Open Singles Semi-Finals World Indoor Bowls Championships

Hello and welcome to the east coast

of England for the 40th edition of

the world Indoor Bowls Championship.

It is the 20th time it has been held

at the Potters Resort. Today it is

semi-final days.

# I'm so excited

and I just can't hide it. # I'm

about to lose control and I think I

like it!

Can he fall in? Yes, that

was an amazing last bowl.

It is

Oliver, the youngest ever world

singles champion.

No it is not a

kangaroo!

He is going to strike that

bowl off for the Championship. Got

it!

. Paul Foster.

# I'm so excited! # I'm about to

lose control and I think I like it!

# I'm so excited.

So many great

players, so many great memories. But

it is time for a new chapter as we

look ahead to today's semi-finals

here are the four players left with

a chance of getting their hands on

the most coveted trophy in the

sport.

Let's start with the first

semi-final, which took place this

morning when Darren Burnett squared

off against the Mark Dawes. In their

three previous meetings, Dawes had

won each time against Burnett.

Dawes had already progressed further

than he had done before in the

world's singles. Bettering his Round

2 loss in 2016 and he got off to the

fastest start. This for a double and

a 4-1 lead. Burnett clawed his way

back. With Dawes lying 2, Burnett

had no choice but to take on this

drive with his last. But he only

managed to increase the damage and

lost the triple. Burnett couldn't

save the first set and his woes were

getting worse in the second as he

started to show signs of a back

problem. Dawes was in commanding

form, winning four ends in a troe

build a very healthy 7-2 lead,

including this in the 5th after

Burnett was threatening a fight

back. Just when Burnett looked to be

down and out, he produced the shot

of the match to gie himself hope. --

give himself hope. And the door had

been opened. Dawes slammed it shut

again. Two beautiful shots put him

in an unassailable position. He goes

through to his second final of the

week and the chance to add the world

singles title to the pairs he won

with Jamie Chestney on Monday. Mark

Dawes has had a great week and is

looking for a first ever final. This

afternoon we have Robert Paxson and

Wayne Willgress still to come. John

Pryce with is me.

Wayne Willgress still to come. John

Pryce with is me. Some people may

know this week you were sweet on the

chances of Mark Dawes.

Yes, I

fancied him, he is playing well and

he is playing good running bowls and

sometimes you get a feel for a

player.

People who have watched this

match may not realise he has played

like that since he arrived here.

Yes

his form is good. He looks

confident, mature and he is doing

well.

You say confident and mature,

because he has always had the

talent, up stairs are where things

have changed.

Yes he feels at home

on the rink, the surroundings are

good and he is in good shape.

I

mentioned that Darren Burnett had a

back injury and also after the match

I spoke to Mark and he said

sometimes that can be awkward to

deal with.

Yes a back injury is

difficult. He didn't make an excuse.

But you could see he was in pain.

For Mark you're keeping an eye on

the other person.

Yes, Mark just

played his own game. You have to

shut that off and did the

professional job.

Now let's switch

to the second semi-final to find out

who Mark will play tomorrow. This is

the route that Robert Paxton and

Wayne Willgress have had.

Yesterday, Wayne was involved in up

with of the most extraordinary

matches we have seen here at

potters. Dope Deep into the second

set he looked down and out.

potters. Dope Deep into the second

set he looked down and out.

COMMENTATOR: The Wayne fan club down

there, but unfortunately today there

hasn't been a lot to shout about.

If

you're not playing well, you might

as well not be there, they can't

cheer anything when I'm playing all

over. Once you start putting things

close, they get involved and that is

the killer.

The wildcard needs a miracle.

I had

given up. He is the best players.

Here he goes. Has he missed it? It

is going to get there. Surely he

will draw this time.

He had five

foot to kill me.

He is edgy.

I don't

believe it, he is short. I don't

believe it.

Somehow he didn't. Even

the best feel the pressure I guess.

It is game on now. Tie-break.

He has

got it.

The jack's gone.

I can't say

at any point I thought I was going

to win.

A slight touch.

I felt the

odd bowl was good. But under the

circumstances that has to be the

best bowl and the bowl to win.

Such

a difficult shot.

This is very close

to it.

Oh, he has played it.

I'm

living the dream at the minute and I

think I have got to keep living and

keep going and playing bowls at the

right time and trying to forget

everything else going on around me.

Work whatever else. You have got to

focus on the bowls and give it your

all and cross your fingers. Good

player. Got a good all round year.

He is one of men to beat. He knows

how to win. Good player.

Semis is

always one of the best games, but it

is the hardest one to lose. You're

so close to the final. It is

heartbreak. Playing Wayne, he has

the wildcard here, but he is a world

semi-finalist. He has deserved his

place here. So I have got to respect

the way he plays. That is why he is

in the competition still. I have got

to try and put him under pressure

and hopefully that is enough today.

It is the biggest title you can win

in bowls, coming here is what every

player wants to do.

A very excited

atmosphere in here, because Wayne

Willgress has caused a stir with his

support and his two come back

victories.

support and his two come back

victories.

Amazing finish yesterday.

Greg thought he was over the line.

Wayne will think he got out of jail.

He took the opportunity in the

tie-break.

Wayne should be playing a

county league match today.

I have a

feeling he won't make that.

Yesterday, he was very emotional.

How difficult is it to get back down

from that to get yourself up for

that.

Today he will look at it. Half

way through game yesterday he had no

chance. He is here now and I think

he will be up for this.

So will

Robert Paxton. He has that steely

determination?

Yes he will want to

win. He has lost a time before. He

is on a roll and he will feel

confident and he is the favourite.

Can you see Wayne Willgress doing

something like this again?

Very

possibly. It is a 50/50 game. World

semi, crowd behind him. It is 50/50.

MC Richard Bear is standing by.

A

warm good afternoon to you. Like the

song at the top of today's

programme, we're all so excited. Who

is going to go through and face Mark

Dawes tomorrow? We are about to find

out. First of all, what an amazing

tournament this local qualifier is

having after taking out the world No

1 Greg Harlow to earn himself in

this semi-final. The question is -

can he now go all the way. Ladies

and gentlemen, Wayne Willgress.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.

And this world No 6 has had a

fruitful few seasons. The 2016 world

indoor singles finalist and former

Scottish International Open

champion, your appreciation play for

Robert Paxton.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.

There is a fantastic atmosphere. You

can have your way on Twitter. Let's

join John Price and David Corkhill.

COMMENTATOR: What an exciting moment

for this young man. Given a wildcard

on the back of some very good

performances. My goodness me what an

upset he has caused this year. Match

after match against world champions.

They have been dispatched.

Against Stuart Anderson he played

well the whole match and still had

to come through with big scores

towards the end. Stuart looked to be

in control.

It is fair to say, John, Greg Harlow

looked to be in control for most of

his game until the last end of the

second set.

Yes, definitely Greg

will feel that very difficult to say

what he did wrong. He played well. A

problem with line and length just

fell away.

He settles down into this

backhand, trying to drop a bit of

the width. Try and get the ball back

inside. Be interesting just to see

how it goes with regards to getting

off the line a bit quicker. I think

he knows that he needs to get out

the blocks better. Because this

man's a very determined player,

Robert Paxton.

Just over the line.

A bit of a wins, he wasn't sure. --

wince.

Starting to come now. That is good

bowling. There is a lot of support

out there for the local man,

Willgress. Robert Paxton would

normally play into this with weight.

It is a struggle on this. I thought

he might have played that as a bit

of runner.

Didn't expect him not to

reach.

Wayne moving to the forehand to try

and cover the red balls. He wants to

get in front of him if he can. And

he has. Two shots first there.

Still expect Robert to get at least

second.

Very close, Robert Paxton. Very

close. He is going to draw the No 1

with this. It is a great recovery

bowl. He managed to get the shot.

He

did that on the first end.

REFEREE: Jack length 29 and a half

metres.

These matches over 9 ends. The first

two sets. That will extend to 11 in

the final. A tee-break if needed.

There is no accumulated shots. You

can lose by 12 nil and win the next

one by one shot and still go in

level. Too many battles really.

Ball of Wayne Estry 's going to be

cheered.

REFEREE: 10 inch gap.

The ball's

five inch diameter, so ten inches -

plenty of room. He will probably

pull through this.

Not the best bowl.

Paxton third bowl. Struggling with

that as well. He is going to be

looking for another recovery bowl.

The last bowl.

He hasn't started

well.

Another good chaps for Wayne

Willgress.

-- chance.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.

He got through that by a foot. Those

folks are out to enjoy themselves

today.

Well, he is on a line. All about

weight from there.

He has done it

again.

Two big last bowls.

The crowd

react to that. It was a superb

delivery. But he want to dipping too

much into that well of good bowls.

He wants to be on the front foot and

not playing recovery all the time.

Rebecca Field, Wayne Willgress's

partner.

He is looking for the bowl,

he must be able to see it.

It is two 3s that have been snatched

off him by Robert Paxton's last

bowls.

It is typical of a true champion,

you get outplayed in the two ends,

you get in many ways, you weather

the storm to get in front and hope

that your own general play at the

first two deliveries gets better.

He

found a good bowl the last delivery

on both ends. That scoreboard could

have looked a lot worse. Although he

will need to get in with the fist

two bowls. Wayne has started better

today than he did yesterday.

Better start by Rob Paxton.

Looks a lot more like it from

Robert.

You could hear them shouting hurry

there from about four yards away.

Yes, they were urging that ball in.

Always looked good. Just about made

it in the end.

Robert, worth playing into this. He

has the front bowls to hit to take

the green bowl out.

Under it.

I wonder about Wayne. He needs a

deep bowl. He will play for that

plant again. He could do worse than

play the forehand, try and tuck his

own bowl in. That reduces the

target. If he misses that, then he

gets into his second position -

deep.

That is what he's playing.

That is a

good bowl. That really is a good

bowl for lots of reason, because it

also stops the

also stops the red ball coming

through. Only one shot in this.

Could be dangerous for Robert Paxton

to attack it.

On the backhand just trying to draw

in.

No position deep of the jack. Now,

Wayne, can you just play something

similar, tap your bowl or get inside

the jack for 3?

A bit of work to get back inside.

But he might get his own. Oh, that

was the right idea.

was the right idea.

REFEREE: One

shot, Wayne Willgress.

shot, Wayne Willgress. Set score 2-1

after three ends.

Will he has seen the shots. That is

the thing. He is able to see the

shots and identify them early.

REFEREE: Jack length 27 and a half

metres.

Great to have the home support. No

doubt about that. But with that come

ascertain level of expectation. It

is not always easy.

APPLAUSE.

A very good opener from Paxton. That

is the sort of bowl he is looking

for to put Wayne under a bit of

pressure.

Robert will check the gap here I

think. He has been able to see it

from the monitor at the side of the

rink. He gets a good shot of the

overhead. Three inches away. So he

can play this with confidence. He

can afford to reach it. Had it been

an inch away it would have been

dangerous.

That is a good effort. Good weight

again.

Yes, a bit of a change in the

line and we have been getting lots

of questions in.

We have a lot of non--bowlers

watching. That is on hashtag BBC

bowls if you need to know anything.

Patch it through to us and we will

do your best to answer your

questions. You know, you will get

the hard ones, John, so that's OK.

That is typical of you. Passing the

buck.

I have got the rule book, but

I have to pass it on to you. He has

got that.

He stayed central there. No catch

there for Wayne.

I think we don't need to know this

one's going to miss the way he threw

his cloth up! I think it's very

close. There we go. Body language

said, I missed it. Look at the

reaction of the crowd! The body

language, the cloth in the air said

everything about that bowl - I have

missed it by a margin and he draws

the shot around the corner! Oh dear,

oh dear. A bit of a worry if he

didn't know it was close.

Doesn't

matter if he gets a result like that

every time. Somebody up stairs is

looking after him.

Robert how close are you to this

jack? Doesn't need the bowl. Oh,

well... Hmm! One to red.

It has been exciting already for

lots of different reasons.

You have

got to say that any game with Wayne,

something's going to happen!

It is

highly entertaining. The crowd with

him or not, he is just highly

entertaining the way he plays the

game.

REFEREE: Jack length 29

metres.

Bowles is a very big sport for young

people. They roll mat out and pay

bowls on it. In halls and

gymnasiums.

In parts of Wales, the

short mat is very popular.

Massive

in Northern Ireland.

Tens of

thousands.

My own club in Belfast

would post some of their events. My

goodness me, they'd turn up in their

droves. Especially the young ones. A

good introduction to playing through

onto the longer mat and also on the

outdoor. But they have their own

representative. The teams at

international level. Robert getting

in there, the first two bowls. Just

signs of Robert coming into playing

a good game. He is 3-1 in front when

he is doing it.

He weathered the

storm in the first two ends. Some

good carry by Wayne. It just ran

away. Bit of excitement in the

crowd. The bowl dropped back.

Robert

will see if he can turn the jack

around the corner and consolidate

the position.

the position.

He is making the gap.

What a place he is going to! That is

very good will

very good will stop

He played with

very good weight. Did not get the

jack. He is finishing in a very good

place.

Can he run?

That was brilliant,

absolutely brilliant. That is so

hard to do.

hard to do. This is a long jack.

Incredible accuracy in delivering

these bowls.

Now, Robert, can you turn the jack

for three or four? Looks under. It

is under the line. The wait was very

good. Just missed the line by a bowl

or two. We have to be very careful.

Now it really would be impressive to

add another one.

He must be a little

careful.

careful. It is going to be a little

bit delicate.

They are asking how this is. He has

to be careful. I must say he did

give it a go.

That is a good one to

take. A good bowl from Wayne.

It is a fall house here. We thought

this would happen. Always very

popular in the semifinals but

particularly dismantle the PA has

just about held on to the jack. Drop

sit in the ditch and the jack goes

back. The opposition gets the chance

to deliver it to his length. --

drops it in the ditch.

This looks good. He has made the

adjustment.

They young supporters from his local

club in Norfolk. They are here to

enjoy themselves, aren't they?

He

needs to play plenty of good bowls.

Get the crowd worked up. A noisy

crowd went get them on his side.

That was a good effort by Robert.

Just past. He has that advantage. He

can play really well. Worth another

five shots I would think.

five shots I would think.

It is

within seven inches of the jack and

it barely got a murmur. It is a

tough crowd out there, isn't it?

Wayne on the forehand again trying

to get to the rent, if you can.

Gentle, gentle. That is a good bowl.

Again, the bowls of finding centre

rink and picking out the line very

well. The line is affected in many

different ways. Players go looking

for sight lines. That is where you

stand on Burnham mat. It has a

massive effect on how a bowl is

going to bend. -- stand on the mat.

Inside line, a little bit of weight.

He needs to be lucky. Oh, he is. Oh,

dear, oh dear four. That was a long

way away for him to be hitting.

way away for him to be hitting.

Very

fortunate then, Robert. A bit of

movement on the jack.

movement on the jack.

Well,

acknowledgement to the opposition.

Always good to see. It is not

particularly easy.

He could play it

on to his own bowl. He can trail the

jack. 40 yards or so.

He is looking

at it. There is danger if he wings

off the bowl on the inside. Offers

up a chance for a three foot at the

moment he is only one down. Does not

want to be losing three shots in the

middle of the set.

He has the open

draw. That is what he will play. He

is forcing it off the forehand.

This

is risky, really risky.

He might

have got away with it.

Only to the

point where it was the single. It

has gone off the rink.

I didn't

think he would have played that

quite as firmly as that. A bit more

control and he could easily have got

the jack on the backhand side. If he

drops a single it would not be too

bad.

Over 26 and a half metres,

Roberts will be able to draw this

without too much trouble. -- Robert.

1-shot, Robert Paxton.

That was not

close but it was enough.

close but it was enough. Single

shots all the way. A tight game, we

thought it might be very tight.

Paxton being two in front, he will

be delighted considering how the

first set has been going.

first set has been going.

Both

players will play an aggressive

game. Quite prepared

game. Quite prepared to play weight

on the second bowl if they need to.

A few fireworks.

They are both

aggressive players and will go

forward different kinds of shops.

forward different kinds of shops. --

and will go for different kinds of

shots.

That is OK at the moment. Robert

Paxton is two shots in front and he

is playing well enough. If you are

three, four shots down, things start

to go wrong, all of a sudden there

could be a major influence in the

match.

match.

He needs to chop back off the

red.

red.

Robert Paxton is playing good

bowls.

bowls. That is the way to keep home

support just a little bits of Jude.

-- sub

-- subdued.

Needs to come rolling

off the back one. A good shoulder.

He moves the red.

He can afford to reach this. No

point in being short to it. The shot

against. It needs to hurry. Always

under it. That is surprisingly goes

everything was in his favour to

arrive at that.

He had a chance to

split the green and turn the red

bowl away.

Paxton will play forehand again. A

similar shot for him. Drawing into

the green bowl.

He is good again. It has just

dropped but he is close for another

one.

Francis Fletcher is having a look.

Red bowl on the jack and every spot.

I do not think he would be any worse

off if he comes under it.

He could

play that.

He played the draw on the

backhand. That is a tough one.

backhand. That is a tough one.

Looks

like his weight. A big drive.

like his weight. A big drive.

A big

effort. Good hit.

Looking at the second...

A bit of a

fancy for the green but not a lot in

it.

The umpire for this match will sort

it out.

it out.

They will give Robert a hard

time about that one. Yet his glasses

out for that one.

Has not been

eating his carrot stop the players

are normally very good about looking

at measures.

Most of these matches are taking

around 45 minutes. The guys are

pretty much on schedule for that.

They are not messing about. 30

seconds to play the bowl after your

opponent's bowl has been delivered

and stopped. Keeps moving on.

and stopped. Keeps moving on.

You

are right. It is about 45 minutes a

set normally. A tad longer if you go

onto the tie-break.

This needs to run. Oh, dear. The

overcorrection. He took two yards

off.

Not too much on the jack.

Wayne might still play the backhand

draw.

He prefers this side. He has

played some really good bowls. We

notice this last night when he moved

across. A slight danger moving

forward. Will he get back in time?

Not quite. He will not want it to go

to the last N. Four down. -- the

last end.

A similar line to Wayne.

Conscious

he needs another one in. Trying to

close the set down.

It stops any

shot, trying to flick out the red

bowl. There is a shot on the

forehand to drag the jack. He did

want to switch on to the forehand

side were just over the draw. Pull

the jack.

He has to go for the jack

to try to get two out of this. The

only thing he doesn't want to be as

short. He needs an edge. Dear me! So

close. He has moved his own bowl, so

he will be looking to see if it is

one or two. Wow!

one or two. Wow! All single shots. A

big difference when you are lying

four shots in front. Economic tab

the set in your pocket. We have seen

that with Wayne before. -- you can

almost have the set in your pocket.

He would have taken the start of the

match this afternoon when leading

going into the last. He was

expecting a bit of a storm early on.

It has been a fairly good

performance. A bit shaky in the

first couple of ends but he has

settled in well he has control of

the set will

the set will -- control of the set.

