Jonny was a sporting maestro

LATE BLOOMER Clayton

- BY RICHARD LEWIS

JONNY CLAYTON will bid for a place in his first World Championship semifinal this afternoon - knowing darts has given him his biggest sporting break.

Clayton, 51, faces Ryan Searle, 38, in the opening match of what promises to be a spectacular day of quarterfinals at the Alexandra Palace.

But instead of the noise and drama of the oche, life could have been different.