afternoon play

:06:47. > :06:48.suspended, I think, at Blantyre. The gap is about three and a half

:06:49. > :07:06.inches. Very unlucky! With no touch he was

:07:07. > :07:32.getting the bowl. Nick was looking for the green bowl.

:07:33. > :07:33.Doesn't want to bring it out in the open...

:07:34. > :07:41.APPLAUSE. He has brought out the jack, and

:07:42. > :07:47.this is definitely worth playing down at.

:07:48. > :07:59.Well... He's going to have to have a bit of weight on that line.

:08:00. > :08:59.Last bowl Charlie about to step into it. Just a draw to pick up the jack.

:09:00. > :09:10.Charlie is looking at it, looks to be wide. Only just. A good try.

:09:11. > :09:21.Nick will keep his head down and try to draw another one.

:09:22. > :09:29.If he can draw a third, it will follow the pattern of the first set.

:09:30. > :09:33.Nicky certainly won't want the pattern of the remainder of the set.

:09:34. > :09:55.A good line. All about pace. Still, he's on the card. In the

:09:56. > :10:03.fourth end. Didn't think I'd be saying that too often. I wonder if

:10:04. > :10:08.Nicky will be changing the length of the jack. Charlie is happy with the

:10:09. > :10:13.longish jack. I would be going short.

:10:14. > :10:18.Definitely shortened it. Quite rightly so. Trying to put Charlie

:10:19. > :11:22.off his stride a bit. Scotland's well-known for having

:11:23. > :11:27.great success in bowls. Arguably their most successful spot, Andy.

:11:28. > :11:40.Yes, many famous bowlers. Marshall, Foster... Anderson. Talented

:11:41. > :11:45.country. Willie Wood in the past. Richard Corsi. So many of them.

:11:46. > :11:51.Bought back a lot of medals from many events. Success at world indoor

:11:52. > :12:06.level. Maybe we are looking at a new world champion, Charlie Bence. He's

:12:07. > :12:08.not failing, is the? -- is he? Hugh Duff. So many world champions from

:12:09. > :12:16.Scotland. Not the best result. He probably

:12:17. > :12:23.would have been better without the touch. Just got the nick, moved the

:12:24. > :12:30.jack. He will be happy. There is room to draw the shot now.

:12:31. > :12:39.Very rare we get two players from the same club. Anderson is watching

:12:40. > :12:45.this match. He will no Charlie obviously and realise that he is a

:12:46. > :12:56.very good player. -- he will know. At 71 is of age, he is a new name to

:12:57. > :12:59.us. -- years of age. We haven't seen Charlie about, but he's played the

:13:00. > :13:04.sport for many years. Loving this limelight.

:13:05. > :13:14.Wasn't sure if he was going to make the full distance. The choice is for

:13:15. > :13:18.Charlie to draw it or drive it out. We know he can drive accurately, so

:13:19. > :13:25.that is worth it. The Langham glass trophy. Nick will not be looking at

:13:26. > :13:27.that much at the moment. Charlie sticking to the draw. Looks to be

:13:28. > :13:33.under. One more roll would have been

:13:34. > :13:49.costly. You never want that to happen to any

:13:50. > :14:03.player. 3-3, no guarantee who is going to

:14:04. > :14:06.win this set. Stuart Anderson and his fiancee Claire, just sitting and

:14:07. > :14:15.watching, thinking, what is going on? He will be saying, there's my

:14:16. > :14:17.Blantyre colleague there. Come on, Charlie, I want to play you in the

:14:18. > :14:25.next round! Nicky's got himself back into this

:14:26. > :14:37.set. Just to let our viewers know in

:14:38. > :14:45.Scotland, we will be leaving you fairly shortly for Politics

:14:46. > :14:50.Scotland. For an hour. But we'll let you know when it's time to push the

:14:51. > :14:51.red button and keep with us for this intriguing match. In a few minutes,

:14:52. > :16:05.I'll let you know. Well, a good position for Nick,

:16:06. > :16:10.conscious of the fact that the jack could be turned around the corner

:16:11. > :16:12.and he would lose two. So a slightly wider line. Needs the extra weight

:16:13. > :16:31.to carry it. You can't do much better than that.

:16:32. > :16:33.Good bowling from Nick. We saw a big drive from Charlie in the first set.

:16:34. > :16:46.Winding himself up for the drive. He let that one go a little bit

:16:47. > :16:52.early. A little bit wild. You could see it out of the hand. The first

:16:53. > :16:57.one was nice and clean, but that one bomb its way down a bit. Nick has to

:16:58. > :16:59.think about this, even the back position I'm not sure is a benefit

:17:00. > :17:06.to him. I don't think he will be going near

:17:07. > :17:14.the head this time, I think this will be around the back. That would

:17:15. > :17:17.be to cover the respot. Looks like he's trying to get another one. He

:17:18. > :17:32.could make this head even bigger. BBC Two viewers in Scotland, please

:17:33. > :17:35.move over to the red button as we make room for Politics Scotland for

:17:36. > :17:46.an hour. We will be leaving you in about a

:17:47. > :17:52.minute or so. Charlie's last bowl to come down. It has to be a strike

:17:53. > :18:06.again, David. He's at least three down. Can't be any worse off.

:18:07. > :18:17.Changing onto the forehand, a wider target. He has pulled it. Across the

:18:18. > :18:24.body, too fast, lost control of it. Too anxious with his two drives

:18:25. > :18:34.there, Charlie. Nicky Brett looking good for the second set.

:18:35. > :18:40.Three singles gets Charlie into the quarterfinals, so the man from

:18:41. > :18:41.Blantyre is not far away from the biggest upset in bowls I can

:18:42. > :18:56.remember. So, Nick Brett with a three-shot

:18:57. > :19:22.cushion with three ends to go. The world number one, still under

:19:23. > :19:27.severe pressure. As you say, David, Charlie only needs three shots in

:19:28. > :19:29.the final three ends. Nicky shaking his head, he knows he's in a game

:19:30. > :19:42.here. Charlie has the advantage, thinking,

:19:43. > :20:05.well, even if I drop this set, we've got a tie-break.

:20:06. > :20:43.Correction made. Just don't think it's close enough, though.

:20:44. > :20:51.I tell you what, Andy, if Charlie's looking for a new set of bowls next

:20:52. > :20:57.year, he will have no problem getting one. Sponsors will be

:20:58. > :21:02.queueing up. That's very good from Nicky. It's going to make this

:21:03. > :21:06.awkward for Charlie. Two inches short of Jack high.

:21:07. > :21:18.It's a lot safer and more secure now for Nick Brett.

:21:19. > :21:27.A good line. He's given this a go. Very close.

:21:28. > :21:43.Well played, Charlie. Changes to the forehand, draws the perfect shot.

:21:44. > :21:48.Unbelievable bowl there. Trying to tap it and move the jack

:21:49. > :22:03.out. Not running. Hasn't pushed it. Not far, but he's

:22:04. > :22:10.going to lose the shot, and this would be a good time to walk away.

:22:11. > :22:16.100%, David. Quite right. Still enjoying it.

:22:17. > :22:26.A delightful man to chat to. A real character.

:22:27. > :22:34.Definitely enjoying life. No doubt about that.

:22:35. > :22:43.Two more singles for Charlie to get himself into the quarterfinal. From

:22:44. > :22:50.the last end, three singles does it, and he does an awful lot of damage

:22:51. > :22:54.with that last bowl. Certainly does. It was the third bowl on that

:22:55. > :22:57.occasion, but it ended up being the last bowl of that end. Jack length

:22:58. > :23:53.27.5 metres. A good weight starter. Three and a

:23:54. > :23:58.half feet. David Gourlay relaxing, a bit of music on.

:23:59. > :24:07.Not sure, it might be the Dow Jones or something. No, I think it is

:24:08. > :24:12.music, I did ask him. You never know with David. In the meantime, Charlie

:24:13. > :24:22.draws the shot. It's always going to be difficult

:24:23. > :24:33.for any champion to come in and defend his title. The extra pressure

:24:34. > :24:43.of playing a qualifier... Good bowl to get back in. Still wide open,

:24:44. > :24:48.though. One red. At the start of the game, Nicky was probably enjoying

:24:49. > :24:53.it. But it dawns on him now, the way Charlie's playing, he could be

:24:54. > :24:59.knocking him out, and that won't be a pleasant experience for Nicky.

:25:00. > :25:03.Charlie likes it. Doesn't get back in time.

:25:04. > :25:13.Could force Nick back onto the backhand. A certain amount of danger

:25:14. > :25:18.if he hits the green, it would drop in towards the jack. He needs the

:25:19. > :25:22.inside of it to drop it out for two. Has to be careful...

:25:23. > :25:37.He's given it away. That was a dangerous shot, Andy. One green.

:25:38. > :25:41.Yes, it was. Nicky will be kicking himself. As you said, David, there

:25:42. > :25:49.was danger by slicing the jack. He has given the shot away. Not happy.

:25:50. > :25:55.There's been very, very little good luck and bad luck in this match,

:25:56. > :26:00.it's all been good bowling. Had four seconds to spare, Charlie, with that

:26:01. > :26:05.last one, which is probably why he has rushed it. Was looking at the

:26:06. > :26:11.shot clock. I think Nick will drive it. I really do. If he gets the bowl

:26:12. > :26:16.onto the jack, it's not going to be good, cause the back bowl has stayed

:26:17. > :26:21.on. What if he gets it clean, it's worth a double which would almost

:26:22. > :26:26.secure the set. He can't afford to lose three.

:26:27. > :26:39.Could go the stadium-macro... -- could go wrong. What a bowl.

:26:40. > :26:46.Picked it out perfectly. Scores two and almost certainly secures the

:26:47. > :27:01.second set. Shot of the day, for me. Absolutely

:27:02. > :27:04.fantastic. No margin of error. The bowl onto the jack was a disaster,

:27:05. > :27:08.but he clips the bowl, perfect strike.