The 29-year-old has been playing in

this match now for 40 odd minutes

and only scored two shots. That is

not really a reflection on this

match whatsoever. I think it would

have been pretty close to level

going into this.

Does not fit into

Wayne's game plan. He likes to camp

the last 20, 25 minutes. -- he likes

to come in the last 20, 25 minutes.

He has a cunning plan.

He has scored three fours against

Stuart Anderson. That is not easy to

do. Just dropping a bit short.

Another opportunity to get in.

Trouble is every single bowl as to

be within a foot. Cannot afford to

make a mistake. Is this going to

drop back? Yes, that is number two.

They won't get excited unless Robert

misses this one.

The Paxton forehand, looking to drop

on the back green. If he gets in

their he will kill it. By Megahey is

close. Just needs to get a

connection. That is it. All the

work. Fair play. A really good bowl.

Well hidden.

Very close.

It does not

really matter about the shot. He

will just have to put this one in

and hope he has something for the

last bowl.

last bowl. Once again, quality very

high.

high. That was a decent bowl. If it

is going to go anywhere, it will go

out that side.

As it stands, Wayne has a real

problem to get to the red bowl and

remove it. Get there on the draw but

he will have to have a bit of weight

to get that way. Not easy to get the

bowl to bend.

bowl to bend. Rob is looking to just

get past that. This is a really good

bowl.

A clever bowl. Really good.

You could make one, possibly two. No

chance to get a full house of four.

He accepts the way it is.

He accepts the way it is. The face

tells it all.

A shake of the head.

He knows this set has gone. Yet.

Just a practice shot. He knew there

was no chance. Just move on into the

second set.

There was no chance to pick up one

shot, never mind four.

Robert just said, one to green he

did not care. He was not concerned,

was he?

Gnome. The set in his

pocket. -- no.

Also an indication of

how good a game it has been. It has

been really top class stuff.

Robert

did not start well the first two

ends. He played two big bowls. That

Robert Lee won him the set overall.

It was that close.

The first bowls have been getting

better and better.

That was a very good reply by him.

He needs to do that and tried to get

some pressure on him.

One green. Four inches second bowl.

Is he trying again? Just needs to

run. That was so had he got past the

red bowl it would have been

brilliant.

In terms of how close it

is to the jack, it is very good.

With the quality in this game, it

will be very close with this one.

He might have just got back the

shot.

William was a foot away with

his second bowl. In this sort of

game, it is just not enough. Robert

will get in. Just making it weighed

down to seven seconds left. Plenty

of time. Players do lose the bowl

occasionally but it is very rare.

Will he drop in and get the bend at

the end is to mark nearly.

Some

decent place, really is.

He will be

thinking what to play the next time.

Going for cover, he is expecting

Wayne to play the forehand to push

the green bowl on to the jack.

He is short of it. We can play this

both sides. The trouble with the

forehand is if you bowl on to the

red, the other red balls still

score.

Might be a better shot off

the backhand using his last bowl.

Gets it solid or he comes off it he

could move the jack.

He can be more

aggressive on the backhand. It is

down to personal choice and how he

feels.

He is going more aggressive. It

depends, if that's gone off on to

the re-spot he is good. If it is

held in the ditch he is probably two

down.

It is in the ditch.

He thought

it was going to run across from the

ditch and off the rink situation

that would have been a re-spot and

he would have been sitting pretty

with one, maybe two. A bit unlucky

with that one, John.

He was hoping

when he hit them to plant in front

the jack would have gone off the

back bowl out side ways.

back bowl out side ways.

We are all

looking forward to tomorrow's final.

2.30 on BBC Two.

Of course the winner of this match

will play Mark Dawes, a man into his

first world tour bowls final. Mark

Dawes has already picked up one

title this week - the pairs.

What a performance that was, John?

Yes, he played at the top of his

game and he will be hoping to do the

same tomorrow. I think one of these

two men will have something to say

about that. Whatever happens of

course we are going to have a new

winner, Dave.

Mark Dawes did play extremely well.

The problem Wayne's got he has a

tendency to play the odd lose end.

Not losing them big scores.

He is

not giving him any potential to put

Robert under pressure. He needs to

get Robert out of his comfort zone.

Yes he has got, not a free run, that

would be unfair, but this end's just

loosened up a bit. The previous ends

have been very good.

So important

now to get this bowl close.

Struggling with this one.

You don't to be going for the lost

bowl heroic stuff. You want to build

heads. Robert, all round good

player, it is not a matter of being

a front run rp, we have seen him

come back from dire situations. But

he is in a good position here. One

set in the bag, two shots up.

That is enough, no 3.

It is a big

pressure bowl early in the second

set.

He has given this a bit more of a

look. Half a chance if he has got

the run in.

Certainly a lot closer.

