So far, so good and a job well done in Utrecht for Unicorn stars Phil Taylor and Colin Lloyd….and the pair are now hoping to resume their great rivalry in the quarter-finals of the World Darts Trophy. But both face tough 2nd Round matches, before a possible head-to-head in the last eight over in Holland. The pair will play their 2nd round matches on Tuesday night. Lloyd’s reward for winning the all-Unicorn clash against Peter Manley is a clash with top seed and BDO No.1 Gary Anderson. ‘Jaws’ of course is the PDC World No.1 at the moment and he is desperate to prove his worth in this tournament – especially after reaching the final of the International Darts League earlier in the summer. Taylor was just awesome against Brian Sorensen on Saturday and he now takes on former BDO World Champion John ‘Boy’ Walton. ‘The Power’ hit maximum voltage, dropping only one leg, as he thrashed Sorensen 3 sets to nil. It really was a power-packed display…..Taylor averaged over 104…..he peaked at a 111.5 average after the first set. He threw two 11-dart legs, hit six 180s and in one leg he looked on course for a magical 9-darter but missed with the 7th arrow. Lloyd took full advantage of Manley’s inability to finish – winning 3 sets to 1. He took the first set in style with a brilliant 154 finish…..and the new slim-line Lloyd looked pretty comfortable throughout. It is yet another match where Manley will be thinking of what might have been - if he’d been able to find those doubles. In complete contrast, Lloyd finished with a 50 per cent check-out rate. Ronnie Baxter has also booked his place in the 2nd Round. ‘The Rocket’ dropped the first set against Paul Hogan, before he found his range. In the end, he won the last six legs to run out a 3 sets to 1 winner. His 2nd Round opponent is the No.5 seed Martin Atkins, who breezed through 3-0 against Paul Hanvidge. Walton produced the comeback of the first day. He looked down and out and Shaun Greatbatch missed nine darts to win it 3-1…..it clearly took its toll and the Sheffield man stormed back to win 3-2 and set up that tasty meeting with Taylor. Among those in 1st Round action on Sunday are Jelle Klaasen, Tony O’Shea and Martin Adams. Unicorn’s Taylor and Lloyd get a two-day break before they play again. Both have already said they will spend most of that time practicing. The title and winner’s cheque of 45,000 euros is incentive enough! World Darts Trophy – Saturday results: Colin Lloyd 3-1 Peter Manley Gary Anderson 3-0 Ted Hankey Brian Sorensen 0-3 Phil Taylor John Walton 3-2 Shaun Greatbatch Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Paul Hogan Martin Atkins 3-0 Paul Hanvidge BY STUART PYKE
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