Darts: Taylor wins battle of the Potteries

By gpearson rugunion

PHIL Taylor and Mervyn King collide tonight in the semi-finals of the Stan James.com World Matchplay after 'The Power' won the battle of the Potteries.

Taylor had too much firepower for Adrian Lewis last night as he swept to a crushing 16-3 win that keeps him on course for a 10th title at the Winter Gardens.

Taylor had won his last 10 meetings with Lewis – losing just five legs in their last three clashes – and was soon on course for another win over the player he has groomed for the top as he won the first five legs.

An indication of Taylor's form is shown by the fact that after four legs, Chell Heath thrower Lewis had an average of 108 and had yet to even take aim at a double.

He went on to finish the match with a three-dart average of 109.42 and an astonishing 14 maximum 180s – that is the most he has thrown in a match at Blackpool.

So there was no upset in the Potteries showdown.

Taylor won the opening leg against the throw in 13 darts, added the second leg with Lewis waiting on 40 and then hit top gear.

Taylor broke again with a 121 check-out on the bullseye, started the fourth leg with back-to-back 180s and moved 5-0 clear with a 110 finish.

Lewis pegged back the sixth on the bullseye and pegged it back to 5-2 after 'The Power' had launched the leg with six successive treble 20s.

Taylor's response was to win the next 10 legs.

Lewis had chances – notably in the 11th leg when he had five darts at a double – and his failure to take them enabled Taylor to pull away.

Lewis did peg back the 18th leg in spectacular style – taking out 140 on treble 20 and two double tops – but Taylor confirmed his semi-final place in the next.

Taylor said: "Adrian can play 10 times better than that. There are things he needs to work on and I want to help him."

Taylor, from Wychwood Park, has a score to settle with King, who breezed through with a 16-6 win over Vincent van der Voort with a three-dart average of 100.96.

King ended Taylor's hopes of a fifth successive Whyte & Mackay Premier League title with a 10-6 win in the semi-finals and two months earlier, there had been controversy when they clashed in Newcastle in the competition.

King sent his darts whistling just a few inches over Taylor's head while he was picking up one of his missiles off the floor and that left 'The Power' fuming.

Taylor said: "You're going to see a battle tonight. Mervyn's like me. He's so determined and has worked hard to get through to the semi-finals."

King said: "He won't want to get beaten by me again. He's going to be gunning for me."

Tonight's other semi-final is between Terry Jenkins and Ronnie Baxter after they upset the formbook to dump out Ray van Barneveld and James Wade respectively.