Yorkshire’s
Garry Thompson produced a clinical performance to eclipse Republic of Ireland’s
Martin McCloskey 4-1.
The 44-year-old
from Silsden was always in command during the 49-minute match.
Both players
were testing each other in the opening set , the Yorkshire captain twice edging
ahead before the man from County Donegal levelled and then snatched the set on
double four.
Red-haired
McCloskey, nicknamed The Fox then took out 72 with double 16 against the throw
to steal the initiative and then cunningly fired out two 140s he smashed in a
121 finish completed on bull. But Thompson blazed back to hit double 18 and then
double tops to level the set after McCloskey missed wired bull for a set-winning
124. Thompson grabbed the fifth leg to level the match.
And he followed
up with double 16 – with a single dart – to win the opening leg of the third set
against the throw and held his throw to edge further ahead.Thompson hammered home a maximum and 136 but then missed two attempts for
double 20, allowing McCloskey to sneak in with double 16.
Thompson was
punished again in the next after missing four set-winning attempts for double
tops he nervously missed the same double twice before scrambling home with the
third attempt for a 2-1 match lead.
The fourth set
went the full distance after Thompson produced a 118 checkout, following up with
64 finished on double 16.
The match had been momentarily halted in the middle of
the set as a constant heckler - who had been warned about shouting out while
players were throwing - was ejected from the club.
Both players missed doubles before Thompson who had hit a maximum hit double
four against the throw and then followed up with the third attempt for his
favourite double 18 which he again hit first time to clinch victory in the next
leg
