Injured Nathan Aspinall begins World Matchplay title defence with scrappy win over debutant Luke Woodhouse
PDCSunday, 14 July 2024 at 00:31
Nathan Aspinall is likely out until at least September after the World Matchplay but he won't go out without a fight amid his injury travails. He began his title defence with a scrappy 10-8 win which is the trademark of 'The Asp'.
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While not the exploits of Humphries and Clayton earlier in the night, Aspinall proved why he shouldn't be counted out. While Woodhouse will be thinking what if on his debut as he missed golden chances at times to dump out the ailing Stockport ace.
Woodhouse missed 120 for an early break. Aspinall missed three though to hold but he returned for the lead with a nervy Woodhouse missing another three to break. A 174 left 91 for Woodhouse and he pinned it in a clean kill to make it 1-1.
Woodhouse crept it into double four for 2-1 to break. He left double 20 from 133 leaving Aspinall needing 128 to seal a break and 2-2 which he did. A double 20 13-darter saw Woodhouse lead 3-2 at the break. He missed three darts to hold on return but Aspinall couldn’t hit 90.
Woodhouse couldn’t creep the double two into the corner and Aspinall levelled at 3-3 as the Bewdley thrower was left frustrated to be even level no mind with the Asp throwing to lead. An 81 checkout saw Aspinall break to go 5-3 up.
A 68 checkout saw Aspinall go four in the spin at 6-3. Double 18 saw Woodhouse make it 6-4 at the break. Woodhouse made it a level game on double 10 at 6-6.
Aspinall edged forward at 7-6 stopping the run of Woodhouse. Aspinall chased on an 83 checkout but hit double 12 to go two away. An 80 checkout saw Woodhouse break to make it 8-7. A 42 checkout saw Woodhouse make it 8-8.
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Woodhouse got a shot at 138 on double 12 but he took too long in between throws and let the nerves get to him and Aspinall went 9-8 up. A 180 left 124 for Aspinall for the match with Woodhouse’s head dropping and the latter hit double 16 for the win.
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- Not much of a tournament really,is it? Now they've all pulled out,it's open for everyone. I'm sure if you bought tickets,you'd be disappointed. Doesn't that seem to bother the withdrawals? Not at all!!rick6710-09-2026
- Need to see her take part in the womens tour. She'll break the inernet.medinabello08-09-2026
- If he can be bothered? He won't play darts in Germany yet he'll go over and get an award!??rick6702-09-2026
- Why is this the main story? He chose not to compete in loads of tournaments,yes he's number 1 in the world,but he does have to turn up at tournaments! Play the next world championship in Dortmund and see if he turns up!!rick6727-08-2026
- This is exactly what I mean,littler survives the 1st round,I think you'll find a lot of other players did. Can you just report on the real sport,and not just 1 person. I like Luke,but this is getting boring now,as Kevin painter once said to Taylor!! The sport is about every player,not 1 who everyone seems to have put the sport on the map.,which he hasn't,he's just got in when the money is massive. Great as he is,it seems like what's the point in anyone trying,he's going to win everything,unless it's in Germany or Australia!!!rick6726-08-2026
- I mean look, Littler's picture is first,wattimena is second and he won! Level it up. I know littler is fantastic,but the sport was here before him,and will be when he's retired. Any player in the top 64/128 can beat each other,it's not big news. Poor Jermaine,wins it,and not even the headline!!rick6726-08-2026
- I appreciate that littler is a fantastic player,but the top 3 articles are about him. Before he'd thrown a dart in the tournament. Level it out a bit, Taylor and van gerwen soon got disliked as the media could only see them,and nobody else seemed to matterrick6725-08-2026
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- The two-point Lucky Loser qualifiers are Ross Smith, Robb, Whitlock, Sakai, Ilagan and Toylo. Jermaine is not on the entries list on Dartconnect for the TCH qualifier so the four from the main OoM are probably Searle, Nijman, Dobey, Wattimena.Scoobedybop24-08-2026
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