Luke Littler and Luke Humphries survive Australian Darts Masters scares as Josh Rock and Damon Heta hit near 110 averages

It was pretty much as expected on the opening night albeit not as easy for Luke Littler and Luke Humphries in particular as they would like as they tangled with Haupai Puha and Jonny Tata, two of New Zealand's best darters at the Australian Darts Masters.

Tata who is a truck driver by trade is well known to those who watch the Lakeside World Championship and has often been a player that can cause shocks and he nearly did so tonight. Tata surged into a 2-0 lead but Humphries had to roar back to disrupt his charge.

He broke back on double 16 for 2-2 before holding with a 76 checkout but his charge was started as he broke for 4-2 pinning double eight. Only for Tata to stick around but he said tata for now as he broke with a 68 checkout as Tata missed 76 to hold throw and this proved to be vital as he pinned double five for the win 6-3. Crisis averted.

The same be said for Luke Littler who like many is appearing for the first time since the World Matchplay which he won. He decided not to play the ProTours like many and has brought his girlfriend over to Australia in his second visit Down Under albeit one this time perhaps with less pressure.

He faced Haupai Puha though who perhaps is the toughest draw out of the eight involved in the Oceanic field. 'Hopes' is a PDC Tour Card holder and often when he has been able to be in the UK to play on the tour has been a quality operator. As well as emerging over the years on the World Series.

Albeit often he has come close to causing shocks without actually completing them and it was the same here as Puha went 4-3 up on Littler having broke for 3-3. But he couldn't pin 107 for a 5-4 lead and Littler got out of jail with a superb 119. Puha broke back with Littler wiring 170. He sent it all the way to 5-5 but Littler managed to missed 130 and then Puha could only trouble him over disrupt him as Littler hit double six for a 6-5 win as he spared his blushes and is through.

Elsewhere it was a mixed bag with Damon Heta in particular impressing. Sporting the Green and Gold and returning home for his yearly visit, he put on a show for the fans. A player who made his mark back in 2019 winning Brisbane, he has since moved over to the UK and is now a part of the elite PDC eight over the Australian representatives having also played in New York.

Heta played The Bull James Bailey and it was a ram raid by 'The Heat' as he produced a near 110 average in the display of the day. He hit three 180's, a high checkout of 121 with four of his six legs being ton plus outs. He also pinned 66.7% on the doubles. The Aussie's would say deadly and that is exactly what is was from Heta who surely given the woes of the big names who only just survived has to be one to watch tomorrow.

Tim Pusey with his amusing nickname 'The Magnet' had the crowd chanting his name and was seemingly loving his return to the stage and at one point he would have certainly loved it as he surged ahead of a woeful Chris Dobey.

Dobey's doubling was less than what was to be desired from a usually rock solid Hollywood. But he got there in the end as he found his darts towards the back end overtaking Pusey with a 4-2 deficit erased and he managed to seal it 6-4 to see off 'The Magnet' in a hard fought 6-4 win. Pusey likely will play at Ally Pally at the end of the year and given his early darts could be one to watch. He looks a lot different to the young man from the Melbourne Darts Masters in 2019 but is now playing some of the best darts in Australia. Albeit it wasn't enough today against the Bedlington ace.

Josh Rock was sublime on the other hand as he took down an icon of Aussie darts in Simon Whitlock who of course despite not being on the PDC Tour anymore was included in the Oceanic representation as the trailblazer of Aussie darts.

But Rock who was included as a result of Aspinall, Wade and also Van Gerwen not bothering with the Oceanic double header fired a statement to the PDC that they were right to pick him. He averaged 108 in a blistering 6-1 win over the icon with four 180's and 75% on the doubles. He showed out in Blackpool before fading against Littler and will be one player to watch tomorrow.

Gerwyn Price and Stephen Bunting had mixed fortunes. Price faced Joe Comito who often tops the rankings Down Under but has never really produced on the big stage. He did this time so for those backing a whitewash, they would've lost money.

The Water Boy showed his best display on the big stage as he lost 6-3 to 'The Iceman' who was left frustrated towards the end but managed to escape with a 100.5 average, three 180's and 60% on the outer ring. While Bunting faced Brody Klinge.

Klinge is often a name who crops up on the Aussie circuit but he made his TV debut today and he sealed one leg. By virtue of a 161 checkout no less but he was well beaten by the World Series Order of Merit leader who averaged 101.3 in a 6-1 win.

Finally, Brandon Weening will be kicking himself as he opened the night with a real chance against Mike de Decker but let it slip as he missed 18 darts at the doubles in a 6-2 defeat to 'The Real Deal'.

It wasn't exactly De Decker's sparkling best but he managed to prevail. De Decker faces Humphries tomorrow, they sit in the same section as Price and Dobey. While in the top half Stephen Bunting faces Josh Rock and Luke Littler takes on Damon Heta. A superb Quarter-Final line-up awaits.