PHIL TAYLOR moved three points clear at the top of the Holsten Premier League Darts with a convincing 8-2 win over Dennis Priestley in Reading.
Taylor pushed three points clear of both Priestley and Terry Jenkins thanks to a strong display against his long-time sparring partner.
Taylor averaged 102.17 and took five successive legs in the second half of the match to romp to the victory.
"The league table is starting to take shape with the players who look like they will qualify for the play-offs, and I'm relieved to be sat at the top," said the defending Premier League champion.
Jenkins joined Priestley on 12 points with an 8-6 win over Roland Scholten in a remarkable contest.
The World Grand Prix finalist opened up a 6-0 lead before Scholten hit back with six legs of his own to square matters, before Jenkins took the final two for victory.
Colin Lloyd also won a final-leg shoot-out to defeat Raymond van Barneveld 8-6 and gain a second successive victory, moving the former World Number One to within four points of the play-offs.
Peter Manley cut the gap on fourth-placed van Barneveld to three points with his 8-4 win over Adrian Lewis in the night's final game, condemning the 22-year-old to a sixth straight defeat.

Holsten Premier League Darts
Night Nine, Reading
Colin Lloyd 8-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Terry Jenkins 8-6 Roland Scholten
Phil Taylor 8-2 Dennis Priestley
Peter Manley 8-4 Adrian Lewis

COLIN LLOYD 8-6 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD

COLIN LLOYD further boosted his play-off ambitions in the Holsten Premier League Darts with a superb 8-6 win over Raymond van Barneveld.
Lloyd has endured a torrid time against the Dutchman since his move to the PDC last year, but grabbed his first win against van Barneveld in Reading to back up last week's defeat of Peter Manley.
He should have led 4-1 early on, but was pegged back to three-all at the interval, but a break of throw in the ninth leg proved crucial in the final outcome.
"It was about me coming on stage and enjoying myself, because that's when I throw good darts," said Lloyd.
"Raymond missed a few doubles and let me in a couple of times, but I had to take them. I felt very good, very relaxed and got the result.
"That's two wins in a row - Jaws is back and he's biting!"
Lloyd began the match with a maximum, but saw the chance to take the first leg against the darts slip away with six misses at double eight before van Barneveld landed double 16.
He took out 66 on double top for leg two, before the pair traded maximums in the third leg before van Barneveld landed a 90 checkout in two darts.
Lloyd hit back to win the next two legs and go 3-2 up, breaking van Barneveld in the second after the Dutchman wasted five darts at the double.
Van Barneveld responded in kind with both legs either side of the break, but Lloyd took advantage when the Dutchman began to wobble on double top to win three in a row and lead 6-4.

Lloyd misses allowed van Barneveld to win leg 11 on double 16, but the former World Number One hit a pressure double four on his last dart to go 7-5 up - and secure at least a point.
Van Barneveld held his throw to send the match into a decider, but scores of 135, 180 and 100 put Lloyd in command, and a two-dart 86 finish sealed the win.

TERRY JENKINS 8-6 ROLAND SCHOLTEN

TERRY JENKINS held off a monstrous fight back from Roland Scholten to strengthen his position in the Holsten Premier League Darts play-offs.
The World Grand Prix finalist roared into a 6-0 lead by winning all six legs in the opening half of the match.
However, Scholten hit back to take the next six and leave the match on a knife-edge, before Jenkins won the game's last two legs - including an 11-darter in the decider - to take victory.
"To be honest I thought I would whitewash him when I went 6-0 up, but after the break I couldnt find the treble 20 as well," said Jenkins.
"I didn't expect him to win six legs in a row but I knew I had to get one more and put the pressure on him.
"My game hasn't been as good in practice this week but I'm still confident and I'm in a good position now with the play-offs in mind."
Jenkins made a brilliant start to the match, taking out finishes of 83, 86, 67, 81 for an 11-darter and 118 to win the first five legs and leave Scholten shell-shocked.
The Dutchman missed doubles to get off the mark in leg six, with Jenkins landing double top to go into the break 6-0 ahead.
Scholten began the second half of the game with his third 180 of the night, and that seemed to galvanisde the Dutchman.
He won four legs in a row - including legs of 13 and 14 darts - without Jenkins reaching the double before punishing his opponent's missed effort at double top by landing the bed himself.
Scholten levelled the match in leg 12 by hitting double 16 at the fourth time of asking, but Jenkins finally regained his range on the doubles to win the next and go 7-6 up.
That ensured a point and perhaps eased the pressure, with scores of 140 and 180 in the decider leaving him on a 100 checkout, which he snapped up in two darts for an 11-dart finish and victory.

PHIL TAYLOR 8-2 DENNIS PRIESTLEY

PHIL TAYLOR moved three points clear at the top of the Holsten Premier League Darts with a convincing 8-2 win over Dennis Priestley in Reading.
Taylor pushed three points clear of both Priestley and Terry Jenkins thanks to a strong display against his long-time sparring partner.
Taylor averaged 102.17 and took five successive legs in the second half of the match to romp to the victory.
He took out a 121 finish for a 12-darter against the throw in the first leg, and doubled his advantage with double 16 in the second.
Priestley hit back to land double top at the first time of asking, but a 13-darter in leg four put Taylor 3-1 up.
A strong fifth leg saw Priestley hit back with a 73 finish on double top, but his missed attempt at bullseye in the sixth allowed Taylor in to take the leg and go into the break with a two-leg cushion.
Taylor landed three ton-plus scores to take leg seven against the throw with ease, and then won the next two without Priestley reaching the double to go 7-2 up.
With one foot over the finishing line, a relaxed Taylor threw his first maximum of the game in the next leg, and finished 84 in two darts for an 11-darter and victory.
"I'm very happy to get the win because I had to try hard," said Taylor. "Dennis concentrates so much but it didn't come off form him.
"The league table is starting to take shape with the players who look like they will qualify for the play-offs, and I'm relieved to be sat at the top."

