A SUCCESSION of missed doubles cost Swindon thrower Johnny Haines dear as he crashed to a 6-0 defeat to Colin Osborne at the European Darts Open yesterday.

The High Street Club player played superbly to beat Alan Tabern and Joe Cullen to make the third round in Dusseldorf, but Haines missed darts at the double in the first three legs on the main stage yesterday as he exited the tournament.

Haines threw first in the opening leg, and missed three darts at double top before Osborne broke with a 14-darter.

Both players missed darts at tops in the second, and Osborne swooped to land double 10 with his third dart.

Osborne kicked off the third leg with 140 and 180, and when Haines missed a dart at tops once again he stepped in to hit the same bed and break for a second time.

The Swindon player again started the fourth leg well with a 180 and a 140 to leave 50 after 12 darts, but his opponent finished 101 on double 12 to make it 4-0.

It was soon 5-0 as Osborne took out 108 on double 16, and the match was finished in the next leg despite Haines hitting his second 180 of the match.

Haines beat Tabern 6-2 on Friday and Cullen 6-5 on Saturday to give himself an outside chance of making the World Matchplay in Blackpool, but his defeat to Osborne meant he fell short of the prize money needed to appear at the Winter Gardens.