RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD kept up the pressure on Holsten Premier League Darts leader Phil Taylor as the pair continued their winning starts to the 2006 campaign in Aberdeen.

Taylor has now won his opening four games of the year following an 8-4 win against Ronnie Baxter.

The defending champion was again in excellent form to continue his 100% start to this year's tournament.

Dutch star van Barneveld overcame fellow countryman Roland Scholten to win his third game in as many attempts with a superb 8-3 triumph.

Baxter opened his account for the year with a 8-3 defeat of Colin Lloyd in the night's first game, and Peter Manley also got off the mark by defeating Wayne Mardle.

Thursday's latest scores are:
Colin Lloyd 3-8 Ronnie Baxter
Peter Manley 8-5 Wayne Mardle
Raymond van Barneveld 8-3 Roland Scholten
Ronnie Baxter 4-8 Phil Taylor

COLIN LLOYD 3-8 RONNIE BAXTER

RONNIE BAXTER roared to his first win of the 2006 Holsten Premier League Darts with a brilliant win over world number on Colin Lloyd.

The Premier League newcomer lost his opening two games of the tournament, but found top gear to punish some sloppy finishing from Lloyd.

The Essex thrower took out 96 to win the opening leg before Baxter levelled matters.

The Swindon-based star then took the next four legs without reply to go into the break 5-1 up - with Lloyd missing doubles to win each leg.

Lloyd landed maximum 180's on his way to pulling back the seventh and ninth legs, but finishes of 97 and 98 ensured at least a point for Baxter at 7-3.

Baxter then wrapped up victory by hitting double 20 when Lloyd wasted three darts for the leg to move off the mark in the Premier League.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic," he said. "My finishing was a lot better than the first two games I played.

"If I'd been like that in the first two games I'd be unbeaten! Colin missed a few doubles but I took mine out and that was the difference.

"This is awesome, absolutely awesome. I've been looking forward to this week since the fixtures were announced and the crowd were brilliant."

PETER MANLEY 8-5 WAYNE MARDLE

PETER MANLEY ended his losing run to gain his first victory of the 2006 Holsten Premier League, defeating Wayne Mardle 8-5.

Manley won both matches against Mardle in last year's Premier League, and continued that run with a strong display in Aberdeen.

He set out his stall early on, winning the opening three legs before Mardle found his range.

The Essex showman pulled back the next three legs to level matters going into the break, before Manley then repeated his treble to move 6-3 up - including a 127 checkout.

Mardle landed double two in the tenth leg to save the match, but Manley took the next to seal at least a point at 7-4.

Mardle hit double nine to stay in contention, but Manley's accuracy on double top saw him seal his first points of the year.

"It's about time!" admitted Manley. "I missed out on four points in the first two weeks because I had close games with Roland Scholten and Colin Lloyd.

"I don't think we both played particularly well in the first six legs and 3-3 was probably a fair scoreline.

"But it was all about who would come out firing after the break and I did that."

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 8-3 ROLAND SCHOLTEN

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD won the battle of the Dutch players to maintain his 100% start to the Holsten Premier League darts with a comfortable win over Roland Scholten.

The four-times World Champion made a blistering start against his fellow countryman in their first meeting in the PDC.

Barneveld was 4-0 up in double-quick time, including a 124 finish in the third leg.

He missed doubles to win the fifth, with Scholten hitting double ten with his third dart to open his account.

Barneveld took the next two to move 6-1 up, although his opponent fought to stay in the game by winning the eighth and tenth legs.

His fightback ended though when Barneveld took control of the next, and he took out double 16 to record a third win in as many matches.

"The first four or five legs were good," he admitted.

"It wasn't my best game but I was surprised that Roland didn't play to his best - although it's hard to play against a good friend but I think he will still finish in the top four.

"I still averaged 30 a dart, but I will need to improve to beat Phil Taylor. We play in Bournemouth and I'll be doubling my practice ahead of that one."

RONNIE BAXTER 4-8 PHIL TAYLOR

PHIL TAYLOR'S unbeaten start to the 2006 Holsten Premier League Darts continued with an 8-4 win over Ronnie Baxter.

Baxter had gained his first win of the year in the night's opening game, but could not cope with an irresistible Taylor when he returned for the fourth, and final, clash at the AECC.

Taylor landed four maximum 180's and also hit an 11-dart leg on his way to a fourth win in as many games.

Baxter also took out an 11-dart leg, but that merely cut the deficit to 6-3 as Taylor moved ominously towards victory.

He also stepped in to keep the game alive with double top in the 11th leg, but Taylor landed a bullseye finish to complete matters.

"Ronnie defeated Colin quite easy earlier tonight and that can settle your nerves, but he was a little spasmodic in this game," said Taylor.

"It was a funny game, different for me and I'm still learning even after 16 years as a professional.

"The aim is to make it into the play-offs, so I'm still on track and it's great to keep winning."

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