:27:09. > :27:19.A big blow of the cheeks, understandable as well.

:27:20. > :27:25.Such a big shot that you are able to call on. If you have so much

:27:26. > :27:29.confidence in the forehand run, knowing that you hit the target nine

:27:30. > :27:36.out of ten, must be such a big advantage to be able to do that.

:27:37. > :27:40.Greg Harlow and his forehand in particular saves an awful lot of

:27:41. > :27:47.matches with the running bowl of his. Nicky is probably as accurate

:27:48. > :27:56.as anybody, I would say. He is indeed. Well, Charlie, you need to

:27:57. > :27:59.score a four. The right place to begin with. Yes, can't fault him on

:28:00. > :28:34.that. Charlie's just got to make sure...

:28:35. > :28:36.He is running at this. If this goes off the green, that's the end of the

:28:37. > :28:42.set. I think that will be it. Second set, Nick Brett. Just dropped

:28:43. > :28:53.in. Fair play, Charlie. It's a tie-break

:28:54. > :29:05.to get into the quarterfinal. What's interesting about this, Andy,

:29:06. > :29:12.whenever you look at the scoreline and say, well, 10-4 for Nick in the

:29:13. > :29:18.second set, that was comfortable, but he was one bowl away from being

:29:19. > :29:20.in a heap of trouble. Exactly. I think Nick has played well enough to

:29:21. > :29:32.probably deserve a tie-break. But as we know, tie-breaks are

:29:33. > :29:40.sometimes the toss of a coin. Just needs one good bowl. He more than

:29:41. > :29:45.deserves it, simply on the basis of Charlie playing so many good last

:29:46. > :29:52.bowls, he must have been in a lot of trouble. And Nick was putting him in

:29:53. > :29:57.trouble. Jack length 25.5 metres. My goodness me, both players have been

:29:58. > :30:02.playing well in this match. A slightly different tactic from

:30:03. > :30:08.Charlie, he has brought the Matthew Bobbin mat further up the green. He

:30:09. > :30:15.has been playing a longish length quite well. When you shorten the

:30:16. > :30:20.jack, that's quite often the case in normal club bowls, but not the case

:30:21. > :30:27.on the portable rink. You have to push it out wide and let it come

:30:28. > :30:44.back. Nick taking advantage. Still not that close, but a good start.

:30:45. > :30:57.He has made adjustments for this one. He has got chances here. As he

:30:58. > :31:09.got the gap? Well, he gave it a chance. The tie-break, three ends.

:31:10. > :31:19.It doesn't matter about cumulative shots, it's just about the win at

:31:20. > :31:24.the end. Well, Charlie, if I was you, I would try and run this jack

:31:25. > :31:30.into the ditch. As you say, it doesn't matter if it is one, two,

:31:31. > :31:38.three of four. Just go for the jack. Close. Oh, goodness me that was

:31:39. > :31:47.close! An inch or two away. Nick Brett will be tapping his chest on

:31:48. > :31:52.that one. That was close that drive. He certainly got that one way better

:31:53. > :32:02.and more accurately. Very close. It just nips the bowl. Brett needs

:32:03. > :32:09.another one in there because that bowl could disappear. At the same

:32:10. > :32:14.time, a back bowl would help. He knows this is not doing anything

:32:15. > :32:21.unless he blocks Charlie out. I don't think so. He is waving it

:32:22. > :32:33.away. That is a nervy one, isn't it? Anything behind was useful. Same

:32:34. > :32:42.bowl again. Into the ditch with the bowl. Charlie's bowl will hit the

:32:43. > :32:51.other one and follow it in. The angle is perfect. He is making sure

:32:52. > :32:59.he is getting a lot of oxygen in, isn't he. He is taking his time. If

:33:00. > :33:06.he gets this right, he will end up in the ditch and he will be very

:33:07. > :33:17.close to it. I think he is under, Alessi is fortunate. -- unless he is

:33:18. > :33:24.fortunate. Not this time. Nicky had to have a slight toucher to win the

:33:25. > :33:32.end. Tactically, Charlie played it just right. That was the close one.

:33:33. > :33:46.The final delivery slightly portly bowl across. Still a chance. Just

:33:47. > :34:14.needs to win the last two ends. Jack length 28.5 metres.

:34:15. > :34:24.Every sport has its hub for world level events. This is the indoor

:34:25. > :34:34.bowls hub at Potters Resort. Crown Green has the Waterloo. This is the

:34:35. > :34:43.biggest occasion for us. Outdoor many years ago used to be working.

:34:44. > :34:51.Yes, there was Leamington. Scotland and of course they will be coming

:34:52. > :34:55.over to the outdoor. There will be Northern Ireland as for this summer.

:34:56. > :35:03.Trying again, just needs to stay in front. He has done a lot of damage

:35:04. > :35:14.with the backhand, Charlie. Yes, he has played it well. He needs one

:35:15. > :35:34.good bowl here. The line is good. How is the pace, Charlie?

:35:35. > :35:42.Nik looking to get behind the jack with this one. Not even attempting

:35:43. > :35:49.to pull it around the corner, he is just going deep. I don't think he

:35:50. > :36:00.should be running at this jack. Just a drop. He is playing his backhand

:36:01. > :36:07.so well and you expecting to draw with one of the two bowls. This

:36:08. > :36:19.looks close to drawing the winner. He has drawn it. He has just played

:36:20. > :36:29.his backhand too well. Nick Brett is in trouble again. Goodness me. And

:36:30. > :36:36.we thought the players was exciting. Nick has three time-outs remaining.

:36:37. > :36:42.He has to reach it, he has no choice. I don't know if he may try

:36:43. > :36:52.to draw it. It's quite a difficult shot. Not many people tend to get

:36:53. > :37:00.this. Is that up? He is under. Definitely under with this one.

:37:01. > :37:12.Definitely not something right about it. Yes, and Nick knows it. Charlie

:37:13. > :37:18.Bence has taken the world number one defending champion all the way. He

:37:19. > :37:23.is doing it with good roles. He is. Nick left him to draw the shot on

:37:24. > :37:29.the backhand and he did. -- with good bowls. He is just drawing too

:37:30. > :37:53.well. Yes, he is. I think he has gone probably 27, 28

:37:54. > :38:04.metres for this one. Jack length 27.5 metres. We have got a good view

:38:05. > :38:08.here. Everyone is gathering around. We have all the press people,

:38:09. > :38:16.everyone here waiting for the biggest story we've had for many

:38:17. > :38:25.years. Should we call this the vultures nest? Yes! Do we have the

:38:26. > :38:49.biggest story in a long time? Once again, Nick is doing everything

:38:50. > :38:59.right. He has played very well today. Charlie is doing so much

:39:00. > :39:03.damage with one bowl in particular, but on a few occasions it has been

:39:04. > :39:12.more than that. He needs one good bowl to get himself into the

:39:13. > :39:21.quarterfinals. This needs to stop. Ten singles Charlie has scored in

:39:22. > :39:24.this match and one double. Two loose openers for Charlie, but you can

:39:25. > :39:29.understand that. The rule change again in the third end of the

:39:30. > :39:34.tie-break. They can destroy the end, but you can have too nominated

:39:35. > :39:38.first. You can nominate as often as you wish, but you are only allowed

:39:39. > :39:49.to destroy once. He is shaking head there. Nick's first is 14 inches. He

:39:50. > :39:54.knows that is not close enough. Charlie couldn't be thinking about

:39:55. > :40:00.running the bowls? No, it must be a draw. He has changed to the

:40:01. > :40:06.forehand. He has signalled to the audience that this is the shot. Is

:40:07. > :40:18.he getting back? The years. He has drawn the shop. My goodness made. --

:40:19. > :40:33.my goodness me! Did he really signalled that? He did. Well done,

:40:34. > :40:45.Charlie. He needs to be up, he really needs to be up... Two red,

:40:46. > :40:50.but it is in a good place. He is shaking his head. I can't blame him.

:40:51. > :41:00.He is just shaking his head! Going for it... Oh, he is under. It has

:41:01. > :41:07.gone. Unlucky. Charlie Bentz, what an effort. A big smile on his face,

:41:08. > :41:15.clapping his hands. Nick Brett has been tested right to the last bowl.

:41:16. > :41:24.What man, what a player. A standing ovation for the 71-year-old from

:41:25. > :41:30.Blantyre and so it should be. That was hard and he dug deep. Good game,

:41:31. > :41:33.good win. That is as difficult as Nick Brett will ever wanted to be

:41:34. > :41:39.and it just proves what can be done in our wonderful sport of bowls.

:41:40. > :41:43.Into the qualifiers, you play through, you win your matches, you

:41:44. > :41:48.play the best in the world and you do play the best in the world and

:41:49. > :41:55.you test them right to the last moment. Nicky Brett is, well I have

:41:56. > :41:58.to say he played very well in that match, very disciplined, but he

:41:59. > :42:09.enjoyed it immensely. Just over the line. 2-1 and Nick Brett through to

:42:10. > :42:12.the quarterfinal. Charlie Bence arrived with one thing in mind that

:42:13. > :42:20.was to enjoy himself. My goodness did he ever. Started off with three

:42:21. > :42:31.singles and charity could play the running bowl. Shot after shot.

:42:32. > :42:37.Beautiful drawers, nothing lucky at all. Really good quality staff as

:42:38. > :42:46.Nick Brett piled on the pressure. But he had to come up with the big

:42:47. > :42:52.ones as well. Pushed the bowl out for two. Charlie just missed with

:42:53. > :42:58.his last delivery to take the red broad-macro outs. Nick is saying

:42:59. > :43:10.waved to the crowd. What a fantastic match for Charlie Bence.

:43:11. > :43:21.He has done Scotland proud. Blantyre will be having a party in his name.

