CROSS “GUILTY AS CHARGED” OVER X-RATED GESTURE

By Phil Lanning

ROB CROSS admitted he was “guilty as charged” for making an X-rated gesture at the World Championship. 

The World No.4 has revealed he has already been fined by the Darts Regulation Authority less than a month after his Ally Pally poor show. 

Cross, 34, made a lewd gesture to his manager as he walked off the stage in frustration at his own performance as he exited the tournament at the first hurdle.  

He beat Richard Veenstra in his opening Dutch Darts Masters clash last night (Friday) and said: “I don’t even know whether I’m allowed to speak about that. 

“Put it this way, for what I got fined, it’s the quickest fine I’ve ever paid. Usually I leave it to the last minute. It was decent. I’m guilty as charged and I’ve apologised about it.”

Cross looked back on form with the 6-3 win, a week after a poor display in a shock defeat to Paolo Nebrida in Bahrain. 

He added: “I’ve had some time off and a rest from the Worlds. But no excuses I think 12-darter came at a good time.

“There’s flashes there but it’s not like it’s a complete performance what I need.

“You need a win just to get your platform and what you are going to kick off for the year.

“I picked a few darts up this week because I had to. I’ve been a bit lazy and guilty for enjoying being with the family too much.

“I want the height from a good performance, it’s not quite there at the minute. 

“I went into the Worlds in good form. It was probably my worst performance of the year. It was a massive disappointment to do that. 

“It kicks you a bit. I spent a bit of time away from the game because of that just to forget. It’s all about this year now. 

“I just want to play myself into a bit of form. Hopefully tomorrow you can watch the proper Bobby turn up. That needs to happen.”