Darts: Michael van Gerwen Thrashes Peter Wright on Premier League Night Two 

Michael van Gerwen won his first game of this year’s Premier League with a convincing 7-2 victory over Peter Wright. 

Darts: Michael van Gerwen Thrashes Peter Wright on Premier League Night Two 
(Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)
billymulley11
By Billy Mulley

Michael van Gerwen won five consecutive legs to secure a 7-2 win over Peter Wright, in a contest where the pair both struggled for consistency. 

Wright particularly lacked the composure that he demonstrated on night one and was subsequently beaten on a night where the Dutchman was there for the taking. 

Gary Anderson also secured his first win of this year's competition, edging Grand Slam champion José de Sousa 7-5.

In a contest that was seemingly following night one's pattern of draws, The Special One missed three darts to draw level, before Anderson clinched the victory. 

Jonny Clayton marked night two with his first ever Premier League win, beating Glen Durrant 7-3 on a night where last year's champion still lacked in confidence. 

Another newcomer to taste victory for the first time was Dimitri Van den Burgh, who was made to work for a 7-5 win over a spirited Nathan Aspinall. 

Concluding the night's action, Rob Cross looked a confident man in his 7-3 victory over James Wade

Van Gerwen out-grinds Wright

In a contest that has become increasingly spicy in recent years, van Gerwen's 7-2 victory was by no means the performance of the night.

The Dutchman grew more assured as the game continued, but knows he will have to improve if Premier League glory is to comes his way once again. 

Snakebite broke the Dutchman’s throw in the first leg, but van Gerwen replied with a break himself to equal the scoreline.  

Both players struggled for fluidity in the early stages of the contest, with the pair unable to find consistency with their doubles. 

The Scotsman had an opportunity to break in the fifth set, but van Gerwen finished up expertly and went on to win the final five legs with ease. 

It was by no means a thriller, but The Green Machine will be boosted by his ability to grind out a comfortable victory whilst averaging a mere 92. 

Van den Burgh narrowly beats Aspinall in stand-out affair

Van den Burgh would have considered himself unlucky not to beat The Green Machine on night one, but his 7-5 triumph over Aspinall showed exactly what The DreamMaker can do. 

The Belgian raced into a 3-1 lead and missed darts to make it four, but a spirited fightback that stemmed from a pivotal 144 checkout from last night’s only winner, saw Aspinall take a 5-3 lead. 

Both struggled throughout with their doubles but it was van den Bergh’s scoring power that aided another twist in proceedings, with The DreamMaker winning the next four legs to eventually seal the victory. 

The Belgian averaged 103.7 compared to Aspinall's 98.3 in a highly-competitive fixture that could have easily swung the other way. 

Elsewhere, Welshman Clayton was emphatic as he raced to six legs, securing a point, and despite Durrant showing some fight, the current Masters champion recorded his first win of the Premier League.

Anderson, a two-time world champion, was also showing why he can't be taken lightly in this competition, as he battled to a 7-5 win over de Sousa, while Cross beat Wade 7-3 in the last game of the night.

Unibet Premier League  
Night Two 
Monday 6 April 

Gary Anderson 7-5 José de Sousa 
Jonny Clayton 7-3 Glen Durrant 
Dimitri Van den Bergh 7-5 Nathan Aspinall 
Michael van Gerwen 7-2 Peter Wright 
James Wade 7-3 Rob Cross 

Night Three 
Wednesday 7 April (1900 BST) 

Rob Cross vs Michael van Gerwen
Glen Durrant vs Dimitri Van den Burgh
Peter Wright vs Gary Anderson
Nathan Aspinall vs James Wade
José de Sousa vs Jonny Clayton