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World Cup of Darts: Round 2: Wales 4 – 0 Croatia

MARK WEBSTER & Richie Burnett 5 – 1 Tonci Restovic & Boris Krcmar

Mark Webster put in another strong performance as Wales brushed off the challenge of Croatia in convincing fashion.

‘Spider’ continued his brilliant form in the competition that he won 14 months ago. Webster and his partner Richie Burnett had both won their singles games yesterday, and victory in the pairs means they advance to the quarter finals with a 4-0 points win.

Croatia took the lead when Boris Krcmar checked out 135 before Burnett levelled for Wales. The Prince of Wales hit double ten to put his country in front. Webster then stepped forward and turned on the style, hitting a 117 finish to double the advantage.

Burnett hit double four to make it 4-1 to the 2010 finalists. Webster then hammered home two 180’s before Burnett hit double sixteen to complete the rout.

Wales will face either Scotland or South Africa in this evening’s quarter-final.

By Chris Murphy

World Cup of Darts: Round 2: Australia 4 – 0 Republic of Ireland          

SIMON WHITLOCK & PAUL NICHOLSON 5 – 2 Mick McGowan & William O’Connor

Australia put on a convincing display in the pairs, as they booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 5-2 triumph over the Republic of Ireland on Saturday afternoon.

Having both won their singles games yesterday, Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson completed the task by claiming two more points for winning the doubles, meaning they won the match 4-0 overall.

Australia won the first leg when Nicholson recovered from a stray shot a double top, by hitting double nineteen. It was Whitlock who turned on the style in leg two. He hit the first 180 of the match before finding the double eight bed to increase the lead.

Ireland pulled a leg back before Nicholson took out a neat 68 finish to restore a two leg advantage. Mick McGowan took out 102 to reduce the deficit again. Australia responded in kind when Whitlock checked out 78. Nicholson stuck in a maximum in the final leg, and ‘The Wizard’ stepped forward to finish the job by hitting double sixteen.

Nicholson said: “Today we just went up there and played darts. We played as a team and did a very professional job. We are building up a lot of confidence by getting the job done in that fashion. It was all about the team and we are both very pleased with how it went.”

Australia will face Belgium in tonight’s quarter-final and Nicholson believes it will be a tough test.

He added: “Tonight’s game will probably be the hardest that Simon I have ever had to play as a pair. Belgium is a great team and we are going to have to pull out our ‘A-game’ to beat them.  Once we know when we are scheduled to play, we will sit down and formulate a game plan and make sure we are prepared right. Simon and I are working towards the same goals. There are no personal agendas; we just want to win for Australia.”

By Chris Murphy

World Cup of Darts: Round 2: The Netherlands vs Austria

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 4 – 3 Dietmar Burger

Raymond van Barneveld fought back to see off a spirited challenge from Dietmar Burger in the 2^nd round of the World Cup in Hamburg.

The five-time world champion had to wait until the early hours of the morning to get on stage and begin the defence of the title he won in 2010. His opponent played well but van Barneveld found an extra gear and claimed the win.

‘Barney’ hit double 16 to edge in front but Burger won the next two legs to turn the game around. The Austrian hit a 180 in the next leg and van Barneveld responded with a 174 before levelling the match.

Berger took a 3-2 lead before the defending champion took out a neat 64 checkout to set up a deciding leg. The Dutchman then sealed victory and the first point of the match for his country.

VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 3 – 4 Mensur Suljovic

Vincent van der Voort suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Mensur Suljovic in the early hours of Saturday morning in Hamburg.

The Dutchman had to wait until nearly 2am to get started and was denied victory despite showing glimpses of his brilliant best.

Suljovic took the lead before van der Voort took out 64 to level. The quick-fire Dutchman then produced a stunning 140 finish, much to the delight of the German crowd who constantly sang his name throughout the match.

The Dutch Destroyer was pegged back by his Austrian opponent, who won the next two legs to take a 3-2 lead. Van der Voort responded with a tidy 48 finish to set up a decider, which Suljovic won with a 14 dart leg.

Van der Voort and van Barneveld will be last on stage again today, when they take on their opponents in a doubles decider.

By Chris Murphy