DARTS LIVE: Wes Newton v Johnny Haines (From Swindon Advertiser)

10:10pm

It wasn't to be for Johnny Haines this evening, but the Swindon player put in a great effort, and I am sure he will be back. Thanks for following the game, and remember to pick up the Adver tomorrow for reaction and pictures from tonight.

10:07pm

Haines was quick to admit it was his failure on his doubles that cost him tonight at the Ally Pally.

JOHNNY HAINES

“In the first two sets I should maybe have won, I was scoring really well but my doubles cost me," he said.

“Scoring for show and doubles for dough, that is what they say and that is what happened.”

9:27pm

Newton takes out 135 on double top to win the match in straight sets

FINAL SCORE: Wes Newton 3 Johnny Haines 0

9:27pm

Great effort from Haines there, but the missed doubles really cost him in the end.

9:25pm

Newton takes out 135 on double top to win the match in straight sets

FINAL SCORE: Wes Newton 3 Johnny Haines 0

9:22pm

And Newton punishes him on tops, one leg away now

Third set: Wes Newton 2 (2) Johnny Haines 0 (0)

9:22pm

Haines misses double 12

9:21pm

He will be back for 98, Newton on 73

9:21pm

Another big 140 from Haines puts him in control. Certainly not going down with out a fight.

9:20pm

Newton takes out fours to punish Haines and take the opening leg of the third

Third set: Wes Newton 1 (2) Johnny Haines 0

9:19pm

Newton misses double eight, but Haines misses 10s and double four

9:19pm

Newton left on 25, but Haines puts the pressure on with a 140 to leave 20

9:18pm

Big 140 from Haines, pretty even in this leg though

9:18pm

Haines opens with 100, Newton with 95

9:17pm

Back for the third set now

9:14pm

A long way back for Haines now

9:12pm

Great darts leaves Newton on 36, and he takes out double 18 to take the second set

Wes Newton 2 Johnny Haines 0

9:11pm

But takes out double 10 to make it 2-1

Second set: Wes Newton 2 (1) Johnny Haines 1

9:10pm

Haines wants 117, but misses tops again

9:09pm

Very even at the start of the third leg of the set, but Haines having one loose dart per set

9:08pm

Both players miss double one again, but Newton eventually takes it out

Second set: Wes Newton 2 (1) Johnny Haines 0

9:07pm

But Haines misses double top, double ten and double five

9:07pm

Newton busts going for double one

9:06pm

But Newton misses double two and Haines has a chance at 66. One dart at tops and he misses.

9:06pm

Getting a little sloppy here, and Newton misses double four. Haines well back on 123

9:04pm

Haines currently averaging 91.10

9:04pm

Newton doesn't let him off and he takes double two

Second set: Wes Newton 1 (1) Johnny Haines 0

9:03pm

But he misses his one dart at tops

9:03pm

Newton misses double eight, and Haines is in for 80

9:02pm

Good 140 to get things going

9:02pm

Back for the start of the second set, and Johnny has the throw

8:57pm

Newton takes the first set on 16s again.

Johnny Haines 0 Wes Newton 1

8:56pm

Great recovery from Haines as he hits 140 after scoring only 36 with his first three darts. Newton in control of the decider though

8:55pm

Newton hits double 16 second time

First set: Johnny Haines 2 Wes Newton 2

8:54pm

A few loose darts from the Swindon man, but he keeps responding with a treble

8:53pm

Haines misses two at tops, but takes out double 10 with his last dart

First set: Johnny Haines 2 Wes Newton 1

8:52pm

Great 126 leaves tops for Haines, Newton on 115 and now can't finish

8:51pm

Haines misses two at 10s, and one at nines, and he is punished by Newton on double four.

First set: Johnny Haines 1 Wes Newton 1

8:50pm

Haines misses two darts at tops, but Newton misses double seven

8:49pm

A nice 100 leaves 56 for Haines, Newton back on 122

8:49pm

Johnny has settled down here, and is looking good in leg two. He is on 201 with Newton on 227

8:47pm

Great stuff from Haines who takes leg one on the Bull! (95)

Haines 1 Newton 0

8:47pm

218 for Newton plays 235 for Haines

8:46pm

45 for Haines, who is a little ragged

8:45pm

Newton opens with 100

8:45pm

Johnny had planned to wear a white shirt this evening, but had to change at the last minute as the lights on the stage would have made it shine too bright for the TV

8:44pm

Haines is loving the big stage, let's hope he still does when we get underway

8:44pm

By no means full, but there is a great crowd in at the Ally Pally tonight

8:42pm

Here comes Johnny! He was playing in a pub in Highworth last night, this is a little different!

8:42pm

Those last tweets show just how much support Hainesy has, and fellow Swindon player Dennis Smith is in the crowd tonight to watch is old friend.

DENNIS SMITH

I have been practising with Johnny all this week and we have been travelling together all week to play events, and I think he is ready for it,” he said.

“He said to me in practice this week ‘I have been on stage in Bolton so it will be fine’ but it is nothing like Bolton, and it is a totally different new atmosphere he hasn’t experienced before.

“It is a massive stage and the crowd are fantastic so it can be quite daunting, but there is not a lot that fazes Johnny, and he will soak up the excitement of it I am sure.

“The only thing that concerns me is the distance, because best of five sets is a long game.

“Johnny needs to come out and hit him hard early on and take control, and if he does that he needs to keep it up.

“Whatever happens it will be a great game of darts, and he has prepared well and has a great chance.”

While the big stage and atmosphere at the Ally Pally has got the better of some big name players in the past, Smith believes Haines will take it all in his stride.

“He has always had the attitude of only being a pub player, and he has always taken that to the dart board and he never changes and never worries about who he is playing,” he said.

“If the darts are going to go, they are going to go, and Johnny is going to give it everything he has got.

“He has been playing really well in practice, and we have talked through a lot of things that he will have to do when he plays. We have had some good sessions and he is playing well.

“I have made him play in tournaments the last two weekends so he gets match practice, but he needs to not try too hard.

“He knows he is going to be in for a tough match, and Wes will have done his homework and will know exactly who Johnny Haines is and what he is capable of. It could be an even match, and it could be a cracker.

8:39pm

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8:37pm

8:36pm

We are ahead of schedule tonight and Johnny is next on.

The Punk is determined to stick to what he knows best.

JOHNNY HAINES

“When you go out playing, you are drinking, and if you are at home practising you are not drinking, so you are throwing different which is why I prefer playing matches and tournaments,” he said.

“I will probably have six or seven John Smith’s before I go on if they have got it, and it relaxes me. All of the guys do it I think, and the only one who doesn’t is Justin Pipe who drinks Coke.

“Pub darts keeps me going and I get a lot of practice from doing that rather than practising on my own, and I will always carry on playing in pubs because it is the bread and butter of it all.
“I don’t feel nervous at all, but that might change when I stand there waiting to go on so we will have to see.

“It would be nice to get off to a good start and get the first few legs under your belt, and then see where it goes from there.

“The match is quite long, but that doesn’t bother me and I am ready.”

8:31pm

He goes for double 10 but hits double six, but after hitting single four he takes out double two and he has done it!

Laurence Ilagan 4 Jamie Lewis 3

8:30pm

Ilagan misses tops for the match, but he will be back

8:29pm

The player from the Phillipines on top in the decider, and will be first to the double for sure.

8:26pm

And he levels it up! 3-3. Great comeback

8:22pm

But Ilagan takes out 121 on the bulll to make it 3-2.

8:22pm

Lewis leading 3-1, and it is only first to four legs in these prelim games.

8:12pm

Prelim game between Lourence Ilgan and Jamie Lewis on stage now, Lewis is 1-0 up.

7:57pm

And that's it, Beaton wraps up the first game of the night. He wins 3-0, but Anderson more than played his part and deserved a little more.

Steve Beaton 3 Kyle Anderson 0

7:46pm

Anderson misses darts for the set and Beaton sweeps up, this time with double eight.

Steve Beaton 2 Kyle Anderson 0

7:44pm

A decider needed in the second set too, all locked at 2-2 again.

7:31pm

Anderson and Beaton locked at 2-2 in the first set, and Anderson misses the first shot at the double. Beaton steps up needing 8 to take the opener, and takes out double four first time.

Steve Beaton 1 Kyle Anderson 0

7:22pm

First up is the Adonis Steve Beaton against Kyle Anderson, with Beaton having just taken the first leg.

STEVE BEATON

7:20pm

Good evening and welcome to the Ally Pally for what is sure to be an outstanding night of darts.

Swindon's Johnny Haines is due on at around 9pm to face Wes Newton, with the High Street Club man a 501 shot against the world number six.

Stay here for dart by dart coverage of the big match, with updates on the evening's other games.