PETER MANLEY 8-4 ADRIAN LEWIS

PETER MANLEY got back to winning ways in the Holsten Premier League Darts by condemning Adrian Lewis to a fifth straight defeat.
Both players entered the game knowing that victory was vital to keep alive any hopes of reaching the play-offs, and it was Manley who handled the pressure best, living up to his "One Dart" nickname with some clinical finishing.
After losing a scrappy opening leg, Lewis took the next two in 15 and 14 darts to move ahead and suggest that he was ready to finally shake off his losing run.
But Manley won the fourth with ease before taking a 13-darter to break Lewis' throw and regain the lead.
He took the next two legs either side of the break to create a 5-2 cushion and leave Lewis needing to raise his game.
The 22-year-old, to his credit, battled back to win two of the next three legs, including a superb 11-darter in leg ten in which he landed six perfect darts.
But a two-dart 100 finish gave Manley at least a point at 7-4, and he punished Lewis' profligacy in the next to wrap up the win with double 13.
"I've worked hard recently and am pleased to get the win," said Manley. "I wasn't at my best but I took my chances.
"Adrian's a great young player and he'll bounce back - it's probably unfair to label anyone 'bottom of the league' because everyone works so hard and it is so competitive.
"But I knew that a win would keep me chasing the top four and I'm still in with a shout."

Win a darts masterclass

Storey From THE SUN http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2001310005-2007140285,00.html

March 27, 2007 PHIL 'THE POWER' TAYLOR is standing by to give one lucky reader a darting masterclass.
The Sun have teamed up with Virgin Money to offer a real once in a lifetime opportunity to win a game of arrows with the current world No1 ranked player.
The winner will have the 13 times world champion darts legend put them through their paces.
The exclusive training session will be at The Princess Alice Pub – London’s home of darts on Monday April 23.
Whether it's perfecting your double top, rehearsing your nine-dart finish or just the chance to have a throw with a darts legend - this is a must-have prize for all fans.
Virgin Money is proud to be sponsoring Phil Taylor for the Premier League Darts Tournament 2007.
For more information go to http://www.virginmoney.com/
For your chance to win this great prize, simply click the link below and answer a simple question.
If this is your first time entering our fantastic competitions you may have to register.
However, if you've already registered, sign in and away you go!
CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Priestley back on track

Storey From Dearne Today http://www.dearnetoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=769&ArticleID=2179922

DENNIS Priestley's quest for a top four finish in the Holsten Premier League got back on track against the current World Champion on Thursday.
Priestley won a dramatic match in Blackpool, 8-4, against Raymond Van Barneveld to remain in second place behind Phil Taylor who hammered Colin Lloyd 8-1.

The game's dramatic moment came when the Mexborough Menace, leading 6-3, notched the two points required in a double one shoot-out, after both men, including Barneveld on nine occasions, had missed costly chances at the double.

Previous to that, Priestley came out on top in the game's most crucial moments, breaking Van Barneveld in leg five and nine and scoring a "Shanghai" (T20, 20, D20) finish to put himself 5-3 ahead in the eighth.

"I'm obviously delighted to get the win but I didn't feel I played all that well," said Priestley. "It was a real contrast from last week (against Peter Manley), when I scored well but couldn't finish.

"I kept my nerves intact this week and it is such a big thing for us each week to get the two points."Perhaps I've been lucky but I'll take it.

"Priestley faces Hereford's Terry Jenkins in Glasgow tonight hoping for a repeat performance of week one when he came out on top 8-5.Jenkins defeated Manley in Blackpool, 8-2, last week to move into third place at the expense of Van Barneveld who currently occupies the final qualifying position.Current leader Taylor takes on Roland Scholten tonight, with Van Barneveld taking on Adrian Lewis and Colin Lloyd up against Manley.

WORLD DARTS CHAMPION HELPS ROAD ACCIDENT GIRL

Storey From Grantham Today http://www.granthamtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=833&ArticleID=2179726

Monday, noon - World Darts Champion Martin 'Wolfie' Adams will be in Grantham on Saturday to help raise funds for a girl whose life was wrecked by a road accident.
Shannen McAndrew, 13, was left with brain damage after being struck by a car on Springfield Road five years ago.The then bright eight-year-old pupil at Huntingtower School became dependant overnight on her close-kit family and needed a wheelchair to leave the house.She now goes to St Francis School, Lincoln.The darts spectacular has been organised by friends of the family at Harrowby United Social Club, Dickens Road.Starting at 8pm it costs £1 to go in to watch the exhibition games. There will also be a raffle for 10 places to play the England team captain.

BULLSEYE FOR BLIND DARTS FAN

Storey from the Daily Record

A BLIND boy has realised his dream of playing darts with 13 times world champion Phil Taylor.
Brave Liam Doran, 11, is battling a rare cancer but has refused to give up his favourite sport.
Last night, he said meeting his hero Taylor was the best moment of his life.
Liam, of Glasgow, said: "It is not every day you get to meet a legend."
Taylor made time for Liam before playing in the 2007 Holsten Premier League Darts competition in Glasgow after hearing of his cancer battle.
He said: "What Liam does is fantastic. It's unbelievable how he has refused to give up darts."
Liam was diagnosed at the age of eight with rhab-domyosarcoma and has a tumour at the base of his head.
Extensive radiotherapy damaged nerves in his eyes and led to him losinghis sight.
Doctors have told him his cancer is inoperable.
But his proud mum Liz, 35, said her son would not let his illness, which affects five kids in Scotland a year, stop him playing darts.
She said: "He has been amazing. He point blank refuses to let it change his life."

Darts are off – and on – for tournament night

Storey from Portsmouth Today http://www.portsmouthtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2146161&SectionID=457

Pubs will keep their dartboards covered up across Fareham and Gosport as scores of enthusiasts aim to raise thousands of pounds at a charity tournament in memory of a well-known player.
The open tournament at Ferneham Hall in Fareham on Monday is being held in honour of former Fareham Men’s Darts League chairman Colin McGinnis, who died last July.

Proceeds will go to The Rowans Hospice, in Purbrook, which helped Mr McGinnis’s family look after him in the final weeks of his battle with stomach and liver cancer.

The Fareham father-of-three died at the age of 63. The competition is open to anyone who pays a £2 fee. Spectators get in for free from 6pm. The matches are due to run from about 7pm until midnight.

There will also be a raffle and Andy Jenkins, a top 10 player and former winner of the English, Welsh and Swiss Opens, is to auction off a dartboard signed by the country’s leading lights in the game.

Mr McGinnis’s family will also be there to cheer the players on.

David Nevitt’s Fareham-based Eurosheen cleaning firm is sponsoring the contest, and he said: in Fareham and Gosport have been cancelled for that night so people can come along because Colin was so well-known.’

Premier League Results

PHIL TAYLOR clung on to his unbeaten record in the Holsten Premier League Darts by snatching a draw against Roland Scholten in Glasgow.

The defending champion went into the night without a defeat in 35 matches in the tournament's history, but was forced to battle for a point for a second time this year against the Dutchman.

Scholten led 7-6 and began the deciding leg of the match with a 180, leaving 81 after nine darts only to waste his opportunity at the finish and leg Taylor in to land double 16 and grab the draw.

"I'm pretty relieved," he admitted afterwards. "It was very close and Roland nearly got me but luckily I got the shot in the final leg."

Taylor remains a point clear at the top of the table following the eighth night of league action, held in front of a capacity 3,000 fans at Glasgow's SECC.

Second-placed Dennis Priestley also drew, in an entertaining contest against Terry Jenkins, while Raymond van Barneveld compounded Adrian Lewis' misery with an 8-3 win which moved him back up to third.

Lewis has now lost five successive games, and Colin Lloyd's 8-2 rout of Peter Manley leaves the 22-year-old at the foot of the table.

Holsten Premier League Darts
Night Eight - SECC, Glasgow
Terry Jenkins 7-7 Dennis Priestley
Raymond van Barneveld 8-3 Adrian Lewis
Colin Lloyd 8-2 Peter Manley
Roland Scholten 7-7 Phil Taylor

TERRY JENKINS 7-7 DENNIS PRIESTLEY

DENNIS PRIESTLEY scrambled a point with a last-ditch double eight to stay ahead of Terry Jenkins in the Holsten Premier League Darts table.

Jenkins looked set to join second placed Priestley on 11 points when he came from 5-2 down to lead 7-6 and seal at least one point.

But Priestley was given a reprieve in the deciding leg and landed double eight with his final dart to grab the draw.

"It was a tremendous battle," said Priestley, who came from 2-0 down early on to lead 5-2.

"I looked like I'd win it at one point but seven-all is about right. Terry took out some marvellous shots under pressure.

"He has come on in leaps and bounds as the weeks have gone on in this Premier League and he's impressed everyone - Terry's a credit to darts."

Jenkins started superbly, winning the first two legs and hitting maximums in both to open up a 2-0 lead.

He also missed double top for a 114 finish which would have further extended the cushion, with Priestley taking out double ten to open his account.

The 56-year-old Yorkshireman took leg four to level matters before a 92 finish for a brilliant 11-darter against the throw put him ahead.

He then took the next two legs either side of the break to move 5-2 up and leave Jenkins reeling.

The Ledbury thrower took his chance in leg eight to stop the rot, with Priestley missing double top for a 111 finish before Jenkins hit double ten.

He then took out 105 and stepped in to level the game, and landed another maximum in leg 11 to leave 96.

However, three missed doubles gave Priestley the chance, and he clinically hit double top to move back in front at 6-5.

Double top put Jenkins back on terms, and he had a lucky escape in leg 13, missing six clear darts at double four only to land it at the seventh attempt after Priestley missed one dart to steal the leg.

That ensured him at least a point, but he never got to the double in the deciding leg as Priestley set up his last-dart double eight.

"I got off to a good start but lost my way a little and made a few mistakes," said Jenkins. "That got to me a bit and I started to get hot on the stage.

"I thought he'd beat me well at one point, but I dug in.

"There's a lot of pressure to stay in that top four and I missed a lot of doubles, but I took out some key shots too."

ADRIAN LEWIS 3-8 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD bounced back to winning ways with a quality 8-3 win over Adrian Lewis at the SECC.

The World Champion - who lost his second game of this year's Holsten Premier League against Dennis Priestley last week - was cheered to the rafters as he built up leads of 4-0 and 6-2 before wrapping up the win.

Lewis battled valiantly, but never recovered from an early onslaught by the Dutchman.

The 22-year-old made a controversial start to the match, attempting a 100 finish with two double tops after his first dart landed in single 20.

The first double went into the bed, and he attempted the second "blind" - only to see the dart strike the flight of his second dart and bounce out.

Van Barneveld stepped in to take out a 105 finish, and then swiftly checked out 76, 156 and 104 to leave the youngster gobsmacked at 4-0 down.

A 105 finish of bull, 15 and double top got Lewis off the mark - and he celebrated in style to silence the vociferous crowd - but van Barneveld won leg six to enter the break 5-1 up.

