Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor register Premier League wins in Dublin
Peter Wright maintains 100 per cent record
Saturday 20 February 2016 21:56, UK
Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor continued their return to form with victories on night three of the Premier League in Dublin.
In front of a sell-out crowd of 9,000 on the banks of the River Liffey at Dublin's 3Arena, the big names were in fine form as five close contests thrilled the Irish fans; all ten players were in action for the first time this year as Robert Thornton returned from his chest infection.
Van Gerwen and Adrian Lewis continued their growing rivalry with a thrilling clash, the Dutchman starting like a train to take the opening two legs with an average of 125.
Unsurprisingly 'MVG' couldn't quite maintain that pace and the power-scoring saw Lewis back into the match at 2-2 before he broke in the seventh leg of the match to lead for the only time on the night as Van Gerwen took four legs on the bounce with a trademark burst to see him over the finish line.
After defeat to James Wade on the opening night in Leeds, the world No 1 now has consecutive victories and is up to fourth in the table after a 7-4 triumph.
Peter Wright sets the pace with the only 100 per cent record, it's three wins from three for the colourful Scot and he again showed his love of a fightback to rally from 3-1 down against James Wade and was able to sneak home for a victory that sent 'The Machine' to his second successive defeat.
The other big contest of the night was between Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor and it was the 16-time champion of the world who got the better of the defending world champion.
As expected there was little between the pair, each man holding his throw for the first seven legs before 'The Power' got what looked to be the crucial break of throw in the eighth leg, but the pair traded two further breaks before Taylor emerged victorious with a 7-4 success.
Robert Thornton is still looking for his first win, but he put up a dogged display on his return from illness to take Raymond van Barneveld to a final leg decider and win his first five legs of the Premier League season.
Barney was in terrific form, particularly on his own throw, in the final match of the night and prevailed in an untidy final leg for a 7-5 win which moves him up to third in the table.
In the night's other match, Dave Chisnall was held by Michael Smith, who racked up his first point, for the first draw of the Premier League campaign.
The Bully Boy has lost his first three games and the signs did not look good as Chisnall raced into a 2-0 lead in the blink of an eye, but Smith proved he has the stomach for a fight to hit back and lead 3-2 and 6-5 before sharing the points.
