Open Singles Final World Indoor Bowls Championships

If you can keep your head when all

about you are losing theirs and

blaming it on you, if you can trust

yourself when all men doubt you,

make allowance for their doubting,

too. If you can wait and not be

tired by waiting, or being lied

about, don't deal in lies. Or being

hated, don't give way to hating and

yet, don't look too good, nor look

too wise. If you can dream and not

make dreams your master, if you can

think and not make thoughts your

aim. If you can meet with triumph

and disaster and treat those masters

just the same.

If you can bear to hear the truth

you have spoken twisted to make

traps for fools, who watch the

things you gave your life to, broken

and build them up with worn out

tools. If you can make one heap of

all your winnings and risk it on one

tournament, pitch and start again at

your beginning and never breathe a

word about your loss. If you can

force your heart to serve your term,

long after they are gone, and so

hold on and there is nothing in you,

except the will that says to them,

hold on if you can talk with crowds

and keep

and keep your cert show. If loving

fools and friends can't hurt you. If

you can build the unforgiving, the

60-second worth, yours is the earth,

and everything that's in it and

which is more, you'll be a man, my

son.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

HELLO. WELCOME

TO POTTER'S FOR THE FINAL OF THE

INDOOR SINGLES. THERE ARE TWO

PLAYERS WITH A CHANCE TO GET THEIR

HANDS ON THIS. The two left standing

are Mark Dawes and Robert Paxton.

Dawes, 35 in his first singles

final. Paxton, 39, from Taunton.

He's been here before. Went runner

up in 2016. This is the youngest

final since 2001.

BBC commentator David Corkill

alongside me. For the players in

this sport, how important is it for

them to have the opportunity to get

their hands on this trophy?

Well, it

is a bit like immortality in the

game. That is the whole point. Many

people who have not won this have

been great players but not managed

to get to this level in terms of the

world final. It is important. These

two guys have not won it before.

Can

you tell us what their nerves might

be like at the moment?

They are both

very experienced. No doubt about

that. Both players have been getting

better all week. It is not a matter

of starting up fantastically well it

is a matter of getting through the

rounds. There'll be OK. There's only

one fear and that is the fear of not

doing well. You just want to play

well. When you are playing well you

get into the battle of winning the

trophy.

This is the last match in

what has already been an

unforgettable week.

In January 2018, bowls world

attentions once more turned to the

East Anglian coast and Potter's, the

iconic home of the championships.

For two decades crowds here have

enjoyed the best bowls has to offer.

This year was no exception. Reigning

open champion Paul Foster was in

action early, narrowly avoiding the

first-round exit that happened to

Marshall and setting his sights on

2017.

He won his match.

No-one has

won back-to-back Open titles since

Alex Marshall in 2007 and 2008. If

Foster was to do it he would have to

get past Greenslade in round two.

Greenslade started the stronger,

winning the first set. In the second

the two traded punches like

heavyweights.

There you go.

What a super shot!

Oh, what a bowl!

In the end,

Greenslade just too good.

Greenslade on form then. Things

looking up for 2018. That's 2018,

Jason.

2017 will be my year.

2018.

That's a classic mistake, isn't it?

2018 was a to forget for

Er Nick

Brett, his second round tie against,

fine margins. In the pair's

competition, Brett teamed up with

friend and snooker opponent Greg

Harlow. The two went to the final

where Dawes and Chestney awaited.

The game swung to the underdog's

favour in the second set.

Oh, what a horrible result!

There

was no coming back for the world

number one and two.

A first world title for Chestney

then and an opportunity for a second

soon to follow, the mixed pairs on

the line on Tuesday as Chestney and

Doig were in the final. The pair

never played together before. They

will play together again next year

as reigning champions.

Has he got

the plant? He has! Lesley Doig and

Jamie Chestney over the line.

For Chestney, the singles

competition proved less fruitless,

outed by Burnett. So too Doig in the

lady's competition. Eliminated in a

second round.

Katherine Rednall driving here way

to a title.

She was relentless.

Rednall as dominant as we have ever

seen in the final here at Potter's.

Rebecca Field helpless in the face

of such brilliance. Field then

turned her attention to the open

singles and to her fiance Willgress.

He accounted for Andy Thomson in the

first round and then Stewart

Anderson in the second.

He's gone.

It's all over. Three shots to win.

Didn't he finish that game...

Dramatic stuff. Hearts racing. That

was nothing, compared to what Wayne

served up in the quarter final.

Trailing 9-6 with one to play,

having lost the first set. Nothing

short of a four would save Wayne.

And that couldn't happen. Could it?

You can see it on his face there.

He's edgy about this.

I don't

believe it!

So the match went to a

tie-break. Tension was too much for

some.

Such a difficult shot.

Oh,

he's played it.

Harlow out. The

world number one, gone. As to Royal,

King and Greenslade. Jason, bested

by Burnett in a tie-break.

He's

drawn it. What a great ball by

Darren Burnett.

They know how to put

on a show here! Shy, retiring lot!

Sure enough the semis kept everyone

entertained. In the morning match

the last remaining former Open

champion left us and Mark Dawes

masterclass eliminating Darren

Burnett.

It is not enough. Mark

Dawes will take the double he needs.

Whilst Robert avoided the Willgress

advance in the semi. Paxton proving

too much for wild card Wayne.

I

don't believe it!

One match remains,

one last act. It is Dawes verses

Paxton for the 2018 open singles

title.

Katherine Rednall, the open pairs

champions Chestney and Dawes. The

mixed pairs Chestney and Doig and

the under-25's champion Chloe

Watson.

John Price has joined us here. First

John, congratulation inducting into

the bowls Hall of Fame recently. I

guess a major reason was your win in

the opens title back in 1990.

Thanks

for that. It is a long time ago.

That was a tremendous moment for me.

It was an ambition since I was young

to. Be there with all the great

champions, I was over the moon with

that.

For every player who plays the

game to get your hands on that

trophy is what it's all about for

the two guys today.

So many great

players have not won it. To be up

there as a winner is tremendous.

We

have seen the list of winners so far

this week. Which performance has

stood out most for you?

When you go

through what has played really well,

Jamie Chestney and Dawes fairs.

Jamie Chestney played brilliant

bowls to get to the final. And Mark

Dawes was an outstanding player

there.

What about for you?

Katherine

Rednall's performance in the lady's

match play was fantastic. What a

future she's got.

Now it is time to

hear from both finalists as they

look ahead to this afternoon's

showdown.

I came down, good form and hoping

for a good run in one or both. To

manage to win one and be in the

final of the other, it's beyond my

wildest expectations. Played in the

pairs probably carried that form on.

