UK Open 'keeps up with the Joneses'

The UK Open qualifiers 'kept up with the Joneses' at the weekend but it was Brierley Hill's Mark who prevailed in his battle with Wolverhampton's Wayne.

They clashed on Saturday in the first round but it was 'the Wanderer' - ranked number 13 in the world - who walked after a deflating 6-2 defeat.

Jones went on to beat Martin Perring 6-1 and Peter Wright 6-2 before going out in a 6-3 reverse to Andy 'Pie Man' Smith, who lost in the final.

Rugeley's Mark Hylton reached the second round and impressed in a 6-2 win over Paul Barham in round one, before a 6-2 loss to Shaun Griffiths.

Wednesbury's Matthew Dicken didn't make it past the preliminary round on Saturday, as Philip Wathen progressed by virtue of a 6-3 victory.

Jones could not re-produce his form in yesterday's second event but put up a valiant fight against Ian 'Diamond' White in the first round.

The Black Country darter was eventually pipped to the post 6-5 and White, like Smith on Saturday, went on to reach the final.

His name-sake Wayne got to the second round but couldn't overcome the PDC's rising star, Justin Pipe, who went through 6-3.

Hylton got to the third round after 6-3 and 6-1 wins over Jim Walker and Daniel Starkey respectively but was whitewashed 6-0 by Richie Howson.

Howson, a former BDO world champion, had also seen Dicken 6-1 in the preliminary round of yesterday's event.

Raymond van Barneveld was the outright winner on both days at the Barnsley Metrodome.