Lewis returned from the break to win the seventh leg with an unconventional 96 finish of treble one, treble 19 and double 18, but failed to pressure the Dutchman in the next.

A two-dart 76 finish left Lewis hanging on at 6-3, but a 13-darter put van Barneveld on the cusp of victory before he landed double 16 for the match.

The World Champion admitted: "Last week, I did everything to get my concentration and go to the gym but forgot to practice.

"This week, I've been in the gym less and practising more and I got my rhythm back.

"The first leg went all the way and I got it in the end in 21 darts, but after that I played really well.

"Adrian didn't play his game tonight. He's a world class player but he's lost for four weeks and maybe it was getting into his head."

The win put van Barneveld back up to third in the table, but crucially extended the gap between the top four and the rest.

"There's a lot of difference now between the top four and fifth place. Colin Lloyd's win means it is a big gap now."

COLIN LLOYD 8-2 PETER MANLEY

COLIN LLOYD broke a three-game losing run in style with an 8-2 victory over Peter Manley in Glasgow.

The Essex star entered the second half of the Holsten Premier League at the foot of the table, but climbed above Adrian Lewis with a confidence-boosting performance.

Early on, the former World Matchplay champion looked set to continue his recent theme of struggling with doubles, only winning the first leg on double two.

Manley landed double top to level matters and then punished misses from Lloyd to take the third against the throw.

Lloyd also missed doubles in the fourth and fifth legs but had enough of a cushion to take both and move 3-2 up.

A quality two-dart 86 put him 4-2 up going into the break, and he returned to the stage with a newfound confidence.

He hit double 16 with his first dart to move 5-2 ahead, won the next two legs to ensure at least a point and then take out a double 13 to grab just his second win of this year's event.

"It means a lot to me," said Lloyd. "The Premier League is so tough and I've never been in this position before.

"But I had a chat with (manager) Rod Harrington and he said I have to start enjoying myself again, which is when I play my best darts.

"I wasn't spectacular but I've got a result so I'm happy.

"I know how good I am and what I can achieve, and people shouldn't write me off. It's coming back to me and I know I'm capable of more."

ROLAND SCHOLTEN 7-7 PHIL TAYLOR

PHIL TAYLOR clung on to his unbeaten record in the Holsten Premier League Darts by snatching a draw against Roland Scholten in Glasgow.

The defending champion went into the night without a defeat in 35 matches in the tournament's history, but was forced to battle for a point for a second time this year against the Dutchman.

Scholten led 7-6 and began the deciding leg of the match with a 180, leaving 81 after nine darts only to waste his opportunity at the finish and leg Taylor in to land double 16 and grab the draw.

"I'm pretty relieved," he admitted afterwards. "It was very close and Roland nearly got me.

"Roland's a world class player who performs week in, week out and I knew I had to hang in there. Luckily I got the shot in the final leg."

The first eight legs of the night all went with the throw, with Taylor taking out 114 in the second and Scholten hitting back with a 98 finish for an 11-darter in the third.

Taylor landed his first maximum of the night on his way to breaking Scholten in leg nine with an 89 checkout finishing on the bullseye.

Scholten immediately broke back, with Taylor missing two darts at double top, before the Dutchman edged 6-5 up on double eight.

Taylor took out tops to square matters once more, but was punished for one missed dart at double six for a 126 finish in the 13th before Scholten secured a point at 7-6.

Scores of 180, 100 and 140 left Scholten sat on 81 after nine darts in the decider, but a time 137 from Taylor applied the pressure to his finish.

That told when he failed to leave a double, and Taylor took out 52 in two darts for the point.

"I'm happy with a draw but I will get the win against Phil one day," said Scholten, who lost to Taylor in last year's Premier League final.

"Phil didn't perform as he can do but I'm pleased with my performance and still in the hunt for the play-offs."

Pub Olympics - Darts

Pub Olympics Darts

Get your pub involved by clicking here http://www.caudwellcharity.com/events.aspx and raise money for an amazing cause as the Caudwell Children's Charity are behind all of this.

There may even be regional finals and a British Pub Darts Olympian!!

The first pilot nights up in Stoke have been a huge success so keep your eye open at a Pub near you and do your bit for charity.

Practice like a Pro with Dennis

Interview with Dennis Priestley By Rob Morrison 6/03/2007


What is your current practise routine for the Holsten Premier League?
I'm practicing 1½ hours per day at the moment. One of my practice games is called 32. You start with a score 32 and throw three darts at double one. You take how many times you hit it and add that score to 32. Example if you hit 1 double one you now have 34 points. If you miss all three darts you take the value of that off the current score. So if you were on double one and missed you would have 30 points. You continue through every double on the board including bull to see how many points you can score. If you reach zero then the game is over.

What's the best score you have had?
I can't quite remember, it would be the high 600's or maybe more.
What other games are you playing? We then practise trebles, starting at ten with three arrows scoring as high as possible, then continuing through to twenties and try to get 1000 points.

Wow, do you score 1000 points regularly?
Actually no, in fact my best score is in the high 900's. I've told Barney about the game and to try and get over 1000 and let me know. Note 1485 points would be a perfect game. Then we play 14 games of 501 followed by doubles around the board, but with a twist. You throw one dart at every double in order. Any that you miss you must start with in your next combination. The person to hit every double including the bull wins!

So technically you could be throwing 1 and bull to finish?
Yes

Have you got any tips you would share with Dart Players wanting to improve?
Practise is the biggest tip possible to share. Spending more time with you balance, rhythm stance so you're ready for the matches.

Is there anybody or anything that you fear at the moment?
Big snakes or the occasional crocodile. I imagine you mean dart players Rob, and no not really.

Do you think you could win the Holsten Premier League?
Of course I think I can win. I know I'm going to improve with all the practise I'm putting in every week. It's actually a great advantage for the 8 of us.

Do you have any rituals before appearing on TV like eating certain meals or wearing any good luck charms?
Not really, I do eat chocolate or a banana ½ an hour before my match.

What are the stage conditions like heat wise in the Premier League?
Haven't found it to be a problem, Rob. In fact I've been pleasantly surprised and the new shirt helps as well.
What are your objectives for this year? I'd like to appear in as many TV finals as possible this year and win some for a change!

What is your current motivator?
I want to show people that I can still throw darts!

What are you doing these days to keep focused?
I'm not doing anything different; I'm just more determined. You've got to be getting results, I used to be half hearted when showing up to tournaments.

Holsten Premier League Darts - Night Seven

WORLD CHAMPION Raymond van Barneveld suffered a second defeat of the 2007 Holsten Premier League Darts as he went down 8-4 to Dennis Priestley on Thursday.

The Dutchman was making his first appearance at Blackpool's famous Winter Gardens, but never settled against the 56-year-old Yorkshireman.

Priestley took out finishes of 124 and 120 in the match, and won six of the final eight legs to settle further into second place in the table.

He remains just a point behind Phil Taylor, whose incredible unbeaten streak in the tournament continued with his 8-1 win over Colin Lloyd.

Terry Jenkins sits third, moving above van Barneveld with a sensational 8-1 rout of Adrian Lewis.

Roland Scholten saw his top four hopes increase with an 8-2 win over Peter Manley, hitting two ton-plus finishes and averaging over 97.

Holsten Premier League Darts
Night Seven, Winter Gardens, Blackpool
Terry Jenkins 8-1 Adrian Lewis
Roland Scholten 8-2 Peter Manley
Dennis Priestley 8-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor 8-1 Colin Lloyd

ADRIAN LEWIS 1-8 TERRY JENKINS

TERRY JENKINS condemned Adrian Lewis to a fourth successive Holsten Premier League Darts defeat with an 8-1 romp at the Winter Gardens.

Lewis was looking to arrest his recent run of poor form and keep tabs on in-form Jenkins, who began the night in fourth place.

However, Lewis never recovered from a slow start, with Jenkins roaring into a 4-0 lead.

He took the opening leg with a pressure 116 finish after Lewis landed a maximum to leave 32.

Double top and double ten gave Jenkins the next two legs, and he extended the lead to 4-0 before Lewis hit back with a 65 finish on double ten to get off the mark.

Two more double top finishes put Jenkins 6-1 up, and he took the next two legs to power over the finish line and inflict another heavy defeat on the 22-year-old.

"I'm really pleased with that," said Jenkins. "I needed that win after opening the game to below me by a couple of points and I didn't want to let it slip.

"I knew if I could win I'd move on to nine points.

"In the first leg, it was a killer blow for him and I knew I had to get a good lead on him. He's a young player and he can start thinking about it, so you have to make it count.

"I had to keep on hitting the doubles and I concentrated on winning the legs with my darts and then trying to get them against the throw."

ROLAND SCHOLTEN 8-2 PETER MANLEY

ROLAND SCHOLTEN grabbed his second win of the 2007 Holsten Premier League Darts with a fine 8-2 win over Peter Manley.

The Dutchman had lost heavily to Raymond van Barneveld a week ago in Aberdeen, but bounced back in style.

Although he led only 3-2 after the first five legs, a run of five in a row saw him punish Manley misses and take the win.

Manley was off-target on the bullseye to steal the opening leg against the darts, with Scholten taking out double ten before seeing his opponent take out 121 on the bull to win leg two.

Double 12 gave Scholten the next leg and he took out a superb 138 finish in leg four to break Manley's throw and move 3-1 up.

Manley landed a second 180 of the game in leg five before hitting straight back on double top.

But he wasted the chance to win leg six, after opening with five successive treble 20s but missing two darts at double top before a two-dart 96 sent Scholten into the break 4-2 up.

It proved a crucial moment, with Scholten taking the first leg after the restart and then finishing on 102 against the throw to lead 6-2.

He held his throw to take the ninth leg, and took out double four with his second dart to seal victory after Manley missed double top to stay in the contest.

"Peter didn't perform as he can do but I was happy with how I played," said Scholten, who averaged over 97.

"I know I can do more still and hopefully I can do next week against Phil Taylor - it's about time I beat him!

"I'm getting back to my best form and hopefully in a couple of weeks I'll be fully confident and back to how I know I can play.

"I've still got the feeling I will qualify for the semi-finals."

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 4-8 DENNIS PRIESTLEY

WORLD CHAMPION Raymond van Barneveld suffered his second defeat of the 2007 Holsten Premier League Darts, with Dennis Priestley taking out the Dutchman 8-4 in Blackpool.

Van Barneveld bounced back from a defeat to Phil Taylor with a superb 8-1 win over Roland Scholten a week ago, but never settled against Priestley.

The 56-year-old Yorkshireman regained his finishing touch following his first defeat of the competition in Aberdeen seven days earlier to take a notable scalp.

Having previously drawn with Phil Taylor, Priestley moved onto 11 points and a step closer to securing his play-off berth with a famous triumph.

The opening four legs went with the throw before Priestley took out a crucial 124 finish on double 11 in leg five to break the throw - after van Barneveld leg 61 with a maximum.

Van Barneveld saw the chance to break back in the next leg evaporate when he missed double 18, with Priestley landing a tricky double 19 to go into the break 4-2 up.

The Dutchman hit back with a 15-darter but a 120 "Shanghai" finish and then double five against the throw put Priestley 6-3 up.

The tenth leg proved pivotal in the outcome of the match, with a van Barneveld 180 leaving him 76 and Priestley's 177 setting up a 42 finish - only for both to suffer double trouble.

