BRADFORD darts star Joe Cullen is struggling a little for form after a second successive early exit on the European Tour.

The Wyke thrower was in action at the Interwetten International Darts Open at the weekend, which was held in Riesa, Germany.

But he was well beaten by Scotland's Alan Soutar in his opening match, losing 6-2 in their round two encounter, having received a bye to that stage as a seeded player.

It was a fairly poor game, with Cullen actually ending with a higher average than Soutar (87.55 to 86.53), but the Scot was more clinical with his finishing.

He had no more luck the previous week in the Interwetten European Darts Open, which was held in Germany too, but in Leverkusen on that occasion.

Once more, the seeded Cullen started the tournament in round two, but he was a little unlucky to come up against the in-form Ross Smith, who had won his opener 6-0 against home player Pascal Rupprecht.

Despite a poor average, Cullen stayed in the game until the end, before eventually being beaten 6-4 by Smith.

Welshman Gerwyn Price won both of those events in Germany, which were the second and third of 13 on the European Tour this season.