Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts - Night Eight

REPORTS from night eight of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts from the Brighton Centre.

Phil Taylor jumped to the top of the table, on points difference ahead of Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade.

Wayne Mardle grabbed his second successive win, to close the gap between him and the top four and leave just five points separating the eight competitors in the table.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Terry Jenkins 3-8 Adrian Lewis
Wayne Mardle 8-5 Raymond van Barneveld
John Part 8-5 Peter Manley
James Wade 4-8 Phil Taylor
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ADRIAN LEWIS 8-3 TERRY JENKINS

ADRIAN LEWIS got his play-off challenge in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League back on track with an 8-3 defeat of Terry Jenkins.

Lewis had picked up just one point in his three previous matches before blowing Jenkins away in Brighton with a 102 average.

Jenkins held an early 2-1 lead but had no answer to Lewis' lethal finishing, with the youngster taking out a 96 finish to hit the front before sealing the win with a 134 checkout.

"I wanted to get back into the top four and I'm feeling confident now," said the 23-year-old.

"I've got Phil Taylor next week and I can't wait for that. I can win this Premier League, without a shadow of a doubt."~

Jenkins started well enough, landing double top at the first time of asking in the first leg and also taking the third to lead 2-1.

Lewis levelled with a 68 checkout before a spectacular 96 finish of single 20, double 18 and double top saw him break for the first time.

Lewis then went into the break 4-2 after landing double top, with Jenkins returning with a maximum to set up a double 18 finish in leg seven.

However, it would be his last chance, with Lewis landing maximums in taking the next two legs and then taking advantage of a missed double top from Jenkins to move 7-3 up and seal at least a point.

But the youngster refused to settle for that, and sealed victory with a brilliant 134 checkout, finishing on double seven for the match.

Match Stats

Terry Jenkins

3-8

Adrian Lewis

100+

140+

180

32.14

Ave1

33.94

96.42

Ave3

101.81

High Finish

134

LWAT

WAYNE MARDLE 8-5 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD

WAYNE MARDLE produced a sensational display to thump Raymond van Barneveld and claim his second win of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts.

Mardle claimed his first win of the year last week, and made it two straight victories to boost his chances of claiming a play-off place in May.

He took and early 4-1 lead and included finishes of 121 and 112 in holding off the Dutchman's fightback in Brighton.

A 180 in the opening leg set up a double eight finish to settle any nerves, although van Barneveld replied in kind to take the second.

He then took advantage of misses from the Dutchman to win the next three and move 4-1 up - and he missed double top for a 116 finish that four have secured a four-leg interval lead.

Van Barneveld stepped in on double nine, and then won the next two to level matters, only to see Mardle find an extra gear.

The Essex man took out 121 to regain the lead, and a superb 112 finish saw him edge clear again.

He landed a 180 before taking out double ten to ensure a minimum of a draw at 7-5.

Van Barneveld landed a maximum of his own in taking the 12th leg, but misses at double 18 and double nine allowed Mardle in for the kill, and he made no mistake on double ten for the win.

The win was his second of the campaign and takes Mardle onto six points, and he admitted his play-off chances were boosted by the win.

"It's not about hitting form, it's about hitting my doubles," said Mardle. "When I hit doubles, this is what I can do and I'm over the moon.

"I'm back in the running now and hopefully I can keep this going."

Match Stats

Wayne Mardle	8-5	Raymond van Barneveld
15	100+	18
15	140+	7
2	180	3
31.63	Ave1	31.60
94.88	Ave3	94.78
121,112	High Finish	58
2	LWAT	1

JOHN PART 8-5 PETER MANLEY

JOHN PART got back to winning ways in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts with an 8-5 victory over Peter Manley in Brighton.

The World Champion bounced back in style from an 8-3 defeat to Phil Taylor last week with a fine display against Manley.

Part established a 5-1 lead early in the contest, and held off Manley's comeback to claim a third win of the campaign and jump above his opponent in the league table.

Part took the game's first four legs, including an 11-darter in the third, to put himself in command from the off.

Missed doubles cost him moving further clear, with Manley landing double ten to get off the mark before Part established a 5-1 lead going into the break.

The duo traded 180s in the next before a two-dart 97 finish sparked Manley's fightback, and he took the next two to pull back to 5-4.

He gave himself a chance to level, but a missed double top allowed Part back in, and he took out 122 on the bullseye to move 6-4 up.

A 159 score set Part up for a double 12 finish in the next, which he landed to seal at least a draw.

Manley landed double five to remain in the game, but three missed double 16s in the next gave Part his chance to seal the win on the same bed.

"Peter controls the pace of the game well and he tried a few things there," admitted Part. "It almost worked, but it was important when he missed the chance to level at five-all and I took out my shot.

"Anything can happen in the table. Wayne Mardle was out of it recently and has pulled himself back into it, and there will be plenty more upsets to come.

"It's about handling those right and bouncing back when you do lose."

Match Stats

John Part

8-5

Peter Manley

100+

140+

180

32.23

Ave1

30.29

96.69

Ave3

90.88

122

High Finish

LWAT

PHIL TAYLOR 8-4 JAMES WADE

PHIL TAYLOR stormed to the top of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts with an 8-4 defeat of James Wade on Thursday.

Taylor completed a remarkable recovery from second bottom a month ago with a fourth straight victory in the Premier League in Brighton.

Wade had shattered Taylor's unbeaten run in Glasgow on the opening night, but had no answer to a third successive ton-plus average from the defending champion.

Taylor won six of the final eight legs, including a superb 164 checkout, to take the win, moving above Wade and van Barneveld on leg difference in the league table.

Taylor stamped his authority on the game from the off, breaking the throw in the opening leg and repeating the double eight finish to go 2-0 up.

Wade responded well with back-to-back 15-darters to level matters - but was severely punished for his missed double 12 in the next.

Taylor took out double eight once more to move back ahead, and then landed a 164 finish to leave Wade reeling.

The world number three landed a second maximum on his way to pulling back to 4-3, only for Taylor to take advantage of further misses from Wade in the next two to pull away at 6-3.

The pair traded 180s in the next leg, with a 14-darter putting Taylor 7-3 up.

Wade responded with a 13-darter to stay in the contest, but even a fifth maximum of the match was not enough to prevent Taylor completing victory.

"I'm absolutely delighted to be top of the table. I wasn't having problems in the early weeks, I was just making changes and now it's coming together.

"It's very tough week-in, week-out but I have to maintain this standard if I want to keep winning."

Match Stats