Taylor Wins Holsten Premier League

PHIL TAYLOR won the 2006 Holsten Premier League Darts with a 16-6 victory over Roland Scholten in the final at the Plymouth Pavilions.

The 2005 champion was again unbeaten during the league phase of this year's tournament, and defeated Colin Lloyd and Scholten in the play-offs to claim the £50,000 first prize.

After averaging 105 in an 11-3 win over Lloyd in the semi-finals, he returned to the stage to see off Dutchman Scholten in style.

Scholten won 11-3 against Raymond van Barneveld in a shock victory earlier in the night, but was unable to repeat the heroics against against Taylor.

The game was finely poised at four-all after eight legs, but Taylor won the next seven to take an unassailable lead and the title.

Scholten matched Taylor blow for blow early in the game, pulling back from 3-1 down to level matters with a superb 156 checkout.

Taylor won the seventh leg before the Dutchman hit a 180 in the next on his way to squaring the game once more.

But he could do little to stop a typical Taylor charge as the defending champion reeled off seven successive legs, including a 124 finish in the 11th.

Scholten returned from the break at 11-4 to win the next leg with double top, but Taylor restored his lead in the next before taking out 142 to go 13-5 up.

He edged closer to the win despite a maximum from Scholten in the next, before the Dutchman produced a 136 checkout to stay in the game at 14-6.

But the comeback was to be short-lived, with Taylor taking the next two legs to seal victory and the £50,000 winner's cheque.

"I'm very proud," said Taylor - who averaged 100.52 over 14 games since February.

"It was a tough final. I wanted to be consistent and had to dig in. Roland missed a couple of doubles and let me off - I knew I had to take my chances.

"I'm very chuffed and this win also give a little bit back to my family for the hard work I put in.

"To keep at this standard I have to practice harder and I'm getting more dedicated as I get older."

Taylor was at his blistering best in the semi-finals, leaving Lloyd trailing in his wake in a repeat of the 2005 final.

Lloyd had to produce two 11-dart legs just to respond against Taylor, who avoided the upset which had seen Raymond van Barneveld crash out in the first semi-final.

Van Barneveld, who lost just once in 12 league games and hit a perfect nine-dart leg in Bournemouth, lost 11-3 to fellow Dutchman Roland Scholten.

Scholten saved his best display of the tournament for the play-offs, averaging 104 and landing five 180's in the game, with his early 5-0 lead proving too big an obstacle for van Barneveld to climb.

"It was an exciting night and full credit to Phil," said Scholten. "He was tremendous.

"I kept up with him for the first few legs but he's so consistent and he kept on punishing me.

"He's been like that for over ten years. He sets the standard that we all have to reach and he deserved the title."

More from last nights action here

Feckin summer tests, I missed the whole night of Darts.... thank god those tests are over:D

Anyhow it sounded like a good night of darts. Scholten always looks so good and rarely delivers (missing a lot of doubles) but, although he lost to Taylor in the end, beating Van Barneveld is a good sign. Maybe he can finally follow up on the UK open title win. As for Taylor, I know people get tired of him winning all the time but you have to appreciate the guy's brilliance and ability, how many titles has he won by now:confused: