Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts - Night Ten

REPORTS from the Westpoint Arena in Exeter from the tenth league night of the 2009 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts.

The league phase continued in the south-west of England, with John Part playing twice on the night after Wayne Mardle was ruled out with a virus.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Week Ten - Westpoint Arena, Exeter
John Part 8-6 Mervyn King
Phil Taylor 7-7 Terry Jenkins
James Wade 8-5 Raymond van Barneveld
John Part 7-7 Jelle Klaasen

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JOHN PART 8-6 MERVYN KING

JOHN PART showed his battling spirit to fight back and win his first of two matches in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts in Exeter with an 8-6 defeat of Mervyn King.

The absence of Wayne Mardle through illness gave Part a double-header at the Westpoint Arena in Exeter, and his opening game saw him claim a third win of the season.

Part led 3-1 early on only to then lose five successive legs, but he then took the final five without reply to claim victory.

Double top put Part ahead before King won the second leg on double ten, only to then miss three darts to break the Canadian's throw.

Part took out double five to lead 2-1 and then landed a 180 to set up an 88 finish against the darts for a two-leg cushion.

A bullseye finish for a 90 checkout saw King hit back, and double top levelled before he finished on double eight in the next three legs to create a 6-3 lead.

But two missed darts at double 16 proved costly for King in the next leg, with Part hitting the same bed to stem the tide.

Part landed another maximum on his way to the 11th leg, and double six saw the game levelled at six-all.

A 113 checkout ensured at least a draw for Part, but he was also stronger in the deciding leg, eventually taking out double one for victory.

"I was nervous to start with but got ahead and then let him back into the game," said Part.

"When it came to the crunch doubles I got them and the 113 was pretty crucial - I would probably have lost the match if I hadn't hit that."

Match Stats

John Part	8-6	Mervyn King
14	100+	22
7	140+	10
2	180	0
29.65	Ave1	29.14
88.95	Ave3	87.43
47	Checkout %	29
4	Legs Against Throw	3
113	High Finish	90

PHIL TAYLOR 7-7 TERRY JENKINS

PHIL TAYLOR and Terry Jenkins shared the spoils for a second time in the 2009 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts with a draw at Exeter's Westpoint Arena.

Jenkins is one of only three players to take points from Taylor this season, and landed a 100 checkout in the deciding leg to claim a point.

The duo were well-matched throughout a tight contest, sharing ten 180s as well as three ton-plus finishes.

Taylor took the game's opening two legs, hitting maximums in each alongside double 16 finishes to edge away.

However, Jenkins opened the third with a maximum before securing a break of throw, and levelled in the fourth on double ten before both players wasted chances in the next after trading 180s.

It was Taylor who eventually took out double one, with his ninth dart at a double, to move 3-2 up, although Jenkins levelled in style going into the break with a 120 'Shanghai' finish.

Both players proved too strong on their own throw in the second half of the game, with the next six legs going with the darts before a 102 finish from Taylor put him 7-6 up.

He gave himself a chance to take victory in the deciding leg, but a narrow miss at double 16 for a 106 checkout gave Jenkins his shot at a draw, with a clinical two-dart 100 finish earning him the point.

"I would have settled for a draw before the game and in the end the 100 checkout could be huge for my Premier League campaign," said Jenkins.

"I'm still in the hunt for the play-offs and I have to try and get a result from every game now."

Taylor admitted: "Terry's very gutsy and never gives you an inch.

"I love playing him and I was pleased to get the draw. You have your eyes on the semi-finals now and it's about getting enough points to qualify, so that's one more on the board."

Match Stats

Phil Taylor	7-7	Terry Jenkins
16	100+	18
12	140+	11
5	180	5
32.50	Ave1	31.63
97.51	Ave3	94.89
30	Checkout %	30
1	Legs Against Throw	1
102	High Finish	120,100

JAMES WADE 8-5 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD

JAMES WADE bounced back to winning ways in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts with an 8-5 victory over Raymond van Barneveld.

The world number two completed a Premier League double over the Dutchman with a much-improved display, following his 8-3 drubbing to Mervyn King a week ago.

Van Barneveld hit back from 1-0 down to take out 78 in the second leg and double eight to break in the third.

Wade hit back to lead with checkouts of 65 and 80, only for van Barneveld to power home a 135 finish.

Wade took out 101 to lead 4-3 before taking another break of throw with a 61 finish, despite a 180 from the Dutchman, to push two legs clear.

Finishes of double 18 and double top saw van Barneveld level, but crucially he missed three darts at tops and double ten in the 11th leg.

Wade stepped in on double top, and punished further missed doubles to go 7-5 up in the next.

A 180, for the third successive leg, pushed Wade ahead in the 13th leg, and an 81 checkout for a 12-darter sealed an important two points.

"I've been blowing hot and cold recently and was embarrassed with how I played against Mervyn last week, so it was important to get the win tonight," said Wade.

"I'm pleased with the display and happy to get the win, but I still know I can play better and want to do that next week.

"Raymond missed some doubles and let me in, and I was there to take my chances."

Match Stats

James Wade	8-5	R v Barneveld
17	100+	18
14	140+	12
5	180	2
33.48	Ave1	32.86
100.45	Ave3	98.58
57	Checkout %	38
3	Legs Against Throw	2
101	High Finish	135

JOHN PART 7-7 JELLE KLAASEN

JOHN PART picked up a third point of the evening in Exeter with a draw against Jelle Klaasen.

Part followed up his victory over Mervyn King with a stalemate against the Dutchman to move into fourth place in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts table.

Part secured the early advantage with a 118 finish, but Klaasen replied in style with a 13-darter and then an 87 checkout to break throw.

The young Dutchman missed double top in the next, and Part landed double 16 to break back and then an 85 checkout for back-to-back 14-darters.

He moved 4-2 up at the break with a superb 150 checkout, the highest of the night, only to see Klaasen respond in style in the second half of the game.

Klaasen won four of the next five legs, including finishes of 90, on the bullseye, and 102, to move 6-5 up and within touching distance of a point.

But Part fired in double 16 to level and then took out 98 to ensure a minimum of a draw going into the decider.

The Canadian had his chance to claim a second win of the night, setting up a finish in the next only to miss two darts at double 16 for the match.

And Klaasen made no mistake with a 64 checkout, ending on double four, to earn himself a point.

"In the first half of the match I missed some doubles and that proved important," said Klaasen. "John played well and finished very well, and I was lucky he missed in the last leg.

"I'm a little bit disappointed but happy to get the draw, and I feel I'm getting better every week at this level."

Part added: "It's been a good night overall and three points puts me in a good position. It's good to have the points in the bag rather than having to win other games.

"Jelle hit some good finishes and that's the sign of a good player, and he deserved a point.

"I hit a few pressure doubles at different points early in the game so I'm not too disappointed at missing the chance in the final leg - it's pleasing to give myself those opportunities."

Match Stats