Darts results: Joe Cullen beats table-topping Jonny Clayton in Night 15 final

By Sporting Life

Darts

Fri May 20, 2022 · 3y ago

Joe Cullen dominated Night 15 of the Premier League to keep his play-off hopes alive, as Jonny Clayton sealed top spot in the table.

Cullen beat Clayton 6-4 in an absorbing final which The Rockstar had dominated until a 144 checkout from his opponent threatened to turn the match on its head.

Cullen though kept tabs on Clayton in the following leg and, when the door opened, strode through by hitting double eight for a 62 finish.

Clayton's consolation prize is the knowledge that he will top the regular season standings, which was confirmed when he saw off Michael Smith 6-4 in their semi-final.

The Welshman soon found himself on the back foot against Cullen though and despite fighting back from 5-2 to get within one, hope of a comeback was soon swept aside by Cullen, a worthy winner on the night.

🎸 THE NUMBER ONE AT THE O2! 👑

Joe Cullen is the King in the Capital! He wins his second Premier League night, defeating league leader Jonny Clayton 6-4 in the Night 15 final!

What a night for The Rockstar! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/qhJobZUViF
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 19, 2022

“The format is really cut-throat, I was under a lot of pressure tonight and I responded well,” said Cullen, who will qualify with victory over Peter Wright next Thursday.

“I’ve put so much pressure on myself in these last few weeks. Some of the performances – I’ve got no issue in saying this – I have been embarrassed, genuinely embarrassed.

“I don’t think I was great tonight, but I just ground the results out. It should have been a simple finish at the end, but it wasn’t and that’s been my story of the Premier League this year.

“You are trying to pick a game when you can guarantee two points and it’s impossible. We can all play really good darts on the night.”

The Yorkshireman had breezed through to the Night 15 final with a brace of 6-1 wins over Scottish duo Gary Anderson and Wright.

Cullen fired in four 180s to demolish Anderson, before punishing a below-par display from Wright, who accounted for James Wade in the quarter-finals.

Clayton secured a spot in his seventh final – his fourth in five weeks – with victories over Gerwyn Price and Michael Smith in the capital.

The 47-year-old eased past fellow countryman Price 6-3 in the evening’s opener, before ending Smith’s Play-Off hopes with a hard-fought 6-4 success to guarantee top spot.

The Welshman becomes just the fourth player in Premier League history to top the league phase, following in the footsteps of Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Glen Durrant.

The Cazoo Premier League roadshow heads to Newcastle’s Utilita Arena for the final night of league phase action on Thursday May 26, with Wright and Cullen facing off in a blockbuster clash.

Wade, who is now assured of qualification, meets Price - who is now out of contention - while table-topper Clayton meets Anderson.

Elsewhere, Van Gerwen and Smith collide in the quarter-finals for a second straight week, after the St Helen’s star finally defeated the Dutchman at the sixth attempt in this year’s Premier League.

Premier League Night 15 results

Quarter-finals

Gerwyn Price (91.99) 3-6 (96.92) Jonny Clayton
Michael Smith (86.33) 6-5 (93.22) Michael van Gerwen
James Wade (80.74) 3-6 (94.30) Peter Wright
Joe Cullen (93.00) 6-1 (83.97) Gary Anderson

Semi-finals

Jonny Clayton (97.16) 6-4 (92.70) Michael Smith
Joe Cullen (94.23) 6-1 (89.92) Peter Wright

Final

Joe Cullen (93.04) 6-4 (91.44) Jonny Clayton

Premier League Table & Format

The Premier League Darts table after week 15

Each night will see quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final played over the best of 11 legs (first to six). Each player will meet the other seven players twice over the course of the season in a quarter-final game, plus two further nights (Night Eight and Night 16) will feature additional fixtures in the same format. Those fixtures will be a draw bracket based on how the league table looks at the time. So, whoever is top will face the eighth-placed player in the first round.