Lakeside 08 Review - Day 3
Posted on January 8th, 2008
CO STOMPE 3-0 CARL MERCER
After completing a gruelling 26 hour trip to get to Lakeside, Canadian Carl Mercer crashed out after just 33 minutes of darts, losing to popular Dutchman Co Stompe.
The former tram driver who throws darts with a familiar jerking style produced a workmanlike performance including 78 and 80 finishes and narrowly missing a 170 checkout to win through to the next round in front of his adoring “orange army” of fans.
Cool Stompe defied the high temperatures on stage, sporting a smart long-sleeved shirt, instead of the more familiar short-sleeved sports top to take opening leg against the throw after both players nervously missed doubles.
Sixth seed Stompe added the next and completed the first set whitewash on 78, finished with double six.
Battling Mercer – a former freestyle wrestling champion - hit his second 180 to level the second, Stompe sweeping back to move 2-1 ahead, producing an 80 finish on double tops to move into a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Mercer – the oldest player in the field at 56 – won the first leg with the throw in the third set, Stompe levelling on double 20 and then missing bull for spectacular top checkout of 170, but bringing the match to a close on double 10 with his next set of darts.
Stompe said after the match that he was relieved to reach the second round as he had previously struggled in the first round, losing several times at the first hurdle.
“I was not satisfied with my performance but was pleased with my doubles.
“I knew Carl was a slow player and I found it difficult to focus and concentrate on my own game,” said the player from Amsterdam.
TED HANKEY 3-2 STEVE WEST
Former world champion Ted “The Count” Hankey survived a thrilling 55-minute thriller to bury the title hopes of debutant Steve West 3-2.
Hankey, the seventh seed produced bursts of vintage form – blasting out seven 180s and a 139 checkout and repelling an 11-darter from West – as he scrambled through.
A blistering 139 checkout in the opening leg followed by a 180 saw Hankey twice lead the opening set but West, who lives in Holland, pounced to bite back, taking 60 on double tops after the Telford player missed double six.
It was vintage Hankey in the next, scowling and prowling the stage as he fired out two maximums and repelling an 11-dart finish and 180 from West to level the match on double eight.
The third set went 3-1 to West against the throw - the game halted momentarily by referee Rab Butler after The Count complained about fans booing when he was throwing, Hankey swooping to level the match on double six in the fourth set.
Hankey hit his seventh 180 to lead the fifth set 2-1, West missing five doubles to save the game, as The Count ruthlessly fired out on 66, finished with on double 18.
After the match a plainly angry Hankey blasted the small section of the crowd who had booed when he was throwing for a crucial doubles.
“Never in the 11 years at this tournament have people booed when I have been throwing. This is a professional tournament – the real world darts championship – and that kind of behaviour does not have a place here.
“Parts of the crowd were very naughty, in fact a real disgrace but there is no place for it here at Lakeside,” declared Hankey.
BRIAN WOODS 3-0 PAUL HANVIDGE
Popular Cumbrian Brian Woods achieved a major darting ambition as he surged into the second round, toppling Scotland’s Paul Hanvidge 3-0.
For Woods - the 41-year-old 11th seed from Egremont - it was third time lucky after losing in the opening rounds during the past two years.
And he put the success down to not feeling well!
“I am full of flu and knew it would be hot up on stage and just wanted to get up there, hit some big scores and get off. Despite not feeling 100 per cent I enjoyed the game and am pleased that at last I have got past the first hurdle and look forward to my next game against Co. It should be a good match.”
“Pecker” was boosted by supporters from his local pub The Moorhouse in Workington and the Catholic Club in Egremont.
He posted his intentions hitting a 13 dart leg and a brace of 180s as he annexed the opening set 3-2.
He lost the opening leg of the second but blazed back, firing out a further two maximums and taking a 2-0 match lead with a 14-dart checkout.
A 180 in the opening leg of the third set gave him the perfect start and despite two 140s from the shellshocked Scot, it was “Pecker” who pegged out on 40.
Both players hit three tons in the next the 11th seed exiting on 100.
Hanvidge started well in the next leg but two 140s from the flu-ridden Woods paved the way for victory with an 82 finishing flourish and impressive winning average of 32.17 – the highest in this year’s tournament to date.
MARIO ROBBE 1-3 REMCO VAN EIJDEN
Newcomer to the world stage Remco Van Eijden swept into the last 16, winning an exciting all-Dutch encounter against 14th seed Mario Robbe.
It was an impressive performance from Van Eijden, who started the week as an 80/1 outsider. He now meets third seed Scott Waites.
Van Eijden battled back from 2-0 down, against the throwing advantage to take the opening set 3-2 including a 13-dart third leg.
He then won the opening leg of the next set but Robbe swept back and took the third against the throw, holding his nerve to take the set with a impressive 108 checkout.
Robbe fired out a 13 darter to start the third set, the following legs traded before the 30-year-old Van Eijden clinched the fifth leg with 78 to open up a 2-1 match lead.
The 34-year-old seed from Tilbury dug deep in the fourth set after losing the opening leg to move into a 2-1 lead. But missed doubles proved costly as the debutant exited on 74 to level the set.
The white-shirted Van Eijden won the race to the double and after missing double 16 with his first throw, coolly booked his second round game as his next dart pierced the green segment.
Afterwards he admitted: “The 74 finish was a crucial moment. I found it difficult to play a fellow countryman and that is why I did not celebrate too much on stage.
“At the moment I am the happiest man in the world as I now know what it is like to win on the Lakeside stage and have the taste for more,” said a smiling Van Eijden.
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