SEVERN BEACH'S Merv Hathway missed out narrowly on making it to the final of the John Smith's People's Darts tournament on the main stage at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley.

Representing the Cross Hands pub in Pilning, Hathway beat Welshman John Quinn 3-1 in the quarter finals with a convincing performance and then missed out narrowly on making it to the final as he was beaten by Basingstoke's Mark Petchey 3-2 after leading 2-1 in the semi-final match.

Hathway, who manages professional Mark Dudbridge, admitted he was "gutted beyond belief" to run into an opponent who hit 100, 100, 100 and 99 consecutively in the decisive leg.

He said: "In all seriousness, it was brilliant up there and I was flying at one point - but Mark put together an incredible last leg."

Petchey went on to lose 3-1 to Scotland's Duncan "Big D" Hastings in the final.

Hathway's mentor Trina Gulliver, who won her eighth BDO women's championship title at the same venue last week, said: "Merv played very well today and was very unlucky to go out in the semis.

"Merv had the ability to go through but Mark held his nerve and grinded out the result. Merv had a great day and he knows that he bowed out to a player that has made it through to the grand final.

"Playing on the stage and in front of a large crowd and the BBC cameras will have given him a great experience and it looked like he loved every second - well done to him."