:43:22. > :43:25.And they are able to share a laugh after that fantastic match which had

:43:26. > :43:30.the audience on their feet and rightly so. We are going to talk to,

:43:31. > :43:42.and no offence, Nicky, the star of the day. Charlie Bence, 71 years

:43:43. > :43:52.old. Can I just asked what you are feeling right now? Amazing. It is

:43:53. > :43:58.great. I enjoyed the game. You had him on the ropes. You got very

:43:59. > :44:06.close. Most importantly, you played brilliantly today. It is the best I

:44:07. > :44:11.have played for a while. I had to put Nick under pressure. In the

:44:12. > :44:15.media we always try to build things up to hype it a little bit and we

:44:16. > :44:20.certainly did for this match and we thought that the pressure of playing

:44:21. > :44:22.on television, the big crowd here might have a negative effect, but

:44:23. > :44:29.you seem to take to it like a duck to water will stop I was nervous at

:44:30. > :44:42.first. Once I is a pull-down and me and Nicky started talking, it was

:44:43. > :44:42.all right, I was fine. Did he think he

:44:43. > :44:58.would win? I thought I had him. He is brilliant. He had to be brilliant

:44:59. > :45:06.to get over the line. The atmosphere and sportsmanship between the two

:45:07. > :45:12.review has fantastic. Charlie was fantastic, great on the green. I

:45:13. > :45:21.learned some new words as well. Kerning or whatever that is. Someone

:45:22. > :45:26.before moments between the two of you. What was happening between the

:45:27. > :45:31.two of you? I had just had my eyes tested and he was telling me I

:45:32. > :45:46.needed to do it again. Did you feel nervous playing against Charlie

:45:47. > :45:51.today? I wish I could swear. Unbelievable. There was lots of

:45:52. > :45:56.pressure in there for me, finding a couple of good ones. Every time I

:45:57. > :46:01.found one, he beat it. You are the number one player in the world and

:46:02. > :46:08.the defending champion, have you experienced anything like this match

:46:09. > :46:13.in your lifetime? No. Why was it so different? I don't know really.

:46:14. > :46:17.Charlie had nothing to lose and he played great, to be honest. He just

:46:18. > :46:25.played fantastic. I did not know what to expect and I still don't!

:46:26. > :46:30.Charlie, come back next year? Hopefully. I've got to qualify yet.

:46:31. > :46:35.Make sure you do because we would love to see something like that once

:46:36. > :46:41.again. Ladies and gentlemen, Charlie Bence and Nicky Brett. Nicky,

:46:42. > :46:47.congratulations. What a match we have just seen at Potters. Nicky

:46:48. > :46:52.Brett is through to the quarterfinals and he has joined the

:46:53. > :46:55.likes of Stewart Anderson, Greg Harlow, Jamie Chestney and Paul

:46:56. > :47:03.Foster in the last eight. Of course David Gourlay still has the plane

:47:04. > :47:07.Neil Furman. Darren Burnett plays Mervyn King and Les Gillett against

:47:08. > :47:12.Alex Marshall. A reminder that tennis highlights from the

:47:13. > :47:22.Australian open are coming up next on BBC Two at 4:45pm once the bowls

:47:23. > :47:33.are done and dusted. And you conceive them match between any

:47:34. > :47:38.Stanton and Katherine Rednall later. We are concentrating on the first of

:47:39. > :47:44.those ladies semis. Just to show you the draw, of course any Stanton and

:47:45. > :47:50.Katherine Rednall came through and they are playing tonight, but this

:47:51. > :47:59.afternoon Ellen Falkner defeated Claire Johnston. First up we are

:48:00. > :48:04.going to hear from the defending champion. She has won the title

:48:05. > :48:13.three times here at Potters. It's Ellen Falkner. I take myself away

:48:14. > :48:16.from everything that is going on, a bit of quiet time. I make sure I put

:48:17. > :48:23.in the time practising and try and really get your head in the right

:48:24. > :48:29.place out there. I do like to practice, I do like to get time out

:48:30. > :48:34.there on the rink to see how I am responding. You have to go out there

:48:35. > :48:39.with an open mind. The Green can change. You have the adrenaline and

:48:40. > :48:44.everything else going on. You do have to have a game plan, but

:48:45. > :48:53.equally you have to be prepared to change it as the game unfolds. You

:48:54. > :49:00.are just both of the -- you are just totally focused on that shot. That's

:49:01. > :49:09.the secret. Don't let anything else get into your minds, nothing

:49:10. > :49:13.negative. It's about training your mind to be automated at that point

:49:14. > :49:18.of delivery. I love the sport, I love playing it, I love playing it

:49:19. > :49:22.at the top level and I have been fortunate with the opportunities I

:49:23. > :49:26.have had. To me it is about game by game. It is cliched, but it's about

:49:27. > :49:36.taking one game at the time and focusing on your performance and not

:49:37. > :49:42.worrying too much about the outcome. All the titles I have managed to win

:49:43. > :49:45.have been hard-fought, really tough games. Great competitors. They have

:49:46. > :49:58.always been difficult and challenging and if you just believe,

:49:59. > :50:08.you can lift the title. For the third time in her career, Ellen

:50:09. > :50:13.Falkner! In reality I've played in a number of tournaments all over the

:50:14. > :50:19.world. I have been back here, but not one played the final. YouGov or

:50:20. > :50:21.the experience together and to be honest, it's probably even more

:50:22. > :50:25.special when you win it for the third time when there has been that

:50:26. > :50:32.gap because you know it is not easy, it's really difficult things to go

:50:33. > :50:36.your way. Janice will be going out there and giving it absolutely

:50:37. > :50:41.everything. She qualified in the open singles and she has probably

:50:42. > :50:45.had more green time than myself. She is playing extremely well. You have

:50:46. > :50:52.got to be to qualify in the open event and I hope it will be a good

:50:53. > :50:56.game. The hunger and desire for success leads you to perform to the

:50:57. > :50:59.best of your ability. There are a number of things that make a

:51:00. > :51:04.champion and I'm certainly still trying to work it out. Ellen Falkner

:51:05. > :51:13.trying to win the title for an amazing full-time. I swapped Korkie

:51:14. > :51:17.for Karen Murphy. Before we talk about this semifinal, your reaction

:51:18. > :51:21.to that match we have just seen between icky Brett and Charlie

:51:22. > :51:28.Bence. Fantastic for television and four bowls. I thought it was

:51:29. > :51:34.fantastic. The way he went out onto the rink, seemingly as he said he

:51:35. > :51:38.was nervous, but he didn't show it and he got into his stride early on.

:51:39. > :51:42.How difficult is that to do when you are faced with the cameras and

:51:43. > :51:48.lights for the first time? It's incredibly hard. He played well and

:51:49. > :51:52.found it really early as well. It was amazing watching Charlie Bence,

:51:53. > :51:56.but where good to talk about the semifinal between Ellen and Janice.

:51:57. > :52:01.You know Alan well. Trying to win it for the fourth time. What have been

:52:02. > :52:06.the things that have made Ellen such a great player. Number one would be

:52:07. > :52:11.mental toughness. She's a real fighter and competitor. When I have

:52:12. > :52:16.played her and she recently beat us in the pairs in the world outdoor

:52:17. > :52:20.Championships, it's the determination and speedy grit she

:52:21. > :52:24.has got. The one thing I always think about is that she always seems

:52:25. > :52:29.to find a way when her back is up against the wall. She is thinking

:52:30. > :52:33.all the time about how she can overcome any challenge. Sign of a

:52:34. > :52:39.true champion. You have shown that yourself. When you faced her, what

:52:40. > :52:47.is it about her character along with her style? It is her demeanour. She

:52:48. > :52:51.doesn't give a lot away. She is as cool as a cucumber and does not get

:52:52. > :52:55.flustered. We are going to hear from her opponent who is two to the

:52:56. > :53:07.semifinal for the first time. She also made it into the first round of

:53:08. > :53:12.the mixed singles. It is hard work qualify for the main opens. You are

:53:13. > :53:18.going to a 14 hour day. I played men or the way to get here, so to get

:53:19. > :53:26.here and walk out on that ring, I wanted to give him a fight and I

:53:27. > :53:33.gave him a run for his money. To have played in one of the main event

:53:34. > :53:38.it was fantastic. Ellen is lovely. I've known her for a number of

:53:39. > :53:41.years. What can I say about Ellen Falkner? She's probably the best

:53:42. > :53:47.lady player in the country at the moment, both outdoor and indoor. She

:53:48. > :53:53.has won it three times and it's not going to be easy. We have never

:53:54. > :53:58.played each other in singles. We played each other in National 's

:53:59. > :54:01.with team-mates, but never in singles. I'll go out the ring give

:54:02. > :54:06.it my best and see what happens. I don't suffer a great deal from

:54:07. > :54:13.nerves. A little bit when I walk out on the rink, but after that I'm OK.

:54:14. > :54:17.My aim is to go out there and do my best, but particularly I want to

:54:18. > :54:21.enjoy the experience as well. And it is something that you have to

:54:22. > :54:25.appreciate, the opportunity to play in finals and semifinals does not

:54:26. > :54:33.come along often. Whatever she does, she has to set it up. She is a great

:54:34. > :54:41.player, Janice. What do you think about that game that might help her

:54:42. > :54:50.lower Ellen's colours? She is a good draw bowler, but they both. W on the

:54:51. > :54:57.spot. Who will come on top? I think it will be just because of her

:54:58. > :55:02.mental toughness. Thank you very much. I think you have to go up to

:55:03. > :55:11.the commentary box. Meanwhile we will hand over to other MC.

