Darts: Paul Bulmer blown away by Rhino charge in final (From York Press)

Darts: Paul Bulmer blown away by Rhino charge in final

10:43am Wednesday 25th April 2012 in Darts

MALTON’S Paul Bulmer was downed 5-1 by Leeds’ Dave Smith in the stage seven final of the Streamline Taxis York Open Darts Championship at Huntington WMC.

Smith, nicknamed The Rhino, secured his second successive stage victory in emphatic style, firing two 180s in legs of 20, 16, 15 and 17-darts to pick up the £200 stage winner’s prize pot.

In the semi-finals, he whitewashed Nottingham’s Matt Padgett by hitting 21 and 17-darts legs.

Bulmer (18, 14, 18) fired in back-to-back 180s in a 4-2 semi-final win over over Colin Hendry, of Ferrybridge, who had a 19-dart leg in reply.

In the quarter-finals, Smith (106 finish for 12, 14, 19) beat Steve Atkin (21) 3-1, while Trevor Holtby included two maximums in legs of 16 and 21 darts but lost 3-2 to Matt Padgett.

Hendry (16, 17, 17) beat Dave Lord 3-0 and Bulmer (20, 18, 161 finish for 15) defeated Johnathan Crossland (20, 20) 3-2.

Dave Blenkarne closed legs of 15 and 18 with 108 and 105 finishes only to lose 3-2 to Smith in the last 16, while Atkin (14, 17, 180, plus 126 finish for 15) knocked out Rich Corner (180) 3-0 at the same stage.

The highlights from the group stages saw Atkin (16, 17, 19) defeat Cindy Roberts (125 and 140) 3-0, while Padgett (15, 16, 17) whitewashed John Pickering 3-0.

Further rapid-fire legs were completed by Rich Corner (16, 14), Blenkarne (16), Shaun Day (14), Quinten McMaster (16, 18, 21, 21), Mark Greenley (15, 18), Paul Calpin (18), Barry Balaban (17) and Paul Bulmer (14).

Other high finishes came from Calpin (103), Greenley (106), Lord (100) and Holtby (100), while there were also 180s for Atkin and Calpin.

The event was backed by Streamline Taxis, The Pit Stop Sandwich & Snack Bar and York Print.

Stage eight will be held on Saturday, May 5, with registration closing at noon. The final qualifying stage for the Ladies Championship will be held at Huntington WMC on the same day. Register by 1pm.