After lacklustre performances from Damon Heta and Rob Cross, the PDC names continue to struggle at the
New Zealand Darts Masters with
Peter Wright and
Dimitri van den Bergh heading out.
Van den Bergh faced a tough test to open his account against
Haupai Puha, alongside Ben Robb the standout New Zealand star and one for a shock after dumping out Jonny Clayton last year.
He was in that kind of form again producing a superb display to win 6-2. Van den Bergh said pre-tournament that a 100+ average would be needed to beat him.
But for 'Hopes', he only needed a 96.3 average albeit with a trio of 180's and three ton plus finishes. Another year, another upset for Puha on the World Series stage.
From one well known Kiwi to one that was making his TV debut, but barring a busted 120 showed little nerves to the task in hand.
That was truck driver, Jonny Tata who was facing off against Peter Wright. Albeit a 'Snakebite' who continues to struggle and it is another early exit.
It was a 6-3 win for Tata who knocks out the two-time World Champion. It could have been even more comprehensive with Tata missing darts at 5-2 to win it.
But a superb 84 checkout followed up and in a rusty start for the PDC players, we will have at least two local players in the line-up for the Quarter-Finals.