PHIL "The Power" Taylor has cranked up the pressure on Potteries rival Adrian Lewis by climbing up to fifth place in the Betway Premier League.

 

Taylor's 7-4 win over Robert Thornton in Cardiff leaves the 16-time world champion just a point behind Cross Heath ace Lewis, below, who was earlier held to a 6-6 draw by Ray van Barneveld at the Motorpoint Arena after missing two darts to win the match.Taylor, main picture, said: "There will be a few squeaky bums in the next few weeks and Adrian will be nervous."I didn't think I was going to qualify, but they don't want to play me now."

 

Taylor, from Wychwood Park, near Crewe, changed darts manufacturers just before the new Premier League season began, and then suffered defeat in his first three matches to be on the brink of elimination from a competition he has won six times.But he rallied to see Wes Newton and Simon Whitlock bow out instead, and after his latest victory he declared: "The darts are right now and my career is back on track."

 

Taylor got the crucial early break against Thornton in the fourth leg after throwing his first 180 of the match.Thornton clearly felt the pressure and missed three darts to hold his throw, enabling Taylor to open up a 3-1 lead.

 

He added the next with a 108 check out and although he threw well and made Taylor scrap for every leg, Thornton couldn't get the break back he needed to grab a point.

 

Taylor missed two darts to win the match in the 10th leg and made sure of maximum points with a 68 check out in the next after Thornton had missed two chances to send the match into a deciding leg.In a curious, see-saw match, Lewis threw away a 4-1 lead against Van Barneveld. Then, with the match in the balance at 5-5, he found his second wind.

 

His best dart of the match – a double top when the target was partially blocked – edged him ahead 6-5, and although Barneveld had the throw in the decider, Lewis was in charge after firing in his first 180 of the match to leave 121.

 

That was chipped down to 59, but 'Jackpot' couldn't find either double top or double 19 and Barneveld made the most of the reprieve to snatch a point.

 

Neither player was at their best, but Lewis was in control at 4-1 after breaking in the fourth leg. The match turned Barneveld's way from the sixth leg.

 

Lewis couldn't take out 133 for another break and a 5-1 lead, then took 12 darts to find a treble in the seventh leg.

 

Barneveld upped a gear to level the match at 4-4, Lewis held in the next, then missed four darts at a double for a break and a 6-4 lead.Newton's relegation was sealed by a 7-5 loss to Dave Chisnall in Cardiff, while Whitlock had such a dire campaign that he only lasted to week eight.

 

 

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