The Dutchman eventually missed nine darts at the double before Priestley one a double one shoot-out to ensure at least a draw.

Van Barneveld stayed in the hunt with a 64 finish, but wasted three darts at the double in leg 12 before Priestley took out double ten for the win.

"I'm obviously delighted to get the win but I didn't feel I played all that well," said Priestley. "It was a real contrast from last week, when I scored well but couldn't finish.

"I kept my nerves intact this week and it is such a big thing for us each week to get the two points.

"Perhaps I've been lucky but I'll take it!"

PHIL TAYLOR 8-1 COLIN LLOYD

PHIL TAYLOR stormed past Colin Lloyd to remain unbeaten in the Holsten Premier League Darts with an 8-1 victory in Blackpool.

Taylor has won eight World Matchplay titles on the Winter Gardens stage, and showed some of his best darts in sweeping Lloyd aside.

The tone was set when he won the opening leg despite Lloyd missing double four darts to go ahead, with two double 16 finishes putting Taylor 2-0 up.

Lloyd broke Taylor's throw to take leg three, but paid for another miss in the next as the defending champion went 3-1 up.

He took the next two, including a clinical 13-darter, to lead by four legs at the break and took two more to go 7-1 up and ensure at least one point.

But a comeback was never likely, despite a third maximum of the match from Lloyd in the next, as Taylor sealed the win and grabbed a £1,000 bonus for the night's highest finish with a superb 170 checkout.

"Colin missed a few doubles and let me in and I feel sorry for him, he's a great player," said Taylor.

"I had to pounce and I'm pleased with my display. I'm getting back to my best."

ENDS

Pub-goer Prince Charles is new darts champion

By Caroline Davies of the Daily Telegraph

The Prince of Wales yesterday threw his support behind the Save Our Darts campaign highlighted by The Daily Telegraph to prevent the demise of the game.
Waving a set of darts, he told publicans at a reception at Clarence House: "I'm doing my best to keep the darts tradition going."
His comments follow a survey revealing that the game is under threat from the rise of the gastropub, where leather sofas are more likely than darts areas.
Prince Charles was celebrating his Pub is the Hub campaign set up five years ago to encourage initiatives to save the rural pub.
At least three rural pubs a week were disappearing, and in urban areas that figure was as high as 10, he said. Some, he added, were reinventing themselves as "gastropubs - whatever that is - and which I have only just discovered seem to be threatening the future of pub darts".
"It's a rather a worry," he added, brandishing his darts before his 200-strong audience. "I was given these the other day. And I have to say I'm getting rather good at darts," he joked. "Except my younger son is a great deal better. I'll leave you to guess why."
The Pub is the Hub initiative aims is to keep villages thriving by using pubs for the "co-location" of other threatened services - for example post offices. In other cases the initiative has helped villagers band together to buy their local.
One example is the Church House Inn in Bollington, Cheshire, where a dozen regulars stumped up £5,000 each to take on the lease. It has diversified to such an extent that the local vicar holds services there on main feast days.
Prince Charles, it seems, has tried his hand at darts before.
"He joined our darts team, albeit just for one game," said Bryan Pearson, one of several regulars who saved the Dyke's End pub in the Cambridgeshire village of Reach.
The prince, meanwhile, pledged to keep his hand in. "I promise to visit some more of your premises in the future," he told the landlords, "thus allowing me to have a go on some of your dartboards".

Geromino gastropub darts challenge

Storey from Morning Advertiser written By Lucy Britner

A leading gastropub operator has hit back at claims that gastropubs are responsible for the demise of darts playing.
Geronimo Inns boss Rupert Clevely has challenged Phil 'The Power' Taylor - the face of the 'Save Our Darts' campaign - to a darts competition.
Clevely, who runs the 17 strong food-led pubco, said: “We’ve nothing against the principles behind the Save Our Darts campaign but we are a little put out at the suggestion that the sole reason for the decline of this pastime is because of establishments like ours. Just because a pub has great food and smart design doesn’t mean that it can’t have a personality. We’ve chosen the Black Swan as the location for the match to re-enforce our point as it’s one of a number of our pubs that already houses a dartboard.”
The challenge comes in response to recent research by online bookmakers Blue Square that suggests the decline of darts playing in the UK was linked to the rise of the gastropub.
The Black Swan, in Ockham, Surrey, will hold a head to head darts match between Clevely and Taylor, should Taylor accept the offer. Clevely plans to play Taylor in a best of three set match and in the interests of fairness - Taylor will be forced to throw either blindfolded or left handed.
For every leg Taylor wins, Clevely will be forced to introduce a dartboard to one his pubs that doesn’t currently have one, for a minimum of one month. For every leg Clevely wins, Taylor will have to donate sports equipment to a children’s charity of his choice, on the proviso that it is any sport other than darts.
HRH Prince Charles, who has pledged his support for the Save Our Darts initiative, will receive an invitation to attend, though organisers suspect his busy schedule may prevent him from accepting.
For more information click http://www.geronimo-inns.co.uk/ or http://www.saveourdarts.com/

Fordham on the mend

Storey from This is Local London

DARTS champion Andy Fordham is reportedly recovering well after a minor stroke.
A message posted on his website says the star has suffered slight muscle wastage in the leg and his speech is slightly affected following the stroke.
The 45-year-old former publican of The Rose in Dartford is said to have lost weight.
advertisement

He is also planning to return to competitive darts tournaments, the website reports.
It reads: "After losing a considerable amount of weight and undergoing medical treatments, he has received a much-needed kick-start to a healthier lifestyle, which medical professionals insist he must maintain in order to remain fit.
"He would once again like to thank the thousands of fans and well-wishers for the get-well messages he has received and looks forward to playing competitive darts again very soon."
Mr Fordham, known as The Viking, spent three weeks in hospital following the stroke last month.

