Taylor back on top

Taylor: 8-1 winner

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
1 P Taylor P13 19PTS
2 J Wade P13 18PTS
3 R van Barneveld P13 16PTS
4 P Manley P13 11PTS
5 A Lewis P13 11PTS
6 W Mardle P13 11PTS
7 T Jenkins P13 9PTS
8 J Part P13 9PTS

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• Order of Merit
• On Sky TV
• Premier League Results/Fixtures
• Premier League Table

Phil Taylor went top of the Premier League table heading into the final round of regular-season matches after an 8-1 demolition of Wayne Mardle at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.

Mardle still has play-off hopes but they were severely dented by such an emphatic defeat to the 13-time World champion.

The four-time Premier League champion had beaten 'Hawaii 501' 8-0 in their previous meeting this season and was once again in devastating form.

He raced into a 6-0 lead and looked on course for another whitewash, but the Essex man hit a double four to spare his blushes. It made no difference to the result, however, as Taylor raced through the next two legs.

Battling

Adrian Lewis kept his hopes of a semi-final place alive with a battling comeback in a 7-7 draw with Peter Manley.

'One Dart' lost the darts in the opening leg but won the next four to lead 4-1 and then 5-2.

Back roared Lewis to tie it up at 5-5 before the Cumbrian edged ahead again 7-6. He could have won it but missed a dart at the bull and 'Jackpot' Lewis hit a 100 finish for the draw.

Manley, who is still in the hunt for a play-off place himself, said: "It's been fantastic here in Northern Ireland. I wanted a bullseye with one dart. It was really difficult. He put a bit of pressure on me.

"At the end of the day I'm chuffed. I was favourite to finish bottom and I've given everyone a run for their money."

But Manley could not resist a dig at the man he has had a few run-ins with in the past, adding: "Adrian didn't turn up tonight, I think he was lucky. I think Wayne (Mardle) has got a great chance of beating him next week."

Lewis, Manley and Mardle are all locked on 11 points in a tie for the fourth and final semi-final berth heading into next week's final week in Newcastle.

Slipped back

James Wade started the night on top of the table but slipped back after losing 8-6 to five-time World champion Raymond van Barneveld.

Wade raced into a 3-1 lead but back-to-back 13-darters edged the Dutchman ahead.

It was nip-and-tuck from there and Wade looked set to claim a point, on a double with 'Barney' back on 157.

But Barneveld took out the highest finish of the night to grab the spoils, possibly gaining a crucial pyschological edge when the two meet in the semi-final in Cardiff on May 26. Barneveld is the only player to do the 'double' over Wade this season - the 'Machine' has only lost three times.

Terry Jenkins' semi-final hopes are over after he slipped to an 8-5 defeat to reigning World champion John Part. It was just the Canadian's fourth victory in 13 Premier League matches this season.