Confident. Stick to what I'm good

at.

Hopefully put people under pressure.

If on the day that's good enough,

then great. If it's not, the other

person, I'll say congratulations and

all the best.

It will be close to

three weeks by the time I am home.

It is a long stay at one venue.

There is time when you are laying

down, not doing a great deal. So the

concentration on that side is, can

be tough. But you have got to get

out there once you get on the green,

game face on and give it 110%.

I

have been in the league for years. I

play a lot of back end bowls in the

nationals and stuff. My biggest

strength is my draw shot. I can put

bowls close, that puts people under

pressure.

To beat Mark, at the end

of the day, have to score more

shots. Have to put him under

pressure and hopes he misses. At the

end of the day, put him under

pressure and hopefully he's not got

the answers to your questions.

Rob's

a favourite. He's been in the top

16. Did great, got himself right up

the rankings. In a lot of people's

eyes he'll be the favourite. He's a

great player. I know how good a

player he S ultimately, on the day

it is who plays better.

To win at

Potter's is what every player wants.

To get over the line and be here for

two-and-a-half, three weeks

undefeated in the singles, it would

be a dream come true.

And what about

happens today there'll be a new name

on the trophy. This is how Mark and

Robert have progressed so far.

Wayne Willgress had been known for

knocking out former champions this

week was defeated in the semifinal.

These two have met once before,

John, that was back in 2014, when

Robert Paxton came out on top. I

imagine you would say for both

players they are very different

players and better players now.

Certainly more experienced. They

have been around the circuit longer.

Particularly Mark Dawes, he's

developed and matured.

What about

Robert Paxton? Watched Robert Paxton

Vy coming through the qualifiers and

through the top 16. He's made good

progression. Now he's right tlup,

provisionally number three in the

world. That is how good he is.

What

will the players do well today that

will give one or the other the edge?

I would expect Mark Dawes to try and

get his first two balls close. One

and two. Put Robert under pressure.

If he can do that he has a good

chance.

Agree

I think a little bit

of luck can make a decision on a

game which will be this close.

Earlier dh week, John Price called

Mark Dawes's his likeliest winner a

long way out. What was it that made

you put him in that position and are

you full of confidence now?

I am

sticking with my man. I think he's

played really well. We know he can

draw well. He's mature. He owns the

rink. He's more confident. He could

go all the way.

Do you agree Dawes

will win or will Robert Paxton get

the title?

Think I he will be if

he's drawing just as well. If Robert

doesn't match him on the draw then

Mark will win. If Robert can get in

front of Mark and win the draw, then

he'll be the champion.

OK. Mark or

Robert?

Robert.

OK. Corky, thank you

very much and John, thank you. Now

it is the time to get the final

under way. That means we head over

to our MC.

Thank you very much. Good afternoon,

everybody. The atmosphere here in

the international arena at Potter's

Resort is electrifying as it always

is for a world final. The question

on everyone's lips, which player

will hold aloft this very coveted

trophy for the very first time in

their career. Appearing in his first

indoor world's final this young man

is doing what it takes to remain in

the top 16, hoping to add some more

glass ware to this week's collection

- the recently crowned world indoor

pair's champion - Mark Dawes.

APPLAUSE

And this world number six is

certainly at the top of his game

right now - the 2016 finalist for

this event and hoping this year he

can go all the way. Your

appreciation, please, for Robert

Paxton.

APPLAUSE

So we come to the climax of this

wonderful week. We would love to

hear from you via twitter. David

Corkill and John Price have sprinted

up the steps to the commentary box.

THE COMMENTATOR: Not sure sprinting

would be the right idea with us two.

We certainly made our way up.

A long history at international

level, moves him down to third

recently.

A determined player. He's matured

and progressed, the last couple of

years, in particular.

APPLAUSE

A good opener by Robert Paxton.

This final played over 11 ends in

the first two sets.

Just want to be in a situation of

gaining one or two at their very

most, losing one. Oh, there's the

recovery ball.

Get a good second in.

Been doing all week, Mark Dawes.

Couldn't get the shot, he doesn't

drop much.

REFEREE: One green. Mark could play

a similar ball to his last. There is

an option to the other side. It

depends early in the game about how

he feels about changing.

John, just

a little on the back of the ball on

the way through.

APPLAUSE

That is Mark Dawes's mum and step

dad.

Very careful draw. Can't blame him.

REFEREE: One shot, Robert Paxton.

Good end. Getting into a rhythm.

As usual, a packed house here for

the final at Potter's Resort.

REFEREE: Jack length, 29.5 metres.

Good to see Robert Paxton settling

in with the first bowls, because

Mark will start to get on this very

quickly, John. As we were saying,

that's been the key to his success,

really. Both in the pairs and in the

singles.

Yes, and Robert will be aware of

that. We know Robert's got a great

all-round game. He's an aggressive

attacking player. He knows what he

has to match, if not better Mark in

the first two bowls.

REFEREE: Your

ball is 15 inches past.

A touch will help.

One red.

Perfect weight.

APPLAUSE

REFEREE: Yes, just the one.

Mark, on a similar line, I would

think. He can get to the jack. Turn

on the jack is very good.

Short of weight, though.

So a careful draw. At the same time,

John, he's aware of the fact that

jack can be brought back to the two

reds.

Just wants to dip inside this front

one. Get in front of the jack. And

he can.

Looks like a double as well.

It is a good ball as well. Stops the

draw into the jack for Mark Dawes.

Might be worth a gamble bowling to

jack.

I think it is. I really do. He

gets into it. The jack goes through

the head and that's not a toucher,

it goes in the ditch. So, it is well

worth the effort, this one.

Really can't see him being any more

than two down.

Well a bit unlucky in some respects.

He didn't get the ball on the jack

that he was calling for.

It will be

one to green. REFEREE: Robert

Paxton.

APPLAUSE

Might see quite a lot of that in

this match. REFEREE: 0 after two

ends.

The advantage that Robert Paxton has

got is he's been here before in a

final. As well as Mark Dawes has

played during the week, this is

obviously a new experience - his

first major final.

It is. And the

other fact is that Robert Paxton's

not only been in a final before, but

he's been a winner before, John. And

that's the key it to. Yes, this is

the World Championship, but there

are other events where there are

major crowds involved, include the

World Championships in Christchurch.

Robert won triples gold there.

I've

watched that match and he really did

play very well.

This man's a very cool sort of chap.

Hardly get him excited, even when he

won a semifinal, it was a quiet

wave, thanks very much, I'll move on

to the final from here.

