‘Couldn’t feel the dart’ – Josh Rock reveals bizarre reason for Premier League defeat that led to apology

Josh Rock has revealed that his crushing Premier League Darts defeat to Michael van Gerwen was down to one thing – soap.

The Northern Irishman was beaten 6-2 in their quarter-final clash on Night 2 of the tournament in Antwerp last week.

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It was his second consecutive defeat in the Premier League as Jonny Clayton beat him by the same scoreline a week earlier in Newcastle.

After the match, Rock issued an apology to his fans on social media, in which he said he didn’t have any grip on his fingers.

And speaking to Tungsten Tales ahead of Night 3 in Glasgow, he cited the soap that he used in the toilets beforehand as the cause.

What a slip up

Rock said: “I went to the toilet just before I went up on stage and whatever soap they had, obviously you wash your hands after going to the toilet.

“I put it all on my hands and the next minute I went up there and was like, ‘This isn’t going to be able to start well.’

“I just could not feel it at all, so now we’ve got a plan B.

“I’ve got a bit of chalk and wax, in my case, from now on.

“I didn’t have to use it this week in the Players Championship so it was fine, but it must have been the soap I used.

“I was just trying my best to get a grip and it just didn’t happen.”

Rock did in fact enjoy more success during the Players Championship series earlier this week.

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He beat Nick Kenny, James Hurrell and Rob Cross across both nights in Hildesheim and Wigan.

The 24-year-old will return to Premier League action on Thursday night for a quarter-final match against Luke Humphries.

Should he win, Rock will face the winner of Stephen Bunting vs Gian van Veen in his first semi-final of the year.

Van Gerwen could be his opponent in the final if he beats Luke Littler, and then one of Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price.

However, the Dutchman may miss Night 3 for medical reasons.

“Michael has a medical issue and is awaiting results of tests which will determine whether he can travel to Glasgow,” said a PDC statement to talkSPORT.com.