Betway Premier League Night Five

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN continued his record-breaking form with the sixth-highest televised average in history as he and Phil Taylor claimed their fourth successive Betway Premier League victories in Exeter on Thursday night.

Van Gerwen had smashed Taylor's previous world record with a 123.40 average against Michael Smith in Aberdeen a week ago, and treated a 4,500 sell-out at the Westpoint Arena to another master-class.

The world number one saw off previously unbeaten Peter Wrighr 7-2 with an average of 116.67, hitting seven doubles from eight attempts as he moved to the top of the Premier League table.

Wright averaged almost 109 in reply, but was limited to just two darts at a double as van Gerwen recorded a ten-dart leg, an 11-darter, three 12-dart finishes and checkouts of 81 on the bull and 100 with two double tops.

"It was another fantastic performance from myself," said van Gerwen. "I couldn't ask for anything more, to get two points and a good result against Peter because he played well too.

"I'm full of confidence and I'm really focused at the moment, and to play as well two times in a row is fantastic.

"The hard work has paid off in the last two weeks and I'll try to do even better next week and I hope I can produce another game like this."

Taylor, meanwhile, averaged 104 as he defeated Adrian Lewis 7-1 to claim his fourth successive victory as he kept pace with van Gerwen at the top of the league table, punishing his Stoke rival for missed doubles early on by taking an unassailable 5-0 lead.

"I played quite steady darts but I'm delighted to get the two points," said Taylor. "Adrian missed doubles and I took advantage of him, and at 6-1 up I'd got him.

"When you see that your opponent's under pressure you've got to keep them under pressure and I did that.

"The main thing is qualifying for the Play-Offs in the Premier League and then I can try to push on and win the title back, and I'm pleased to be on eight points."

Reigning Betway Premier League champion Gary Anderson picked up his second successive victory with a 7-4 defeat of Robert Thornton in their all-Scottish battle, although he had to come from 3-0 down before claiming the two points.

"I'll take the two points any day of the week," admitted Anderson. "I was 3-0 down but probably should have won two of those legs so the pressure was on, but I came good in the end."

Thornton now sits two points adrift at the foot of the table after Michael Smith claimed his first Premier League win with a narrow 7-5 defeat of Raymond van Barneveld, coming from 5-4 down to take the spoils.

"It means the world to me to get the win and I can relax now," said Smith. "When I was 5-4 down I had nothing to lose and I wanted to throw everything I could into the final few legs.

"All the way through I felt I could win, and when I hit the 180 and 90 finish to go five-all I knew I'd win. I'm not the player to give up and roll over and I never stop fighting.

"I'm on three points now and I'm glad I'm not the person sat at the bottom. I know I can beat every player in this Premier League, I've done it before and I can do it again."

2009 Premier League champion James Wade bounced back from two straight losses with a 7-4 win over Dave Chisnall, with the left-hander taking out 121, 161 and 102 on his way to a third victory of the season.

"I'm really happy to win," said Wade. "I didn't think I played as well as I did - I've played far better than that in some games and lost, so maybe I was due a win like that.

"Every match is a massive match but I haven't played how I can for the last two or three games I lost them, and maybe I made a little bit of hard work in this but I got there."

The Betway Premier League continues next Thursday at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, which include's van Gerwen's meeting with Chisnall and the master-versus-pupil meeting between Anderson and Smith.

Tickets can be purchased online through www.motorpointarenanottingham.com or by calling 0843 373 3000.

Betway Premier League
Night Five - March 3
Westpoint Arena, Exeter
Phil Taylor 7-1 Adrian Lewis
Dave Chisnall 4-7 James Wade
Robert Thornton 4-7 Gary Anderson
Peter Wright 2-7 Michael van Gerwen
Michael Smith 7-5 Raymond van Barneveld

League Table

Following Night Five	P	W	D	L	+/-	LWAT	Pts
Michael van Gerwen	5	4	0	1	+15	13	8
Phil Taylor	5	4	0	1	+12	10	8
Peter Wright	5	3	1	1	+5	8	7
Adrian Lewis	5	3	0	2	+2	12	6
James Wade	6	3	0	3	-2	12	6
Gary Anderson	4	2	0	2	0	6	4
Raymond van Barneveld	5	2	0	3	-1	8	4
Dave Chisnall	5	1	1	3	-1	11	3
Michael Smith	6	1	1	4	-18	10	3
Robert Thornton	4	0	1	3	-12	2	1

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MATCH INFORMATION
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
1-0 - Taylor lands a third-dart double top to win the opening leg.
2-0 - Lewis misses double 12 and six, allowing Taylor to break by landing tops.
3-0 - Taylor opens with a 180 before finishing double 16 to continue his superb start.
4-0 - Lewis' opening 177 us bettered by a 180 by Taylor, who capitalises on four more missed doubles from his Stoke rival by landing double eight to break for a four-leg lead.
5-0 - Taylor takes out 80 on double five to win a fifth leg.
5-1 - Lewis finally gets off the mark by landing double four.
6-1 - Double 16 secures a minimum of a point for Taylor.
7-1 - Taylor takes out 84 on double 12 to complete a big win over his Stoke rival, ending with a 104 average to claim a fourth successive triumph.

