Thornton begins World Seniors Darts Matchplay campaign with Dawson win, Jenkins downs debutant Baxter
WSDT
Two more players are into the Quarter-Finals of the World Seniors Darts Matchplay with Robert Thornton, the reigning World Champion among those after seeing off Brian Dawson in an 8-5 win with four 180's en route.
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Thornton missed 121 after a quality start to the tie from both and also more doubles as Dawson took an opening hold. A 50 checkout saw Dawson seal a break to go 2-0 up. A poor leg from ‘Doggy’ saw Thornton seal a break back at 2-1 down.
Thornton missed darts to break again but Dawson thought double five went in and it didn’t and it allowed ‘The Thorn’ to make to 3-2. A 140 and 180 back to back though put Dawson in control on Thornton’s throw but again his doubles let him down and Thornton pinned his favourite double 20 for a 4-2 lead.
On return, Dawson pinned a 180 before finally hitting double four after handing Thornton a break opportunity and it was set at 4-3 but again on double 20, Thornton made it 5-3 to reopen his cushion and that was extended to three legs with another break as he went two away.
Thornton missed the bull for a 124 to hold and Dawson returned to break back at 6-4 down. A 180 and 83 checkout saw him go one away after Dawson held. A 180 and 42 checkout saw him seal it.
Joining him was Terry Jenkins who defied double trouble to see off Ronnie Baxter 8-5 who himself didn't look as poor as potentially the pre match billing told with potential dartitis rumoured but it is 'The Bull' who moves through.
These potential issues weren't on show from the start and Baxter sealed an opening hold after handing Jenkins multiple chances to break. ‘The Bull’ pinned double 12 in order to level up.
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Baxter was way back and Jenkins broke throw on double five to make it 2-1. Baxter pinned 52 in order to break again though at 2-2.
Jenkins pinned a 180 and double 16 to break again at 3-2 and he finally held at 4-2 to head into the interval in front. He broke on return to go 5-2 up before pinning double 13 to go two away.
Baxter held throw with a 74 checkout to make it 6-3 as he looked for a last revival. Jenkins fluffed his lines on holding multiple times and handed Baxter a break to make it 6-4.
A 119 checkout on the bull saw Baxter turn the heat up with a hold at 6-5. But this heat wasn’t enough as Jenkins upped the gears slightly and took the next two legs for the win.
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