Gentle, gentle on the jack. Oh, he

has just pushed it into the red

bowl. But he has taken two off and

that is a massive hope. On another

day he misses the jack and gets the

shot.

A good save in the end.

REFEREE: Jack length 29 and a half

metres.

metres.

Players are both using the

same bowl, same model as well. Big

bias. Very rarely you see a straight

bowl go bendy on these rinks. You

want something that will bend back.

We have had an enquiry from one

viewer asking about the grip of both

players. I think they're both using

a claw grip, which is the thumb well

up the side of the bowl. That is

more like it. More like Wayne with

the first bowl.

REFEREE: 4 inch gap.

The claw grip,

just right up on to the little

dimples. The thumb comes down a bit,

known as the cradle grip.

He has got a little spray because it

has moved the jack. If it goes into

the ditch, it stays there, forms

part of the remainder of the end.

That is another good bowl by Wayne.

This is what he needs to do. To do

this over three or four ends and get

more pressure at Robert.

Better by Rob Paxton. He needed that

one.

Absolutely. I was looking at

the picture showing the two bowls.

They were both using the same ones,

but that was taken from elsewhere.

Wayne's actually using a different

manufacture's bowls, but again it is

a big bias bowl. Always good to have

the odd curve ball thrown in there,

John.

Good again.

John.

Good again. That's getting

them going a bit now. That is what

he needs. He needs to get this

coming back. He can feed off the

energy of the crowd.

He said in his

interview, you can't expect

reactions if you're pushing the

bowls all around the park. They have

to be in line.

REFEREE: Rob has four

time-outs remaining.

Gone for the hit. One out.

Well...

If he is on target and hit one.

The sort of shot that you need to

make.

Get in there.

Missed the jack. Yes,

he got it. As soon as he missed the

jack he was good.

That is getting

them going again now. So Wayne's

back in the set.

His first 2 of the match.

Just

missed the jack. A little touch

back. Come on, he said, let's get

going! Big Wayne's on the march!

REFEREE: Jack length 27 and a half

metres.

The secret now is to try to play

back-to-back ends. If he can get a

good start to this end, sets him up

for a chance.

APPLAUSE.

Rob will think if he can just stay

ahead. If Wayne gets ahead and the

crowd gets Ott of their seats he is

in trouble.

At the moment, he has

been in the lead the whole way.

You're thinking what's going to

happen if he's chasing it.

He will do everything he can to just

keep ahead of Wayne in this set.

Keep the momentum.

Wayne urging that ball forward.

Well... It is the sort of bowl you

need in close. That second bowl,

your opponent's missed it with the

first.

It has dropped. It will be a lot

closer now.

closer now.

REFEREE: About half an

inch past jack high.

He wasn't quite sure.

Well if he gets into the jack here

he is good. Any touch at all would

be enough. Oh, dear me! So close.

Big fast bowls that he is using.

Just swinging inside the head.

He needs a very small adjustment,

Wayne Willgress.

A touch of the jack

would be a big turn around. One down

to three up. They're calling for the

jack. But he is inside it. Just

needed a little bit more weight to

hold the line.

I think it will be a very quiet draw

from Robert.

Can't afford any movement on the

jack.

He was being careful. Well, we have

had a lot of chats about different

bowls and players using multiple

sets. They all have to be match sets

of course when you're playing in a

singles game. Multiple manufacturers

and players just play with what they

think is right for them. Not unusual

for players to play with different

bowls. Different times of the day.

The rink does change.

Of course there is the different

weights available, but different

biases are the key. Both these

players while using different

manufacturers, the profile lines on

the he bowls are very similar. Both

have erred on the wider line bowl.

He may be tempted.

He is going to stay on the draw he

hopes.

He is conscious of that jack being

slightly off centre. Will he push

the red bowl directly on to it. He

wants to get away from the two reds.

He has. Different make the length of

the jack. But it's still there to

get the split.

Having played that

type of bowl, he might favour going

with more weight next time.

Robert conscious of the fact that

the two bowls can disappear. Getting

back one and hoping to stop in time.

He has to play it, John.

His

instincts will be to play this. He

is an aggressive player.

The

alternative is to make a correction

just on the draw on the forehand.

The danger we are a strike bowl he

has nothing at the back of the head.

So he is aware of the fact he has no

position.

He is persevering on the

draw.

Given it some try too. Any edge on

the jack. That is the probably

you're just carrying a couple of

feet of weight and struggles to get

down.

He reckoned he had that. That

has created a real big problem for

him now.

No position really, John, and...

Well a good bowl from Robert. : He

doesn't want to leave anything to

the side. Inside the green at sort

of 2 o'clock wouldn't be a wide

bowl. He would like to get another

one in there, David.

Hmm, well, the

alternative on the backhand as well,

the jack scooting across the other

side will cost him a couple of

shots. He has an alternative on the

backhand to play on the blind side

and play the same shot.

I think that

is probably the shot he will play.