Hasn't got that first ball going

yet, Mark. It will be a slight

concern. Still a long way to go.

APPLAUSE

REFEREE: Two green.

Good adjustment with this. Needs the

jack.

Looks like it's dropped into shot.

30 seconds to play your ball after

your opponent.

You can add on another 60 seconds

but mot of the time it is enough to

keep the game moving along.

Wasn't what he intended.

He's close again. He really has got

a good memory when he gets one in.

Very good play there.

REFEREE: Two red.

Tell a good play. He doesn't miss

his line often, David, even when

he's over, the ball's in the centre

of the ring.

The top players are all

good line players, really. They're

going to pick it out. See what

Robert does, he's got a little shot

on the forehand, but nothing

guaranteed about it. A more

difficult draw

difficult draw on the backhand.

It's all about connections here. It

was always going to go back, but has

his green bowl followed? There's a

green bowl out of the side, to the

top of your picture. That's in. It's

probably close to shot.

Yes, from

where we are in the commentary box I

slightly favour that bowl, that

green bowl for number one.

It's a nice line for Mark Dawes, if

he gets the trip he draws the shot.

Needs to run.

Just about, I think.

Yeah. Just the one, I think. Mark

Dawes will have a quick look.

APPLAUSE

REFEREE:

One shot, Mark Dawes. Set

score 1-2, after three ends.

Well, I came up to the international

arena today, before 12 o'clock, and

they had started to queue already

outside, for the final, to get the

seats that they wanted.

Yeah, always a popular afternoon,

the singles final afternoon. The

crowd entertained. All looking

forward to a great game between

these two players. It started well.

A lot of people are wearing their

club shirts as well, John.

REFEREE:

It's 18 inches short.

There

we go, all in club shirts, down for

the day.

APPLAUSE

It's a very knowledgeable crowd

here, as when Wayne Willgress was

playing, it was rowdy and slightly

different, John.

Yeah, Wayne had

good local support.

good local support. That's great,

the more the crowd get involved, the

better for the players.

Just about the same, hasn't taken

any weight off.

APPLAUSE

REFEREE:

Three red.

APPLAUSE

A few inches behind the jack.

REFEREE:

The second bowl is a seven

inch cap.

He may be tempted.

The

draw is there, there's no doubt

about that, but it's could build up,

a few misses, that's the only

danger.

He's keeping the draw.

He has got back position, but

there's that risk of having a go at

it without anything new ahead. Third

shot. Might change his mind with the

next one.

Is Mark Dawes goes with

this bowl, it hasn't got great back

position if the jack did fly

through. You may gamble and drop

another though. He's on the backhand

side, which suggests he's gone for

position.

position. Back bowl it is.

Well,

once again...

APPLAUSE

That deep bowl is useful in case

Robert Paxton decides to drive the

jack through, covers the two respot

positions, guarantees a single, but

Robert has only got one bowl in

there and it's going to be very hard

to draw this.

A little inside line, John.

Controlled right. That's a difficult

shot. He's improved over many years

on this rank. Away very fast.

Yes,

he didn't want to take his own bowl

away. That's the problem, getting a

bit negative to it.

3-2, after four

ends.

Jack Lane, 24 metres.

Are sure jack

thrown in here by Mark Dawes. --

it's a shorter jack. Still on his

favourite forehand, in this

direction.

APPLAUSE

Most of the players that have played

this week in this particular

direction, away from our commentary

position, they've gone for this

forehand. It's a little bit more

reliable at both ends.

Yes, the

problem at the other side as it

holds off a little bit. It's always

fighting its way back, can end up a

foot or so jack high. You have to be

very accurate on the line.

Mark is

forced to change now because of the

Paxton bowl. This is what he is so

good, he adjusts from one side to

the other.

APPLAUSE

This is what we were talking about

earlier, John, when would Mark --

Mark Dawes get going. That's

happened now.

happened now.

Yes, he needs to pick

out good lines on all lengths. His

weight control as well.

APPLAUSE

Robert staying with the backhand

draw. He can get to the last bowl,

could even draw a shot.

It's better,

just a gap is the worry.

APPLAUSE

It's close though.

It's just the

two, two red.

two, two red.

Players quite often

ask the marker, at WBT tore events,

people are very, very good, very

accurate. Often better than the

players.

Another good line by Mark

Dawes.

APPLAUSE

So good at that shot. It's away from

the other two, that's important.

This is a difficult one to get out

of, because the front Wallace

protecting the jack. The draw is

very hard. -- the front one is

protecting the jack. He wants to

make sure he's arriving at this and

the backhand does hold off.

He's

playing the draw.

Good as me, he's

close.

Very much in the area if he

gets a good touch my.

Oh my

goodness, that is fantastic!

APPLAUSE

Such a hard shot to play.

A great

save by Robert Paxton, a marvellous

bowl on the draw there. There wasn't

much on for him on the strike,

really. Couldn't have played that

any better. Brilliant.

Indeed, John, he won't leave it to

his last bowl in the future. He has

to build heads, the first couple of

ends.

Yeah, once again his not quite

getting there with the first bowl.

That's quite loose. As you said,

sooner or later the pressure tends

to pile up on you, if Mark keeps

playing like that Rob won't save

everyone.

Well, it's a game full of rules and

we've been getting some interesting

questions. # BBC polls.

questions. # BBC polls. -- polls.

Sometimes testing our knowledge but

feel free to send them in. I'm

scampering for the rule book. There

are always things people like to

ask, like the marks on the green and

stuff like that. They are metre

apart, that helps judging the

length.

APPLAUSE

Makes it very easy for the markers

to centre the jack, which saves a

lot of time, keeps the game moving.

APPLAUSE

It's going down, he's given himself

a chance. It's final delivery will

stop Mark Dawes will want to take

that chance away.

It's a decent receiving position. He

had won their already but the zone

bowl is looking a little bit lonely.

The only danger for Robert Izzi

doesn't want to get the jack, he

wants to get to the bowl.

He can

play this on good weight, Robert.

Doesn't mind if he just sits the red

down, arrive with too much.

Yes, as

long as he's here he's got a chance.

Very close with this.

Bowl clean is

what he's after. Oh, he's unlucky.

Well, he's dropped in and he might

get the shot with this. There's a

gap between the red bowl. One green.

Yeah, Roberts is just touching, you

might have seen on the shot the red

ball -- the red bowl, there's a

small gap.

If both the bowls had

been touching and all the deliveries

would have been made it would have

been no scoring end. Unusual, but it

doesn't happen. Any touch at all on

the green bowl the mark will get --

then Mark will get something out of

it. Good effort.

