Rampant Rock secures Development Tour double in Hildesheim

Josh Rock (PDC)

Josh Rock continued his magnificent form to secure a brilliant Development Tour double in Hildesheim on Friday.

The 21-year-old posted five ton-plus averages to triumph in Events 16 & 17, winning 15 consecutive matches to overhaul Keane Barry at the top of the Development Tour Order of Merit.

Rock produced a sensational 112.16 average to whitewash Dylan Dowling and claim the £2,000 top prize in Event 16, firing in six 180s and reeling off legs of 13, 14, 15, 13 and 12 darts to triumph.

The Northern Irishman, who posted an astronomical 121.86 average on the Pro Tour earlier this month, also registered a 102 average in his semi-final demolition of UK Open quarter-finalist Sebastian Bialecki.

Rock relinquished just five legs en route to glory in Event 16, seeing off the likes of Jarred Cole, James Beeton and Jitse Van der Wal to clinch his third Development Tour title of the campaign.

The 21-year-old was similarly dominant in Event 17, surrendering the solitary leg in his opening five matches, before denying Bialecki once again in a thrilling last eight tussle.

The young Polish star - who led 3-0 - stormed 4-2 ahead with a sublime 170 finish, only for Rock to reply with 115 and 104 checkouts in the closing stages to prevail with a 103.82 average.

Rock then defied a spirited fightback from Daniel Perry to run out a 5-3 winner in the semi-finals, before capping off a perfect day with a whitewash win over Scotland’s Nathan Girvan in the Event 17 showpiece.

The emerging star missed double 12 for a nine-darter in the opening leg, but back-to-back 12-darters catapulted him to victory with a superb 104.86 average.

Rock, who averaged 97 over the course of the afternoon, now moves £1,400 clear of UK Open semi-finalist Barry on the Order of Merit, after celebrating his fourth success of 2022.

The Winmau Development Tour weekend continues with Events 18 & 19 on Saturday, as the sport's brightest young stars compete for £20,000 in prize money in Germany.

The top two players from the 2022 Development Tour Order of Merit will win a PDC Tour Card for 2023-24 and a place in the 2022/23 Cazoo World Darts Championship.

Event draws and results are listed in the Match Centre.

Results & match stats can be viewed through DartConnect.

Event 16 - Halle 39, Hildesheim
Friday August 19
Quarter-Finals

Josh Rock 5-2 Jitse Van der Wal
Sebastian Bialecki 5-2 Lewy Williams
Conor Heneghan 5-2 Nathan Girvan
Dylan Dowling 5-3 Owen Bates

Semi-Finals
Josh Rock 5-0 Sebastian Bialecki
Dylan Dowling 5-4 Conor Heneghan

Final
Josh Rock 5-0 Dylan Dowling

Event 17 - Halle 39, Hildesheim
Friday August 19
Quarter-Finals

Nathan Girvan 5-2 Geert Nentjes
Christopher Holt 5-4 Ole Holtkamp
Daniel Perry 5-1 Daan Bastiaansen
Josh Rock 5-4 Sebastian Bialecki

Semi-Finals
Nathan Girvan 5-4 Christopher Holt
Josh Rock 5-3 Daniel Perry

Final
Josh Rock 5-0 Nathan Girvan