A match on paper that was seen as a 50/50 and closely fought was anything but as Round One continued at the
World Matchplay with
Joe Cullen coasting past Damon Heta 10-2 in a demolition job.
Cullen lost the first leg but then went on a run of nine on the spin with a mix of unplayable darts and missed doubles from Heta proving to be the factor in a statement win from 'The Rockstar' with a 95 average.
Heta pinned the first maximum of the tie and a 110 checkout for a superb hold to start. Cullen missed 110 to hit back with a hold but Heta missed two darts to break and ‘The Rockstar’ replied on double eight.
This spelled a period of dominance for Cullen who surged into a 4-1 lead at the first interval sealing a break after 81 was missed by Heta to go 2-1 up and another one went the way of Cullen going into the break with 124 missed and he pinned 56.
On return, Cullen continued his charge holding through with an incredible 160 checkout. The barrage continued as Heta was punished for not taking out 135 and 120 was pinned by Cullen for 6-1.
He started his throw with a maximum with Heta replying with his hand aloft thinking where was that before. Cullen missed 110 slipping into single four and Heta was afforded a chance at 81 to break back but he missed two darts and ‘The Rockstar’ made it 7-1.
He cleaned up 70 to storm further clear at 8-1. Nine legs in the row sent it to 9-1 at the break. Heta stopped the rot with a 54 checkout to make it 9-2. But it was just a rot stopper as Cullen sealed the deal.