Taylor the Man to Follow Again in Premier League Darts

The Betway Premier League of Darts travels to Belfast this week for night 11 and we’re aiming to repeat last week’s feat of three winners from three bets. Phil Taylor was in superb form to land the odds twice in his two matches last week, while James Wade completed the set with his victory over Raymond van Barneveld.

We’re backing the Power to come good again when he lines up against Barney, but we’re going against Wade this time around when he faces Adrian Lewis. Meanwhile Michael van Gerwen roared back to for last week after three consecutive draws to hit the third highest average in TV history with 117.95 as he beat Robert Thornton. He can do the business again this week when he faces current World Champion Gary Anderson.

Night Ten

James Wade was up twice on the night along with Phil Taylor and it started well for the left-hander as he saw off van Barneveld 7-4. Taylor hit the stage next at the Sheffield Arena and reeled off five straight legs to take command against Gary Anderson and run out the 7-3 winner. Michael van Gerwen then served up that incredible average, but he was made to work hard by a dogged Robert Thornton display in a 7-5 win. Adrian Lewis and Peter Wright played out a 6-6 draw, with the latter missing five darts to take the match before being pegged back to a stalemate. Finally Taylor and Wade paired up for their second match of the evening and it was Taylor who brought home the bacon with a season double over his rival.

That pushed Taylor three points clear at the top of the Premier League table and he suggested afterwards that another one or two wins could put him through to the play offs. Michael van Gerwen is three points behind with 15, while Anderson, Lewis and Wade are locked together on 13 points in the race for a top four finish.

Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor

Taylor is in good enough form to warrant backing him at 1.53Bet €100 to win €15353/100Bet £100 to win £153-189Bet $100 to win $1530.53Bet HK$100 to win HK$153-1.89Bet Rp100 to win Rp1530.5300Bet RM100 to win RM153  with Coral, Ladbrokes and 888Sport when he comes up against van Barneveld.

The only game Taylor has lost in this Premier league season was the 7-2 defeat at the hands of Barney on the opening night. Since then he’s won 8 and drawn 2 of his subsequent ten games and revenge is on the cards on Thursday night. The two players have had many battles over the years but it’s Taylor who arrives in much the better form after those two wins last week and he will gladly take the opportunity to draw further clear at the top as he attempts to secure a top four place early in the campaign.

Raymond van Barneveld has been inconsistent this season – much as he was last – but a late run into the play offs seems more than unlikely. He avoided elimination but has just 7 points to his name from ten games after three wins, one draw and six defeats. What’s more worrying is that two of those wins came in the first three weeks, and it’s been just one win and one draw in the last seven Premier League games.

James Wade v Adrian Lewis

Adrian Lewis could be worth backing at a decent price of 2.20Bet €100 to win €2206/5Bet £100 to win £220+120Bet $100 to win $2201.20Bet HK$100 to win HK$2201.20Bet Rp100 to win Rp220-0.8333Bet RM100 to win RM220  with Paddy Power to get the better of James Wade.

The two players are both well-positioned on 13 points with Lewis ahead by virtue of leg difference. On close inspection it’s been the latter who has shown the better form this season and he is fancied to win this vital match. Lewis’ three defeats this year have come against Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson. Beyond those games he’s beaten every other player bar Peter Wright who held the Jackpot to a draw last week. He also beat Wade 7-5 when they met earlier in the league campaign, and has generally been ultra-consistent.

Wade beat Michael van Gerwen on opening night to get off to a flyer, and held his form well to stay in contention at the top. A draw with Anderson and the defeat to Taylor have stalled his progress though and he’s lost four of eleven games, while several have gone close at 7-5. Lewis has won on the last two occasions they’ve played and is worth backing to come out on top again.

Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson

The final bet of the night goes on Michael van Gerwen to beat a slightly under-performing Gary Anderson at 1.67Bet €100 to win €16767/100Bet £100 to win £167-149Bet $100 to win $1670.67Bet HK$100 to win HK$167-1.49Bet Rp100 to win Rp1670.6700Bet RM100 to win RM167  with Paddy Power and William Hill

It’s hard to be too critical of Anderson’s displays – he’s won six of ten matches – but he has admitted himself that he isn’t playing quite to his best, and there are no tougher opponents around than van Gerwen at the moment. The Dutchman has been flying this season hitting record average after record average, and he is hard to live with when he’s in that kind of form. He raced into a 5-1 lead against Thornton last week before the Scotsman managed to hit back to trail just 6-5, but the damage had already been done and van Gerwen finished the match with an 11-darter.

Gary Anderson had a chance to go 4-2 up against Phil Taylor but he missed it and allowed the Power to come back into the game and reel off five straight legs en route to a 7-3 win. If he leaves the door open in similar fashion against van Gerwen he will be punished and the World number one is fancied to come away with the two points.

Tips Summary

Phil Taylor to beat Raymond van Barneveld
Thursday 14th April, 19:00 GMT Start
Odds: 1.53Bet €100 to win €15353/100Bet £100 to win £153-189Bet $100 to win $1530.53Bet HK$100 to win HK$153-1.89Bet Rp100 to win Rp1530.5300Bet RM100 to win RM153

Adrian Lewis to beat James Wade
Thursday 14th April, 19:00 GMT Start
Odds: 2.20Bet €100 to win €2206/5Bet £100 to win £220+120Bet $100 to win $2201.20Bet HK$100 to win HK$2201.20Bet Rp100 to win Rp220-0.8333Bet RM100 to win RM220

Michael van Gerwen to beat Gary Anderson
Thursday 14th April, 19:00 GMT Start
Odds: 1.67Bet €100 to win €16767/100Bet £100 to win £167-149Bet $100 to win $1670.67Bet HK$100 to win HK$167-1.49Bet Rp100 to win Rp1670.6700Bet RM100 to win RM167