Premier League Matches

The Premier League bandwagon moves on to Aberdeen this Thursday and the intensity levels are growing week by week as the stakes get higher to be in the top 4 to go on to the finals.

PHIL TAYLOR v ADRIAN LEWIS
Phil Taylor has started this campaign quite slowly, but that could be put down to a few drastic lifestyle changes that he has followed. Now that he has settled into this routine it would seem that he is back to his best and firing on all cylinders. Adrian Lewis has struggled to find his top gear in this years Holsten Premier League and so he has a huge battle on his hands tomorrow night. Taylor should win this one if he doesn't drop his guard 8 -5.

ROLAND SCHOLTEN v RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
Barney and Roland go back together many years and each knows the others game inside out, as they have also won several pairs titles together. Sid Wadell commented that he thought Barney was "Knackered" as he has been flying back and forth to Holland and this may explain a slight drop in his form last week. However not many a betting man would go against him and he should take this one 8 -6.

DENNIS PRIESTLEY v PETER MANLEY
Dennis suffered a rare 5 - 0 loss at the hands of Phil Taylor on Sunday in the Blue Square regional finals, but this won't dent the Evergreen Priestley confidence and he should go on to beat a struggling Manley by 8- 6.

COLIN LLOYD v TERRY JENKINS
Jenkins is in the middle of a great run of form, and he has the utmost respect from fellow professionals as being up there with the best in the world. With Colin Lloyd struggling to find any real winning form he will need to be on his best performance to stomp the raging bull, and so Jenkins should take this one 8 -5.

Millers Arms Reach last 32

Storey from Hastings Today

THE Millers Arms darts team can consider itself to be among the leading 32 pub sides in the country.
The Ore-based outfit reached the second round of the 64-strong finals in the Holsten National Pub Darts Championship last weekend. George Noble, who entered the line-up and runs the Winchelsea Road pub, said: "They were pig sick because they were so close, but it was extremely good to be there. Hopefully we can get back into it next year and do a bit better. "The Millers safely negotiated their first test at The Belfry on Saturday by a 5-3 scoreline against the Buckingham-based New Inn.
The Millers, who scooped £100 for their efforts, won three matches at the Southern and London Regional Final in addition to a trio of two-legged local ties just to reach the finals of an event entered by thousands of teams from all over the country.

Charity Marathon

Arley players on the oche for charity darts marathon
By Richard Vernalls Kidderminster Times

PEOPLE are being urged to lend support to a sponsored charity darts marathon.
The Harbour Inn, Arley, is hosting a ten hour fund-raiser in aid of Severn Area Rescue Association - SARA - and the County Air Ambulance, this Saturday, from 12noon until 10pm.
Co-organsier and pub licensee, Sandra Cooke, said: "The lads from the darts team and a few of the customers will be trying to see how many bullseyes they can hit.
advertisement

"And we're always trying to do a bit for charity."
The Station Bank pub, by Arley bridge, will host the rotation of 15 darts players, at the oche, aiming to beat a 614 bullseye total set in ten hours, by Stourport's Stagborough Arms pub team.
People are welcome to spectate and give money towards organisers' £1,000 target.

BBC Press Release

Storey by Mark Barden http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/darts/6413319.stm

Adams cautious about Grand Slam

Lakeside Champion Martin Adams will only face players from across the darts divide in a new event if sanctioned by the British Darts Organisation.
The Professional Darts Corporation is planning a 'Grand Slam' in November featuring stars from both camps.
Adams told BBC Sport: "My loyalty is to the BDO, but as long as it is happy I don't see why I couldn't take part.
"If I did, if shouldn't be construed by anyone as me joining the PDC because that is something I would never do."
Adams, 50, won his first world crown in a thrilling final against Phill Nixon at Frimley Green in January.
He said: "The BDO gave me the chance to be world champion and I want to go back to the Lakeside next year and win the title again.
"I'm also very proud to captain England, and that's another reason why my commitment is to the BDO.

"The PDC have made initial contact with me about the Grand Slam event but, as the BDO have said, nothing has been finalised yet."
Adams admitted the appetite is there among darts fans for a tournament which brings the best players from both camps together.
"People are always telling me they would love to see it happen, so I'm sure it would be very popular," he said.
"The split in darts happened 15 years ago and I believe time is a great healer, but we'll have to wait and see what happens."
Relations between the two sides took a turn for the worse recently when the PDC recruited several big names from its rival.
Adams, meanwhile, is enjoying his reign as world champion, playing exhibitions all over the country.
He also recently led England to a comprehensive victory in the Six Nations Cup in the Netherlands.
"I'm certainly getting more people recognising me since winning the world title," he added.
"Mind you, that might be because I'm driving around in a van with 'Wolfie' plastered across it!"

Taylor Wins Blue Square UK Open

Photgraph Chris Sargeant/PDPA

PHIL TAYLOR won his second Regional Final of the 2007 Blue Square UK Open with a 2-0 win over Wayne Mardle.

He had to battle past Darren Richardson, Martyn Turner, Andy Jenkins and Alan Tabern to reach the last eight, before heading to Wembley on Sunday.

He beat Dennis Priestley in the quarter-finals, defeated Colin Lloyd in straight sets in the semis and backed that up with a 2-0 win in the final.

Biggest Ever Crowd

The fifth night of the 2007 Holsten Premier League Darts was staged in front of a PDC record crowd of over 5,200 at the Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield.

