McCoy's Premier League Darts Night Eight

NEWTON BLOWS McCOY'S PREMIER LEAGUE RELEGATION RACE OPEN AS THORNTON DELIGHTS GLASGOW CROWD

A DRAMATIC win for Wes Newton over Gary Anderson in Glasgow on Thursday night means that four players will battle to avoid relegation from the McCoy's Premier League Darts on Judgement Night.

The bottom two players in the Premier League table following next week's ninth league night in Brighton will be eliminated from the tournament - and wins for Newton and Adrian Lewis at the SECC blew the relegation race wide open.

Newton came from 5-4 down to take a 7-5 win over 2011 Premier League champion Anderson, who missed 24 darts at doubles during the game as he slipped to the foot of the table.

Newton jumped above the Scot on Leg Difference, with Simon Whitlock's defeat to in-form Robert Thornton leaving the Australian only a point above the pair.

"I rode my luck a bit tonight," admitted Newton. "Gary scored well but he didn't finish well and he let me in, and I took my chances.

"I'll take the two points because I've lost games which I should have won this season and I'm still in the hunt - it's all to play for next week now!"

Newton had received a cortisone injection in a long-standing shoulder problem on Tuesday and admitted: "This was the best it's been since October and I was pain-free for the first time in a long time, and hopefully I can get back to my best now."

Anderson conceded: "I was hitting trebles for fun and couldn't buy a double, and I'm as sick as a pig!

"I'm playing well in practice but I can't hit a double on stage and it's been the story of my season, and the more I'm missing, the more I panic."

Whitlock went down 7-1 to a sensational performance by Ayrshire's Robert Thornton, who averaged 107.65 in ensuring that he cannot be eliminated as he picked up a third victory in his debut season.

The Scot won the first four legs without reply in front of his home fans at a sold-out SECC - hitting 180s in the first three and a 157 checkout in the process.

Whitlock took out 114 to hit back, but Thornton landed a maximum in moving 5-1 up, a 121 finish to pull clear and double 12 to seal the win.

"There's not many people who will beat Simon 7-1 because he's one of the hardest and steadiest players you'll come up against, and I had to put in a performance like that to do it," said Thornton.

"I'm absolutely loving the Premier League and it seems to be bringing the best out of me, so long may it continue!"

The UK Open champion added: "To be safe from relegation and to play in front of a crowd like this makes everything worthwhile - it was amazing. It's brilliant, one of the most memorable nights I've ever had.

"I wanted to go up there and not let the Scottish fans down, so it's great to play so well. I was pretty focused and I'm chuffed to bits with how I played.

"I've had loads of family and friends here watching and it's the first time my mum's seen me play live, so I'm very proud."

World number two Adrian Lewis moved up to seventh place by extending his unbeaten run to four matches with a 7-4 win over Andy Hamilton.

Lewis had lost his first four games but is now unbeaten since, as he came from 2-0 down to claim a fine win - which featured a key 124 bullseye finish in the penultimate leg.

"After four weeks I didn't think I'd make it to the latter stages but I've got a great chance now," said Lewis. "As soon as I had to fight for my life, I've been pulling something out of the bag.

"It was a really tough game tonight but I'm delighted to get the win. Seven points isn't enough yet to avoid relegation, though, so I'll focus on playing Raymond van Barneveld next week in Brighton."

Van Barneveld, meanwhile, was defeated 7-3 by Phil Taylor as the reigning champion continued his return to form with a second successive victory as he ended a four-week trial with a new design of darts by going back to the style with which he won the World Championship in January.

Taylor took the game's first three legs - twice punishing missed doubles from the Dutchman - and led 6-2 before van Barneveld took out a superb 144 finish to stay in the contest.

However, two further misses from the Dutchman allowed Taylor in to secure the victory with a 72 finish, ending any slim chance of him being dragged into the relegation dogfight as he became one of four players locked on ten points at the top of the table.

"I tried the new darts but they didn't quite work for me," said Taylor. "They were great in practice but not on stage and I went back to what I'm comfortable with tonight, and it worked.

