|
|
|
|
PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS - THE FINALS 2007 review by Andy Fairclough
This year's finals took place in Brighton and despite it being a late May Bank Holiday weekend, the weather was certainly not playing ball with cold temperatures and incessant rain on the weekend in question. Not that the 3,000 or so people inside the Brighton Centre cared as they were in town to watch the culmination of the 2007 Premier League. For the first time in 2007 the playing field had been extended to 8 players and record numbers both in terms of television viewers and audiences at locations saw the competition unfold over 14 weeks. Colin Lloyd, Peter Manley, Adrian Lewis and Roland Scholten were the league casualties not making finals night. Indeed the four qualifiers were all but certain during the last few weeks of the league with only the jockeying for position to be sorted out. The match of the night was the first contest between Raymond van Barneveld and Terry Jenkins. Many expected Barney to coast through to another showdown with Taylor, but for once the Dutchman was not on song. Jenkins broke throw to take the first leg in the race to 11 and three legs later Barneveld levelled things to 2-2 with a 138 finish against the throw. By 3-3 it was clear both players were falling short of the form that had taken them this far in the competition with Barneveld averaging 90 to Jenkins 85. Things weren't happening for Barneveld and Jenkins got the next break to lead 5-4 and a further break to lead 7-4 (now averaging only 84). Barneveld broke a throw back but Jenkins maintained the lead with another break of throw. Barneveld began to find some form hitting a 180 in 4 consecutive legs to retrieve the deficit from 5-9 to 7-10. Jenkins only needed one more leg and missed 5 darts in the next leg allowing Barneveld back in to 8-10. Barney held throw to make it 9-10 and Jenkins then missed a further 4 doubles allowing Barneveld to square the match in the 20th leg in which both had hit a maximum. So to a sudden death leg and this time it was Barneveld who threw away the chance to win missing 5 darts for the match. Jenkins fell over the line ultimately to book his place in the final winning by 11 legs to 10. Phil Taylor has a much easier ride against Dennis Priestley quickly chalking up a 3-0 lead including 2 breaks of throw. Priestley broke back twice and indeed levelled the game at 3 apiece. Taylor then rattled off 4 legs in a row (including 4 x 180s) to make it 7-3. Priestley hung in as best he could but it was a reasonably straight ahead 11-6 win for 'The Power'. Unfortunately the final did not really spark to life either. First to 16 legs this time and Taylor sprinted off 2-0. Jenkins broke back with a 128 finish but despite being level at 3 all, Taylor against surged to 7-3, checking in an 11 darter (Taylor averaging 95, Jenkins 85). Jenkins took out a 161 to break in the next leg, but another 11 darter from Taylor in the 13th leg to make it 9-4 and he was already racing for the finish line (Taylor 95, Jenkins 89 – averages). The excitement seemed to diminish as Taylor strolled through to a 16-6 victory averaging around 100 in the end. A bittersweet end to what had been an entertaining league season. Taylor's unbeaten run throughout 3 full seasons was complete, but a slightly disappointing finals night for the viewing public.
|