:55:12. > :55:19.First to a lady who has international caps. Ladies and

:55:20. > :55:20.gentlemen, the 2015 national pairs champion, your appreciation for

:55:21. > :55:47.Janice Gower! And Janice takes on one of the

:55:48. > :55:52.game's most respected players. The 2010 Commonwealth Games gold

:55:53. > :55:54.medallist, three times and defending ladies World Matchplay champion,

:55:55. > :56:19.ladies and gentlemen, Ellen Falkner! Ellen Falkner about to take on

:56:20. > :56:24.Janice Gower in the first lady semifinals this year. The Potters is

:56:25. > :56:30.still buzzing after Nicky Brett and Charlie Bevans's match. Let's head

:56:31. > :56:33.to the commentary box. Always hard to come on after a match

:56:34. > :56:39.like that. A standing ovation for Charlie Bence and rightly so, but

:56:40. > :56:45.you'll find that the auditorium will fill up very quickly for this one.

:56:46. > :56:50.Ellen Falkner, I think it is fair to say she is a firm favourite, but

:56:51. > :56:54.also a favourite with the crowd. Definitely. Janice will have a

:56:55. > :56:56.battle on her hands. Whoever gets off to a good start will be in good

:56:57. > :57:25.stead for this match. A good start by Ellen. I have had

:57:26. > :57:36.the opportunity to watch her practice, but I know that she has

:57:37. > :57:41.been spending a lot of time on the rink. The more time you spend, the

:57:42. > :57:46.better. It is just a matter of getting used to the line and weight

:57:47. > :57:52.of every timing and session that you can. The rink has a tendency to

:57:53. > :57:56.change slightly. The crowd move out, the doors open and then the comeback

:57:57. > :58:01.again. The first half and hour things move around a lot, they

:58:02. > :58:04.really do. It can be quite disturbing, but a very good start

:58:05. > :58:12.for Ellen Falkner with the first two bowls. In the meantime, Karen U have

:58:13. > :58:19.been in London for the last couple of days? Yes, we went to see the

:58:20. > :58:28.sights of London again and talk our mate with us who is playing in the

:58:29. > :58:32.under 25 's event at Potters here. She was excited to see Buckingham

:58:33. > :58:42.Palace, etc. So you are being a guide? I was. It will be interesting

:58:43. > :58:48.to see how she goes. She's a good player. She is good in our

:58:49. > :59:02.Australian squad and has nothing to lose against the young fellows. I've

:59:03. > :59:17.got a message from Sharon Renshaw pushing her all the best. One red

:59:18. > :59:49.and a measure. No nerves in this first end.

:59:50. > :59:55.Ellen Falkner's profile is or was interesting, like your own. It runs

:59:56. > :00:00.to about three pages. I just had to pluck out some of the highlights,

:00:01. > :00:05.but it was very difficult I have to say. There is a lot of stuff in the

:00:06. > :00:11.ad is not easy. A good game against Claire Johnston in the first round.

:00:12. > :00:18.Clear, of course, in the mixed pairs and well established as an

:00:19. > :00:25.international player. Janice Gallop beat a very young Katie Smith, here

:00:26. > :00:28.for the first time. -- Janice Gower. It ran through to a tie-break and it

:00:29. > :00:40.was a wonderful performance from young Katie.

:00:41. > :00:54.Having a look to see if it is one or two. Very good opening head from the

:00:55. > :01:14.girls at the first end. No nerves around. Very close. Read measure for

:01:15. > :01:18.second. Try and sort this out. Good first end, always a bit nervy of

:01:19. > :01:27.course, but some very good bowls played. Touches all round. Always

:01:28. > :01:39.like to see the calipers come out, very accurate.

:01:40. > :02:13.Looks like green to me. One shot, Eleanor Faulkner.

:02:14. > :02:24.Good crowd as normal. A few people have taken comfort break. They will

:02:25. > :02:25.make their way in. It might just disturb the players, but it won't

:02:26. > :02:55.take long. Always a difficult time over in your

:02:56. > :03:04.home country, Karen, always packed calendar. Winning the world singles

:03:05. > :03:07.for you? Thank you very much. Not much of a break, maybe three weeks

:03:08. > :03:13.over Christmas where I didn't pick up a bowl for a little time. Headed

:03:14. > :03:20.straight over to the UK. I didn't really practice at all on the carpet

:03:21. > :03:24.over Christmas. To be honest with you, I don't blame you. It is

:03:25. > :03:32.different in the portable rink as well. Swinging bowls, essential. It

:03:33. > :03:39.is a change of everything in many ways. A lot of people feel it is

:03:40. > :03:46.best to drive here and put the working when you were here. You

:03:47. > :03:56.cannot replicate the portable rink at home. The nearest one to me is in

:03:57. > :04:00.New South Wales. Sometimes I will go down there and roll my arm over it.

:04:01. > :04:17.But there is nothing really like it. Very small field for this, but the

:04:18. > :04:26.quality is well up there. Players arriving at the quarterfinal stage.

:04:27. > :04:35.Rebecca Field. You just lost out in the last bowl. I couldn't see it

:04:36. > :04:40.happening, but you were closer to the action and it was explained the

:04:41. > :04:50.angle was there to take the two bowls out? Yes, covering the spot. I

:04:51. > :05:00.thought there was more chance of jack movement. Always very hard to

:05:01. > :05:11.know sometimes in that situation. You are left between your two shots.

:05:12. > :05:16.We have only got the one bowl as Falkner plays the forearm. She was

:05:17. > :05:48.close to her own bowl here. Was a tempting opportunity there to

:05:49. > :05:54.run the bowl on the jack. Very tough. Good effort, but the

:05:55. > :07:14.percentages were against it. Not a bad opening bowl berth from

:07:15. > :07:51.Ellen Falkner. On the forehand. Big, swinging hand.

:07:52. > :07:56.Comes all the way back. We always look up profiles and what people say

:07:57. > :08:09.in them. Don't think we will see how using any other bowls? I don't think

:08:10. > :08:16.so. Being a good mix with the different companies in the last two

:08:17. > :08:22.weeks. But when you are chief executive of the company, it pretty

:08:23. > :08:26.much binds you into that. There has been a good mix of different

:08:27. > :08:33.manufacturers, which is healthy, I think. No one really dominates any

:08:34. > :08:39.more. Maybe many years ago it was the case for other things, but

:08:40. > :08:44.certainly from our point of view, it is good to see that competition in

:08:45. > :09:04.there. So many good quality bowls being played. Ellen works with her

:09:05. > :09:15.husband Chris on that. Janice has as her occupation, bowls professional.

:09:16. > :09:22.Lying well here. One shot. This should be coming inside on the

:09:23. > :09:26.backhand. Not quite up. I don't think Ellen will be sure to this. I

:09:27. > :09:51.think she will be up and at them. Certainly worth reaching through it.

:09:52. > :10:00.Very controlled. Just trying to draw it off. That is a hard shot. But she

:10:01. > :10:06.might have been a little more positive than that. I am thinking

:10:07. > :10:11.she might have been worried about getting her closest bowl. Yes, it

:10:12. > :10:14.could have run that. Very difficult to draw when you are trying to get

:10:15. > :10:43.within two inches of the jack. Ready for confirmation. Just the one

:10:44. > :10:48.shot. One shot, Janice Gower. Has your elite squad been announced yet

:10:49. > :10:52.for the Commonwealth Games? We are a few weeks away. By thing at the end

:10:53. > :10:59.of January, they are announcing the squad. Will be interesting to see

:11:00. > :11:04.who comes into that. Also, this will be the interesting bit, who comes in

:11:05. > :11:11.for such a prestigious one where it will be held in Australia? Yes, I am

:11:12. > :11:21.obviously hoping my name is on that list. I very much want to be on the

:11:22. > :11:26.list. You never presume. To be honest, I wouldn't imagine there

:11:27. > :11:27.will be a lot of change after a fairly successful World

:11:28. > :11:35.Championships in New Zealand, recently. I think it is fair to say,

:11:36. > :11:40.your squad went very well, as expected. Very impressed by some of

:11:41. > :11:46.the players down there, the Australian players were well

:11:47. > :11:59.drilled. As always. But the fast greens really do suit. Even more so

:12:00. > :12:11.when broad bench greens. New Zealand is quite flat so they might run up

:12:12. > :12:25.to 16 seconds, which for viewers at home, it is still very quick. But a

:12:26. > :12:26.nice pace, more like this out here. Janice made the adjustment. Just

:12:27. > :12:41.rolling up to the jack. Interestingly, a lot of the players

:12:42. > :12:48.have been playing a longer length, from what I have been seeing in the

:12:49. > :12:54.event so far. And preparing the backhand towards the commentary box

:12:55. > :13:02.as well. -- prefer airing. Needs to worry. Will be the wrong side of the

:13:03. > :13:05.bowl. I opted for the forehand coming back to the commentary box

:13:06. > :13:13.because it was a little bit wider and I felt it was easier to get back

:13:14. > :13:18.to the line. Playing on the backhand, it is quite flat. That

:13:19. > :13:28.means it is a steady hand and everything has to be more or less

:13:29. > :13:39.right for the draw. It is very rink, this.

:13:40. > :13:51.A few of the players have played off the forehand. Not many. This is

:13:52. > :13:59.close. This is very close. Needs to hurry to touch it out. It should

:14:00. > :14:08.drop. There it goes. That dropout made the double. Very hesitant, but

:14:09. > :14:21.eventually it got there. We are still waiting. There we go. Janice

:14:22. > :14:28.opting to probably just draw this one. Second shot is very good for

:14:29. > :14:39.her. Second shot would be excellent under the circumstances. Looks good

:14:40. > :14:55.for it. Just dropped in. I would be very careful about this.

:14:56. > :15:07.The green boulders appear to be past the jack as Ellen plays this shot.

:15:08. > :15:15.-- green bowl does. She is being... Good idea. On the safe side. Nine

:15:16. > :15:28.ends. Nine ends in the first set but you

:15:29. > :15:39.really want to win, you have to be very careful. You want the board to

:15:40. > :15:43.be ticking over. Yes, getting singles and ticking the end is over,

:15:44. > :15:47.is all you need. It is those multiples who don't want to drop in

:15:48. > :15:56.a game like this when the ends go so quickly. Time for me to interrogate

:15:57. > :16:00.you on the new techniques bowls Australia has brought in for the

:16:01. > :16:08.elite squad. Always willing to learn things like that. Interrogate away.

