Friday 18 March 2011

Premier League Darts: Week Six

The sixth week of the Darts Premier League was at the SECC Arena in Glasgow. The opening match of the night saw seventh take on eighth as Jenkins battled James Wade. Jenkins took the first leg but Wade stormed to a 3-1 lead with the highlight being a 127 check-out in the third leg. Jenkins a leg back but Wade took out two consecutive tons (the first one with two double tops) to make 6-2. Jenkins responded with a ton of his own to then claw his way back to 6-5. It went to the wire with Wade leading 7-6 but Jenkins had the first shot at the double, he missed allowing Wade to take the final fourteenth leg to win 8-6.

The Scottish crowd were leading the Barney Army as Van Barneveld played the inconsistent Webster. Webster made it 1-1 with a ton and then 2-2 with Shanghai 120. But the crowd surged within Barney and he made three consecutive ton plus check-outs of 121, 161 and 116 to make it 5-2. Webster pulled it back to 6-4 but Barney won the eleventh and twelfth legs to seal the victory.

The third match saw Whitlock play Taylor with Taylor having the chance to go top of the league before Anderson's match. But Whitlock took the early 2-1 lead with a ton check-out. But Whitlock's problems with his doubles struck again, allowing Taylor to go 5-2 ahead. It was soon 6-3 before Whitlock planted the seed of doubt as he fought back to 6-5. But Taylor wasn't to be denied top spot and won the final two legs to win 8-5.

What happens when a crowd of Scots in Glasgow on St. Patrick's day come to watch a Scotsman take on an Englishman? Utter carnage. Unfortunately the final game of the night between home man Anderson and Lewis will be remembered for the crowd trouble rather than the actual darts. The trouble started before the action as Lewis was drenched in thrown beer as he walked to the stage. From there the boos rang out every time he took a shot and there were even objects thrown onto the stage. Anderson started by using the Partisan crowd's energy to take a 3-0 lead. But as the actions of the crowd worsened, so did Anderson's mood which effected his game. Lewis stopped the rot with a 111 check-out on his way to winning eight consecutive legs to win the game. However one of the legs Anderson showed great sportsmanship as he purposely lost the leg after picking up a coin that had been thrown onto the stage. An unfortunate way to end a great night of darts on St. Patrick's day.

The win now sees Taylor move two points clear at the top. Anderson has now been joined by Van Barneveld on eight points in second and third. Lewis has now cemented his place in fourth with six while the remaining four players all have four points.

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