England laid low
Darren determined to keep nose clean
DARREN WEBSTER is on the scent of a long run at Ally Pally – after his nose was broken by a headbutt from a football hooligan.
The Demolition Man, 51, had just finished competing in a tournament at the Barnsley Metrodome when he was mistaken by a thug for a rival fan.
The popular Norwich builder, who begins his William Hill PDC world championship campaign against Yuki Yamada today, was walking back to his hotel after competing at a Players Championship floor show.
He was unlucky to be in the wrong place at the wrong time after a tense derby between South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley and Sheffield United, which the home side won 3-2.
Webster, now back in the PDC top 20 after a difficult year with injuries, said: “I’ve no idea what I did to deserve it.
“I had just finished playing, I was walking down the road minding my own business and out of nowhere I heard this voice saying, ‘Are you a Sheffield supporter?’
“I said, ‘Eh? I’m playing darts at the Metrodome, I don’t even like football’ and before I could unzip my jacket to show him my shirt, he head-butted me and broke my nose.
“The police arrested a bloke and a few months later I was invited to an identity parade to pick out the offender so they could prosecute him.
“But they might as well have asked me to pick one of Snow White’s seven dwarves – they all looked the same and I picked the wrong one, so the real culprit got away with it.
“It wasn’t a great experience all round. When I went to the police to tell them this guy had put the nut on me, completely unprovoked, I was covered in blood and they told me to clean myself up before I could give a statement.
“I played the next day, but I grazed
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my nose on the throw so I was yelping in pain every time I let the dart go.”
Webster is due some luck. Two years ago, he had a chronic back problem caused by two trapped nerves, until acupuncture saved the day.
Earlier this year, he was hampered by a severe case of tennis elbow. He said: “For five months, it was so bad I couldn’t even pick up a cup of tea or pull a plug out of the wall. “I decided to get it sorted and about
longNO three weeks after the operation, it felt so good I thought someone had sewn a new arm on me. There’s no pain all now – it’s lovely and smooth.”
But a busted hooter or tennis elbow does not begin to compare with Webster’s worst nightmare.
He said: “I lost my two-year-old daughter to ill health. Although it was more or less 20 years ago, the pain never leaves you.
“Down the years, I’ve had a few issues in my life which I’ve struggled to get over, one in particular. Mentally, it destroyed me a bit and it’s been a road back. I’ve got three daughters now, she would have been the oldest.
“I’ve buried myself in work all my life to get over it. I’ve thrown the key away to get over the past.”
JUSTIN PIPE is fighting back at the World Darts Championship.
Pipe, 48, produced a comeback win in the first round against Slovenian rookie Benjamin Pratnemer and intends to move on from the controversial ‘Coughgate’ row. He was floored after being fined for appearing to cough in an opening round victory two years ago, when opponent Bernie Smith was taking aim at a double for the win.
But on his return to the Ally Pally stage he was let off the hook by debutant Pratnemer, who missed three match darts.
“I’ve suffered two years of mental torture but every dog has his day and I’ll have mine,” said Pipe (left), who has sunk to 56th in the world rankings after failing to qualify for last year’s World Championship.
“It puts the demons to bed and I proved to myself I can walk on stage with my head held high and put on a battle.
“I maintain my innocence over what happened.
“There was only one version of the story two years ago and I knew I was going to be crucified then. I couldn’t have wished for a better crowd this time. I think I’m going to have to buy them all a drink.”
ENGLAND have been floored by illness ahead of next Thursday’s first Test in South Africa.
Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer and Jack Leach are major doubts with several others struggling.
Two members of Chris Silverwood’s backroom staff have also come down with flu-like symptoms.
Chris Woakes said: “A few guys have gone down a little bit ill, so they’re back in the hotel trying to steer clear of everyone.
“Hopefully it’ll be a couple of days out and they’ll be back on their feet.” The absences means today’s warm-up against South Africa A has been downgraded to a friendly from first-class status.
SAM CURRAN will be the most expensive England player in the IPL next year after Chennai Super Kings bought him for £590,000.