David Pallett off to Gibraltar with the PDC
Newport's David Pallett has booked his place in the PDC's Gibraltar Darts Trophy and got off the mark at the start of the Players Championship.
The Shropshire thrower competed in four events at the Barnsley Metrodome last weekend with varying levels of success,
His first run landed him a place at the third European Tour event from May 6-8, but he'll sit out the next two trips to Germany after failing to qualify.
The 26-year-old went out of the Dutch Masters finals in the first round in February and didn't make the cut for this month's German equivalent.
But Pallett will be in Gibraltar, benefitting from a bye to second round in the qualifier where he dropped a leg in easing past Nigel Heydon 6-1.
A dramatic 6-5 deciding leg win over Mickey Mansell saw him reach the all-important third round, but he came up a game short trying to seal a spot at the European Matchplay.
That will take place from May 13-15 in Hamburg, Germany, without him after a 6-5 third round defeat to Chris Dobey. He again came in at the second stage, beating Matthew Edgar 6-3.
Pallett stayed on for the first two Players Championship events of the year, which is only open to those with Pro Tour cards.
Mansell exacted his revenge in the first competition, dumping him out 6-5. He defeated Andy Parsons 6-4 in the second tournament, before he was whitewashed 6-0 by Michael van Gerwen.
He now sits 34th on the Pro Tour Order of Merit after picking up £500 for the latter exploits, with £20,000 of prize winnings. He's 44th overall.