:16:09. > :16:14.I wouldn't do that to you. One of our favourites in the Royal bowls

:16:15. > :16:21.tour, Mark McMahon was part of the Australian support squad. Spent a

:16:22. > :16:29.few hours with him at different venues. Excellent player. At the

:16:30. > :16:33.world final one year. Yes, we are very lucky to have him on board as

:16:34. > :16:39.our sports psychologist and what a bowls brain he has. Played on his

:16:40. > :16:48.portable rink many times. We are very fortunate to have him on our

:16:49. > :16:49.team. I can't possibly mention the rest of the support squad because

:16:50. > :17:06.there is just too many of them. Anything behind is good. Don't want

:17:07. > :17:15.to be dropping short after a good first one. Not like her. Change of

:17:16. > :17:26.length from Ellen as well. 26 metres, is the jack length.

:17:27. > :17:52.Not bad. Decent second. Three feet short. The shorter lengths are more

:17:53. > :17:57.difficult for the line on this rink. Yes, they are a valuable tactic. A

:17:58. > :18:03.lot of people might think the shorter the jack length is, the

:18:04. > :18:09.easier it is. That's not the case. Portable rink, you are just touching

:18:10. > :18:22.the bowl away. But it is not so fast, you have still got to arrive

:18:23. > :18:28.at it. This looks to be good. Always the temptation to over correct. Good

:18:29. > :18:30.back position. Ellen might have to think about this. She is going down

:18:31. > :19:22.to have a look. Will we see Janice play some weight?

:19:23. > :19:25.There is no reason not to. She is still a crown green player on

:19:26. > :19:35.occasions and they are very attacking. Interesting, but she is

:19:36. > :20:14.very close to this. Just got her own. Unlucky.

:20:15. > :20:35.We can welcome back our viewers from BBC Scotland, as we arrive for this

:20:36. > :20:43.Janice Gower, Ellen Falkner match. If anyone in Scotland didn't see the

:20:44. > :20:49.previous match, it was fantastic. All the way to the last bowl in the

:20:50. > :21:05.third end of the tie-break. But that is all I am going to tell you.

:21:06. > :21:14.Ellen opting for a longer length of jack this time. I always like having

:21:15. > :21:24.world champions in the commentary box, just in case I say something

:21:25. > :21:30.wrong. I am wondering if Ellen is mixing the length up to throw

:21:31. > :21:38.Janice. Some players can be real rhythm players. Especially if the

:21:39. > :21:43.jack is in the same place. Not a bad tactic to adopt. It is also when

:21:44. > :21:47.people play long ends and then they moved the matter up to a short

:21:48. > :22:00.length. I am more in favour of a couple of metres. The opposition can

:22:01. > :22:03.catch onto it too easily. Ellen has dropped two short bowls. If you're

:22:04. > :22:07.going to change the length, you must get in. Great opportunity for Janice

:22:08. > :22:27.to really get to the jack first. Just sneak them. Plenty of room for

:22:28. > :22:38.Ellen Falkner to get in. She has changed her hand.

:22:39. > :22:48.Coming in from a high line. This bowl is doing a bit of work. It

:22:49. > :22:52.needs to hurry. Three short bowls, Karen that is very dangerous? A lot

:22:53. > :22:59.of pressure on yourself going into your last delivery. I was surprised

:23:00. > :23:09.she changed because there was still plenty of room. It is heavier down

:23:10. > :23:17.there, because I think the air conditioning does affect it. This is

:23:18. > :23:23.a good shot from Janice Gower. When you lose three, the first thing you

:23:24. > :23:38.want to do is pegged at least two of them back again.

:23:39. > :24:05.Certainly changing things, second bowl.

:24:06. > :24:18.Just push it out on the wide side. Single to Janice Gower. She needed

:24:19. > :24:29.that. Couldn't afford to lose any more shots with three ends to go.

:24:30. > :24:33.Still a bit of movement in the crowd, people still coming and

:24:34. > :24:42.going. Hasn't quite filled up again after the previous match. They have

:24:43. > :24:44.been thoroughly entertained over the last few days. Quite a few standing

:24:45. > :25:27.ovations for the players. Judy Potter. I think she watches

:25:28. > :25:37.more bowls than I do over the two weeks. Floral jacket.

:25:38. > :25:47.She doesn't give me a list, I just recognise them. She is always

:25:48. > :25:52.immaculately dressed, is Judy Potter. It is lovely to see her

:25:53. > :26:02.here, she has been here quite a bit. She loves it. Janice looks to be a

:26:03. > :26:17.little bit better than her first bowl here.

:26:18. > :26:28.Ellen still opting to stay on beforehand. Still possible to draw

:26:29. > :26:40.it, just around the green bowl. Needs to hurry to stay on the line.

:26:41. > :26:48.Starting to dip away. You have been doing some work with Ellen? Yes, she

:26:49. > :26:59.plays at my club in Sydney. We have become good mates. She is a nice,

:27:00. > :27:03.young girl. I find myself, as a mentor, I suppose. She has lovely

:27:04. > :27:10.manners and a nice demeanour on the green. Yes, she has had some good

:27:11. > :27:15.success. Great to see her appear. We take note of people doing well. I do

:27:16. > :27:21.keep an eye on what is happening in the southern hemisphere. She is

:27:22. > :27:26.certainly one to watch Helen Ryan. I don't think it will be too many

:27:27. > :27:35.years before we see her in the green and gold colours. This doesn't look

:27:36. > :27:40.right. It is under. I am surprised at that because everything was to be

:27:41. > :27:42.gained by reaching that head. Ellen is an attacking player, she cannot

:27:43. > :28:08.afford to start being negative. Three. Surely she must play the

:28:09. > :28:16.runner at this. As long as she is not narrow, Karen, she said? It is a

:28:17. > :28:25.big target. She has lost her way a little bit with the waiter. --

:28:26. > :28:33.weight. If she is able to get onto that bowl, straight jack through is

:28:34. > :28:37.also an option. Could play the same shot on the back can. It is

:28:38. > :28:43.available both ways. Depends what she prefers. Some people prefer

:28:44. > :28:51.backhand when they are running bowls. Bobby Moore chance to get to

:28:52. > :28:59.the jack on beforehand. -- probably more chance. It has a tendency to

:29:00. > :29:12.dip if you go down the line. Doesn't want to be wide. I think that is a

:29:13. > :29:25.fortuitous result if she is able to take two. Might still be two green.

:29:26. > :29:33.One shot, Janice Gower. Just the one. Fortunate to get the flick.

:29:34. > :29:42.Ellen will know she was on the wrong side of the jack. I liked the weight

:29:43. > :29:49.she used when she played the weighted shop. A lot easier to go

:29:50. > :29:53.firm than swinging weight. You don't want to be playing the Mickey Mouse

:29:54. > :30:00.yard on, they don't do anything for you. It is far too difficult. Jack

:30:01. > :30:37.length, 26.5 metres. 26.5. That is not very useful in terms of

:30:38. > :30:46.its finish. The first bowl has been very effective in the last few ends.

:30:47. > :30:52.Whoever starts with the first bowl it is a potent weapon if you can get

:30:53. > :30:55.it within six inches. If you fail with your first bowl, you are

:30:56. > :30:59.chasing a little bit with the rest of your bowls. If you find the first

:31:00. > :31:16.one, you have every chance of repeating it. Short-term muscle

:31:17. > :31:23.memory. REFEREE: Five inches from jack high. Janice Gayle has played

:31:24. > :31:28.really well over the last couple of ends, putting some pressure on Ellen

:31:29. > :31:38.Falkner. Certainly nothing in this game so far.

:31:39. > :31:49.That is a good second shot, but it will not help to get the number one.

:31:50. > :31:58.She is a very good conversion player, a good tactical player. But

:31:59. > :32:05.you have to get that draw bowl going because you are not going to get out

:32:06. > :32:10.of trouble all the time. Ellen Falkner played some wonderful

:32:11. > :32:14.conversion bowls last year. I watched her at home. It was a

:32:15. > :32:20.wonderful display of convergence, changing heads over, taking bowls

:32:21. > :32:25.out. The top female players in the world have got very good drives and

:32:26. > :32:31.weighted shots as well as a good draw shot game. They have to to get

:32:32. > :32:39.out of trouble. It is something that is developed, of course. It is

:32:40. > :32:47.something you learn. Ellen is trying a hard shot here. It looks to be

:32:48. > :32:53.under at this stage. It sweeps away very quickly. The back position is

:32:54. > :32:59.against her, so she has to be careful. It was quite eyes wait for

:33:00. > :33:16.the short, but it is very difficult to play. This is important. Well, if

:33:17. > :33:23.it is only one short, just try and draw this. You really do not want to

:33:24. > :33:34.make a mistake of taking your own bowl out and losing an extra one. I

:33:35. > :33:41.think the shot is on the forehand. The shot bowl is just behind the

:33:42. > :33:47.jack. Just amaze even draw shot. Nothing too adventurous. She is well

:33:48. > :33:56.wide. Yet. I understand her taking that line. She does not mind losing

:33:57. > :34:04.the single, three singles in a row. In the first set it is so important.

:34:05. > :34:11.Just one count in the match so far, that treble four Ellen Falkner. That

:34:12. > :34:21.end has been the difference in the sector so far.

:34:22. > :34:32.Ellen Falkner's husband, Chris, is a good bowler in his own right. But I

:34:33. > :34:39.do not think he is going to win any arguments about the game around the

:34:40. > :34:48.dinner table! I am sure there is much discussion about the bowls

:34:49. > :34:57.around the dinner table! At the Commonwealth Games in 2002 she goes

:34:58. > :35:02.back to there. She has won so many titles since then. She played the

:35:03. > :35:11.Aussie triples team, of which I was a member, in Glasgow. We still

:35:12. > :35:32.speak! It was a fine performance. I remember it well.

