Relief For Unbeaten Duo

BOTH Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld are delighted to have remained on course for the Holsten Premier League Play-Offs, following their meeting in Bournemouth last week.

The duo clashed for the first time in the Premier League last Thursday, with van Barneveld coming from 7-4 down to snatch a draw.

That ensured the pair kept alive their unbeaten starts to the 2006 Premier League, with van Barneveld picking up three points during the evening after his earlier win over Peter Manley.

Both face Manley in Carlisle this Thursday, and Dutchman van Barneveld was delighted to keep up the pressure at the top of the table last week.

"It feels good for me," he said. "I picked up two points against Peter and one against Phil, which puts me on nine points.

"I've still got a match (in hand) on Phil and I will look forward to playing Phil in Doncaster.

"Hopefully I can show the crowd there that I can average 33, 34, 35 averages, but no matter what I have to stay in the top four to make the semi-finals."

Van Barneveld showed his character to battle back for a point when Taylor moved 7-4 up.

"If you're 7-4 down and you finish 7-all, you are going to be happy, but I wasn't happy with how I played," he said.

"I played really well against Peter and was 3-1 up against Phil.

"I was confident enough, but they didn't hit the trebles against Phil and I missed some doubles during the game.

"I showed when I played Peter that I can play better, I can average 32, 33 and 34 averages (per dart).

"But if you play Phil more often it gives you confidence.

"When I was playing with the BDO, I would maybe play him once a year, but now I see him playing every week and I've noticed that he doesn't always throw 35 averages.

"That gives me hope and to come back from 7-4 to 7-all is good."

The Dutchman hit a nine-dart leg against Manley, and admitted that the fast pace of the game suited his style.

Watch the nine-dart leg in DartsTV

"I'm practising a lot more and that is more my way of playing," he said.

"I've been practising with Jelle Klaasen, and he speeds me up, and that makes me more confident.

"The nine-darter was unbelievable. I've hit a few in tournaments on the floor but never on television before.

"I started with 180, then Peter hit a 180 and I hit the second. I was relaxed for the 141 and it went in; bang, bang, bang. It was brilliant.

"After that I had to tell myself to hold it together, because the match wasn't over."

Taylor has taken 11 points from his opening six matches, and he was happy to keep alive his unbeaten start.

"I really don't want to lose," he said. "To come off with a draw was a little bit disappointing, but I'm also relieved.

"I could have won the match but I missed my doubles and Raymond came back well. He took his chances and a draw was probably a fair result.

"It was a big match for us. The atmosphere was special and it was like an FA Cup Final.

"I think the next match will be brilliant. He played really well in Bournemouth, hitting the nine-darter, so I can't fault him but I'll have to put it right for next time."

Holsten Premier League Darts
Night Six, Sands Centre, Carlisle
Phil Taylor v Peter Manley
Ronnie Baxter v Colin Lloyd
Wayne Mardle v Roland Scholten
Peter Manley v Raymond van Barneveld
Live on Sky Sports 1, 7.30pm

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