Darts duo exit in Dublin

They both crashed out in Dublin at the first round stage.

Newton went down by two sets to one to Mervyn King, then Baxter lost 2-0 to Stephen Bunting in the tournament in which players must start as well as finish each leg with a double.

Newton lost his opening set 3-2 despite leading 2-1.

King also won the opening leg of set two, but Newton hit back with three successive legs, though King had chances to win the last two.

In the deciding set, Newton yet again lost the opening leg but hit back to lead 2-1.

King landed double four to force a sudden-death leg in which he triumphed on double top.

Baxter was soon in trouble against former BDO world champion Bunting, who took the first two legs despite needing 11 darts to hit his opening double in the second.

Baxter got off the mark in leg three but Bunting wrapped up a 3-1 set with Baxter still requiring 135.

Baxter looked determined at the outset of the second set and took the first leg but then missed three doubles for the second..

Instead Bunting equalised and then went 2-1 ahead after Baxter needed seven darts for an opening double.

Baxter needed six throws to hit double in the next leg but recovered to level the set at 2-2 after Bunting had missed double top for the match.

The decisive leg again saw Baxter slow to get away, and although the Blackpool man responded with his only 180 of the match, Bunting could afford to miss three doubles before closing out the contest.