Match Stats

Phil Taylor	7-1	Adrian Lewis
13	100+	11
7	140+	5
0	170+	1
2	180	0
104.00	Average	93.11
84	High Finish	8
3	Breaks of Throw	0
7/13 - 54%	Checkout %	1/7 - 14%

Dave Chisnall v James Wade
1-0 - Chisnall takes the opening leg by finishing 56 on double ten.
1-1 - Wade opens with a 180 before taking out 121 on the bull to level.
2-1 - Chisnall holds throw to regain the edge.
2-2 - Wade finishes tops to level once more.
2-3 - Wade breaks throw with the aid of a sensational 161 bull finish.
2-4 - Wade opens with a 180 before landing double five to move two legs clear.
3-4 - Wade is unable to capitalise on three misses from Chisnall as he misses a trio of darts at doubles, allowing his rival back on double ten.
3-5 - Chisnall lands a 180 but Wade finishes 96 on double 18 to regain his cushion.
3-6 - Chisnall misses two darts at double 16 to take out 86, allowing Wade in to finish a clinical 102 on tops to secure at least a point.
4-6 - Chisnall this time takes out 104 on tops as he keeps alive his hopes of snatching a draw.
4-7 - Chisnall misses two chances to keep the game alive, at double 18 and nine, to allow Wade back in on tops to secure the victory as he returns to winning ways.

Match Stats

Dave Chisnall	4-7	James Wade
11	100+	22
9	140+	9
1	170+	0
3	180	3
96.26	Average	102.25
104	High Finish	161
1	Breaks of Throw	3
4/17 - 24%	Checkout %	7/16 - 44%

Robert Thornton v Gary Anderson
1-0 - Thornton claims the opening leg, recovering from three misses to post double one.
2-0 - Anderson fires in a 180 to leave 46 after nine darts, but misses seven darts at doubles to allow Thornton in as the World Grand Prix champion finishes 65 to break throw and double his lead.
3-0 - Thornton takes out a superb 136 checkout to move three legs clear.
3-1 - Anderson claims his first leg by recovering his doubling double, taking out 86 in two darts.
3-2 - Anderson lands his second 180 of the match before finishing double one to break back.
3-3 - Thornton misses double 16 to take out 106, and Anderson steps in to finish 71 on tops to level the game.
4-3 - Anderson is unable to land the bull to take out 88, with Thornton returning on double two to win his first leg in four.
4-4 - Anderson takes out 60 on tops to level.
4-5 - Anderson breaks throw to move ahead for the first time with a clinical 101 checkout.
4-6 - Both players land 180 before the reigning Premier League champion takes out double one again to seal at least a point.
4-7 - Anderson hits a fourth 180 of the game before finishing 68 to secure his second successive win.

Match Stats

Robert Thornton	4-7	Gary Anderson
20	100+	15
5	140+	6
0	170+	0
1	180	4
85.80	Average	89.88
136	High Finish	101
1	Breaks of Throw	3
4/13 - 31%	Checkout %	7/22 - 32%

Peter Wright v Michael van Gerwen
1-0 - Wright takes out 60 on tops for the opening leg.
1-1 - Wright lands a 180, but van Gerwen finishes 76 on double 18 to level.
1-2 - van Gerwen opens with a 180 before breaking throw to move ahead.
1-3 - The Dutchman defies a maximum from Wright by taking out 100 with two double tops.
2-3 - van Gerwen kicks off with another maximum, but Wright takes out 121 on the bull to hit back.
2-4 - The world number one opens a third leg of the game with a 180 before hitting double 18 to complete a ten-dart leg.
2-5 - van Gerwen once again begins with a 180 and takes out 81 on the bull to win a fifth leg of the game.
2-6 - Wright this time kicks off with a 180, but van Gerwen lands a 171 before finishing 94 on tops to secure at least a point.
2-7 - van Gerwen takes out 65 on double 11 to seal a fourth straight Premier League win - ending with a stunning 116.67 average to Wright's 108.98.

Match Stats

Peter Wright	2-7	Michael van Gerwen
9	100+	11
11	140+	8
0	170+	1
3	180	4
108.98	Average	116.67
121	High Finish	100
0	Breaks of Throw	3
2/2 - 100%	Checkout %	7/8 - 88%

Michael Smith v Raymond van Barneveld
1-0 - Smith takes out 20 to win the opening leg.
1-1 - van Barneveld opens with a 180 before finishing double ten to level.
2-1 - Double eight sees Smith edge ahead.
3-1 - Smith takes out 104 on double 12 to move two legs up.
3-2 - van Barneveld replies by finishing 77 on double ten.
4-2 - Smith breaks back to restore his cushion, finishing double ten for a 12-darter.
4-3 - Smith hits a 180 but is punished for three missed doubles as van Barneveld follows a 177 by finishing 24 on double six.
4-4 - Smith misses tops for a 120 finish to capitalise on three misses from the 2014 champion, who returns on double nine.
4-5 - Another miss at tops from Smith allows van Barneveld in to finish 116 on double 18 to move ahead for the first time.
5-5 - Smith follows a 180 by taking out 90 on double 15 to hit back with a break of throw to level the contest.
6-5 - Double ten sees Smith edge back ahead to secure at least a draw and his second point of the season.
7-5 - Smith lands his fourth 180 of the game to edge ahead, and he takes out 62 on tops to claim his first Betway Premier League win.

Match Stats