The Unicorn star demolished Terry Jenkins 8-0….the first whitewash in the three-year history of the Premier League and he must be asking himself why he hasn’t played like that around the country in the 2007 event, after missing out on a semi-final spot.
Jenkins of course, has already booked his ticket to Brighton at the end of May for the semi-finals – but he was blown away by a fabulous and clinical Lloyd performance.
Lloyd’s Achilles heel during this tournament has been his slow starts but once he went 4-0 up, breaking the Jenkins throw twice, the match was all but over.
He hit two 13-darters, averaged 96 and a lovely 90 finish completed the rout. It is an important victory for ‘Jaws’ because there is a £7,500 difference in prize money between finishing 5th in the league and bottom of the table.
Lloyd looked relaxed up on the big stage in front of nearly 2,000 fans…..and so did Peter Manley, who was a comfortable winner over Dennis Priestley.
It was a great atmosphere inside the Ally Pally and a taster of what’s to come when the venue becomes the new home of the World Championship in December. Lloyd has jumped up to 5th in the league, with Manley now 6th.
Manley was never in trouble as he clocked up only his fourth win in 13 games in this year’s event. He was 4-2 up and although Priestley broke throw in the first leg after the break, Manley marched to victory – winning four consecutive legs, including a 111 check-out.
‘One Dart’ lived up to his tag…..ruthless on the finishing – hitting eight of 14 attempts at a double. It was arguably his best display of the tournament.
Afterwards, tongue in cheek, Manley said: “I just don’t want to finish bottom of the table. I don’t want the Mardle Cup!” (a reference to Wayne Mardle finishing bottom of the league in both 2005 and 2006)
Priestley though, despite six Premier League games without a win, has now qualified for the semi-finals. Raymond Van Barneveld’s victory over Roland Scholten ended The Tripod’s slim hopes of reaching the last four. Barney’s win guarantees him second place and avoids a possible semi-final against a certain Mr Taylor!
In the all-Unicorn clash, Phil Taylor taught his former pupil Adrian Lewis another darting lesson. His victory over Lewis takes his unbeaten Premier League record to 41 games.
Lewis missed too many doubles – especially early on – and you can’t afford to do that against Taylor…..Lewis banged in six 180s and looked impressive at times but couldn’t live with his old tutor.
It means that Lewis slips back down to the bottom of the table and he now needs to beat Scholten in Birmingham to avoid the wooden spoon. Taylor averaged 101.45 to Lewis’ 94.
And now everyone can look forward to the latest showdown….Taylor v Barney part VIII in Birmingham next Thursday….another classic is guaranteed and Barneveld will be desperate for revenge after seeing a 5-1 lead slip against ‘The Power’ in Sheffield.
Results Week 13 Alexandra Palace:
Peter Manley 8-3 Dennis Priestley
Week 14 Birmingham:
Roland Scholten v Adrian Lewis
BY STUART PYKE
Photo : Lawrence Lustig/PDC
