Rampant Rodriguez dumps out Clayton with superb debut display at World Matchplay

Rowby-John Rodriguez sealed his World Matchplay debut with a last gasp qualification after only just gaining his Tour Card in January again but proved his worth on the opening night in Blackpool with a superb display to dump out number eight seed Jonny Clayton 10-7.

A lot of the talk pre-match centred around an eye injury that Clayton suffered before his match and how that would hamper him and his torrid Blackpool record continues bowing out in Round One four out of the last five years and it is the in-form Austrian who takes his spot in the second round.

There was concern early on for Clayton with Rodriguez storming into a 2-0 lead and leaving ‘The Ferret’ way back but that was answered with back to back 13-darters to make it 2-2.

Rodriguez though fluffed his lines and went into the break 3-2 down after missing four darts to regain the lead. But on return, the Austrian regained it with back to back 15 darters with an 80 checkout for the latter to make it 4-3.

A 101 checkout was missed by Clayton on his throw and that cushion sat at two legs with double 19 pinned for 5-3.

But the rot was stopped as Clayton smashed in a 130 checkout to make it 5-4 and break back as a result. Albeit, Rodriguez thumped in a 156 checkout to seal a 6-4 lead at the break and the impetus again.

The concern continued for Clayton as Rodriguez began to pull away holding to make it 7-4 with a 102 average.

An 80 checkout saw that buffer lessened slightly but only a hold for Clayton who was 7-5 down. Rodriguez missed a 76 checkout to hold though and handed Clayton a break chance though but he couldn’t take it and the Austrian was two away.

A 114 checkout was missed by Rodriguez to break again and go one away. Clayton got a shot at 106 and missed himself on double 16 to break and Rodriguez produced a clutch double 10 to go one away at 9-6.

Rodriguez produced a superb rapid fire 180 albeit not left on a finish but he teed up 94 in case Clayton couldn’t pin 101 and he couldn’t but two match darts went begging and Clayton made Rodriguez throw it out.

Rodriguez missed the second dart for a 136 but had three clear at double 20 with Clayton slipping on 126 and pinned it on double 20.