Unibet Premier League

Thursday 22nd March 2018

SSE Hydro, Glasgow

Rob Cross continued his great run in the Unibet Premier League, coming from one leg down to beat Gerwyn Price 7-1 at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.

 

Having lost his opening two matches in his inaugural year in the Premier League, Cross has gone on to record five straight victories. The run has seen the Hastings man climb from the relegation zone up to third in the league table with just two rounds of matches to be played before the bottom two players are eliminated.

 

Prior to the match Cross said "I've been working hard recently and I'm feeling good. My doubles went great last week but my scoring wasn't as relentless so it's not all come out yet but it was an improvement.

 

"I feel great at the minute and I'm a lot more comfortable in the Premier League now. As long as I'm focused and I know I'm playing well, I'll get the results."

 

The world champ made a slow start to the match despite hitting a maximum in the opening leg. A bunch of mediocre scores left Cross on 124 after 15 darts thrown. Price then missed a dart at double top for a 114 finish. Going for the 124, Cross hit a single twenty and a treble eighteen to leave the bull but fired wide into a single eight. Price returned and hit double top for a 16 darter and a break of throw.

 

The second leg was a bit better and although no maximums were hit Cross found himself on 56 after 15 darts with Price on 40. The welshman then fired low with a dart at tops, threw his dart at double ten into a single fifteen and then bust his score. Cross took out the 56 to level the match with a single twenty and hitting double eighteen at the second attempt to level the match.

 

'Voltage' then upped his game by winning the third leg in 12 darts with scores of 78, 180, 100 and a superb 143 checkout (T18, T19, D16) with Price left back on 265.

 

It was soon 3-1 to Cross as he took the next in 11 darts with scores of 180, 100, 140 and an 81 finish (T19, D12). This time Price had 56 left after 12 darts thrown.

 

The next three legs were all won in 14 darts with finishes of 67 (T17, D8), 40 (x, D20) and 50 (18, D16).

 

The winning leg of the match that sealed the 7-1 win was won in 15 darts. After leaving 246 after nine darts Cross hit a 180 and finished off 66 with a single ten, single twenty and double eighteen with Price having missed a dart at double top and one at double ten to extend the match.

 

Cross averaged 102.57. Price averaged 92.42

 

Following the match Cross said "It took me a couple of legs to settle, but when I started to play I played well and it's a good win for me.

 

"I'm feeling comfortable and I've got a good routine now. You can't win every week but you want to perform and I'm in a good place at the moment.

 

"I'm playing well and I'll look forward to the next game now. I've turned it around after the first couple of weeks and I'm really happy with my game. I'm clinical at the end of legs and that's the biggest thing for me."

 

Results
Daryl Gurney 7-3 Mensur Suljovic
Michael van Gerwyn 7-2 Michael Smith
Gary Anderson 7-4 Simon Whitlock
Raymond van Barneveld 7-1 Peter Wright
Rob Cross 7-1 Gerwyn Price

League Table

 

Pos Pld Won Drawn Lost Legs Points
1 Michael van Gerwyn 7 6 0 1 +24 12
2 Michael Smith 7 5 0 2 +13 10
3 Rob Cross 7 5 0 2 +9 10
4 Raymond van Barneveld 7 3 2 2 +3 8
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5 Gary Anderson 7 2 3 2 +1 7
6 Simon Whitlock 7 3 1 3 +1 7
7 Daryl Gurney 7 1 4 2 -4 6
8 Mensur Suljovic 7 2 0 5 -8 4
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9 Peter Wright 7 1 2 4 -19 4
10 Gerwyn Price 7 0 2 5 -20 2