The pair split the next six but Wright's flawless early doubling was beginning to let him down, and Sherrock was creating chances and matching the world No 2 in the scoring stakes, only to miss three darts to level at 7-7. It is easy to see why Clough would feel empathy with the waifs who turned up that day in Seaburn but it does not explain everything that followed. Why did he do it? In simple terms, it seems that Clough, a North East native, just enjoyed their company. "I had a lot of conversations. I work with a psychologist anyway so she became even bigger in that period to be able to continue. Once I got over the initial reaction and emotion of it all, I promised myself that I wanted, if it was going to be my last year, to go out in the best way. "They were the first game against Rafferty and going into the last game, and wondering whether I was going to finish top of the group.