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Peter Wright and Fallon Sherrock (Picture: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

Darts results: Fallon Sherrock beaten 5-1; Gerwyn Price survives scare; MVG eases past Ashton

By Sporting Life

Darts

Sun November 14, 2021 · 3y ago

Fallon Sherrock paid the price for a string of missed doubles as Peter Wright got his Grand Slam bid off to a winning start.

Wright won 5-1 to match Gabriel Clemens' defeat of Mike de Decker in Group E, but the scoreline didn't necessarily reflect a match which saw both players waste chances.

Nor did Wright ever look in danger after taking the first two legs, but Sherrock broke back in the third and ought to have done so again in the fifth, ultimately missing eight darts at double.

Wright, who missed 11, still appeared some way short of title-winning form but the round-robin format of this prestigious event give him time to find it.

𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗦 𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗡! 🐍

It's a superb start to Peter Wright's Grand Slam campaign, closing out a dominant 5-1 success over fan-favourite Fallon Sherrock! pic.twitter.com/zLHo8GEcDw
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 13, 2021

"I was happy with how I played in patches," said Wright, the world number two.

"It was always going to be difficult playing Fallon, she's and awesome darts player but she let me off a little bit tonight by missing doubles.

"I feel really good at the moment. A couple of players have said they are going to win it but I'm going to win it and I'll back it up like I did at the Matchplay."

MVG ruthless in Ashton whitewash

Earlier, Michael van Gerwen averaged over 105 in a 5-0 defeat of Lisa Ashton, who couldn't live with the three-time world champion.

Van Gerwen missed just three darts at double in a business-like performance which sets him up nicely in Group G, where Joe Cullen also won 5-0 against John Henderson.

"I'm not coming back, I am back," said van Gerwen, a three-time Grand Slam winner.

"I've been playing well recently. I'm happy, I'm concentrated and I'm feeling good. The first game is always difficult. Lisa is a credit to women's sport and I had to stay focussed but I did the job."

𝗠𝗔𝗝𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗠𝘃𝗚! 🇳🇱

Well, that was SENSATIONAL! 🤯

Michael van Gerwen averages almost 106 in whitewashing Lisa Ashton and Mighty Mike means business this week in Wolverhampton... pic.twitter.com/DJWPH5owrG
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 13, 2021

Gary Anderson's flawless record in the group stake may be under threat if he doesn't improve on the standards of a 5-1 defeat of an injured Joe Davis.

Anderson missed 17 attempts at double and, but for the two 180s and occasional flourishes of promise, put in a display which would not have concerned Michael Smith nor Raymond van Barneveld.

Their game was the closest of the evening, as Smith came from behind to win 5-4, averaging just over 100 in the process.

In Group F, defending champion Jose de Sousa was sharp in a 5-1 defeat of Matthew Campbell while Mensur Suljovic got the better of Luke Humphries, winning 5-3 in a match which may yet determine who qualifies alongside de Sousa.

Price given fright as Grand Slam begins

Gerwyn Price survived an early scare as the 2021 Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts got underway on Saturday in Wolverhampton.

World number one Price was pushed all the way to a last-leg decider by 21-year-old Northern Irishman Nathan Rafferty, who missed a dart at the bullseye to topple the two-time Grand Slam champion on his debut.

Price had bust a 100 checkout in the eighth leg, allowing Rafferty to level, but the Welshman held his nerve in the decider to pin double five and take the points.

"I missed a lot of opportunities and wasn't at my best but a win is a win," said Price, the 2018 and 2019 champion at the Aldersley Leisure Village.

"Nathan played well in patches and so did I. I've never failed to win this tournament in this venue and I am going to win it again."

𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗦𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗧! ❄️

Gerwyn Price survives a match dart at the bull as he clinches a hard-fought deciding leg victory over debutant Nathan Rafferty! pic.twitter.com/wm32I5uxjG
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 13, 2021

Eagle soars and Clayton roars

Price will take on Krzysztof Ratajski in his second round robin match on Sunday after the Polish ace eased past Germany's Martin Schindler in the Group A curtain-raiser, prevailing 5-1.

Jonny Clayton continued his excellent form in 2021 with a 5-3 victory against Austrian youngster Rusty-Jake Rodriguez. The Welshman, who has won the last two televised PDC tournaments, averaged 101.5 in a strong opening display.

Clayton, who has picked up four TV titles in total this year, broke his opponent in the first leg and went on to triumph despite a decent debut performance from the 20-year-old.

"I broke him early and that's what changed the game," said Clayton, who will meet the other Group B winner Bradley Brooks on Sunday.

"I am just a darts player who is trying to do my job but things are going well, I'm feeling good and hoping to get another ranking title under my belt."

𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗧𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗦! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Man of the moment Jonny Clayton averages 101.50 in defeating Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 5-3 in a close encounter with the young Austrian! pic.twitter.com/g9Rg5AfjOf
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 13, 2021

Brooks topples King

Brooks enjoyed a 5-1 success over the experienced Mervyn King to join Clayton on two points. The PDC Unicorn World Youth champion took full advantage of an out-of-sorts display from King to clinch victory on his Grand Slam debut.

European champion Rob Cross triumphed 5-0 over Croatia's Boris Krcmar, who missed nine darts at doubles in his first appearance on the Wolverhampton stage.

Cross will face Jim Williams on Sunday after the the UK Challenge Tour Order of Merit winner made it three wins from three for Welshmen when he defeated three-time Grand Slam finalist James Wade 5-4.

Ryan Joyce defied a 106.7 average from Stephen Bunting to claim the opening match of this year's event 5-4. Bunting missed double top for a 148 checkout in the deciding leg before his opponent cleaned up 68 to win a game in which every leg went with the throw.

Former World Youth Championship finalist Rowby-John Rodriguez earned an impressive 5-3 success against Chris Dobey, who was a late replacement for Dimitri Van den Bergh.