Dynamic Dutchman survives Crocodile attack

DYNAMIC young Dutch star Jelle Klaasen last night maintained his relentless march towards the Lakeside World Championship final with a 5-4 victory over Paul Hogan in Frimley Green.

The fast-throwing 21-year-old survived a superb comeback from his opponent, in their quarter-final, after leading 4-1 thanks to more of the exciting play he has produced throughout the tournament.

But Hogan, who lives only six miles from the Lakeside complex, in Basingstoke, dug deep to force a deciding set from first-timer Klaasen.

At the mid-match interval, Klaasen led 3-1, but the break benefited Hogan more for although he lost the next set, the 42-year-old was starting to find his form. Hogan capitalised as the standard of the ‘Matador’ dipped.

Nicknamed ‘Crocodile Dundee’ after his actor namesake, Hogan fought back to just 4-3 down and immediately hit his first 180 of the match, a score that helped him to level at 4-4. However, Klaasen had something left and after opening the decider with a 12-dart leg, he took advantage of Hogan twice missing double top to earn a vital break of throw and then three consecutive 140s put the match out of reach. In the other quarter-finals England's Shaun Greatbatch beat Scotland's Paul Hanvidge 5-3.