Unibet Premier League
Thursday 15th February 2018
Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Rob Cross picked up his first Unibet Premier League win at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, beating world number two Peter Wright 7-4.
After defeats in the opening two weeks it was important for Cross to get some points on the board and he did so by hitting four 180s and averaging 98.46. The win lifts the Hastings man off the bottom of the table as Mensur Suljovic suffered a third straight defeat.
Cross made a decent enough start by winning the opening three legs of the match in 15, 15 and 14 darts. The opening two legs both saw missed darts at the bull for finishes of 81 and 164. The first was won by hitting double eight and the second, double sixteen. The third leg was won when Cross hit double six at the second attempt.
Missed darts at double ten and double five gave Wright his first shots at a double, hitting double eighteen for a 13 darter to trail 3-1. Wright then finished off 56 in two darts, hitting double twenty for a 14 darter to trail 3-2.
'Voltage' then had his best leg of the match, a 13 darter, taking out double top with Wright waiting on 65. Wright comfortably won the next in 11 darts with scores of 134, 180 and 100 then checking out on 47 (15, D16).
Wright missed darts at double eight and double four to level the match as Cross won the eighth leg in 18 darts by taking out double one to lead 5-3.
Cross then found double five in the next leg to extend his lead and secure his first point of the campaign in a 15 dart leg.
Missed darts at double sixteen and double eight let Wright back into the match as he took out 101 (T20, 9, D16) for a 15 darter.
Another 15 darter from Cross for a 51 finish (19, x, D16) sealed the victory after 'Snakebite' had missed darts at double nine and double four.
Wright hit just the one 180 and averaged 102.32.
"It's nice to get a win," said Cross. "I've not had a routine for the last six weeks but it's starting to come back and I'm getting back to my old self.
"The four-week gap after the World Championship was hard because I wasn't on the practice board as much and it killed my momentum, and I'm digging myself out of it now.
"I'm practising and playing well and enjoying myself, and it's getting better. It's all new for me still and the more you play, the more success you have and the better you feel."
| Results | ||
| Michael Smith | 7-2 | Mensur Suljovic |
| Daryl Gurney | 6-6 | Gerwyn Price |
| Rob Cross | 7-4 | Peter Wright |
| Michael van Gerwen | 7-3 | Gary Anderson |
| Simon Whitlock | 7-4 | Raymond van Barneveld |
League Table
| Pos | Pld | Won | Drawn | Lost | Legs | Points | |
| 1 | Simon Whitlock | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +11 | 6 |
| 2 | Michael Smith | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +10 | 6 |
| 3 | Michael van Gerwen | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +7 | 4 |
| 4 | Peter Wright | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| 5 | Raymond van Barneveld | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| 6 | Gary Anderson | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 2 |
| 7 | Daryl Gurney | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -3 | 2 |
| 8 | Gerwyn Price | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -4 | 2 |
| 9 | Rob Cross | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -8 | 2 |
| 10 | Mensur Suljovic | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -9 | 0 |