Rob Cross sends Luke Humphries Premier League darts warning regardless of ‘sporadic’ confession
EXCLUSIVE: Rob Cross has sent out a warning to his Premier League rivals ahead of Night 5 of the Premier League in Brighton, with the Hastings star set to face Luke Humphries in his home night
Rob Cross has warned the rest of his Premier League darts rivals that ‘he’s looking forward’ to his home night in Brighton.
The 34-year-old’s home town of Hastings is just over 30 miles from Brighton where the action in Night 5 of the Premier League will unfold. ‘Voltage’ is yet to get going in this year’s Premier League, with two semi-final appearances the furthest he’s reached in the opening four weeks.
However, Cross has added motivation tonight, with Brighton his home patch across the 16-night tournament. He told the Daily Star Sport: “It’s only an hour away. I spent nights in Brighton when I was younger. I can’t really say what we were doing, but they were good nights!
“I always enjoy Brighton. I have a great support when I’m here so I’m grateful for that. I have a lot of friends out there actually. I think a fair few are going, they’ve got tickets so I might be able to catch up with them while I’m here because obviously I’m (living) in Boston now.
“Just really fantastic. It’s a bit of a smaller arena it has more of a tight knitted feel to it. It’s the sort of day you just want to get on with it, you want to get up there and you want to perform and win.”
Cross revealed that he is expected to see friends and former workmates in attendance tonight, he added: “Usually the club where I used to practise in and Hastings and some workmates, they usually get a coach across, try and get tickets to it, so there will be a bunch of them. If I can meet up with them before for half hour or something, I usually would try.”
‘Voltage’ takes on World No.1 and Night 4 winner Luke Humphries in the quarter-final. The Premier League leader will want to set the record straight after his ‘lickgate’ UK Open quarter-final defeat to James Wade, but Cross insisted he is not frightened of playing anyone.
“I believe I can beat him, I believe I can beat anyone. I’ll be honest with you, I’m looking forward to this one. I think I’ll play well,” Cross confidently said.
“Hopefully we don’t have none of this topsy-turvy thing where I have one good game, one bad game. I’m just feeling positive on it at the minute, many times me and Luke have played and I’ve beat him, and he’s beat me. Hopefully that trend sort of carries on, where it’s my turn tomorrow night.”
Despite facing Humphries off the back of his UK Open disappointment and losing the semi-final in Exeter to ‘Cool Hand’ last week, Cross stated that there is no good time to play other players, he continued: “I don’t think there is really a right time for players. I’m a bit sporadic sometimes, I don’t look like I can hit the board for two months and then I’ll go and win the Dutch Darts Masters.
“So basing it off that I don’t think there is really any right time for players. I think that you’re either going to play (well) or you’re not. Luke’s very consistent, that’s why he’s number one in the world, so for me to beat him, I’m going to have to be consistent and play well.”