APPLAUSE

Set score 3-4 after six ends.

That's

another very good last bowl from

Robert Paxton. He's dipping into

that well of good bowls, isn't he?

He certainly is, a good recovery

shot. Robert will be used to that,

he plays a lot of polls at the back

end, he's used to playing pressure

bowls.

Still can't quite get that open.

He's getting beat by mark with the

first two deliveries, but he is

recovering well. Mark was throwing

his armour that one, he didn't fancy

it.

Yes, it's just dropping

underneath the line. Also, his

weight was not good, but again,

that's the second end in a row, the

first bowl short.

It's Mark Dawes'

first failure with his first bowl.

We'll allow him that one. He is

going on to the backhand now,

Robert.

Robert. Sensitive to a little bit of

movement, I think.

There's still

people coming in and out as well. So

he besets himself. -- he sets

himself again.

It was worth the wait.

Certainly

better. It's always a problem with a

quiet environment, isn't it, John,

the smallest noise or movement can

be registered as a disturbance by

the players, but reality, most

matches are played in noisy

environments.

APPLAUSE

On a bad day normally you pick

things out. That's normally because

you're looking for an excuse, isn't

it?

It's always that way. If you're

playing well and the scoreboard

keeps ticking over, it doesn't

really matter what's going on out

there.

there. Now, Robert must be up with

this one. Target, red bowl, come

inside get the jack, if you come

inside you get your own bowl.

It's a

tight line.

It's not an easy hand,

that backhand, it's a bit

unpredictable. Well, the thing is, I

don't really nicely but the line in

there, he had a good line with his

last bowl. He pulled it in, hasn't

got anywhere near it.

APPLAUSE

He fancies this one.

He's certainly

reaching with this. Needs to get

back down to the red.

There's too

much on it. It's all about good

weight. If you don't play good

weight, you will get back there.

Well, potential here, a chance to

pick up three. Touching the jack.

It's very close, close.

He's going a bit, isn't he? Well,

the standard of Martin normally

plays that, that would go down as a

miss.

miss. -- the standard Mark normally

plays that, that would go down as a

miss. From a match perspective,

John, it's keeping it very tight.

The two guys are chatting away

there. They are both playing well.

Both international colleagues as

well. They'll be playing the same

team in the indoor, Paisley, in a

couple of months' time.

Yeah, they

would have expected this game to be

tight, particularly in nearly

stages. Robert had a very tight

quarterfinal, a low scoring game.

APPLAUSE

The first set is so important,

because it gives you that

flexibility to be a bit more

adventurous in the second set. If an

opportunity comes up, knowing you

are guaranteed a tie-break.

Yeah, I

think you have to be realistic when

you are playing bowls at this level.

You're not going to see too many

chances of big scores, three or

fours, or you wouldn't expect it

anyway. You have to be very patient.

If there's a chance, you take it.

Robert just taking a moment. The

other thing is we move from the nine

ends to 11 ends, as I said earlier,

and that extra two ends in the set,

plus a tie-break, 25 ends, it's

usually enough to separate two

players. But only for the final. But

it's still not a long game, not in

comparison to what it used to be.

Oh, what it does do, compared to the

nine ends, is gives you a little

more chance if you do fall behind to

try to get back. With seven ends,

close to be in touch. With the extra

ends you can pull something back,

even five or six shots down. Those

players won't want to be in that

position, that's why it's so tight

at moment. Blow for blow, they match

each other and wait until one links.

-- one blinks. Another close bowl.

If you don't get shot, get very

close to the jack, make it difficult

for your opponent.

An opportunity for Mark Dawes, to

turn on the jack, he gets on the

green bowl and lifts it away. Just

over the door, nothing too much.

He's certainly very close to his own

bowl, unless it will drop on the

jack.

It's dead weight.

APPLAUSE

One red it is.

That's so close again.

The gap was

there, touching the jack would have

been making two. Mark is having a

real good look at that. It's been

declared as one as red, but he's had

a real close look at it. Robert is

now having a quick look, as well,

and you can see in the background.

There's a bit of a problem here from

Mark because the position to a

certain extent is with Robert

Paxton. If he does turn that jack.

He's on a good line again. On the

right line, but he underplayed it.

Is a little bit concerned about

moving that jack.

moving that jack.

That's not an easy

shot, no doubt about that, but the

way these guys have been playing,

any touching the jack could make

maybe two, even three.

It's just extended through it too

far, too much weight.

Overplayed it,

very much aware of the fact he

couldn't afford to be short, which

is fair enough, I think he was on

the right side of it. This is very,

very close. Francis Fletcher will

sort it out for us. And the measure,

well, not even bothering with the

box measure, to close. Bring the

calipers out.

It's warm out there this afternoon.

Both players taking some

refreshment.

Wow, that is very, very

close.

close.

Yeah, all his training

unsteadiness here needed to measure

this. Green it is.

One shot, Robert

Paxton.

APPLAUSE

Well, they were perfectly centred

and it just looked like it might

have been one to the green. But it's

always just an opinion. The players

have to make sure that they feel

they know who is -- whose line is a

shot before they play the bowl. I

don't think it changed the shot if

either player, maybe a little bit of

Mark because he was a bit frightened

of getting to the jack, but only

one, 5-5, seven ends played.

APPLAUSE

One red.

Similar pattern, Mark

getting closer to the jack with the

first bowl.

first bowl. He's trying to

consolidate with this.

APPLAUSE

He's played this really well. That's

another great bowl. Once again,

Robert Paxton in trouble. Can he

pull something out with three and

four. That first two bowls, he's

played some very good stuff to get

out of trouble.

That's another good one. He couldn't

play that any better. Just behind

it.

There's a short technical time-out.

There's a technical time-out with

the players, it's been one of those

situations where there is a slight

disturbance.

Some of the players are 24 metres,

but Mark Dawes has been playing for,

the shorter jack lengths, you can

see the green has gone to Robert

Paxton. He prefers the longer jack

lengths. Both players are using

swinging bowls of different

manufacturers, but the key to that

is that the profile is one that

allows the bowl to bend back very

strong.

That's an interested spectator.

Very

interested. A doggy was having a

little kip earlier. People are

moving

moving around, and as always.

Hashtag BBC bowls. Questions have

come in blue and red. We play on a

blue carpet. Those the two best

contrasting colours. They were solid

when we first started on the

introduction of coloured bowls. The

players are in a situation, just

having a chat with Mike Davis and

the three officials are involved

here.

Dan, who is looking after the shot

clock. Takes three officials for

every match.

