Smith reveals two opponents who tried to put him off with cheeky trick

ROSS SMITH has revealed the two opponents who managed to get inside his head with one of darts' oldest tricks.

The world No15 recalled two occasions when rivals rattled loose change during matches in an attempt to put him off while he was throwing.

Smith, 37, recalled his first experience coming early in his PDC career against Andy Jenkins, when he was still finding his feet on the circuit.

He told talkSPORT: “Years ago, I was just new on the PDC. I remember when I was playing, we were halfway through a match.

“I think I was leading. It was just old school. He has got change in his pocket. I remember him rattling his change and I was going for a double.

“I was coming back and I didn’t want to say anything. I was in awe and probably scared because Andy had a reputation. He was a bit of a lad.

“I weren’t really going to say anything. But I thought, just shut up, and that put me off.”

Smudger's second encounter came more recently when he found himself up against Jose de Sousa.

He added: “I remember I had a bit of a ding dong with him at the UK Open last year.

“It was the same sort of thing rattling change and stuff like that. It got in my head but I did say something.

“I am a man now not a child!”

The former European champ battled through De Sousa's mind games to seal a 10-7 victory in their clash at Minehead.

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning