Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts - Night 11

REPORTS from the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

The biggest night of darts in the sport's modern era saw almost 8,000 fans inside the new arena in Liverpool for four crucial games.

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Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Night 11, Liverpool Echo Arena
James Wade 8-5 Wayne Mardle
John Part 2-8 Adrian Lewis
Peter Manley 8-5 Terry Jenkins
Phil Taylor 8-2 Raymond van Barneveld

JAMES WADE 8-5 WAYNE MARDLE

JAMES WADE maintained his advantage at the top of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts with a thrilling comeback against Wayne Mardle in Liverpool.

Wade started nervously in front of a record crowd of almost 8,000 fans - going 4-0 down as Mardle took out finishes of 123 and 121 in taking the advantage.

Wade had landed two 177 scores in the fourth leg, and finally got off the mark in the next, taking out double top at the second time of asking.

Double ten pulled him back to 4-2 at the break before a brilliant 161 finish pulled him to within a leg of Mardle, and proved a hammer blow.

Mardle was punished in the next for a missed double top for a 116 finish, with Wade levelling on double four and then moving in front with a 100 checkout for a sparkling 11-darter.

Mardle missed two darts to level as Wade took a 6-4 lead thanks to a 96 finish, before Mardle hit a 180 in response as he took the next on double 16.

An 81 finish on double 12 saw Wade restore a two-leg cushion, and he sealed the win on his favoured double top to ensure he would remain at the head of the table.

"I was very nervous at the start and such a crowd is intimidating, but Wayne gave me a chance and I had to take it," said Wade. "The 161 finish was a real punch in the mouth.

"I'm delighted to still be top of the table but there's a few guys still chasing me!"

Mardle admitted: "I had the chance to finish him off but James showed his class. He played really well but I missed too many doubles and a player of his calibre punishes you.

"I've been doing really well recently and I'm confident that I can bounce back and get a place in the play-offs."

Match Stats

James Wade	8-5	Wayne Mardle
14	100+	18
14	140+	12
3	180	2
33.82	Ave1	32.52
101.45	Ave3	97.57
4	LWAT	3
161,100	High Finish	123,121

ADRIAN LEWIS 8-2 JOHN PART

ADRIAN LEWIS stormed back to form in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts with an 8-2 rout of John Part in Liverpool.

Lewis suffered two heavy defeats in Aberdeen last week on his return from a virus - but showed no ill-effects to delight the crowd of nearly 8,000 at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

He led 3-0 following a superb start and took out the maximum finish of 170 on his way to a key victory, putting him back in the hunt for a play-off place.

Lewis made a perfect start, kicking off with a 180 on his first visit to the oche before taking the leg against the throw in 13 darts.

A 91 finish gave Lewis a 2-0 lead before he landed two 180s in winning leg three in 12 darts.

Part got off the mark on double eight in leg four, but Lewis responded to take the next two and lead 5-1 at the break - punishing missed doubles from the World Champion to pull clear.

Part took out 89 on double 16 to pull back to 5-2, but Lewis responded in 16 darts to regain a four-leg lead and then produced a hammer blow with a sensational 170 finish, guaranteeing him the £1,000 bonus for the night's highest checkout.

Part landed a 180 in reply as he battled to get back into the game in the next, but three misses at double 18 allowed Lewis back in and a clinical two-dart 60 finish sealed victory.

"I'm back to 95 percent again and really pleased with that display," said Lewis. "I've never experienced a crowd like that - I was shaking but it's superb."

Match Stats

John Part

2-8

Adrian Lewis

100+

140+

180

30.78

Ave1

32.99

92.33

Ave3

98.96

LWAT

High Finish

170

PETER MANLEY 8-5 TERRY JENKINS

PETER MANLEY moved up to fourth in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts table with a thrilling 8-5 defeat of Terry Jenkins.

Manley trailed Jenkins 3-1 before reeling off a brilliant run by winning seven of the final nine legs to take victory from a game which had six ton-plus finishes.

Jenkins notched up finishes of 137 and 114 in taking his lead, with Manley taking out a 121 and successive 105 and 101 checkouts in his fightback.

"It's great to get the win," said Manley. "Terry's a great player but I pulled it out of the bag.

"You have to try and ignore the crowd but they were fantastic. To play in front of this sort of crowd is something I relish."

Manley landed double 19 to take the game's opening leg, but Jenkins levelled on tops before finishes of 137 and 114 put him 3-1 up in thrilling style.

The pair traded the next two legs, with Jenkins going into the break 4-2 up with a 100 percent checkout ratio.

Finishes of 101 and 105, both on double top, saw Manley level and he landed a 180 in taking the next to regain the lead.

A 121 finish saw Manley move 6-4 up, and he took the next for five successive legs which ensured at least a point.

The pair traded maximums in the next, with a 130 finish keeping Jenkins in the contest.

But Manley took out his favourite double top to seal the victory and give his play-off hopes a great boost.

"Two weeks ago people thought I'd finish bottom and now I'm fourth! If I can beat James Wade, Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor then I'll be in Cardiff - all I've got to do is win those games now!"

Match Stats

Peter Manley

8-5

Terry Jenkins

100+

140+

180

34.32

Ave1

32.91

102.96

Ave3

98.74

LWAT

121,105,101

High Finish

137,130,114

PHIL TAYLOR 8-2 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD

PHIL TAYLOR'S Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts resurgence continued with an 8-2 hammering of Raymond van Barneveld at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

Taylor averaged over 103 in a scintillating performance in front of a record 8,000 crowd in Liverpool to keep pace with James Wade at the head of the table.

The 13-time World Champion rarely looked in trouble as he extended his unbeaten run to seven matches after a spectacular performance.

Both players kicked off the match with 180s, but it was Taylor who won the opening leg in 12 darts.

Van Barneveld struck back, but Taylor responded with another 12-darter and then back-to-back legs to go 4-1 up.

The Dutchman took out double four to strike back before the break, but had little chance after the break.

Taylor took the seventh leg on double four before landing a hammer blow with an 11-darter in moving 6-2 up, followed swiftly by a 13-darter.

He then wrapped up a fine triumph with a two-dart 68 checkout to maintain his winning run against the world number one and remain hot on the heels of league leader Wade.

"I'm over the moon," said Taylor. "I kept putting him under pressure and knew it would pay off.

"It was a massive game but it was just two points overall. I think I might have qualified for the semi-finals now and that is the most important thing once the dust settles.

"I've pulled my socks up, worked hard, practiced so hard and it's paid off for me. When I was losing I still felt good and I'm getting better and better every week."

Match Stats