It is always very unfortunate,

especially in the middle or an end

when you get a break in play like

this. It is difficult for the player

to keep concentration. It is a

crucial time in this set as well.

APPLAUSE

What there is a lot of support here,

if there's any problems with the

crowd and...

If you would like to

take your seats, please, ladies and

gentlemen.

It will start again very

shortly.

It is very warm out there as well,

John, in the arena.

Just waiting for the crowd to settle

after that incident.

Mark Dawes moved to the flat green.

Just needs to be gentle, gentle on

it.

Usually about two pounds ten, 12

ounces, but they vary a bit. Flat

bowls are bigger and heavier.

Still walk on to a crown green and

play with a crown green bowl. Still

got a biassed, jack is bigger.

Whereas flat green we're playing,

doesn't have a bias on the jack.

So, there are major differences.

Good effort.

APPLAUSE

REFEREE:

One red.

Well Mark Dawes will play the

forehand - he has to be very gentle.

Does want to get to the jack and

give shot away. Probably saver on

the backhand side. Well, it is

safer. The only thing about the

forehand, put something a little

short he might get in the wasmt I am

not sure that will help. Robert

Paxton has got a good shot on.

He didn't have much wrong with that.

Exactly. It was a practise shot,

wasn't it? The break guys are

laughing because they knew, but in

the break there was a chance of

miscalculating the bowls, but just

the one shot.

I'll keep my eye on you. I know at

your age sometimes the old

short-term memory starts to two.

That seven months between us has

been with me all my life! Always

texts me on my birthday.

Two to

play, Mark Dawes.

Good opener again.

He's had the edge overall. Robert's

been in the driving seat but not

been able to break yet.

Robert's

played some big bowls, no doubt

about that. He needs to play better

with the first two.

This is better.

? Terms of quality and play, there's

been nothing between them.

Good reply.

APPLAUSE

Just past the jack. It is a rest for

Robert Paxton.

Good receiving position.

You get the impression, John, that

neither players had the opportunity

to relax in this game. Almost every

bowl's had a certain degree of

pressure on it.

A few words with himself. Not sure

he's too happy with that one. No,

he's not got that one away.

The forehand has a tendency to hold

off if you put too much weight on.

Maybe a deliberate shot on the

inside.

Certainly narrowed it down.

Has to have the weight to carry it

though.

I am a bit surprised he's played

that sort of ball. Robert's very

experienced on this rink, he knows

it's a difficult shot. No more than

a draw. If he gets it out and in

turns a jack. Once you pull your

line if and start pulling weight it

goes away so quick.

I don't think he

had to wait anyway, just to be

truthful with you, just the way it

came in.

APPLAUSE

. He could tap the two bowls, inside

the line

. He could tap the two bowls, inside

the line.

The two bowls are the target and

take them out clean.

Bounced off the red bowl of jack and

on the double bounce.

The two balls,

but he got the plant.

Could be close to three.

Just watch this again.

Got it on the follow through.

Wasn't going through absolutely

clean. But that was enough.

Very important one for Robert

Paxton.

Really couldn't afford to go to the

last end, two or three down.

That

was another great last bowl.

Four-shot turnover and that's a big

result for him.

One shot here from Mark Dawes will

level the scores in the first set,

and probably will be a pretty fair

reflection of the first set.

Neither player really deserves to

lose it.

That's the way Mark Dawes is, very,

very good at keeping the pressure

slow and steady.

Just not getting there.

He puts this one right on the jack.

Robert Paxton will be forced to play

weight to it.

APPLAUSE

Once again swaps sides, made it.

That is a front toucher and that

makes it a lot harder, but second

bowl would be good, because that

means he's guaranteed if he gets a

really close second shot, then he's

got something out of the set, he's

playing backhand, playing weight at

it.

I think he'll try and get at

least one of the bowls.

Well, he's interested.

Oh, wow! I'm not sure that really

helped him, to be truthful with you,

because the jack was going on the

respot position, which probably

would have been better than going to

the ditch. But it is a distance

away. That's a toucher and the red

bowl that will be in there. That

will be marked. The jack will be

marked as well, so the players can

see it at the other end of the rink.

The advantage is with Mark Dawes on

this end because he has two

remaining, David, and he had the

last as well, no matter where Robert

will go, he'll have a chance at that

bowl.

He'll have a good chance to

drive it off.

Looking for a really close one now,

Mark Dawes.

This is good.

It's beatable.

APPLAUSE

He doesn't want to drop in the

ditch. If he does, he'll lose the

set.

What he's got a couple of feet

or 18 inches to the ditch possibly.

He's decided to play it on his

backhand doesn't really matter, it

is available both sides.

The line is decent. Has he got the

pace to get

That's not good enough.

No.

He was unlucky in many respects.

The way Mark Dawes has been playing

in this championship, you would back

him for this. .

He can give it a go to win the set

with a double.

He's looking good here. Looking very

good.

APPLAUSE

He has a determination about him,

doesn't he? He's a quiet man.

Just gets on with the business and

there's steel underneath that.

Underneath that exterior.

Eventually it worked for him. Robert

had to play some recovery bowls and

Robert ran out of time, really, and

when he had the strike didn't go

well for him. He's paid the price.

Mark Dawes first bowl, second set.

He'll be delighted to go into it

having won the first one, just by a

single-shot.

Robert, a good first line with

Robert Paxton.

He's over it and... REFEREE:

Your

last bowl is 18 inches.

Expect Mark to put another one

close.

Oh, he's dropped this one down. Left

Robert with a chance.

Everything's better about this one.

APPLAUSE

That would be the test he'd be

looking for.

It is an interesting situation here.

There was a chance it would come to

it, but it wasn't really worth it.

. No, take the one and run.

REFEREE:

Jack lent, 27.5 metres.

-- length.

Just coming through to jack high.

APPLAUSE

I just thought the second wouldn't

be close enough.

APPLAUSE

Didn't have the weight to carry it.

Will want to close this down, at the

very least. It is a double.

He's made his mind up, Mark. He

doesn't take too much time in

deciding what he'll play.

Very close with this. Just got to

run.

Just got to run.

And it hasn't dropped away.

A lot of players have been looking

down at that running line for the

three bowls.

He can see the jack. He doesn't lose

weight until it is really a last

resort.

It is part of his armoury, there's

no doubt about that.

David once said to me the draw shot

is 95% of winning matches.

He would know, because he won more

than most. A legend of the game.

I

didn't argue with him, because he's

right.

Both John and I played against him

many times when we were young,

making our way up, we learnt a lot

from the man.

He was a bowling hero

to many. I know him well. I believe

he's 85 now.

I am sure if he's watching, we send

him best wishes.

