JOE Cullen produced a second strong performance in a row on the PDC European Tour this weekend, and it took his good friend to deny him in the last-eight

The Bradford thrower reached the semi-finals of the German Darts Grand Prix at the start of the month, before losing a thriller 7-5 against Nathan Aspinall.

The 33-year-old was then in Graz at the weekend, taking part in event five, the Austrian Darts Open.

Cullen entered the tournament at the second round stage, and blitzed poor Nick Kenny 6-2, achieving an average of over 102 in the process.

The Wyke darts ace then won a sensational contest against in-form Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode.

The pair both averaged 107 in a high-quality affair, but Cullen emerged with a 6-2 victory.

That put Cullen into a last-eight encounter against a close friend in Welshman Jonny Clayton.

The Bradfordian actually ended the game with a higher average, but Clayton produced the darts when it mattered to win 6-3.

The 48-year-old went on to win the tournament, beating young Josh Rock 8-6 in a superb final in which both players averaged just over 101.

Cullen does not have to wait long for the sixth of the 13 European Tour events of the season, with the Dutch Darts Championship taking place in Leeuwarden this coming weekend.