ROCK WINS ON DEBUT! 🤘 It's victory for Josh Rock in his first TV appearance - he comes through a last-leg decider against Nathan Aspinall! #ECDarts | R1 📺 bit.ly/EuCh22Live
Rock marks TV debut with deciding leg win over Aspinall, top seed Humphries through with impressive Ratajski win at European Championship
PDCThursday, 27 October 2022 at 22:04
Facing off in the final of the last ProTour, they were back-to-back on tonight's schedule to open up the European Championship as Luke Humphries and Josh Rock sealed progression through to the Last 16.
Top seed Humphries left his darts at home so was up against it but unlike previous major appearances this year where 'Cool Hand' has got major billing without the wins, he produced this time around. Averaging 102.15 with four 180's, he soared past 'The Polish Eagle' 6-4 who hit a high checkout of 154 in defeat.
While in his first of many appearances in the coming months, Rock made his TV debut in style dumping out friend and the last major finalist in Nathan Aspinall in a 6-5 win.
Big things are expected of the 21-year-old Northern Irishman especially after the past week with two finals and a maiden title and he edged past 'The Asp' holding his nerve in a decider with a 96.6 average and four 180's.
After exchanging the first few legs, Rock had the chance to break on 91 but missed the bull and ‘The Asp’ saved his skin with Rock then going 3-2 up but leaving 40 with Rock not on a finish saw the Northern Irishman finally break for a 4-2 lead.
Aspinall was upping his scoring and the pressure and Rock missed darts to hold and Aspinall broke back with a 68 checkout and was throwing for parity. A 109 checkout achieved that.
A 180 and double 20 saw Rock back on course with a hold to go one away. Rock attempted to go towards the finish but Aspinall again produced with a 136 checkout to show real battle to force a decider.
A 180 threw it in Rock’s direction, he missed two match darts but Aspinall wasn’t on a finish and the Northern Irish ace sealed it.
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