Yes him and his

wife, Ruth.

Once again... Really is...

It is

relentless, no doubt about that.

That's his game. It's what he does.

REFEREE:

Two red, sorry.

Stop the

clock, said two green. It's two red.

The pressure can get to everyone.

You is a to give Robert lot of

credit - he's staying in with Mark.

He's withstood some great bowls

against him. Played some great

conversion shots and he's still in

this match.

And a little bit too keen to get

there with this one.

This one? That one there is two feet

past jack eye.

The cover shot, doesn't want to play

it in the forehand in case he does

it a bit short. Doesn't want to

trail it. He's in a good position

here.

In a better position now.

Two

perfect bowls.

Wow! That's going to

be tricky to get out of. Really

hard.

It's not a great target. He may be

forced to stay on the draw.

Wasn't a big enough target to tempt

Robert Paxton. Going to lose some

weight from his last delivery. This

is a try if he gets back.

Is it

ever! Just needs to run. Stays

upright. He's got the shot. That's a

brilliant bowl frl Robert Paxton. It

really is.

One green. He's having to pull a few

of these out to keep himself in the

match. There is a shot on if he

wants it here.

I think he has to

play slightly on the inside.

He must play it.

He can get his own

bowl into it.

If he gets a clean

road and pushes the bowl out, he's

in four. I tell you what, he's not

far away. He's certainly got the

edge of something.

It was that

close.

Got the edge of the bowl -

the back one.

He has to be careful with this. Any

touching the green, it will roll

away. He could do worse than to play

this with the backhand and play a

drift shot.

My old favourite, John.

You'd be

able to use that this week, Dave.

The old high line drift. Come off a

high line, use the mat. Let the ball

trickle in, six inches, jack high.

Make sure you don't do any damage.

Oh, is it going to drop? It is. But

I'm not sure... A great effort.

Just the one.

Played some marvellous third and

fourth bowls, John. It is like you

were saying at the beginning of the

programme, he really has to, if he's

going to win this, he has to match

Mark Dawes with his first two bowls.

That's the thing. In the first set

he recovered on a number of

occasions. Finally on the last end,

Mark Dawes just broke him.

The pattern here is very, very

similar.

Absolutely.

Robert Paxton has a little boy

called Caleb. Very young, not sure

if he'll know daddy on the screen.

APPLAUSE

Mark Dawes, two boys, Thomas and

Freddie. He reckoned they would

watch it for about two minutes

before they would get bored. They

are so young.

Better stand for Robert Paxton on

this end, it's a decent first bowl

in.

It's one green, your bowl was 20

inches.

inches.

# BBC bowls for any

questions you might have. You can

ask John, he's still playing away.

We did get some advice last night

about our bowling, didn't we, John?

Yes, I don't know if it will help us

a lot.

We are always getting advice.

Well, that's a loose end by Mike

Dawes -- Mark Dawes' standards and

Paxton has taken advantage.

Two

green.

He's going to take a look at

this, Mark Dawes.

It's -- The way he's playing, it's

early doors, surely he'll draw this.

Either side you are looking for

something, even this sort of area

would be good. It would just drop

in, if he can, on the forehand. If

you gets into there, it's jack hi,

it's good enough. If that can't make

it, he can go on the backhand.

He's

using the runner.

He's using the

runner, but this is risky. Took one

out but he got very close to the

front bowl, didn't it?

I think he

could see the jack, he's going for

the jack on the strike.

He missed

that front red by a very small

margin. Well, you can almost

guarantee to have another two

against him with the last bowl.

Oh dear. Robert. Well, he'll walk

down here. And not quite understand

that one.

Two green.

He's opened the

door for the drawn-out, John. We

were expecting to get close, but

it's... You would have expected

Robert to get very close to the

jack.

Very good line in, if he runs this

he will draw the shot. No mistake. A

fleeting chance, a half chance.

APPLAUSE

Set score 2-2, after four ends.

Jack Lenox, 26.5 metres. -- jack

lengths.

APPLAUSE

Normal service resumed.

Normal service resumed.

Three

inches.

Very rarely does he fail

with the first bowl, and when he

does, he normally adjusts with the

second.

It's art of good singles.

APPLAUSE

The shot wanted to get past it.

Paxton has said before, still very

much in this game. He's been playing

good bowls himself. Some great

recovery bowls, to keep it tight.

He's sitting on a better line this

time. How is his weight? It's very

good.

Is certainly sitting at an

angle.

It's close.

LAUGHTER

Close to the shot.

It's just that bowl drops and makes

it so much better for Robert,

whereas at the moment there's that

little bit more room. It's on the

inside though.

The touch is good,

didn't get it thin enough.

Last bowl

is 18 inches short of jack hi.

Robert will play the same bowl was

his last delivery, he'll be close to

the jack. Can he turn, it's very

good.

Needs to be gentle now,

because he can drop back on his own

green one. How did that bowl drop

and the other one didn't, John?

Just

over weight.

over weight. That's very close will

stop

when it's close like that you

sometimes favour the bowl sitting on

its belly, the back of the bowl.

Falls off that good bowl. Now then,

this is interesting. This is a very

interesting position for Robert

Paxton.

Bob has gone down, but I

tell you what it's right to be

streaked to play the shot.

There's a

split on. He could split the two

reds.

Bowl on the jack, bowl is in

the ditch.

Played it.

Oh, he doesn't

look happy, but he's got a result.

APPLAUSE

Fortuitous, but he was in the area.

He had something. I suppose in some

respects if the Jack had been moved

it would have been a long move for

Mark Dawes.

He's got a result off it

to get one.

Good ends though, plenty of bowls in

the head, lots shots available to

both players.

both players.

Jack links 29 metres.

-- jack length, 29 metres.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE

Well, Robert, two feed on your last

will bring you to the red bowl. --

two feet.

One red.

APPLAUSE

A very good third bowl, John. He's

done a lot of damage with the third

bowl and has done really the whole

match.

If this stays up, it might be

second.

One red. Yes, side.

second.

One red. Yes, side. -- yes,

one this side.

Mark will be thinking

if he could get to that jack, any

touch on the jack and Robert Paxton

will be in some real trouble. He's

got the line again here. If he gets

to this jack, will he get back?

He

doesn't want to drop back on the

jack in this situation. It was

enough, wherein there for the bowl

to drop without catching the jack.

It's good bowling, Mark Dawes, he's

grouping the bowls well.

Needs another big bowl on this

forehand now, Robert Paxton. Doesn't

look sure.

He's overplayed it. He

was just making sure he was

arriving. A chance here for Mark

Dawes.

