Super Spiller on song to maintain impressive Knack run
Spiller Henderson’s dream season in Seaham’s Knack Premier League shows no sign of slowing.
He again produced two excellent performances to cement his place in the top 11 this week.
In his first match, against high-flying Paul McGowan, it went the full distance with Henderson edging a narrow 5-3 win. Both players hit maximums and no leg went more than 20 darts.
Henderson then hammered Dougie Hall 5-0 in his second game, with best legs of 16, 18 and 19 darts.
Dave Prins was also on fine form, recording three 5-1 victories against Will Neave, Graham Mullen and, most impressively, defending champion Paul Williams.
Prins bagged two 180s and had a superb 140 checkout along the way.
Williams beat Anthony Gale 5-1 in his other game, despite a 180 from his opponent.
Tony Wood picked up maximum points with a 5-3 success against Andrew Ambler and a 5-2 defeat of Darren Patton, helped by two maximums and a brilliant best leg of 13 darts.
Ambler produced a moment of magic later in the night, firing a brilliant maximum 170 checkout in a hard-fought 5-2 defeat to Paul McGowan.McGowan won his final game, claiming a routine victory over Anthony Gale.
Chris Vaughan dropped just the one leg as he strolled to a 5-0 win over Alan Smith before easing past Philly Dunn 5-1.
Davey Thomson returned to form as he whitewashed Davy Brown 5-0 before thrashing off-form Neil Rose 5-1, with Thompson hitting two maximums and a 117 finish.
Allen George was a comfortable 5-1 winner over Rob McCluskey, helped by a 180 and finishes of 134 and 120, plus winning legs in 15, 18, 19, 19 and 16 darts.
George had to settle for a point earlier in a high quality game with fourth-placed Richard Selby, who also saw off Dougie Hall 5-1.
Graeme Hills picked up two wins. He outgunned Anth Skelton 5-1 before whitewashing youngster Ross Guy. Guy had no luck earlier as he was beaten by the same scoreline against Will Neave, while Skelton bounced back from his earlier defeat with a narrow 5-3 win over Eddie Ashman.
It was a setback for Ashman, who defeated McCluskey 5-1 in his first game.
Graham Mullen and Neil Rose could not be separated in a tense 4-4 stalemate, with a 180 in a 14-darter by Mullen the highlight.
Leader Ryan Joyce fought off a spirited display by Dan Gillibrand to run out a 5-2 victor before seeing off Matthew Hodgson 5-1.
Arran Samuels won both his games, beating Hodgson 5-2, with a 108 checkout and best legs of 16, 18 and 20 darts, before sinking Anthony Gale 5-1.
Philly Dunn hit two 180s as he defeated Darren Patton 5-2, with Patton managing a maximum of his own and a 107 checkout. Dunn powered home with winning legs of 16, 17, 18 and two 21-darters.
Patton had more success later as he beat Gillibrand with 17 and 18-dart legs his best moment. David Brown had a 15-darter as he beat Alan Smith 5-1.
180s: Philly Dunn x2, Davey Thompson x2, Tony Wood x2, Dave Prins x2, Darren Patton x1, Allen George x1, Eddie Ashman x1, Anthony Gale x1, Matthew Hodgson x1, Spiller Henderson x1, Paul McGowan x1, Graham Mullen x1, Ross Guy x1, Richard Selby x1
100+checkouts: Andrew Ambler 170, Dave Prins 140, Allen George 134, Allen George 120, Rob McCluskey 117, Davey Thompson 117, Anth Skelton 111, Arran Samuels 108, Darren Patton 107
Fewest darts: Tony Wood 13, Allen George 14, Graham Mullen 14, Dave Prins 14, Richard Selby 14, Allen George 15, Dave Prins 15, David Brown 15