PONTYBEREM darts ace Jonny Clayton showed a return to form as he set up an all-Welsh tie at the Betfred World Matchplay against Gerwyn Price.

The World Cup-winning pair broke their respective losing streaks as the World Matchplay darts tournament returned to the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Premier League champion Clayton erased the memory of three previous first round exits with a 10-7 defeat of Dutchman, Dirk van Duijvenbode.

The 46 year-old Welshman settled well by opening up a 3-1 lead, only for the debutant to hit back with a 164 finish in taking a 5-4 lead.

'The Ferret' then won four legs in a row to pull clear, and maintained that advantage to progress to the last 16 for the first time in the event.

"My confidence is massive and I'm flying high at the moment," said Clayton, who is a plasterer for Carmarthenshire County Council.

"I know my game is there, but I still had that little monkey on my back, and hopefully I can go on and win the tournament now.

"Dirk is a very good darts player and he wasn't going to back down because I'm the Premier League champion.

"I held my nerve and got over that winning line. I'm here to pick a trophy up, and I'm not here to make up the numbers."

World Champion Price had not won in the event since 2016, but came from 2-0 down to defeat Jermaine Wattimena 10-4.

The 36 year-old Welshman checked out 132, 108 and 127 as he pulled clear in the latter stages.

"Jonny's a great friend of mine, but I know if I play my A-game then it doesn't matter who I play," said Price.

"The only enemy I've got up there at the moment is myself.

"I just concentrate on my own game and if I play well, then I definitely win, I haven't played much this year and coming into this I'm not very confident.

"I started off really slowly and had to fight my way back into the game, I hit some big doubles but I was nowhere near how I can play.

"I know where I've gone wrong in the past, but I'm here to win it,and if I can win this, the rest of the year is looking good."

After seeing off their Dutch opponents, the pair meet on Tuesday night in an all-Welsh affair.