Premier League: Week 8
themselves level at 5-5. Newton was the first to strike, hitting a 140
and checking out on 64 to secure a point, but a superb 13-darter from
Whitlock in the twelfth and final legs of the match was enough to
secure the Australian a point.
“It’s a massive game against Dave [Chisnall, in week 9] now, and with
Robert Thornton on six points too it’s shaping up to be a really big
night in Cardiff,” said Newton, who played two matches in Dublin after
missing the earlier league night in Exeter through illness.
“I’m disappointed to only come away with one point but Gary played
well in the first game, and I had a lot of pressure in the second game,
so I’m happy with the point and it’s better than two points lost.
“Two points next
week will keep me
in the competition,
so I’ve got to put
this behind me
and bring my best
game to Cardiff”
Wes Newton
“Two points next week will keep me in the competition, so I’ve got to
put this behind me and bring my best game to Cardiff.”
Michael van Gerwen 7-5 Peter Wright
By far the most dramatic match of the night this game had a bit
of everything, from high scoring to big finishing and even a bit of
controversy thrown in for good measure.
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
The opening four legs of the match were shared, before Wright missed
bull for a 161 checkout in the fifth, having encouraged the crowd to
cheer on his attempt to the consternation of van Gerwen. When the
Dutchman then stepped in to take the leg he was clearly riled.
Van Gerwen, now increasingly exuberant in his celebrations, went on
to take the next three legs, securing at least a point, only to find
himself pegged by Wright who had recomposed well and was playing
excellent darts.
Wright managed to close the gap to a solitary leg at 6-5, but it was left
to van Gerwen to produce the last twist in this intriguing encounter as
he landed a 128 checkout under pressure to seal the victory and end
Wright’s unbeaten run.
“He did a couple of things and I didn’t like them,” said van Gerwen.
“Peter’s a good player anyway but I didn’t think he needed to do that,
you should just play normal darts like Phil, Adrian or Raymond.
“There are a lot of people that like it, but I don’t and that’s my opinion.
He doesn’t need to do that, and he knew that I didn’t like it and I’m
very glad that I hit the 128 at the end and won the game.”
Phil Taylor 6-6 Raymond van Barneveld
We have seen some thrillers from this pair over the years, and whilst
at times they can prove to be rather one-sided in nature this match
certainly wasn’t.
The early legs were closely contested, but with the scoreline at 3-2 in
“He did a couple
of things and I
didn’t like them”
Michael van Gerwen