Mardle riding high

Mardle: First win

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Wayne Mardle is flying high after his first win in the Premier League for two years, and he now wants to build on his breakthrough as he faces Raymond van Barneveld on Thursday.

'Hawaii 501' has not had the best Premier League career to date, but he finally ended his long losing streak by beating Terry Jenkins last week in Sheffield.

The popular Essex man is still rooted to the foot of the current Premier League table but crucially he is now just three points off fourth-placed Jenkins at the halfway stage of the tournament.

Mardle is now well in touch in what is a tight league table this season, and he is now well within a shout of making the play-offs for the first time if he can put a run of results together.

Mardle admitted that finally getting a win on the board last week was a big relief, and pinpointed why he had been struggling before that result.

"It's pure relief, obviously I'm pleased that I've won a game, but I've been playing well and just not hitting my doubles, on that game I put my doubles away and that's why I won" Mardle told Sky Sports News.

Doubles

"I've just not been putting the doubles away at all in the Premier League, and if you miss a few there then you lose.

"I know how good I am, when I'm on and I'm in the doubles then I'm fine, but when I'm off I'm a bit poor to be honest, and what you've got to do is put in a good 'B' game and when you have a good 'B' game that's when you win things - Phil (Taylor) will tell you that."

Mardle will need to be spot-on with his doubles if he is to beat former world champion Van Barneveld in week eight in Brighton on Thursday.

The big Dutchman tops the current table on legs difference from James Wade, and crowd favourite Mardle will again be looking for his vocal supporters to help him out.

"They're still supporting me like they were in the first week - I'm getting there, I don't want to let anyone down but mostly I don't want to let myself down.

"I'm in with a shout, I'm in touching distance and I've just got to kick on now and make it count."