Premier League: Week 3
Wes Newton 7-2 Adrian Lewis
Wes Newton kick started his campaign with a sublime performance to
see off a below par Adrian Lewis.
The comeback never really materialised for Lewis however, indeed he
went further behind at 4-2 before a clinical display from Newton saw
him run away with the biggest win of the night.
“It wasn’t the greatest game from either of us, but a win is a win,” said
Newton. “I felt good at times up there and it’s always a nice scalp to
have. Adrian was nowhere near his best, but I can’t do anything about
that. I wasn’t at my best either, I threw some sloppy darts myself and
I can play better than that as well, but I got the points.”
“You expect a tidal wave of scoring from Adrian but it didn’t come, his
middle game wasn’t great but he left himself handy on doubles more
than once but I kept my composure and closed the door, which is very
satisfying.”
Photo: PDC
The Fleetwood-based thrower raced into a 3-0 lead, before two-time
World Champion Lewis got off the mark in the fourth leg and closed the
gap still further in the fifth.
“It wasn’t the
greatest game
from either of us,
but a win is a win”
Wes Newton
Raymond van Barneveld 7-4 Simon Whitlock
Whitlock remained at the foot of the table, level on no points with Phil
Taylor, after slumping to a third successive defeat as an in form Raymond
van Barneveld further justified his inclusion in the tournament.
The pair shared the opening two legs, before Barney began to exert his
dominance as he moved into a 4-1 lead.
“At 4-4 I just said to myself ‘relax and win your throw’,” said Van
Barneveld. “I did that, broke him and held throw again – that’s the key
to winning when you aren’t quite at your best, you click at the right
times – it could be an important two points at the end.”
The Verdict
Phil Taylor and Simon Whitlock, who before the tournament started
were both fancied to reach the playoff phase, found themselves in
big trouble after three weeks, with both desperate for a win as they
prepared to face each other in week 4.
The for the loser it would seem that relegation was a very distinct
Photo: PDC
Whitlock fought back, closing the gap to 4-3 before levelling things up
at 4-4. The Australian looked, at this point, to be on course to register
his first points of the campaign but a resilient van Barneveld rallied to
halt the comeback in the ninth leg before securing victory with a leg
to spare.
“It could be an
important two
points at the end”
Raymond van Barneveld