Reece Robinson and Matt Clark earn PDC Tour Cards

PDC Qualifying School results: Glen Durrant denied again as Reece Robinson and Matt Clark earn PDC Tour Cards

By Chris Hammer

Darts

Sat January 19, 2019 · 6y ago

Lakeside champion Glen Durrant fell one win short of earning a PDC Tour Card on the third day of Qualifying School as Reece Robinson and Matt Clark prevailed.

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Q School: Day One report & results
Q School: Day Two report & results

Durrant, who last Sunday equalled Eric Bristow's record of winning three successive BDO World Darts Championship titles, headed to the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan along with 397 other hopefuls as an odds-on favourite to secure one of the 19 PDC Tour Cards up for grabs at some point over the four days.

Two are awarded to the winners of each day's semi-finals while the others are handed out to the top 11 in the UK Q School Order of Merit following the conclusion of Sunday's final event (latest standings and points explanation below).

After suffering early exits on the opening two days, the pressure was on the 48-year-old Teesider to either win one of Saturday's two automatic cards on offer or, at the very least, have a lengthy run to pick up valuable points in the Order of Merit table.

He did the latter by defeating seven opponents to reach the last four - with his 5-4 victory over Barrie Bates in the last 64 being the only hard-fought contest - but he could then only average a below-par 86 against Robinson, who claimed a shock 5-2 triumph.

It was an amazing day for Robinson as the Hull thrower regained a Tour card after a six-year absence.

The 26-year-old came through two deciding legs against Jonathan Worsley and David Pallett to reach the crucial last four but showed few signs of nerves as he stunned the Lakeside king.

Robinson, who competed on the Unicorn Challenge Tour in 2018, also defeated Paul Walker, Stephen McNally, Callum Loose, Kevin Lane and Sam Hewson en route to success and afterwards said: "I'm absolutely ecstatic, I'm still a young player and I believe I'm good enough to beat anyone in the world.

"I had a couple of years not playing as much as I should've been but this year I've practiced more than I ever have done and I fancied myself to do well here.

"I got to the semi-finals of a Challenge Tour event last year which made me think 'come on Reece, you're as good as anybody else here' so I just went at it after that."

Meanwhile, former World Matchplay quarter-finalist Clark sealed the other PDC Tour card on offer on Saturday with a 5-2 triumph over Gavin Carlin.

His average of 104.7 was the second time he'd surpassed the 100 mark during the day having previously posted 103 in a 5-0 trouncing of Darren Beveridge in the last 32.

However, his day couldn't so easily have been very different as he survived a final-leg scare against Justin Smith in the very first round, while two other of his matches - including his quarter-final clash with James Kempster - went the distance.

The 50-year-old Radcliffe thrower, who lost his Tour Card at the end of 2017, also defeated Justin Smith, Simon Tate, Justin Broton, Royden Lam and Keith Rooney.

He said: "I was wondering if I was getting too old for this but the way I played today showed I am still good enough, I've got years left in me yet. The last few years have been very tough for me away from the oche but I can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel now, I've got the belief back.

"I have to mention my friend Craig Mansell who has stood by me for 10 years, even through the difficult times, and he told me I was going to win my Tour Card back this weekend."

Lakeside runner-up Scott Waites endured more disappointment as he lost to rising star Callan Rydz 5-3 in his second match while Jim Williams couldn't follow up his solid efforts on the opening two days as he lost a tough opening test against Andy Boulton.

The Welshman therefore remains on eight points in the Q School Order of Merit and drops out of the all-important top 11, so he'll need to bounce back with a good run on Sunday.

Meanwhile it was almost an historic day for Lisa Ashton as she won through to the last 16 before being defeated 5-3 by Martin O'Boyle.

The four-time Lakeside women's champion, who also competed in the PDC World Championship last month, averaged a stunning 106 earlier in the day against Brian Hallas while one of her most notable wins was 5-2 against 'Muffin Man' Steve Hine.

Another female star, Fallon Sherrock, headed into day three having failed to win a leg in the previous two days but on Saturday she picked up two wins, with the first being against her partner Gary Court, before losign to Robert Collins 5-3.

Elsewhere, it was a third day of disappointment for three-time world champion John Part, former Players Championship Finals winner Kevin Painter and former World Championship finalist Andy Hamilton, who all exited before the last 64 stage.

Results and Order of Merit standings are below