'One Dart' in the pink

Mardle and Manley spring upsets while Taylor and Wade magnificent

By Phil Jackson   Last updated: 3rd April 2008

World championship December 2007 peter manley

Manley: Big win

Also see

'One Dart' Peter Manley revived his hopes of qualifying for the Premier League play-offs with an 8-6 victory over former world champion Raymond van Barneveld on Thursday night and there were also big wins for Wayne Mardle, Phil Taylor and James Wade.

Carlisle resident Manley, who slumped to the foot of the table with defeat to Mardle in week nine, came from 4-2 behind at the break to get himself right back into the mix for the last four.

But Manley was not the only man to beat a world champion in Aberdeen as Mardle rattled off a fourth consecutive win to move into fourth spot.

'Hawaii 501' had himself been bottom just a month ago, but made a superb start against reigning world champion John Part before going on to win 8-5.

"I want to play in Aberdeen every week," Manley told Sky Sports 1 after his victory over 'Barney'. At the halfway stage I knew that I had to beat Mardle and Part and I lost to both of them so in typical fashion I have to do it the hard way.

"Tonight obviously playing Barney that's the hard way and I've come through that. I've got a couple of easy games now against Jenkins and Lewis and then the last one against Taylor, which is the other one I've won so I can't see a problem really."

Double whammy

It was a bad night for the returning Adrian Lewis though after missing week nine with a case of gastroenteritis.

Taylor averaged 102.6 in beating his fellow Stoke thrower 8-3 at the start of the night and Wade then went back to the top of the table with a near immaculate 8-1 victory over 'Jackpot' in the last match of the night.

'The Machine' showed just why he is tipped to be a future world champion by racing into a 6-0 lead at the break.

And Wade picked up where he left off with a bull to finish off 121 for a 7-0 lead and, despite missing out on the whitewash, double 10 took him back to the top of the league above Taylor a point behind in second and Van Barneveld in third. Mardle is now fourth.

Liverpool is the next stop on the circuit and it is sure to be a night of high drama live on Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm with Taylor against Van Barneveld the highlight of the scheduled matches.