Dave Ladley^s Report - Derby 17th and 18th April

Derby Players Championships – Moorways Leisure Centre, Derby

In the first round I had drawn Frazier Hill. Frazier is a good steady player and I have played him once before and had been beaten 4-6 so I knew I would have to try and put this right.

The first 4 legs were all shared with all the legs going against the darts. I broke the throw in the 5th lag and hit a crucial 112 finish to hold the throw in the 6th leg and move 4-2 up. I played 2 steady legs in the 7th and 8th and managed to win 6-2 and set up a clash with Jamie Caven in the second round.

The game against Frazier was not brilliant but I showed glimpses of good things and was very happy to get a win under my belt whilst knowing that I would have to pick up my game to even give Jamie a game.

Jamie won the bull and set off well and took the leg. I was feeling more confident than my first game already and knew I was going to cause Jamie some problems and hopefully take the game. In the second leg I left 40 and watched Jamie take out a fantastic maximum 170 finish to move 2-0 up. I took the next 2 legs to bring the game to 2-2 and missed 3 darts at double 20 to take the lead!

Jamie then took the 6th leg to move 4-2 up despite me starting the leg with a 180. Again the 7th and 8th leg I set off well again hitting 180’s but only managed to win the 8th leg and make the score 3-5. The 9th leg Jamie used the advantage of the throw and won the match 6-3.

I was happy with my game and think that on another day I may have won the match and progressed through to the next round.

Jamie lost to Dennis Priestley 6-1 in the next round and the eventual winner of the event was Simon Whitlock.

PDC UK Open Derby, Regional Final - Moorways Leisure Centre, Derby

I drew the winner of a preliminary match between Jimmy Mann and Ian McFarlane on board one. Jimmy beat Ian 6-2 and set up our first round clash.

I set off well and played progressively better as the match moved forward. I led the match 3-1 and 4-2 but Jimmy kept fighting back and the game was top class – 180’s flying and doubles going in well from both parties. Jimmy fought back to lead the match 5-4 and missed a double to win 6-4 but I hit a 171 (3 treble 19’s) and a timely finish to keep me in the game at 5-5 with my advantage of throw.

I set off with 95,100 but Jimmy hit 125,180 and although the game was tight at the end with me sitting on 68 when he finished it was all to do with the way he started the leg! Great game, great guy but also a great shame to lose.

jimmy lost to Mark Frost in the second round and struggled to keep the same form as our match. The eventual winner was Phil Taylor.

Positives from the weekend

1.Finished very well on both days –practice sessions with Mark Lawrence and Darren Johnson seem to be paying off well!

2.Improved on Sunday from my game on Saturday.

Things to work on

1.Although my doubles were hit very well there was two occasions where I had clear 3 darts ay the double 20 and missed by blocking the bed with the first dart. I will be practicing sitting the first dart to one side of the double to enable a passage for the second dart.

Thanks for reading,

Dave Ladley