George tips over the Jug
Reigning Knack Premier League champion Paul Williams finally lost his unbeaten record this season.
The Jug was the last man to finally taste defeat when Allen George claimed a fine 5-3 victory.
He had best legs of 16, 17 and two 19-darters, including two 180s, while Williams hit a 180 of his own in winning legs of 14, 15 and 19 darts.
Williams was involved in arguably the game of the season against a superb Eddie Ashman which went the full distance but Williams prevailed 5-3 with three 15-dart winning legs and a tremendous 11-darter.
Ashman replied had an excellent 12-darter as well as 15 and 17-dart legs as well as a 121 checkout.
George won his second game of the night, beating Will Neave 5-3.
Paul McGowan was in excellent form as he flew up the table with three excellent wins. He raced into a 3-0 lead in his first game against Dan Gillibrand in 15, 17 and 16 darts and despite a brief fightback from Gillibrand, he secured a 5-2 victory.
McGowan hit his second maximum of the night as he eased past John Scullion 5-1 before a 5-2 win over Rob McCluskey saw him claim nine points on the night.
Ryan Joyce, fresh from a superb England debut at the weekend, was pushed hard back at the Knack.
He beat former England International Davy Richardson 5-2 aided by three 180s and a brilliant 11-dart last leg which saw Joyce start with back-toback 180s.
Joyce had to come from 3-1 behind to win 5-3 in his second game against an impressive Spiller Henderson with both hitting two 17-darters.
Richardson also found himself on the wrong side of a 5-2 scoreline against an inspired performance by Arran Samuels with not one leg going over 19 darts.
Richard Selby collected seven points after wins against Ashman and McCluskey and a draw against Anth Skelton.
John Watson took six points from his three games after wins over Andrew Ambler and Barry Rutherford but Watson found Darren Patton too hot to handle as Patton secured an excellent 5-2 win with a hat-trick of 17 darters.
Patton had to settle for a draw in his other game against David Brown, who had earlier edged a tight 5-3 win against Ambler.
Graham Mullen continues to rise up the table after picking up maximum points. He beat Alan Smith, including a tremendous 12-darter with a 140 checkout, before dispatching Greame Hills 5-1 with best legs of 16, 17 and 18 darts.
Davey Thompson secured two narrow victories against Matthew Hodgson and Hills to remain well inside the top 10.
Dan Gillibrand defied a fightback from an out-of-sorts Neil Rose to win 5-3 with a 125 finish and a maximum in a 15-darter his best.
Rose’s night didn’t get much better as he had to settle for a point against an improving John Scullion, but he did pick up a win against Barry Rutherford in his third game.
Philly Dunn was a 5-1 winner over Ross Guy with best legs of 18 and 20 darts with Guy hitting a 180 in a 20-darter in reply. Dunn and Hodgson couldn’t be separated in a 4-4 draw while Guy was beaten 5-1 in his other game by Alan Smith.
Will Neave was a 5-3 winner over Dougie Hall which saw both players hit maximums, while Hall gained a point in his first game against Arran Samuels.