The first two games of the session at the 2025 UK Open have been completed Josh Rock joining Luke Littler in the last four line-up in Minehead with a 10-7 win.
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Rock defeated Nathan Aspinall who never quite looked comfortable on the stage until the end of the tie when he pressured Rock to the hilt. The site of his 2019 triumph Aspinall said he thought a major was coming but it won't be this weekend.
With the World Matchplay in the foreground of his sights and defending that money, Aspinall sees it as a case of one run will help him out. But it is Rock who has stolen that thunder this weekend. His power scoring was a delight as he pressured right from the get go against 'The Asp'.
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Rock made a good start. 180's have been a real part of his game this weekend. Rock hit two 180's in a leg en route to taking the opening leg and was already threatening the Aspinall throw.
Rock then broke throw to go 3-1 up. Aspinall had missed darts for 2-2 and 'Rocky' then broke to great effect. This began a run of legs as he won five in a row to go 6-1 up with Aspinall sat at the point of no return.
At the next interval, Rock managed to hand Aspinall a reprieve in messing around trying to find a finish and 'The Asp' slammed his darts down at the break as he went 7-3 behind with a lot of work to do at that point and Rock ready to win on return.
Rock hit a sumptuous 121 checkout on the bull for 8-3. Rock was perhaps too good as he went into treble one for 130 and allowed Aspinall back for a hold at 8-4.
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Aspinall was given a golden chance to break back but while he didn't take it first time, he did second time as Rock spurned chances to go 9-4 up.
Finally Rock went one away though hitting double four for 9-6. Aspinall pressured Rock's throw superbly and was throwing at 52 to break back but missed two and Rock returned with three in hand for the match pinning double 16 first time.
| Josh Rock | VS | Nathan Aspinall |
|---|---|---|
| 99.35 | Average (3 Darts) | 98.45 |
| 17 | 100+ Thrown | 13 |
| 15 | 140+ Thrown | 12 |
| 8 | 180 Thrown | 7 |
| 121 | Highest Checkout | 60 |
| 2 | Checkout 100+ | 0 |
| 40 | Checkout percentage | 31.8 |
| 10 / 25 | Checkout | 7 / 22 |
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