Colin’s upbeat despite defeat

COLIN OSBORNE is taking the positives out of his fourth round defeat in the UK Open.

The Teesside darter lost 9-8 to bogey man Vincent van der Voort after a deciding leg thriller in Bolton.

Derby-based Osborne, pictured, missed two darts at double 18 to beat the Dutchman - who pipped him in the 2007 semi-final - after battling back from 7-4 down to lead 8-7.

But the 32-year-old believes the mettle he showed to recover and move within a whisker of victory bodes well as he continues his overall aim of clinching a place in the PDC Premier League this weekend.

The world number 16 takes part in the Players Championship in Bristol before assaults on the Las Vegas Desert Classic and World Matchplay in Blackpool.

South Bank-born Osborne said: "After he beat me last year in the semis I beat him 6-0 in a Pro Tour event in Vegas but I haven’t beaten him since.

"I’ve played him four or five times since and every game has gone to a last leg.

"But I can’t take anything away from him and it was more experience with all of the pressure on the main stage that comes with it.

"The only negative was that I lost the game.

"It proved I’ve got bottle by coming back to get into a winning position when a lot of players’ heads might have gone down.

"I was 21st or 22nd at the start of the year and now I’m 16th six months in, which is brilliant.

"It’s everyone’s dream to play in the Premier League and all I can do is keep practising hard and hope for a bit of luck on the way."