Premier League Darts Night 11: Belfast brings a double dose of Barney, Thornton

Holly Thackeray | April 13, 2016

Premier League Darts 2016

Barney and Taylor battle for Belfast spoils

It’s time for the classic tungsten tussle Premier League Darts fans always await with bated breath, as two legends of the oche Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor once again square-up with Premier League plaudits to play for.

This time Belfast, Northern Ireland, is the stage for the prolific pair’s 75th meeting, with Barney in action twice on Thursday evening, and Robert Thornton the Dutchman’s second duel of the night.

As if that wasn’t tempting enough, The Thorn also takes on charismatic character Peter Wright in the curtain raiser, while James Wade pits his wits against Adrian Lewis and Michael van Gerwen grapples with Gary Anderson.

Read on to find out Coral’s thoughts on these fixtures and our most majestic darts dabbles…

Robert Thornton v Peter Wright

The Thorn has found form and finally grown into the competition, putting on better showings in the past weeks, but that didn’t stop the Scot from still eventually being on the receiving end of a beating by MvG last time out.

It’s tough to see Thornton (a 3/1 shout for victory) getting much against a revived Wright (8/13), as the veteran has not tasted triumph against his compatriot since 2013, despite eight oche attempts following that.

Thornton did force a draw earlier in the season, with odds of 4/1 for that to happen again, but expect crowd puller Snakebite to be in a venomous mood after dropping a point to Jackpot. A close call still looks the best bet, with a 7-5 scoreline to Wright a nifty 9/2.

Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor

Here it is ladies and gentleman, the match you’ve all been waiting for as darting juggernauts Van Barneveld and Taylor tussle for the second time this Premier League term.

The Power still holds an electric 54-16 head-to-head record against this very familiar foe, but belligerent Barney has proven a banana skin for the summit straddler, with the darting duo each winning three from their last six meetings. It’s been said many times before: these two bring the best from each other.

Current table-topper Taylor is the obvious odds-on 8/15 favourite following his emphatic drubbing of world champ Anderson and Wade. Yet, on the opening night in Leeds, the Englishman was handed his only Premier League loss so far by bold Barney, in a 7-2 thrashing.

The Dutchman is 7/2 to make it two in a row versus The Power, but as Van Barneveld keeps frustratingly letting results slip a draw between these giants is most tantalising at 4/1.

James Wade v Adrian Lewis

This could prove a crucial clash for the inconsistent darting couple featured, with Wade and Lewis level on 13 points apiece, so back a tight contest at 20/1 for the pair to tie highest checkout.

The Machine (7/4 to win) historically has the edge over his fellow Englishman, but Jackpot has taken bragging rights from all of their past three frays, making Lewis 11/10 match favourite. Both have needed a little rub of the green to grind out results, so it might not be pretty.

Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson

The PDC’s top two clash here, in another headline Belfast battle, as world number one Van Gerwen (8/15) sizes up world champion Gary Anderson (7/2).

Surprisingly both have struggled of late but, luckily for fans, this should mean a ferocious fixture is in the offing, as again pundits would struggle to separate the two tungsten titans, who have each one three of their previous six also.

MvG roared to rack up the highest checkout and most maximums last time out against The Thorn, and is odds-on at 4/7 and 5/6 to repeat those feats respectively. So, why not take better value at 5/2 for Mighty Mike to be anointed King of the Oche (win match, most 180s and highest checkout. If any of the markets are tied, bets will be settled as losers)?

Should your loyalties instead lie with The Flying Scotsman, a hedging of bets at 11/8 for a double chance of Anderson to win or a draw could prove profitable.

Raymond van Barneveld v Robert Thornton

Finally, we bring Belfast’s action to a close with second outings for both Barney and The Thorn (2/1), with both struggling to keep pace with the play-off chasing pack.

On paper Van Barneveld should easily get the better of his fellow veteran, but the inconsistent Dutchman could conceivably conspire to fluff his lines, with a 7/2 price for a draw appealing.

Still, Barney’s back is up against it if he is not to lose touch with those above, so the Dutchman is 10/11 for a tigerish triumph and 7/1 to beat The Thorn 7-5 for the second time this Premier League season. There are also tempting odds of 11/8 for Van Barneveld to send his Barney Army wild by notching most maximums.

Related

See our dedicated darts page for much more on the Premier League.

Coral’s top tip: Barney looks a good bet at 7/1 to beat Thornton 7-5.