World Matchplay - Match Reports Third Day

Wayne Jones 10:6 Scott Rand
Wayne Jones denied Scott Rand a debut victory in the Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay, as he took a 10-6 win from their clash at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Rand has impressed in qualifying for the World Matchplay through the Players Championship series of events this year, and performed well as he followed up last month's UK Open with a second appearance in front of the television cameras.
However, Jones - a quarter-finalist last year in Blackpool - showed his quality with a mid-game surge of winning four successive legs which proved crucial in the final outcome.

The opening stages were a tight affair, with Rand hitting double 16 to win the first leg but missing two darts to break in the second as Jones levelled. The next two were also shared before Rand landed a 180 and double nine for a 3-2 lead, only for Jones to reply with a 106 checkout before producing the first break of the game in the seventh, courtesy of a maximum and double 16 in a 13-darter.
Jones then took the next two legs after Rand missed the final double on combinations of 138 and 131, with double 16 and double 18 giving Jones a sudden 6-3 advantage. Rand stopped the run with a 69 finish, but a brilliant 11-darter from Jones gave him a seventh leg. The next two legs went against the throw, and at 8-5 down Rand threatened to continue his fightback by firing in a 180 - only for Jones to reply by finishing 341 with a maximum followed by a 161 checkout to put him a leg away from the win.
Rand posted double nine in the next to keep himself alive a 9-6, but missed three darts to stay in the match as Jones posted double 16 to seal his second round spot.

"I'm pleased to be through but not happy with how I played," said Jones. "It was an average display and that performance won't get me past Phil Taylor in the second round, but I won and will work to improve. It's frustrating because I know I'm playing well and I didn't show that against Scott. My run last year started in Blackpool and hopefully I can lift on Thursday."

Rand said: "I enjoyed it. The darts didn't go as they were supposed to, there were a lot of fives and I missed two doubles for big finishes, 138 and a 131. If I'd hit them I'd have stayed level and it would have been more of a battle, but that's darts. I enjoyed the experience and it was good to be up in front of the crowd, and I'll look forward to next time."



Justin Pipe 10:6 Mervyn King
Justin Pipe enjoyed a dream Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay debut with a 10-6 victory over Mervyn King at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
The 39-year-old from Taunton claimed his maiden televised victory, capitalising on a below-par display from King as the world number nine, suffering from a bout of tennis elbow, became only the second seeded player to be knocked out so far in the event.

Pipe, who has played in the Grand Slam of Darts and World Championship in the past year, settled any early nerves by finishing 116 to win the opening leg. The next two legs were shared before King took command, landing a 120 finish to level in the fourth, a 75 checkout in the fifth to break for the first time and a 90 finish to lead 4-2. Pipe traded 180s with King before finishing 96 for the seventh leg, and broke back to square the contest on double nine in the next.
King replied with a 91 checkout, but Pipe made his move by winning three successive legs, twice punishing misses from his opponent before hitting a 180 in an 11-darter to move 7-5 up. He also missed three darts to win the next as King took out 76 to reduce the gap to one leg, but another 180 from Pipe was followed by double four as he broke to lead 8-6, double top moved him a leg away from victory and double ten secured a precious win.



Phil Taylor 10:8 Mark Hylton
Phil Taylor overcame the spirited challenge of Mark Hylton to begin his challenge to win a 12th Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay title with a 10-8 victory over the Blackpool debutant on Monday night.
Newcomer Hylton, the emerging left-hander from Staffordshire, led Taylor 3-1 early on and hit back from 9-5 down to reduce the gap to one leg as he threatened an amazing fightback. Hylton also opened the 18th leg with a 180, but when he was unable to finish 121 Taylor crucially held his nerve to secure a narrow victory, as he seeks to claim his first major televised title of the year.

"I'm relieved to get through that because Mark came back well at me and when he hit that 180 in the last leg I was thinking we were going have a tie-breaker!" said Taylor. "His scoring was brilliant and he's a cracking player. He's done his apprenticeship and was impressive. I've got a lot of improvement in me yet and I know I need to be averaging around 106 to be in contention here, but the key thing is that I'm still in and I'll prepare well to play Wayne Jones on Thursday."

Taylor hit a 180 in the opening leg, but Hylton replied in kind and hit double 16 for a 14-darter to make a strong start. Taylor levelled, on double 16, but Hylton edged the third and then first in double top to break and take a shock 3-1 lead against the world number one - who has lost his World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, World Championship, Premier League Darts and UK Open titles since last summer.
If Taylor was feeling that pressure though, he hit back in style, winning the fifth leg on double 16 to enter the break just one leg behind, before hitting back-to-back 180s in opening the sixth, which he won in 11 darts. He also took out 96 and then took out 92 for another 11-darter as he moved 5-3 up with a third successive leg.
Hylton finished 66 to stop that run, but Taylor fired in another treble, posting a 115 finish, double eight and double 18 in moving 8-4 up and on course for the win. Hylton landed a 180 and double ten for the 13th leg, but was left with a mountain to climb when Taylor finished 112 to lead 9-5 and move a leg away from the win. His opponent, though, took out 108 to save the match in the next leg, before a 61 finish continued his comeback and a 119 checkout left Taylor anxiously looking on as the gap was cut to 9-8.
Hylton opened the next leg with a 180 and was first to a finish, but when needing 121 he could only score 27, and Taylor pounced to take out 68 to wrap up the win.



Wes Newton 10:2 Andy Smith
Wes Newton broke his Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay jinx with a fine 10-2 victory over Andy Smith at the Winter Gardens on Monday night.
Both Newton and Smith have failed to take victory on the Winter Gardens stage in a total of nine previous meetings, and it was last month's UK Open finalist who emerged triumphant as Smith endured a Blackpool nightmare.
Newton won the opening six legs without reply, and went on to set up a second round date with Justin Pipe after completing a comprehensive win.

Newton broke in the opening leg on double ten, and a 57 finish in the second leg saw him take command before two misses from Smith allowed him back in to hit double nine for a 3-0 cushion. He also won the fourth leg with another double ten finish, and he then landed a 180 in a 14-darter to win the fifth and took out 84 on the bull to move six legs clear. Smith finally got off the mark in the next, finishing 127 on the bullseye, but after Newton won the eighth on tops a further two misses allowed the home favourite in to move 8-1 up.
Smith posted a maximum in the tenth leg, but Newton's 67 for a 14-darter took him to the brink of victory, and although he missed three match darts in the next leg, four ton-plus scores pushed him clear in the 12th before he sealed victory on double eight.

"It's been a long time coming and I'm delighted to win," said Newton. "Andy didn't play as well as he can and it wasn't the best game you'll ever see, but a win's a win and I am in the next round. I'm here and I'm fighting for the title. The crowd were brilliant and they've always been behind me here in Blackpool, so I'm glad they've got something to sing about at last."







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