Is two at the moment. It's

just a draw, similar to the last

bowl.

If he gets it there, John, he

can just extent that jack by an inch

and that will be enough to pick up a

full house of four, the sort of

break you are looking for. You draw

for three and if you touch the jack

it's a bonus.

He's after it, he

likes the line. It's all about

weight from there. Needs to be

gentle though.

Oh, that will fall

away. In fact, he's nudged that

other bowl. I hope it hasn't pushed

it out.

APPLAUSE

He might have been unlucky, John.

You just move that second shot. He

had the right idea but it was

getting to it a bit on the quick

side.

It's one out, measure for two.

He's using the caliper, I'm

surprised at that. Normally use the

box measure. Do you remember the

sonic measures? Do you remember

those?

Just about, I never saw one.

I saw it advertised.

I have one in

my shed back home. It was a good

place for it. It was totally

useless.

useless.

Looks like red to me, I

don't know, it's very close but I

fancy red.

It used to push beam out

to the jack and pusher beam out to

the bowl and give your calculation.

APPLAUSE

What they didn't work out properly

where there were two different

sizes, the jack and the bowl and it

affected the beam. Interesting

little antiques though.

little antiques though. Sometimes

the old stuff is the right stuff.

Yeah, you can't beat the

old-fashioned measure and a good

umpire.

APPLAUSE

Well, that tells you where Robert

Paxton needs to be, doesn't it?

Short Jack lying -- jack line. 27

metres and beyond.

metres and beyond. I'd useful

statistics, that, John, and that

comes into match craftsmen if you

are playing some of the

international games, where you are

trying to read the distances and

lengths of where people are playing

better, where to put the jack to

beat the opposition. Through rinks

matches, four players each side, you

don't have a Guru available to you

to compile those statistics, but at

the same time you are just taking a

mental note of them.

Robert Paxton resetting himself.

A bit loose again. That was an

opportunity to really get close to

this jack.

Well, this is where the trouble has

been. Just too many ends, it's been

a very close and still is, John, but

Robert Paxton has played some big

bowls but his third bowl he's had to

play the recovery.

Yes, as we said a

few times already, sooner or later

it wears you down. He's got a better

line here now. As he adjusted the

weight?

He just wants to dip around

it. Yeah, good second.

Gives him a

chance.

APPLAUSE

One red.

Well, that was a very deliberate

shot by the looks of it, to try to

get the green bowl. There's no way

Mark would be that far away.

Yeah, I

don't see Robert playing a lot of

weight at this. He can't afford to

remove his own green bowl. If he

squeezes the jack, he's got a

chance.

Very close to it. Needs the jack.

Got it. Has he pushed it enough

Got it. Has he pushed it enough? A

little chalk will go in to hold the

bowl a bright as the guys have a

look at it before they bring the

umpire out. -- hold the bowl

upright. It was a good bowl, but

again, third and fourth deliveries.

He played it well, Robert, just

about the only way he could get a

shot, get that squeeze on the jack.

He's done better with his first two

bowls, he could have been scampering

away a little bit.

He's having to

work that little bit harder to earn

the shots. Mark is always in control

of the end. Robert will know that he

can hang in there. He's a very good

tie-break player, Robert Paxton. If

you look back on his record he's won

a lot of tie-breaks. He will be

looking to stick in there, try and

get this second set and force the

tie-break.

It's gone to red, it's

pretty well and, by a quarter of an

inch.

APPLAUSE

It's not a lot, a quarter orange,

but after a lot of years of looking

at bowls you realise it's

considerable when using calipers.

5/2 three -- 5-3, after seven ends.

Jack length, 27 metres. -- 26

metres.

APPLAUSE

Not getting there, I don't think.

No, he's not made it and at some

point Robert is going to have to

start beating Mark Dawes to the

punchier and force him into playing

some weighty deliveries.

Yes, he's

given a bit of a free run.

He is at

the moment.

Mark is able to build on

things a lot better. Hasn't really

been required to play any great

shots of major consequence.

APPLAUSE

Still a little chance he ever Robert

Paxton. Hasn't killed this off. Mark

Dawes is on this end.

The crucial period in the second set

now.

He's gone to the side again. The one

in front of the Reds, he had to

pressure on the third bowl, relax,

pop one on his line and once he adds

another, we're getting down to the

business end, the last four ends.

Needs to stop.

APPLAUSE

He's holding shot at the moment.

Third attempt by Robert Paxton. You

must be better with this. Still

under it.

Struggling for weight.

Needs to make the gap and filter

through. Well... It's close.

He's on the fence, very close, he

says.

I can't blame him on that one,

that really is very close.

I fancy

Mark Dawes to draw this. The

adjustment looks good. The

adjustment looks very good with

this, if he runs.

Needs to hurry.

Needs to hurry past that bowl. Dear

me.

It's a bit of a scrappy one,

isn't it?

isn't it?

He'll be annoyed with

himself, the standard he's played in

this match. He'd be expecting to be

that bowl.

that bowl.

Time-out call. Robert has

three time-outs remaining.

It just looks like a draw, John,

doesn't it?

Robert certainly can't

afford to hit them and if something

goes wrong, I mean that green bowl

is fairly lonely in there. Wouldn't

want to get a bad connection. Looks

to be room to draw. He's thereabouts

for mind. It just needs to find a

couple of feet of weight.

Yes, it's

just whatever way you want to play

it. If it plays it right, either

side you are talking about anything

15 inches jack high. He doesn't need

to get the centre rink, so he can

afford to push it out on a high

line.

Pushed it out a bit wider than

normal, let the bias bring it back

in about a foot or so jack high and

that will be enough. It needs to run

with this because the line is

perfect, and he has. Even better, a

little push on the red bowl that's

in competition with his other green

one. The second shot.

Sometimes you

don't have to be in the middle of

the jack, John. An awful lot of

players get jack focused, especially

when they are younger. They think

they have to be all over the jack.

You don't need to be. You just need

to be closer than your opposition.

He will try to measure this without

moving any other bowls around. The

chalks are in there just to make

sure things don't move.

That was an

opportunity missed by Mark Dawes, I

feel. He could have gone in with

that last bowl, Mark Paxton was an

-- with that last bowl, Mark. Paxton

was under pressure. It's the sort of

moment that can turn a match.

Especially if he gets a two out of

this.

That is. They are very well

trained and they do practice a lot,

the world balls tour a tight-knit

group who keep their standards very

high.

Two shots Robert Paxton.

Maybe

that last little lunches enough.

Well, all to play for, three ends.

5-5, after eight.

Jack length, 29.5 metres.