Yes he is reverting to his backhand.

It is a safe draw.

Now he needs to bend. He has played

this well. Very good bowl by Robert

Paxton. That gives him width and

another shot by the looks of it.

Surely Wayne will go this time.

He

played that, he identified it and

played it well.

Looking for split. And he got the

other one. But that one wasn't in,

John, it was the side bowl that

Robert had played with his last

delivery.

You can see how good a

bowl that was by Robert Paxton. If

he hadn't got there, he would have

been three down.

been three down.

A good cover bowl

played by Robert. Just hiding his

own in behind the front once. Clever

stuff.

The send up scoring was well hidden.

Was never going to go out.

You can

see the frustration with Wayne

there.

Well, some players like to

show their emotions and it is no bad

thing sometimes. He shows it, no

matter what way the game's going.

Quite like that.

He has got four

ends to turn this around. This is

normally the period he says he

bursts into life!

Been playing good bowls, Wayne,

Robert's just had the edge though.

Another good start. Right to the

jack. Dead centre. Perfect line.

Well done.

Past it on the backhand side. He

just left that short.

Well what's

going to clog up that hand for the

next bowl. This is the second bowl

where Wayne really needs to get this

in. He has been drooping it short --

dropping it short a few times.

Oh, he is too long this time. That

takes all the pressure off Robert

Paxton.

Can't blame him, he was going

chasing it. Good chance to get his

own bowl on, or take the green bowl

out clean. This one really needs to

be in.

Oh, that wee touch just makes it so

much different now. Without that

touch he is coming in behind his own

bowl.

He was unfortunate, he played

a good bowl then. Just needed to

miss that bowl. He has fallen off it

and gives a bit more of a target for

Robert Paxton if he wants to play

these balls.

REFEREE: Time out

called. Rob has two time-outs

remaining.

remaining.

He is looking at this

shot. If he gets the high side of it

and that is where the problem lies.

If he gets the high side of that,

the jack's going to move and the

re-spot position's over here. So he

has to be very careful.

Just the chance to get the two bowls

out.

He is playing it.

Has to be fortunate. That is

probably better he didn't get a

connection there, John, because I

think he would have taken his own

two out.

Now, Wayne, can you add a

third?

Rebecca Field and Wayne's

mother. That is the planning

committee for the wedding!

Good thi Wayne's had a run in this

tournament then. That is overweight.

Steady. Oh, missed chance. Really

needed a 3 there just to add that

little bit more pressure. But still

with two shots... One behind. Three

ends go.

REFEREE: Jack length 26 metres.

Fantastic arena here at Potters

leisure resort. Perfect for the

bowls. Big stand on one side and a

lot of people in every day. Every

single session. In the morning the

sessions are very busy.

Good start, Wayne. Rather than go

through the gears.

He is trying to drive himself

forward, get that adrenaline

flowing.

He is very close to the jack here,

Robert.

Great bowl. Really that's...

A bit of a kick for Wayne, because

with that first bowl, he will be

thinking I can build on something

now. And then rocked back on his

heels.

He was on a good line again but he

did not send it.

The jack slightly off centre.

A good

bowl by Rob. Problems again for

Wayne.

Wayne. It is finding the answers at

the moment for Robert. He looks to

be under pressure.

be under pressure. Weight always

conscious of the fact it is easy to

drop short. Robert Butler do well to

follow the ball.

He doesn't want to

put one beside the red bowl. He

could get three get cover of the

same time.

If he splits the jack and

the green bowl he would be in a good

place, and counting.

Not quite. It is a hard shot to

draw, a little bit of weight, trying

to get a run through.

That is not

easy. The short green bowl is

causing him problems.

He will have

to allow the bowl to bend. It looks

the right shot.

Well, it's going to be costly, isn't

it? He will expect to lose three

here. 8-4. Four down with three ends

remaining.

He might have been better

to lose two feet on his last

delivery and draw it. It has given

Robert room to put this one in. He

knows this is an important delivery.

He wants to make this one count.

No mistake. He played it well. A

perfect delivery. Makes it three.

And of course the problem for a

Wayne Willgress is that he has to

win the set. He has to score five

shots in the last two ends.

Groundhog Day. We have been here

before.

We have. On two other

occasions. You just have a feeling

that in this game Wayne has found it

very hard to score shots, even

though he has scored well.

He has

played better today than it did

yesterday. You can only get out of

trouble so many times. I think

Robert is on a good length and line

at the moment. He will know if he

can play a good end he can seal it.

But you never know in bowls.

It is a

strange old game, isn't it? Manages

to surprise us, even now after all

these years of being involved in the

sport.

I don't think Wayne is going to pick

up any loose ball Macs today. --

bowls.

That is a sensible bowl. A good

place.

Certainly no mistakes from Robert

Paxton. He will do everything he can

to try to finish this match this

end.

