YOUNG darts star Ross Smith finished runner-up in the boys’ youth singles at the Darts World Cup in Perth, Australia.

Sixteen-year-old Ross, who plays for the Mill Inn in the Deal League, produced some superb darts to reach the final where he was beaten 3-1 by Holland’s Jonny Nijs.

The Dutch youngster won the first leg in 15-darts, which included a 180 with his second shot against the darts. Nijs then won the second leg to take a 2-0 lead.

Ross, from Dover, was away in the third leg, winning it in 17-darts. Both players started with 140s in the fourth leg, but one poor shot by Smith gave Nijs the advantage he needed to win the leg and become World Youth champion.

Ross and his partner, Kellie Hammond from Brighton, had earlier lost in the semi-finals of the Youth Mixed Pairs.

Ross and Kellie won all four of their matches in the group stage, but they then suffered a surprise 3-1 defeat at the hands of South Africa in the last four.