:35:33. > :35:55.Well, she is putting pressure on Janice Gower. There is no doubt

:35:56. > :36:05.about that. Two very good first bowls. Three to win the set. I think

:36:06. > :36:12.Ellen will be more than happy with a very good second shot here. She has

:36:13. > :36:19.been stretching it a little bit. This one is dipping away. It just

:36:20. > :36:44.needs to stop. At least second, she will be happy with that.

:36:45. > :36:59.I can see the reason why. That danger will be there with the next

:37:00. > :37:11.one as well, so Ellen need another bowl in. Going past the red one will

:37:12. > :37:16.at least have value. She needed another bowl in and she needed cover

:37:17. > :37:22.at the same time. That is pretty good. It is not bad. It looks like

:37:23. > :37:31.just a draw to it and drop in on the jack. Get the angle right and you

:37:32. > :37:38.can make three. There is an alternative, of course. I think the

:37:39. > :38:12.draw shot is an easier shot. Just not getting down on time. Ellen

:38:13. > :38:17.Falkner protects the six - one lead. And very happy to do so I am sure.

:38:18. > :38:19.She will put that one in her back pocket and feel she is happy enough

:38:20. > :38:45.to take the set. Ellen is keeping her concentration.

:38:46. > :38:46.A few people are leaving the auditorium for a little break. They

:38:47. > :39:38.will be back. So, starting off the second set. It

:39:39. > :39:43.is fair to say that Ella needs to tighten up a little bit. That is a

:39:44. > :39:49.good first bowl, but there have not been enough of them. She lost a

:39:50. > :39:56.little bit of her weight towards the end of the last set.

:39:57. > :40:07.Need to keep the pressure on, force your opponent into playing the

:40:08. > :40:13.difficult shots. They are very hard to play, but they are low percentage

:40:14. > :40:18.and it affects your rate. What Ellen Falkner did well in the initial ends

:40:19. > :40:22.of the first set was the first bowl was very effective. That is more

:40:23. > :41:04.like it. Not far away. It will probably stop

:41:05. > :41:08.Ellen playing the backhand. Yes, the focus in Australia is very much on

:41:09. > :41:16.the development of the young players as well. Even after India where they

:41:17. > :41:21.were successful in some events, they got a silver in the triples, the

:41:22. > :41:25.next year there were two of them gone. There is that push always to

:41:26. > :41:31.develop the young players and move things along, so you are getting a

:41:32. > :41:34.life out of them. What we have got at the moment with the Australian

:41:35. > :41:38.team is a really good mix of experience and we have got some

:41:39. > :41:46.really good young players coming through. Our experienced player are

:41:47. > :42:15.still there. You have good young fours and in New

:42:16. > :42:23.Zealand they played well. She got the edge. That was a pretty good

:42:24. > :42:28.result in the end. I thought it was going to move to the other side, the

:42:29. > :42:36.jack, which would not have been beneficial. A bit unlucky not to get

:42:37. > :42:42.the bowl out absolutely clean. She should still be able to draw this.

:42:43. > :42:59.She has got two or three feet around the jack.

:43:00. > :43:08.Confirmation from the market, Dan blew it.

:43:09. > :43:15.It trapped on a little bit and he is marking the one underneath, which

:43:16. > :43:25.means that the first shot must be the red at the top of your picture

:43:26. > :43:32.to begin with. That looks like it is just about in for the second. Get

:43:33. > :43:39.the measure. REFEREE: 1-shot, Ellen Falkner. Ellen has not got the

:43:40. > :43:44.benefit of the rings. That was definitely worth measuring. I do not

:43:45. > :43:57.think you would have walked away from that one, Karen. No. I have to

:43:58. > :44:04.say they have been very accurate at this event. Some of the players have

:44:05. > :44:42.been saying to me, any chance of putting your rings on the big

:44:43. > :44:43.screen? It is not going to happen. Sorry about that. It is a little

:44:44. > :44:47.toy. We used to have a monitor at the end for the players to see where

:44:48. > :45:02.the shots lay. Often it is a lot closer than it

:45:03. > :45:22.looks on television. This is a very good end from both

:45:23. > :45:54.girls. This is close. Yes, that looked good

:45:55. > :46:06.all the way. That is absolutely brilliant from both players.

:46:07. > :46:11.REFEREE: Both your bowls are short of jack high. There is half an inch

:46:12. > :46:20.gap to the jack. What would you play here, David Corkill? If you want to

:46:21. > :46:26.push it, you want to push it a yard out. If you missed it, you come into

:46:27. > :46:31.the back position. She is going deep with this one. That is very good. If

:46:32. > :46:33.you do not want to play the runner to stay on, which is very delicate

:46:34. > :46:45.and difficult. She has come down to have a look at

:46:46. > :46:47.it to see if it is worth getting the green bowl out. I do not think it

:46:48. > :47:11.will be going without the jack. Green on to read does not help. Lots

:47:12. > :47:19.and lots of danger here for Ellen Falkner. If she gets onto the green

:47:20. > :47:24.bowl, this red bowl is disappearing. If she gets onto the red, it will

:47:25. > :47:32.definitely move. But there is a risk of getting it wrong. It has to be

:47:33. > :47:38.plumb in the middle. That is very narrow as a percentage shot. It may

:47:39. > :47:43.be better just to draw this. The problem is, there is still another

:47:44. > :47:51.green bowl and if it goes right through, it will leave a lot of

:47:52. > :47:55.room. This is quite a conservative game for her. It will be interesting

:47:56. > :48:07.to see what weight she plays with this. Yes, there is the danger. I

:48:08. > :48:11.thought that was a dangerous shot. Tactically that was not the place to

:48:12. > :48:16.go because you were always take your own bowl out if you do not get it

:48:17. > :48:22.absolutely right. And there is another bowl to come. And giving

:48:23. > :48:28.Janice at least a yard to count for her final bowl. More than a yard I

:48:29. > :48:33.would say. It is four or five feet all round the jack. She has probably

:48:34. > :48:42.got to get to nine feet to draw this. I cannot see how making a

:48:43. > :48:51.mistake. -- I cannot see her making a mistake. The tactics are so

:48:52. > :48:55.important. Sometimes you have to walk away. That is what I would have

:48:56. > :49:06.done there. Instead of level, Ellen Falkner, the

:49:07. > :49:33.defending champion, is two behind. Static on the mat, most unusual.

:49:34. > :50:01.More like a fixed stance. REFEREE: 28.5 metres. 28.5.

:50:02. > :50:09.And of course Janice Gower managed to qualify in the main draw of the

:50:10. > :50:15.singles here. That gives her more time on the green, on the carpet I

:50:16. > :50:25.should say. It is old habits. The more time on the carpet, it is good,

:50:26. > :50:30.but the reality is nothing beats competitive matches. Being put under

:50:31. > :50:43.that pressure in training is what you lack.

:50:44. > :50:49.These two girls are both very dedicated practises on the ring,

:50:50. > :50:53.trying to grab every opportunity to get into rhythm and they obviously

:50:54. > :51:09.both know this very well. A much better start by Ellen

:51:10. > :51:26.Falkner, that is what we expect from her.

:51:27. > :51:30.Janice Gower played Mervyn King in the first round. She played some

:51:31. > :51:37.good shots as well, very competitive. The second set in

:51:38. > :51:49.particular. The first set was straightforward, but the second set

:51:50. > :51:56.was a different ball game. 10-3 in the first set, but the second set

:51:57. > :52:04.was 9-7. Mervyn was protecting a lead in that one.

:52:05. > :52:33.She changed hands and just dropped a little bit short with that one. A

:52:34. > :52:37.lot of people have been doing that. It is something quite noticeable,

:52:38. > :52:41.players changing to the forehand. They have been dropping a yard

:52:42. > :52:53.short. Obviously that is not good. This is close. That stops the easy

:52:54. > :52:58.draw. Ellen can drop one in here to move it out on the high side and let

:52:59. > :53:03.it drift back. There is a shot on the other side to take the green

:53:04. > :53:08.bowl out and lie for three. But it is not worth it. If you get it

:53:09. > :53:09.wrong, you can lose a shot. She is playing the backhand and this has to

:53:10. > :53:30.be absolutely perfect. I think she was being a bit careful.

:53:31. > :53:37.After the last time she will have been a bit tentative about that. You

:53:38. > :53:47.have to think about the long game here. You have to wait your chance

:53:48. > :54:09.for a really good opportunity for conversion, rather than a risky one.

:54:10. > :54:19.REFEREE: Jacked length, 25 metres, 25.

:54:20. > :54:32.She will be getting changed for this evening. A quick snack, no big meals

:54:33. > :54:39.before matches. Definitely not, no big bowl of pasta prior to a match.

:54:40. > :54:41.Not clever. With lots of carbs it is very hard shift those. You need

:54:42. > :55:17.something light. It looks to be better with this one,

:55:18. > :55:24.Ellen Falkner. A very good correction. Corrected the weight

:55:25. > :55:33.well and played a very good line with the first bowl.

:55:34. > :55:56.A side touch. A little contact, even on the outside, would be good.

:55:57. > :56:05.I played in Cabramata awhile ago. My home club. I played a top-class lady

:56:06. > :56:15.player at the time. Came from the same area as myself. It was a

:56:16. > :56:31.beautiful green. I really enjoyed them.

:56:32. > :56:45.The target here, the second shot. And it is running through. No point

:56:46. > :56:56.in being shot, but this is a good opportunity for Ellen Falkner to

:56:57. > :57:05.drop another one in. Anything past the green bowl is still a good bowl.

:57:06. > :57:10.A good cover bowl in case Janice decides to place some white on its

:57:11. > :57:15.head. She was so far with the jack, that was quite deliberate. I still

:57:16. > :57:23.think there is a forehand shot on here because there is a double

:57:24. > :57:29.opportunity. Just looking at this, Karen, it is good on there. If you

:57:30. > :57:32.missed it, you get to there with the second shot, potentially the jack

:57:33. > :57:41.moving across and dropping into this position. I think it is a double if

:57:42. > :57:53.you want to reach it. If it is a draw, it is on the backhand. It

:57:54. > :58:01.looks to be on the high side if it is a draw shot. I think with that

:58:02. > :58:05.sort of weight to the forehand was a better opportunity, it really was.

:58:06. > :58:17.There was a big sweep on that forehand. It is more to do with

:58:18. > :58:21.percentages than anything else. There is pleasure always looking for

:58:22. > :58:24.percentages. It might not offer and beat the best shot, but they work

:58:25. > :58:27.out which one might be the best opportunity for a change rather than

:58:28. > :59:28.the perfect result. Ellen's first bowl is some two and a

:59:29. > :00:05.half feet past. A bit of a loose one from Janice Gower.

:00:06. > :00:20.Holding two, but not as much as she would like.

:00:21. > :00:35.Gap to the shot, 18 inches. Not too much of a correction on her last

:00:36. > :00:44.bowl for Ellen Falkner. Still running. Good grouping, but you

:00:45. > :00:47.don't want them two or three feet behind the jack. The gap is 18

:00:48. > :01:02.inches. Great opportunity for Janice Gower

:01:03. > :01:11.to consolidate this head. Looks to be on a good line. Just pulling up

:01:12. > :01:22.short. Opportunity lost. One green. Goodness me. Ellen will move onto

:01:23. > :01:31.her forehand. Too many bowls are dropping short.

:01:32. > :01:43.You draw it and hope to get the jack. I am sure the draw shot is on.

:01:44. > :01:49.Needs to hurry. So many bowls are dropping a few feet short. I don't

:01:50. > :01:57.think it will be enough. No, missed the chance. Anything up to the green

:01:58. > :02:07.bowl and past it was good. This is a great opportunity for Janice Gower

:02:08. > :02:21.to add another shot. Number two coming in. Run through a little bit.

:02:22. > :02:35.They will measure this one. It is a lot closer than some of the others.

:02:36. > :02:38.That really was, not a loose head, but the last bowl, so many

:02:39. > :02:46.opportunities to play slightly through it. If you miss it, you miss

:02:47. > :02:48.it. It wasn't dead weight she was looking for. It was a foot or so

:02:49. > :03:06.behind the jack. We love that. First invented in the

:03:07. > :03:16.early 19 hundredths, would you believe? Only been tweaked a few

:03:17. > :03:21.times since because it has fundamentally been the same. Very

:03:22. > :04:06.accurate. Very rarely you see black or brown

:04:07. > :04:12.bowls now. Composite bowl, now. Composite was developed in

:04:13. > :04:23.Australia. There you go. Did you not know that? I didn't. They were so

:04:24. > :04:28.expensive to make, they hacked to develop a cheaper bowl. So they

:04:29. > :04:41.developed a composite bowl through Dunlop. And that was in the 1930s.

:04:42. > :04:55.So a long time ago. You can get the old one for presentation sets. But

:04:56. > :04:56.they are now computer turned. Big history, bowling in Australia of

:04:57. > :05:09.course. Most major cities have a bowls club

:05:10. > :05:16.on every corner. A few out in the bush as well. You don't find our

:05:17. > :05:20.bowling clubs have massive membership, like you think because

:05:21. > :05:32.there are so many clubs out there. Our club probably has around 55

:05:33. > :05:39.competitive ladies and probably 70 ladies, social players. But not a

:05:40. > :05:45.massive membership. How many greens? We have a lovely carpet with a roof

:05:46. > :05:51.over the top and two grass greens. For such a small membership, that is

:05:52. > :05:57.incredible. Obviously we have the powerhouse clubs of Maryland and St

:05:58. > :06:08.John's Park within minutes drive. 1400 members at my indoor club. Wow.

:06:09. > :06:14.Even winning the club title is an achievement. That is men and women

:06:15. > :06:20.of course, but it's not easy. It is a strong club. Anyway, back to the

:06:21. > :06:38.bowls. Anything over the weight, she gets

:06:39. > :06:46.the back one. Not the! Janice would be well served to think about this.

:06:47. > :06:52.Should be covering on the backhand. If you cover on the backhand, you

:06:53. > :07:01.make Faulkner draw it. Still thinking. It is back can cover shot

:07:02. > :07:07.because anything past the red bowl will be third. That is important.

:07:08. > :07:33.Anything beyond that, covers trail. Definitely.

:07:34. > :07:47.It is still there. Missed the chance. Not easy for Ellen, but she

:07:48. > :07:51.needs to arrive at this one. This is the one she really needs to take.

:07:52. > :08:08.Not a lot of danger either. She is on an inside line, so she has

:08:09. > :08:19.to have the weight to hold it. Not sure if that's enough. Faller

:08:20. > :08:26.contact on the jack was worth three. Just enough to get a single. An inch

:08:27. > :08:34.away of picking up a good count. Inch away from being perfect, but

:08:35. > :08:36.still wins the end. She was unlucky not to get that jack to the back of

:08:37. > :09:08.the rink. Jack length, 29 metres. 29. Back to

:09:09. > :09:19.this first bowl again now. 29 metre jack length.

:09:20. > :09:38.There's been nothing in this second set.

:09:39. > :09:53.Ellen Falkner will be very happy with her opening bowl. You have to

:09:54. > :09:59.add another. As soon as your opponent drops one short, Ellen

:10:00. > :10:06.would have been very keen to get to the mat, I would think. Needs to

:10:07. > :10:13.hurry with this. Don't think she is going to make it. That is an

:10:14. > :10:16.mischance. You really should be putting your opponent in trouble

:10:17. > :10:23.where. Now she's got a straightforward yard arm with the

:10:24. > :10:32.last bowl. Finding the middle of the ring, so the line isn't a problem.

:10:33. > :10:39.My goodness, Karen, what is going on? Short bowls. I often think when

:10:40. > :10:44.you play a good one with the first bowl, I know I am guilty of this at

:10:45. > :10:49.times, your second bowl can be quite short. You put so much emphasis and

:10:50. > :10:54.importance on your first bowl, you ease of when you play a good one.

:10:55. > :10:58.You need to consolidate the head, which he has done with her third

:10:59. > :11:06.bowl, Ellen Falkner. That should have been the second one. It is

:11:07. > :11:11.about giving opportunities to your own ability. The ability is there,

:11:12. > :11:16.you just have to think about it. When you are thinking about it, the

:11:17. > :11:20.shot clock is running down, so that doesn't help. Very easy to rush

:11:21. > :11:33.these things. On the forehand. It is coming in well. Got the jack. There

:11:34. > :11:40.it goes. Nice piece of weight from Janice Gower, perfect to get to the

:11:41. > :11:48.jack. It is a four inch gap and it is eight in just short of jack high.

:11:49. > :11:58.Use of the last ten or 12 seconds and call it. Time-out called. There

:11:59. > :12:02.is the trophy, I am sure Ellen would love to get her hands on that with

:12:03. > :12:11.back-to-back wins. Budgie has a lot of work to do. I think it is a

:12:12. > :12:15.backhand draw for Ellen. Can't afford to play anything more than

:12:16. > :12:20.that. If she is going to lose this end, she needs a good second. She

:12:21. > :12:32.will be thankful it is on the side of the rink she has been playing.

:12:33. > :12:45.I am surprised at this, I really am. I don't think that is the right

:12:46. > :12:53.shop, Karen, I really don't. The jack in the ditch was wonderful, one

:12:54. > :13:00.green and she has a mountain of room to draw of the next one. I think

:13:01. > :13:06.there have been a few tactical choices here which, has looked at

:13:07. > :13:17.the absolute result, but not the overall match. This is Janice's last

:13:18. > :13:23.bowl. Ellen gifted her another shot. She did it in the second as well.

:13:24. > :13:37.Instead of being level, Ellen should be two or three shots up. Not like

:13:38. > :13:43.Ellen. She's normally better on the tactical side of the game. Just the

:13:44. > :13:59.characteristics of the portable rink, that's all. Not much really.

:14:00. > :14:07.Mainly on the longer jack Lentz. Jack length, 28 metres. Generally

:14:08. > :14:11.around the 28 metre mark. It is getting late in the day to bring the

:14:12. > :14:15.matter up and played 23 or 24. It might be needed. Particularly if we

:14:16. > :14:22.are heading for a tie-break. After a good start is Janice Gower.

:14:23. > :15:13.She will be happy with that one. Janice just looking for bowl similar

:15:14. > :15:35.to her first one, something to fatten up the target. Just short.

:15:36. > :15:43.I think Ellen was thinking about the last end with her second bowl.

:15:44. > :15:46.Conscious of the fact she didn't want to drop short, but at least it

:15:47. > :16:12.is valuable back there. Good position.

:16:13. > :16:25.Needs to get this in. Wants to be carrying a lead into the last end.

:16:26. > :16:34.Touching the jack wouldn't do her any harm. I think she has been

:16:35. > :16:39.unlucky. Difficult one here for Janice Gower. She has to decide what

:16:40. > :16:45.to do. As in May Janice's task any easier? If anything, there may be a

:16:46. > :16:52.gap between the jack and the bowl now. Not only that, if she touches

:16:53. > :16:56.the outside of the red bowl, it will spring across the two. She has to

:16:57. > :17:06.get it on the inside edge. If you get back, you're likely to get the

:17:07. > :17:10.jack. This is why she is playing the backhand. This is a chance for Ellen

:17:11. > :17:17.Falkner, she must make up her mind what to do. It is a good, positive

:17:18. > :17:27.draw. Just a chilly outside of the edge of her own bowl and she will

:17:28. > :17:37.make three. Will this get back? Needs to bend quickly. Good but

:17:38. > :17:43.three. That is exactly what she had to play. That was a big bowl and she

:17:44. > :17:58.played it very, very well. Perfect weight.