Barneveld does his bit for Charity

By Daniel Owens Courtesy of Northampton Chronicle

DUTCH darts master Raymond van Barneveld hada quick game with Carlsberg employees at the brewery's Northampton HQ.
The five-time world champion, who beat Taylor to clinch his first PDC title last year, stopped off at the brewery's social club last night as part of a fundraiser for Cynthia Spencer Hospice. Staff paid £2 each for a ticket, with all the entrants put into a draw to earn the chance to play against the big Dutchman. Carlsberg spokeswoman Wendy Norwood said: "It was fantastic to get Barney down here for the night, especially on the eve of his game with Phil Taylor. All the staff were really excited when they heard he was in town, it's a great chance for them to get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play one-on-one against a world champion."The 39-year-old was joined at the Northampton brewery by legendary darts commentator Sid Waddell and referee Russ Bray, who helped co-host the evening. Van Barneveld is due to meet Phil 'The Power' Taylor at Sheffield tonight in darts premier league. It's the first time he has faced Taylor since their epic world final last year.He said: "The last 12 months have been amazing for me.
I never thought I would progress so far so soon. People were always telling me I could beat Phil and it took a while for me to believe that but now that I have, I am so much more relaxed."Barney took up darts in 1984 in a back room of a pub owned by his father in The Hague, Netherlands. His first darting idol was Eric Bristow and he spent hours watching his heroes compete in televised tournaments.He said: "I used to watch every tournament on the TV, I loved it. One day someone saw me play and invited me to play in a tournament. I went along, did ok and haven't looked back since."

Dennis Priestley Top of the League

Dennis Priestlety V Colin Lloyd
Dennis Priestley continued his awesome assault on last nights Premier League when he beat Colin Lloyd by 8 – 5 and stayed top of the tree.
The Menace spotted with a new sponsor in Winmau, was not on top form for the high scores and had a lower average than Lloyd.
However, as he said in the interview after his big finishes were crucial and without them Lloyd who played very well again would have won.

Adrian Lewis V Roland Scholten
No one needed a win more than Roland Scholten and he had a tough battle against Adrian Lewis. Lewis started very slowly and Scholten was soon 4 – 1 up. However, Lewis stormed back into the game at 5 – 4 up, but the flying Dutchman nearly hit a perfect nine darter to get him back in the match, and kept his momentum to go on and win 8 -5 for his first win in the Premier League.

Terry Jenkins V Peter Manley
Seen by some as the pre-match warm up for Taylor & Barneveld, this game erupted to life with Manley hitting 6 perfect darts, and the legs traded with throw all the way to 6 all. The crowd got being this intense game with both players trying to prove a point.
However, Manley was the first to lose his throw and Jenkins held his throw to close out a great game 8 -6.

Phil Taylor V Raymond Van Barneveld
The biggest game since Januaries PDC World Championships was not to disappoint, as Phil Taylor staged a comeback similar to Barneys against him in the World Final to win 8-6.
Barneveld came out of the blocks with his usual effortless grace and punished Taylor who looked by far the more unsettled of the two, and Barneveld found himself 5 -1 up with the crowd hysterically chanting “Easy Easy”.
However, someone must have given Taylor a dam good slap back stage as he came out with fire in his eyes to stage an unbelievable comeback as he trotted off 5 straight legs with no reply from the cool Dutchman.
With Barney on the ropes and haemorrhaging legs he was left a daunting 116 that he took to level the game at 6 a piece with his throw to come.
However, with darts at double top to guarantee a draw at worse, he missed, and the rest as they say is history as Taylor nailed double 16, held his throw and won the match 8 -6.

Barney and Taylor go head to head

Tonight’s Premier League sees Phil Taylor pitted against Raymond Van Barneveld in the largest hyped game since the PDC World Championship final in January.
Since moving over form the PDC Barney has proved to be more than just a thorn in Phil’s side, but rather he’s knocked him over kicked him where it hurts and taken his crown as the Worlds best Dart Player.
Phil Taylor starts tonight’s game as the bookies underdog for what seems like the first time since Maggie Thatcher was in power, it’s actually 17 years, and so it will be great to see how Taylor handles this different perspective as he many not be used to so many people doubting his arm.
However, you do get the feeling that like Tiger Woods when he made massive swing changes and went backwards that Phil Taylor knows what he is doing and aims to take his darts to another level.
Having lost 2 stone is as many months Taylor’s fitness regime is thought to be one of the reasons why he’s lost his form, but he’s very happy at feeling fitter and sharper and like all legendary Sportsmen has set himself a target and that’s to get the big one back in January 2008.
Tonight’s game will be full of emotion and Barney is well liked on these shores, and so it could well be an awesome 7 all draw.

Adrian Lewis v Roland Scholten
After suffering a hammering at the hands of Dennis Priestley last week Adrian Lewis will have spent all week practicing to make sure he regains his momentum in the Premier League, and perhaps more importantly his credibility in the top circle of the Worlds best players.
This game will be a sticky one for Adrian and it all depends on what game the good natured Dutch Arrowman turns up with, but Adrian should take this one 8 -4.

Dennis Priestley v Colin Lloyd
What can be said about Dennis comeback that hasn’t already been said? Not much so put simply he’s playing better now than he ever has and following rumors that he’s been chased by several major Dart companies to sign him up he’s hot property.
This game will be a tussle for him as the ever smiling Lloyd will not let Dennis pace put him off. You can expect this one to go all the way, but in front of a home crowd Dennis may just get his nose over the line at 8 – 6.

Terry Jenkins v Peter Manley
After last week’s performances, these players have very different motivations to win.
Manley has to prove he’s still worthy of the league and not an also ran, and Jenkins needs to prove he’s right up there with the best.
Hopefully Manley will step up to the plate and prove to be handful for the inform Jenkins, but you just can’t see the level headed Jenkins losing this one and he should win by 8 – 6.