World Matchplay - Report and Statistics third Day

NEWTON AND BAXTER SUFFER BETVICTOR WORLD MATCHPLAY DISAPPOINTMENT
Local heroes Wes Newton and Ronnie Baxter suffered BetVictor World Matchplay heartbreak on Monday night with defeats to Jamie Caven and Andy Hamilton, as Adrian Lewis swept into the second round at the Winter Gardens.

Fleetwood ace Newton went down 10-8 to Caven in a dramatic contest as the first round of the £400,000 event came to a close with the final four matches in Blackpool.
Newton took a 2-0 lead before Caven took out 70 and 104, but the world number seven took the next three to pull clear at 5-2 and also led 7-4. However, he missed a dart to move four legs clear and Caven seized his chance as he drew level, and though Newton took an 8-7 advantage, the Derby ace squared the match once more before hitting his only two 180s in timely fashion to take victory.

"I'm overwhelmed," said Caven, who now plays Dave Chisnall on Wednesday. "Wes was in control early on and I knew I had to dig in when it wasn't going my way. As soon as I got it back to eight-all, I knew I had to step in if Wes missed and I did that. It was such a battle and I'm so happy that I managed to get across that winning line first."

Blackpool favourite Baxter, who lives just a couple of miles from the Winter Gardens, won only one leg as he crashed out 10-1 to UK Open finalist Andy Hamilton, who produced a fine performance to romp into round two.
Hamilton took out 104 to win the game's opening leg, and when Baxter missed double 11 in the second he capitalised to extend his advantage and hit four doubles from as many attempts in taking control of the game. He led 8-0 before Baxter finished 76 on double four to win his first leg, but any hopes of a comeback were short-lived as Hamilton powered in a 14-darter and then took out 111 to complete the triumph.

"It makes a change for me to win a game by a formidable score and it's probably the first time I've wanted to whitewash another player!" admitted Hamilton.I was so focused, I concentrated on my own game and it worked out for me, so it's superb. I've shown what I can do today and I know I can get through to this final, so I'm looking forward to the next few days."

World number three Adrian Lewis overcame Belgian debutant Ronny Huybrechts 10-5 as he set up a second round clash with Brendan Dolan on Wednesday. Lewis led 4-1 and 8-3 despite being below his best, with a 127 finish being the highlight, and though Huybrechts briefly threatened a comeback, the Stoke star had enough breathing space to seal the win.

"I'm happy with the win but not my performance," said Lewis. "I expected a lot more from Ronny and when it didn't happen my own level dropped. I checked out well early on by my scoring wasn't great - but to be through is the aim and I'll take that. When Ronny put a bit of pressure on me I seemed to hit some 180s at the right time and that was what won me the match. I did my job tonight but I wanted to make a statement and I didn't do that. I'm believing in myself again and I'll be there or thereabouts at the end of the tournament. I'm in with a shout and I want to go on and win this now. I've got Brendan Dolan next and it's going to be a tough game, but I'll just play at my own pace and hopefully I'll do the job."

Ian White completed a Stoke treble on the night as he swept past Scottish ace Robert Thornton 10-3 as the former UK Open finalist suffered a fourth successive first round defeat in Blackpool.
Thornton's nightmare on the Winter Gardens stage continued as he lost the game's opening four legs, missing a host of doubles in the process, before cutting the gap to 4-2. White took the next two to regain command before finishing a crowd-pleasing 125 checkout with bullseye, outer bull and bullseye - a shot which left even Thornton applauding. The Scot hit back to win the tenth leg, but White showed no mercy as he took out 97, 64 and 81 in successive legs to complete a superb win.

"I'm glad to be through and it's a very good result for me," said White. "Getting off to a good start was probably the key, winning the first session 4-1, and I couldn't have asked for much more than that. I wanted to get ahead of him early on and make him start thinking, and I think I did that. Once I got ahead I had to keep it going, and the 125 was great - nine out of ten of those probably don't go in but it did this time and it was good. It will be nice to have a Stoke derby against Andy Hamilton next and I'm really looking forward to that." .


Statistics
Ave180sDoublesPlayervPlayer Ave180sDoubles
92.5933/10Thornton 3:10White93.38410/26
97.3568/18Newton 8:10Caven90/99219/19
86.94410/32Lewis 10:5 Huybrechts85.0325/22
97.12310/19Hamilton 10:1 Baxter88.8701/9








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