:17:59. > :18:05.There has been a few opportunities for Ellen in this match. That is the

:18:06. > :18:08.first one she has really grasped. Good timing. Just a matter of

:18:09. > :18:27.winning the end. It is all about taking those

:18:28. > :18:31.opportunities when they arise. Nothing between these two players in

:18:32. > :18:37.the second set. They have both played well. I think it is when you

:18:38. > :18:42.make mistakes the uptime and the gift shots away that it really

:18:43. > :18:45.hurts. Then you reflect on that. Ellen is mentally very strong, so

:18:46. > :18:48.she wouldn't have been thinking too much about it. You are always

:18:49. > :19:09.conscious of the fact. Janice, needs to draw a touch here.

:19:10. > :19:39.Left it short. It is a good bowl. Good start for both players. But

:19:40. > :19:49.Ellen seems to have upped her game in the last few ends. That is a very

:19:50. > :19:54.good bowl. When you are chasing shots like Janice, she cannot afford

:19:55. > :20:09.to be short here. Confident draw down the backhand.

:20:10. > :20:22.Very good. It is a very good bowl. She needed to be probably two feet

:20:23. > :20:27.heavier than that. You have to be through it. If you are looking for

:20:28. > :20:33.three shots... You need to give yourself some room to be able to

:20:34. > :20:45.draw another couple. You have to make a difference. Time-out called.

:20:46. > :20:51.If I was Ellen here, I would be tempted to play to it. If Ellen

:20:52. > :20:57.crunches the jack against the green, it is more or less over. The only

:20:58. > :21:01.danger is, she doesn't want to bring it out into the open. So high line

:21:02. > :21:18.draw be useful. I like my Highline drift shots. Get

:21:19. > :21:30.them out there. Let it drift right in again. She is calling it to

:21:31. > :21:34.hurry. Not ideal, because it gives a shoulder for Janice to play through

:21:35. > :21:42.it. She knows if she plays in now and Mrs, that's it. More or less

:21:43. > :21:46.over. No way of getting a three. I think she has to try it. Definitely

:21:47. > :22:13.the inside of the red bowl. Good arriving draw at this, use the

:22:14. > :22:15.shoulder and take the red bowl out. Give herself a chance with the last

:22:16. > :22:34.one. Good effort. It is in the head and

:22:35. > :22:38.it's a good effort. Just needed two beat more. If it had have been two

:22:39. > :22:51.feet more, it wouldn't have got back.

:22:52. > :23:06.Still choices and there's still chances.

:23:07. > :23:13.Be interesting to see if she goes deep with this over to the side or

:23:14. > :23:20.drop in on the gap. If she drops in on the gap, it would be all over.

:23:21. > :23:24.That would be a fantastic bowl. If she gets any movement on her own

:23:25. > :23:35.bowl on the way in would be a good result. Just slipping past. This

:23:36. > :23:41.shot is definitely there. No doubt about it. You get into the inside of

:23:42. > :23:46.that, you get a half bowl, that goes out, you try and get off the angle

:23:47. > :23:57.onto the red bowl. And that would really kill it. That is the other

:23:58. > :24:03.target bowl. Can't say it's not possible, it is. Not the easiest of

:24:04. > :24:08.chances, but probably better than what she might have expected.

:24:09. > :24:13.Doesn't want any jack movement. Can't afford any jack movement

:24:14. > :24:18.there. The angle is there to take the two reds out and stay. But she

:24:19. > :24:31.will need to push through it with four or five yards running. She has

:24:32. > :24:43.certainly given it a chance. Good effort! Just the one shot.

:24:44. > :24:52.Good game. But Ellen just had too much in the tank in the end. Good

:24:53. > :24:54.match, but it was quite interesting at times, Karen. Some very good

:24:55. > :25:11.bowls, but also some opportunities. Confirmation. She goes into the

:25:12. > :25:15.final. We will wait to see who she is going to play after this

:25:16. > :25:22.evening's game. But Ellen will be delighted. Defending your title, it

:25:23. > :25:26.is always nice to get to the final stages and get to relive the

:25:27. > :25:42.opportunity of last year, playing into the final.

:25:43. > :25:51.Ellen got off to a good start. Some lovely draw bowls going in. But

:25:52. > :26:00.Janice Gower was in the mood and put up a good defence. Just caught her

:26:01. > :26:06.own bowl. Janice, in a bit of trouble in that end. Ellen

:26:07. > :26:10.concentrated on the draw. Overall, I think Ellen shaded it enough to

:26:11. > :26:17.justify going through to the final. She will be very, very pleased.

:26:18. > :26:21.You have had to fight very hard to overcome a tough opponent today?

:26:22. > :26:25.Janice played very well and I thought the standard was pretty good

:26:26. > :26:31.all the way through. It was a tight encounter and I am pleased to get

:26:32. > :26:35.the win. You stand on the verge of history. Last year when you run it,

:26:36. > :26:41.you beat the record of winning it three times. You could win it a

:26:42. > :26:47.fourth time. Does it enter your mind, or is it the old cliche, game

:26:48. > :26:51.by game? It is game by game, as soon as you start thinking about things

:26:52. > :26:57.like that, you are gone. I am over the moon and looking forward to

:26:58. > :27:01.tomorrow. Congratulations. Very well played, Alan Faulkner through to the

:27:02. > :27:08.final once again. Let's confirm the semifinal draw. We know Ellen is

:27:09. > :27:18.through, but Amy Stanton plays Katherine Rednall. But this

:27:19. > :27:22.afternoon we have seen some tremendous bowls here. The match

:27:23. > :27:29.between Mickey Brett and Charlie Burns is the one we are still walk

:27:30. > :27:31.the Lim map are talking about. We are going to relive it one more

:27:32. > :27:49.time. Everyone is gathering around, we

:27:50. > :27:54.have the press people and everyone is waiting for the biggest story for

:27:55. > :28:02.many years. What do we call this, the vulture's nest? They all

:28:03. > :28:28.gathering. Do we have the biggest story in a long time?

:28:29. > :28:38.He has played very well today. Charlie is doing so much damage with

:28:39. > :28:43.one bowl in particular, but on a few occasions it has been more than

:28:44. > :28:47.that. He needs one very good bowl here, Charlie to get himself into

:28:48. > :29:01.the quarterfinal. This needs to stop. Ten singles Charlie has scored

:29:02. > :29:05.in this match and one double. Two lose openers from C. But you can

:29:06. > :29:13.understand that. The rules change again. They can destroy the end. You

:29:14. > :29:21.have to nominate it first. Nominate as often as you wish. It is replayed

:29:22. > :29:31.in the same direction. Shaking his head there. He knows it's not close

:29:32. > :29:37.enough. Charlie couldn't be thinking about running the bowls. He must be

:29:38. > :29:45.drawing? Has got to be a draw. As changed to the forehand. That is

:29:46. > :29:58.confidence for you. He is getting back. He has drawn the shots. Oh my

:29:59. > :30:04.goodness me! Did he really signalled that, Andy? You are standing up

:30:05. > :30:07.looking out of the window and I am watching the monitors. Well done,

:30:08. > :30:25.Charlie. He really needs to be up. Two read,

:30:26. > :30:30.but it is in a good place. He has been doing a lot of damage. He is

:30:31. > :30:43.shaking his head, I cannot blame him. He is going for it. Oh, he is

:30:44. > :30:51.under. It has gone. Charlie Bence, what an effort, Charles Brents. Nick

:30:52. > :30:55.Brett has been tested right to the last bowl in this match. What a man,

:30:56. > :31:06.what a player, a standing ovation for a 71-year-old from Blantyre, and

:31:07. > :31:13.so it should be. Absolutely. The Nick Brett dug deep, it was a good

:31:14. > :31:20.game. That was as difficult as it ever could be. It proves just what

:31:21. > :31:23.can be done in this sport. Into the qualifiers, you played through, you

:31:24. > :31:27.when you're matches, you come to play the best in the world and you

:31:28. > :31:32.played the best in the world and you test them right up to the last

:31:33. > :31:37.moment. Nicky Brett, I have to say he played very well in that match.

:31:38. > :31:42.Very disciplined, but also he enjoyed it immensely. But just over

:31:43. > :31:47.the line. Nick Brett is through to the quarterfinal. Just simply one of

:31:48. > :31:52.the most remarkable matches we have ever seen here at Potters. What were

:31:53. > :31:57.your thoughts all the way through that match? Really what I was

:31:58. > :32:01.thinking was, I hope this is a good game and in the first three or four

:32:02. > :32:06.ends and realised how Charlie was playing with his last bowl and it

:32:07. > :32:10.was amazing. It was fantastic. He was in a good mood and he knew he

:32:11. > :32:15.was not going to lose, but I was impressed by Nick Brett as well. And

:32:16. > :32:20.what about the standing ovation at the end, which is something we only

:32:21. > :32:24.see for the elite finals? Absolutely, it was justified.

:32:25. > :32:29.Charles Spence came out and the relationship between the two

:32:30. > :32:32.players, Nick was able to chat to them and they were both able to

:32:33. > :32:38.enjoy it and it was a fantastic advert for somebody playing in the

:32:39. > :32:41.qualifiers. Nicky Brett is in the qualifiers, but Charlie Bence has

:32:42. > :32:48.won his way into the hearts of all our audience at Potters. Let's

:32:49. > :32:52.remind you of what else is coming up on the BBC. The highlights tonight

:32:53. > :33:00.of all did a's matches on BBC Two and on the red button at nine a.m..

:33:01. > :33:05.And then we have got action from the singles tomorrow at ten a.m.. David

:33:06. > :33:11.Gourlay versus Neal Foreman. They are battling for a spot in the

:33:12. > :33:17.quarterfinals. We will be showing you the ladies singles final and Les

:33:18. > :33:21.Gillett against Alex Marshall. Tennis followers as here on BBC Two.

:33:22. > :33:25.It is time for us to say goodbye.