STUART Kellett bowed out of the German Darts Championships at the second-round stage on Saturday following a 6-0 defeat against Premier League star Stephen Bunting.

The Northwich ace missed seven darts at doubles in Hildesheim during a contest that was closer than the result suggests.

Five of those were in legs on his own throw.

Bunting edged ahead after landing double eight at the fourth attempt, but Kellett replied with two 140s in the second leg only to fail twice with double attempts.

His opponent hit a maximum before closing with a 62 out.

The St Helens-based star, who switched to the Professional Darts Corporation at the start of last year, made it 3-0 on double eight after landing another 180 at an earlier visit.

Kellett, whose average was less than two points lower than the former Lakeside champion, fluffed three attempts at tops in the next leg before his rival again pinched it.

Bunting, the number 15 seed, then set up a last 16 head-to-head with world number one Michael van Gerwen – to whom he lost in the Premier League in Bournemouth on Thursday – by clinching the remaining legs, finishing the match on tops.

In the first round on Friday Kellett recovered from 4-3 down, winning three successive legs, to beat qualifier Daniel Zygla.

He returns to action next week for the three remaining UK Open qualifiers at Robin Park Tennis Centre, in Wigan.