"I was really nervous before the game and there was a lot of pressure on us both. Barney's a brilliant player and he hit the 180s at the right time, but he couldn't quite hit his finishes tonight - apart from the 144, which was brilliant!"

James Wade's fine 7-4 win over Michael van Gerwen in a high-scoring contest saw him join the Dutchman, Taylor and van Barneveld on ten points in the league table.

After van Gerwen took the game's opening leg in 12 darts, Wade hit two 180s in a 12-darter to level and hit legs of 11 and 12 darts in moving 3-1 up, also hitting a 134 checkout.

The 2009 champion also led 4-1 before van Gerwen hit back to within a leg, but Wade took out finishes of 135 and 130 as he swept to victory by hitting seven doubles from 11 attempts in the game.

"It was a good win for me," said Wade. "Everyone knows the form that Michael's been in but mine has been picking up and nobody scares me.

"I'm putting the work in this year and it's showing in my performances. This game is all about finishing and that's been my strength again."

The McCoy's Premier League Darts will continue next Thursday with Judgement night at the Brighton Centre, which will see the final five games played before the ten-player event sees the bottom two relegated.

Lewis will open up against van Barneveld before Taylor faces Thornton in the only game which cannot affect the elimination battle.

Newton then meets Hamilton and Anderson takes on Wade, before Whitlock faces van Gerwen in the night's final clash.C

Click here to see an exclusive Robert Thornton interview at the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Click here to see an exclusive Wes Newton interview at the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Watch Live
All McCoy's Premier League Darts nights will be shown live on Sky Sports HD from 7pm.
Coverage is also live through RTL7 in the Netherlands, Sport1 in Germany, OSN across the Middle East and Fox Sports in Australia.
LIVEPDC.TV International Pass subscribers can also watch live coverage at LIVEPDC.TV, along with highlights on a 24-hour delay.

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McCoy's Premier League Darts
Week Eight
March 28 - SECC, Glasgow
Adrian Lewis 7-4 Andy Hamilton
Simon Whitlock 1-7 Robert Thornton
Phil Taylor 7-3 Raymond van Barneveld
Gary Anderson 5-7 Wes Newton
Michael van Gerwen 4-7 James WadeL

Latest League Table

Match Information
Adrian Lewis v Andy Hamilton
0-0 - Adrian Lewis will throw first
0-1 - Hamilton lands a 180 with his second throw but the leg ends in dispair for both players as they miss a total of 17 darts at doubles - ten from Hamilton and seven from Lewis - before Hamilton posts double one to break throw in the opener.
0-2 - Hamilton doubles his lead by hitting double eight.
1-2 - Hamilton misses double 18 to finish 150, and Lewis steps in to finish 56 on tops to get off the mark.
2-2 - Lewis fires in a 180 and posts tops again to level the game with a break of throw.
3-2 - Another 180 for Lewis leaves him 38 and he hits double 19 at the first time of asking to move ahead.
4-2 - Hamilton misses the bull and two further darts to win the leg, and Lewis hits tops to move two legs clear with another break.
4-3 - Hamilton misses the bullseye again, but Lewis is off-target with two darts at tops to allow him back to land double eight.
5-3 - Lewis regains his two-leg cushion in a bizarre twist, with Hamilton initially needing 164 but bursting his score to allow the two-time World Champion back, hitting double eight after missing the bull for a 170 checkout.
5-4 - Hamilton regains his composure with a superb 100 checkout to hit back.
6-4 - Hamilton hits a 180 to leave 50, but Lewis hits the bull to complete a 124 finish to ensure a point from the game.
7-4 - Lewis misses double nine for a 138 finish, but Hamilton is unable to take out 88 and the world number two returns to seal a key win.

Match Stats

Simon Whitlock v Robert Thornton
0-0 - Simon Whitlock will throw first
0-1 - Thornton delights the Scottish crowd with a 180 and double 19 to break throw in the opening leg.
0-2 - Thornton adds a second maximum as he doubles his lead.
0-3 - The Scot's stunning start continues with a third 180 of the game before he powers in a 157 checkout, maintaining a 128 average!
0-4 - Double top sees Thornton move four legs clear.
1-4 - Whitlock finishes 114 on tops to get off the mark.
1-5 - Thornton takes out 76 on tops to move further clear.
1-6 - Thornton finishes 121 on double 14 to ensure at least a draw - and the possibility of a record Premier League average!
1-7 - Thornton completes a superb win on double 12 - after Whitlock misses the bull for a 170 finish and two further darts at double eight. Thornton's end average is 107.65 - two points below his superb 109 of earlier in the season as he misses out on a personal best on TV.