Wayne will have two will begin

carry the jack. -- will have to hope

he can carry the jack.

That would be

the target for Paxton. Just put a

bit on from his last to get to the

two green bowls, lock it in.

He needs to run.

Dear, that is not

where he wanted it. The shot is

still there and he knows it.

He is not sure about this one. The

line is very close. Very close.

line is very close. Very close. Two

inches away from glory.

He was very

close with that. He has still got

half a chance as it stands would he

was very unlucky.

I would like to

have seen that jack being middle. It

would have been three shots and

totally hidden.

I thought he was

just hanging past it. He has got a

bit of it. He has still got an

opportunity though.

opportunity though. Robert needs to

get to those greens. I think it is a

forehand personally to try to get to

the back green.

the back green. He could play at off

the other side if he wanted to. That

seems the easier way in. Not looking

at the jack.

at the jack.

Anything past the red

bowl would be good. He just has to

lock into the green ones. He doesn't

want to be short.

He doesn't want to

fall off that. Not too bad.

fall off that. Not too bad. It will

lead a catch for a Wayne.

Well, the

perfect shot is on, John, but I

don't even think it is worth

attending.

I would be playing

through this.

He has to play through

it, John. Try to get into that

split. If he does that and get the

red bowl, if that goes over the

jack, goes through, the jack moves,

ends in this position, the chances

are that red bowl will go into the

ditch. He could pick up three four

shots. He could try to play the

forehand. And try get to the jack to

move it on the forehand. I don't

think he will get back in time.

That

is really difficult. That would be

some bowl. There is a connection. He

has to hope things go his way.

He is in the area. I don't believe

it!

it! Had that gone through we will be

picking up four shots. Unbelievable

results.

results. I have to say Robert Paxton

played very well in that match. He

was very steady, very professional.

Wayne Willgress added tremendously

to the semifinal. The young man can

be very pleased. He has made it to

the last four of the world

championship and he has been highly

entertaining.

Yes he has. He will

learn a lot from this. A very

professional performance. Very

steady today. He did the job.

steady today. He did the job.

6-3,

11-4. I think 11-4 was a little bit

unfair in the second set. It was

closer than that. There was so much

and so much that was good about this

match. Some wonderful play.

Robert Paxton was in trouble in the

first couple of ends. He picked up

couple of singles even though he was

under the cosh. This was his third

bowl in the final end of the set.

Lost one. But he was four in front.

That was a key moment. Wayne

Willgress wasn't finished. 3-0 down,

the last ball to go 3-2 in the

second set. And the big drive, three

shots against them, took two out,

kept in the set. 5-2 down. Robert

Paxton playing so well, the seventh

end, picked up three to go four

shots in front into the last end.

There was no breaking the man from

there.

there. Wayne desperately unlucky.

The jack in the ditch was worth

four. Robert Paxton into the final.

Great bowling. It shows how

consistent Robert Paxton was.

consistent Robert Paxton was. It was

much closer in terms of the match.

Robert Paxton very professional,

Wayne Willgress played really well.

The right man won. He was

Wayne Willgress played really well.

The right man won. He was that

little bit better on the day.

Indeed. Robert Paxton alongside me,

along with Wayne Willgress. Wayne,

an incredible week. After what has

happened over the last 48 hours, was

a bit difficult to set yourself for

today?

Not really. I had to go out

there and try to play. Rob was too

good. But be under pressure. I had

to play a few shots that didn't come

off. He put me under pressure. I

played some loose ones which he

capitalised on. What is your week

been like? It is a dream. The best

time of my life, really. I have been

given the chance by potters.

Hopefully I did myself proud. I

could have tried to do a bit better,

but...

APPLAUSE.

You brought a lot of entertainment

and magic to the week. It has then

fantastic watching you. You came up

against a man who was determined.

You have that steely focusing your

right?

Yeah, it has gone well today.

Wayne came out of the blocks. I

could have been down in the first

few ends. He has got himself in the

top 16. Good luck to him.

You seem

emotional about getting yourself

through to the final and the chance

to win the one event you want to win

above all else?

Definitely. The semi

is the biggest game. Once you're

there you can relax. Tomorrow

afternoon hopefully I will give

market a good game.

What was it like

playing this guy in front of this

crowd?

Fantastic. That is what bowls

is about. You want atmosphere. Come

back tomorrow.

Absolutely. Wayne,

commiserations. Rob,

congratulations. We look forward to

seeing you in the final. Let's show

you what we have got coming up on

the BBC.

That is what is coming up in the

next couple of days. This time next

week though it is time for the

return of the Six Nations.

I like a challenge.

Haggis.

Twickenham.

A French kiss.

Twickenham.

A French kiss.

We will

settle it on the pitch.

That is just about it at potters.

The crowd drifting away. They will

be back for the final tomorrow. We

hope to see you then. Mark Dawes

against Robert Paxton. For now, from

all of us here, bye-bye.