WES NEWTON 6-3 RICHIE BURNETT

WES NEWTON produced a superb fightback from 2-0 down to defeat Richie Burnett 6-3 and move into the second round of the Cash Converters Players Championship.

Welshman Burnett, who ended a ten-year gap between ranking victories in September, made an electric start to win the opening two legs - but paid for failing to hit single numbers to leave a double as Newton levelled.

The Fleetwood ace then hit top gear with four 180s and a 177 as he powered through to take victory and set up a second round tie with Peter Wright on Saturday.

Burnett finished 81 on double 13 to win the game's opening leg and bettered that with a 101 checkout in the second.

Newton hit a 180 in the third, but missed two darts at double 16 to allow Burnett in - only for the Welsh ace to miss the single nine to leave double eight and then seeing a dart at double four land off-target as Newton returned to hit double two.

Newton also capitalised in the fourth leg when Burnett again failed to leave a double at the first time of asking, missing double 16 before the UK Open finalist hit double ten to level.

He then landed a 177 to leave 32 in the next, stepping in to take out double eight after Burnett missed tops for a 106 finish, and hit a 180 and double six to move 4-2 up.

Another 180 from Newton was followed by a 117 checkout in the next as he moved a leg away from victory at 5-2, although he missed three match darts as Burnett won a third leg of the game on double eight.

Newton, though, posted his fifth 180 of the contest and followed that with a 140 to leave 81 after nine darts, and finished double eight again to seal his second round berth.

"I'm relieved to have come through that," admitted Newton. "Richie made a great start and he could have gone 4-0 up, but I came strong after that.

"I was really pleased with how I scored and it's a good way to start this tournament."