REPORTS from night nine of the 2008 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts at the NIA in Birmingham.
Adrian Lewis was forced to withdraw with viral gastroenteritis, with Terry Jenkins stepping in to play twice on the night. Lewis will now compete twice in Aberdeen next week.
Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Night Nine, NIA, Birmingham
Terry Jenkins 4-8 James Wade
Raymond van Barneveld 8-6 John Part
Wayne Mardle 8-5 Peter Manley
Phil Taylor 7-7 Terry Jenkins
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JAMES WADE 8-4 TERRY JENKINS
JAMES WADE roared back to winning ways in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts with an 8-4 victory over Terry Jenkins in Birmingham.
Wade suffered just his second loss of the campaign a week ago when he went down to Phil Taylor a week ago, but responded in style.
He opened up a 4-0 lead against Jenkins before the Ledbury thrower got off the mark, and averaged 102 in finishing off the victory.
Wade kicked off by breaking the throw in taking leg one and then winning the second at ease to move in front, before landing a maximum in taking the third.
Double ten extended his lead to 4-0 before Jenkins took out 106 to get off the mark, only for Wade to move 5-1 up at the break, landing a 180 to open the sixth leg and finishing again on double ten.
Jenkins took two of the next three, including a double top after Wade missed the bullseye for a 170 finish, to pull back to 6-3.
But Wade took out 84 on double 11 to earn at least a point, and though Jenkins won leg 11 to stay in the game the youngster landed double 16 to ensure the victory.
"The way I started the game was how I've practiced," said Wade. "I was up at 108 at one point and that was great, because I knew Terry would fight back.
"The hard work is paying off for me and my game is coming together, but to be top of the league when I know I haven't played to my full potential yet is a great feeling.
"I'm excited about my darts and this tournament is a great chance for me to prove I am worthy to share that stage with such great names."
Match Stats
|
Terry Jenkins |
4-8 |
James Wade |
|
25 |
100+ |
15 |
|
5 |
140+ |
13 |
|
0 |
180 |
2 |
|
29.54 |
Ave1 |
33.92 |
|
88.62 |
Ave3 |
101.76 |
|
106 |
High Finish |
92 |
|
0 |
LWAT |
2 |
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 8-6 JOHN PART
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD edged out John Part 8-6 to get his Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts campaign back on track.
The Dutchman lost to cellar-dweller Wayne Mardle a week ago, but came from behind to sneak past the World Champion.
Van Barneveld trailed 5-4 following a tight opening to the contest, but finished the stronger to win four of the final five legs and take both points.
"The league's wide open and it has put pressure on me, but it's a fantastic competition this year," said van Barneveld.
"My fluency's coming back and hopefully I'll be at my best for the remainder of the Premier League."
Part opened with a 14-darter, and the first four legs went against the throw before van Barneveld moved in front for the first time at 3-2.
Despite a maximum from the Dutchman, Part levelled going into the break and then moved in front on double ten with another break of throw.
The Canadian paid for crucial misses in leg eight, with a 180 leaving 28 only for him to hit double 11 instead of double 14, and then miss two darts at double three.
Van Barneveld stepped in to level on double top, only for two misses of his own to allow Part back in for a 5-4 cushion.
But a 180 helped van Barneveld to level, and the pair traded maximums in the next as the Dutchman regained his lead.
Three missed doubles gave Part the chance to level again at six-all, only for van Barneveld to edge leg 13 and seal at least a draw.
Part gave himself a chance to earn a point in the decider, but missed the bullseye to allow van Barneveld back in - and he made no mistake on double eight for victory.
"It was a strange game. My scoring was okay but I missed doubles," added van Barneveld. "John missed doubles too and it was a very open match."
Match Stats
Raymond van Barneveld
8-6
John Part
21
100+
13
10
140+
8
4
180
4
31.13
Ave1
29.78
93.39
Ave3
89.34
76
High Finish
72
5
LWAT
4
WAYNE MARDLE 8-5 PETER MANLEY
WAYNE MARDLE moved off the bottom of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts table for the first time this year with an 8-5 win over Peter Manley in Birmingham.
Mardle failed to pick up a win in his opening six games to find himself at the bottom of the eight-man pile.
However, an 8-5 victory over Manley at the NIA was his third successive win, and moves him to the brink of a place in the top four.
"It's fantastic and I'm over the moon," said Mardle. "I'm taking my chances and that's what has been the difference."
That was certainly the case in the opening stages against Manley, as he came from 1-0 down to take four legs in a row and put himself in command.
Manley took the sixth leg to cut back to 4-2 at the break, but double 12 and double 14 finishes saw Mardle regain breathing space, and a fine 108 checkout saw him move 7-2 up and ensure a minimum of a draw.
Manley set out to claim his fifth stalemate of the campaign with three successive legs, including two maximums, to cut the deficit to two legs as Mardle wasted four match darts.
But the Essex man completed the win with his best finish of the evening, taking out 114 on double top.
"We both didn't play as well as we can and we were worrying about what each other was going to do," added Mardle. "I struggled to finish him off but I was happy with the 114!"
Match Stats
Wayne Mardle
8-5
Peter Manley
16
100+
21
7
140+
6
4
180
4
29.77
Ave1
30.30
89.30
Ave3
90.90
114,108
High Finish
56
3
LWAT
2
PHIL TAYLOR 7-7 TERRY JENKINS
PHIL TAYLOR'S winning run in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts was ended by a draw with Terry Jenkins at the NIA in Birmingham.
Taylor had picked up four straight victories to move to the top of the table with a superb month of form.
He was under-par against Jenkins by his high standards, with the world number five snatching a point in a dramatic final leg.
There was never anything between the pair, with the first four legs shared - Taylor twice taking out double three - before Jenkins secured the first break of throw in leg five.
Jenkins, who was playing his second game of the night following Adrian Lewis' withdrawal through illness, defied a maximum from Taylor with a 177 of his own before landing double top to go in front 3-2.
Taylor immediately broke back, and landed double four to lead 4-3 before the nip-and-tuck continued.
The pair traded 11-darters as the scores went to six-all, and a 13-dart leg from Taylor - finishing on double 16 - saw him earn a minimum of a point.
A 177 score from the defending champion in the decider left him 24 for victory, only for Jenkins to hit double ten with his last dart to claim the draw.
"I'm a bit disappointed," admitted Taylor. "I thought I had him at one point, but Terry did well and he came through.
"He's a good player, world class and I knew he'd been struggling a bit but when I put him under pressure he came back well.
"I'd obviously prepared to play Adrian and you have to adjust a little bit, but I'll look forward to facing him next week now."
Jenkins admitted: "I have been struggling to find a bit of form and it was hard work for me tonight.
"I'll always keep battling and I'm still well placed in the table, so there's plenty to play for."
Match Stats
Phil Taylor
7-7
Terry Jenkins
22
100+
21
12
140+
8
2
180
1
33.80
Ave1
30.82
101.40
Ave3
92.46
97
High Finish
81
1
LWAT
1