APPLAUSE

It's been a quality final, John,

it's fair to say that. It hasn't had

the swashbuckling bowls in terms of

the big drives and the jack bouncing

everywhere and that sort of stuff.

It's all been very subtle in this

game.

APPLAUSE

It's definitely one for the

connoisseur.

Yeah, great drawing

bowls played by both players. Robert

has marvellous final deliveries to

pull himself out of difficult

situations and he's done well to

stay in there. He's very close on

the scoreboard. You just feel that

Mark Dawes just has the edge, but he

can't put Robert away.

No, he's just

been a tiny bit more consistent but

he hasn't been able to tuck him away

at all.

He's making a big effort on this

end. Number two.

APPLAUSE

Just short of it. Still room for

Robert.

A clear run would have been better

but it's decent. I think we'll go

through this match again and look

how many third bowls Robert Paxton

has had to play well.

Yeah, the

percentage has been very high,

giving himself the chance again with

the third bowl. I'd expect to see

Mark Dawes slip onto the forehand

side and get in there again, try to

move that jack. Well, called that

one wrong, he's sticking with his

backhand.

Well, so confident, but

I'm sort of with you. Beforehand to

me looked better.

I'm surprised he's

playing away from this. It looks

like he's deliberately trying to get

around the back of that.

Splitting

the two green bowls in case he he

pushes the jack through to the back

one. It's got a certain amount of

value about it. Quite a strong

amount of value if Robert goes for

the forehand.

Robert had first go at

the forehand, you are leaving the

shot open for him and at this stage

you want to kill it off.

A hard

shot, so often when you move onto

this side you drop short. He knows

he has to reach so. He's got a

chance on it, got a chance with

this. Is he going to get it right?

Oh, he needs to stay up. Oh, dear

me. Just dropped away. He got the

double kiss on the jack.

Yeah, he

was very close. He got the

opportunity and nearly took the

opportunity. It was a wonderful bowl

by Robert Paxton. Very unfortunate.

He's got to change this time, yeah,

forehand it is.

If he just gets inside the red

bowl...

APPLAUSE

That's a tough one, isn't it? Mark

Dawes has been playing bowls for a

long time. He was a crown green

player as well. You can see how he

delivers the bowl how quick he is.

He's become a top player. Very much

feared opponent when he was

qualifying for events.

One really

good end away

good end away you could say. He

doesn't want think about that line

too soon.

Two shots scored in any one end.

He would settle for one here.

Now Robert, can you get your first

two bowls close?

That's been the problem, he's been

so close in this game. That's what's

let him down really. If he doesn't

win this title, it's where it's been

won and lost.

APPLAUSE

Is he slightly over.

He is.

Well it is not a bad bowl

where it is.

Once again going to put pressure on

this third delivery.

He had too reach to that, in

fairness, after the first bowl. Just

losing 15 inches of weight would be

good. He's overplayed it, though.

Still there for Robert.

Can he lose two-and-a-half feet on

his last delivery?

The trouble is,

John, do you overcorrect? He's

trying though. Gently, gently,

doesn't want the jack, wants to miss

it. That's good.

APPLAUSE

How close is it? A slight favour for

red.

Even one shot for Mark Dawes, that

means Robert Paxton needs a three in

the last end.

Mark needs to take a

time out. If he could play the

perfect bowl here.

The perfect bowl

would be close to coming in in front

of the jack. If he extends the jack

it is good. The danger, and this is

where the problem is, the danger is

actually over in this area here.

That gives Robert a chance to pull

the jack back for two, maybe three.

He doesn't need to be playing that

weight though, does he? He looks to

draw the shot. If he gets to the

jack, it's a bonus.

I am thinking what would Robert play

there? He's putting in a bowl that

will stop Robert.

He's underplayed

it. Well, life's about taking your

chances when they come.

He's

actually pushed the green bowl

closer. I... Well, he'll have a look

at this. There's a chance on a

running bowl as well, John and it's

all in Robert Paxton's favour.

REFEREE: Two time outs remaining.

We will look at the respot positions

in case he goes for it, John. If he

is going to drive, the re-spot

position is here. That is where the

jack brings another bowl in. The key

bowl is this one. That's on a score.

But if he wants j US to draw this

and he can do -- just to draw this

and he can do, he'll have a close

look. He can draw it on the forehand

and bring it on to this bowl. If he

gets on to that bowl, edges it out,

he makes two.

At this stage, confident about

playing. The other thing is to

strike down on the bowls.

It's all about what he feels is the

best shot for him on this particular

end.

Playing it. Playing the bowls. Gets

the jack.

That's a key ball we're

talking about, John. Just watch this

coming through.

There's the green bowl we were

looking at.

He took the rest of the

green.

He's very, very close to

getting the two bowls. That is what

he wanted.

Even if he got two shots wouldn't

have made any difference. He has to

win this last end.

He has the score.

Couldn't afford to lose a shot.

This

is great stuff.

REFEREE:

29.5 metres.

Mark Dawes's

last bowl didn't close it down.

This will be played in many ways

like a tie-break, John. It will be

very aggressive if anything goes

jack high.

REFEREE:

Eight inches.

Mark Dawes, I bet his heart is

beating fast. He's so close to the

line here.

Very close to his own bowl.

He wouldn't be totally happy with

it.

He's just unfortunate. Anything

more solid than a jack would have

been good. A little bit unlucky.

Robert Paxton is definitely limping.

It looks like he's maybe twinge to

little muscle. Oh dear, didn't want

one there.

Anything faster would

have been good then.

Definitely.

Now

then, Mark Dawes, still has the draw

available, but you have, if you

really want to play it, a runner to

get the jack in the ditch.

You get

onto the green bowl, you drop off

it, you get nothing. Tension on the

last bowl, play through it, two

bowls out, but that's not Mark

Dawes' way, is it?

He's sticking

just over the draw, trying to get to

the green. Looks better. You get

down.

He's down under the second

shot.

That's important, it gives him

another option. It's a very good

bowl by Mark Dawes.

It gives him a

shoulder and it means he will have

to play his last bowl, he'd have

preferred not to. What would you do

here, John?

Well, I think Robert has

a difficult problem here to solve.

You can go back but he leaves the

bowl vulnerable.

I think I would

draw in.

He's on the forehand,

suggests he's going deep.

Well, he

can still go deep on the forehand

and have a good position bowl in

terms of close to the jack. He's not

even risking it, he says I'm lying

the set in a tie-break position and

he's played a good cover bowl.

APPLAUSE

You could draw to the green and turn

the green or play a lot of weight.

Got to play it, John. There's a