CROSS VOWS NOT TO LICK LUKE!

By Phil Lanning

ROB CROSS has vowed not to LICK Luke Humphries...but might have a kiss instead!

The World No.4 takes on ‘Cool Hand’ in a vital opening Premier League quarter-final clash in Brighton tomorrow night (Thursday).

Humphries was subject to the ‘Lickgate’ controversy on Sunday after his rival James Wade got his tongue out after the walk-on in the UK Open.  

But Cross, 34, insists that the incident could be “misunderstood”. 

He said: “I definitely won’t lick him. Luke always likes to give me a kiss. Me and him have quite a decent relationship, a good bond. We are good friends. 

“Luke is a fantastic fellow. Hopefully there will be no licking involved! 

“I know James and don’t want to go too much into it. It wouldn’t be fair either. 

“I think it was very misunderstood. Whatever has happened there, whether it was a mistake or done as a joke, we can see past it. 

“James is a great guy and usually he wouldn’t do stuff like that. It’s one of those things, we need to see past it and move on.”

Cross admits that Brighton is effectively his ‘home’ Premier League but he moved from Hastings to Lincolnshire a year ago. 

He added: “I have probably been greedy with it, as I’m spending more time with the kids. 

“Sometimes on tour you can feel like an absent father. If I can spend more time with them and be selfish in that way, I’d always pick that. 

“I don’t have to travel so early. With regards to school, they have settled in well after a year. It has been beneficial in the long run. 

“I don’t have to drive myself too much now. My manager is nearby. The ProTours I can travel to on the morning of the event and I get another 15 nights in my own bed. 

“I’m better situated now as Hastings is a million miles from everywhere if you’re going north!” 

Cross is sixth in the eight-man Prem table with no nightly wins yet but is hoping familiarity with the venue on Night 5 will help in his pursuit of a top-four spot come week 16. 

He added: “I spent many a night in Brighton when I was younger. 

“Can’t say what we were doing. But they were good nights. “I always enjoy Brighton and have great support there. I’m grateful for that. A fair few of my friends are going on Thursday. 

“It’s a smaller arena, it has a tight-knit feel to it. 

“I think I will play well. Hopefully none of this topsy-turvyness which I have had, one good game and then a bad game. I feel positive about my game. 

“I can be a bit sporadic. It seems like I can’t hit the board for two months and then I win the Dutch Darts Masters.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.