Click here to see an exclusive Robert Thornton interview at the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats

Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld
0-0 - Phil Taylor will throw first
1-0 - van Barneveld hits a 180, but Taylor - who has gone back to using the design of darts with which he won the World Championship in January after four games with a new design  - hits double 16 to get off the mark.
2-0 - van Barneveld hits another maximum, but misses darts at double 16, 12 and six to allow Taylor in on tops.
3-0 - The Dutchman misses the bull for a 124 finish, and Taylor again lands tops to win a third leg.
3-1 - van Barneveld gets off the mark by finishing double eight.
4-1 - Taylor hits a 180 and posts double 16 to regain his cushion.
4-2 - Double 16 sees van Barneveld hit back again.
5-2 - van Barneveld opens with 180 and 140 in hitting five successive treble 20s, but he misses four darts to break throw and Taylor lands a third-dart double five to avert a break of throw.
6-2 - Taylor opens with 140 and 180 before hitting double eight to ensure at least a point.
6-3 - Taylor misses two match darts at double 16, and van Barneveld takes out 144 to keep in the game.
7-3 - Two misses at double top from van Barneveld allow Taylor to seal victory with a 72 finish.

Match Stats

Gary Anderson v Wes Newton
0-0 - Gary Anderson will throw first
0-1 - Anderson misses eight doubles to win the opening leg, and Newton punishes him - eventually - on double four.
0-2 - Three further misses from Anderson allow the Fleetwood ace in to double his lead.
1-2 - Anderson hits a 180 and lands double five to get off the mark.
2-2 - The Scot delights the home crowd with double 11 to break throw and level.
3-2 - Anderson posts a 180 and tops to move ahead.
3-3 - Newton takes out 132 on the bull to level.
4-3 - Newton hits a 180, but misses two darts at double eight, and Anderson hits tops to edge ahead.
4-4 - Anderson posts a maximum but misses tops for a 160 finish, and Newton takes out 84 on double 11 to square the game again.
5-4 - Anderson this time takes out 84 on the bull to regain the lead.
5-5 - Anderson misses double top, and Newton takes out 120 to level.
5-6 - Anderson crucially misses five darts at doubles, and Newton breaks throw on double eight.
5-7 - Newton secures a huge victory by taking out 72 to keep his McCoy's Premier League hopes alive.

Click here to see an exclusive Wes Newton interview at the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen v James Wade
0-0 - Michael van Gerwen will throw first1-0 - van Gerwen posts a 180 in a superb opening leg, as he finishes double eight for a 13-darter.
1-1 - Wade kicks off with two 180s, and although a possible nine-darter goes begging, he finishes 90 for a 12-darter to level.
1-2 - The left-hander breaks throw with a sparkling 11-darter, finishing with an 86 checkout.
1-3 - van Gerwen kicks off with a maximum, but Wade finishes 134 for a 12-darter to move two legs up.
1-4 - Wade's charge continues as he wins a fourth successive leg, punishing missed doubles from van Gerwen across two visits by pinning tops.
2-4 - van Gerwen htis back by finishing double eight for a 14-dart finish
3-4 - The Dutchman reduces the gap to one leg by taking out tops for a 13-darter.
3-5 - Wade checks out a sensational 135 finish of bullseye, treble 15 and double top to regain his cushion.
3-6 - van Gerwen misses further doubles as Wade finishes 52 on tops to ensure a minimum of a point.
4-6 - Wade misses three match darts at tops as the Dutchman hits the same bed to stay in the hunt.
4-7 - The pair trade 180s before Wade finishes 130 on double five for a 12-darter which seals a superb win, ending the game with seven doubles from 11 attempts.
Match Stats