THERE is work to do for mid Cheshire players wanting a place in the professional ranks after a testing second day at PDC Q School.

Stuart Kellett bowed out at the first-round stage following a 5-2 defeat against former tour card holder Royden Lam.

The Northwich thrower produced his best to win the opening leg in 14 darts, including a visit worth 177, before his opponent from Hong Kong reeled off the next three.

The highlight was a 121 checkout to take the fourth leg by throwing only 12 darts.

Kellett at least stopped the rot when he prevailed in a scrappy fifth but he was outscored throughout and will expect to improve when he returns to Wigan on Saturday.

Simon Preston, from Middlewich, survived a fight-back by Lincoln ace Lee Williams when he prevailed in a deciding leg during their clash in the second round.

He gave a glimpse of his best in the third leg, pinning tops to complete a 13-darter.

The 51-year-old also landed four maximums, but his average suffered after missing 16 attempts at a double.

Preston rallied briefly after going 3-0 down against Carl Wilkinson at the next stage, producing legs of 14 and then 15 darts respectively, but his rival from Barnsley recovered to close out a 5-2 win.

Meanwhile Andrew Poynton, a teammate of Kellett at Rudheath in the Cheshire Men’s Super League, improved on a sobering opening-day whitewash against Glen Durrant.

He went down 5-3 against Robert Adnams, but can take heart from a brilliant 106 finish to win the fifth leg.

That put him in front before his opponent went through after taking the next three.

Results (selected)

Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)

UK Qualifying School

Friday, January 18

Round One

Robert Adnams 5-3 Andrew Poynton

Roydon Lam 5-2 Stuart Kellett

Bye: Simon Preston

Round Two

Simon Preston 5-4 Lee Williams

Round Three

Carl Wilkinson 5-2 Simon Preston