Darts: Terry Temple in Wizard shock (From Gazette & Herald)

Darts: Terry Temple in Wizard shock

1:16pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Sport

TERRY Temple dumped two-time World Championship runner-up Simon Whitlock out of the first Players’ Championship event at Ireland’ Killarney Darts Festival.

The Whitwell-on-the-Hill ace beat world number six Whitlock 6-4, gaining revenge for his 9-6 defeat at the hands of “The Wizard” in a high-quality third round UK Open contest at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium.Temple, now up to 72 in the PDC world rankings, went on to overcome Andrew Gilding (6-4) at the INEC before bowing out to former BDO World Championship finalist Dean Winstanley 6-2 at the third round stage.

In the second Players Championship, Temple was edged out 6-5 by top-20 player Mark Walsh in the first round.

Temple is now preparing for the three-day Dutch Darts Trophy European Tour event in Nuland, which starts on Friday and has a high-quality field of 64 players.

Meanwhile, New Inn opened a four-point gap at the top of the Moors League after a 9-1 victory over visiting Blacksmiths A Lastingham.

Richard Sellars won the Blacksmiths point cancelling out Mike Hodgson’s opener for New Inn, but the home side took command from there with solid performances from Ady Cook (140, 100), Al Hodgson (137, 100) and Nie Monkman (5x100).

White Swan moved into second following an 8-2 win at Moors Inn with Steve Cass (138, 125, 100) and Keith Eddon (140) starring for the Newton outfit. Neil Eddon hit three tons for Swan but was beaten by Keith Dickson.

Blacksmiths Hartoft humbled Buck Inn ‘B’ 9-1 after Clive Atkinson had put the Wrelton side ahead. Jimmy Brough scored 140 and 3x100 for Hartoft and team-mate Michael Wearmouth finished on 90 while Mike Peirson recorded 125 and 123 scores for Buck.

Colin Croft (140, 3x100) inspired Coach House to a 6-4 win at Buck Inn ‘A’ and third place in the league.

Laura Thompson, Matt Cook and Jimmy Porter also took individual wins for the Coachmen.

Sun Inn came back from 4-3 down to beat Blacksmiths ‘B’ Lastingham 6-4 with Neil Robson’s 3x100 a valuable contribution, while Doug Taylor (135) high scored for ‘Smiths.

Crown Inn won a see-saw match at Appletree 6-4 after being 3-0 behind. Ryan Eaton-Carr, Bill Tweddle and Colin Pepler gave Appletree a great start but Danny Thornton (121, 100), Rich Milestone (140), Patrick Bernstein and Simon Gospel, who beat Jim Thompson (140,135), put Crown back in the driving seat.