The business end of the 2010 Premier League is approaching and the world’s finest head to the Sheffield Arena tonight to stake their claim for a place at finals night at Wembley in May:
Terry Jenkins v Adrian Lewis
It’s desperate times at the moment for out-of form Terry Jenkins as he looks to halt an alarming sequence of six consecutive Premier League defeats. Given the choice of opponents, the Ledbury man would probably have opted for other options than a white-hot Adrian Lewis. That said, his only victory in nine this year came against the young Potteries star in week three, at a good deal shorter than the 9/2 he is available at this time around. It’s the nature of the defeats he has suffered that is prompting the layers to oppose ‘The Raging Bull’. His averages in the three previous weeks have dipped to below the 90 mark whilst in contrast; Lewis is continuing to notch up numbers around the 100 mark. The bookmakers are taking no chances on Jackpot recording a third successive victory and install him as a general 4/9 favourite.
Ronnie Baxter v Mervyn King
Despite suffering defeats last time out, both men still occupy two of the four play-off places and will be looking to reinforce their claim for a place at Wembley in May. Ronnie Baxter was disappointing in last week’s loss to an under-par Phil Taylor as he posted his worst average of the tournament so far (88.07). The weekend’s tournaments in Barnsley yielded no great returns with ‘The Rocket’ losing early on to former Lakeside Champion Ritchie Burnett on Saturday and also to Co Stompe in the last 16 on Sunday. King’s record was identical with the East Anglian coming unstuck against eventual winner Mark Walsh in Sunday’s UK Open qualifier. With both players in patchy form and the fact that Baxters’s first six games went the distance, firms are staying on the tight side of the total legs market with over 12.5 available to back at just 4/7. King is a shade odds on for the match at 5/6 with Baxter a 5/2 shot at Skybet.
James Wade v Phil Taylor
James Wade has made a fine return to form in this year’s Premier League; his 8-4 drubbing of Mervyn King in Glasgow last week catapulted him onto the verge of the top four. With Phil Taylor averaging under 100 in his latest two victories, there is a sense that Wade has a real chance of toppling the world number one; something he has managed in both of his years in the Premier League so far. Totesport are a standout 5/1 on the former mechanic chalking up another victory with Ladbrokes going 7/2 on the draw no bet market. He hit more 180s than anyone has in any match in this year’s competition (7) last week and his average of 3.89 180s per match is second only to Adrian Lewis (Taylor 3.56). With this in mind, it’s nice to see 15/8 being dangled on Wade finding his range on the lipstick and outscoring ‘The Power’ on the maximums.
Raymond van Barneveld v Simon Whitlock
Last on in Sheffield is the battle of the ‘Jekyll & Hydes’ with a repeat of the World Championship semi final at Alexandra Palace earlier this year. It was Whitlock who prevailed that night, as he did in week three against the same opponent but the inconsistent nature of both players involved perhaps suggests this could be one to swerve from a punting perspective. Barney has now embarked on a three match losing streak after his tournament high 106.92 average in Manchester five weeks ago whist Whitlock’s record since week three reads win, loss, win, loss, win, loss, win. Van Barneveld is granted slight favouritism with Boylesports and Bwin going 6/5 with Whitlock available at 6/4. The draw is trading as low as 3/1.
Verdict
James Wade to hit more 180s than Phil Taylor at 15/8 (Various)
James Wade draw no bet to beat Phil Taylor at 7/2 (Ladbrokes)
