Darts

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Taylor reveals he wanted to hit rival with “a shovel”

PHIL TAYLOR has told Gerwyn Price to “calm it down” and admits that he wanted to “strangle” Paul Nicholson. 

The 16-times World Champion opened up on a legendary career of mind games and rivalries and revealed he misses the banter with Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson. 

But Taylor, now 61, also said he wanted to hit out at foes Peter Manley and Nicholson. 

He told the Darts Show Podcast: “I could wind people up dead easy. Peter Manley was good, I enjoyed the banter with Peter. Now we get on really well, he makes me laugh. 

“But at the time I didn’t like him at all. As soon as he walked into a room I wanted to hit him with a shovel. It was horrible. 

“He made me practice. He beat me at Blackpool and took the board down to sign for somebody. 

“After that I won about near enough everything. I won one and a half million. And I always called it Manley’s millions. I went thank you very much for that. The other players were having a go at Peter about it.”

Nicholson famously waved Taylor off stage after beating him in the 2011 UK Open. 

Taylor added: “The only one who got really under my skin was Paul Nicholson. I felt like strangling him. He was winding people up, especially me. They were coming over from the BDO and I was always the target, I was the main man. 

“I thought that was funny, I thought ‘you’re an idiot’ because the crowd are going to go mental at you now and he wasn’t the person to take it. How brash he was, he’s actually very sensitive and he’d break his heart about it.

“I said to him ‘Paul don’t do it because you’ll only make a rod for your own back’.

“You will get labelled with that every time you play. You’ll get booed. Like Gerwyn (Price) now.”

Taylor also gave his advice to current boo-boy Price, adding: “Calm it down a little bit. Do it at the right times. He did a lovely 170 at the weekend. The young German lad was sitting on double top. Then, yes, let it go. But not if you hit a ton.”

The Power also revealed he loved his battles with Dutch giants Raymond van  Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen, plus the banter with Adrian Lewis and Scots star Anderson. 

He said: “Michael is winner definitely a winner mentality. Apart from Barney, who was a terrible loser. Hating losing with a passion. I’ve seen him grab his arm and pull all the drinks on the floor. 

“Michael, I’ve seen him break his heart. That to me says a lot about Michael. He really is trying 100 per cent. 

“It’s different now. I always got on with Barney but then I always wanted to beat him. But I still enjoyed it.

“Then the youngsters coming through, you don’t it because they’re a different generation, different conversations. They’re in there with iPads, things in their ears. We used to have a laugh and a joke, especially me and Adie and Gary Anderson. We were always taking the mickey out of each other. It’s all changed so it was time for me to go now.”

Image by Taylor Lanning

Sherrock aims to be a States smash hit like Raducanu

Sherrock aims to be a States smash hit like Raducanu

By Phil Lanning

FALLON SHERROCK is aiming to be a New York smash hit like Emma Raducanu on her World Series debut.

The Queen of the Palace hits the Big Apple in the US Masters tonight (Friday) when she takes on Leonard Gates at Madison Square Garden.

Sherrock, 27, admits that she has learnt to deal with the hype and would love to make her name in the States like tennis ace Raducanu. 

She said: “I definitely feel for Emma. It’s horrible. I get why people put pressure on, ignore everyone and just deal with the pressure you put on yourself. I just chill out and play. 

“I do feel sorry, the online abuse is ridiculous. I don’t understand why social media platforms don’t do anything about it. 

“Can I be the next Emma in New York? I hope so, I’ll try. 

“I do think it’s getting closer. I think the only issue right now is there’s not enough women able to do it. I think there’s about three women. 

“Hopefully the Women’s Series is going to build up the women’s game so they can get to that stage and get a big win. 

“It’s closing in but I still think there’s a massive gap of who can do it. Right now only about three people who can do it.

“I’ve been close, maybe if I play a bit more, I’ll get there. My issue still is the floor games. I can’t take my stage game to the floor. On stage I never think I’m going to lose, it’s like a weird confidence boost. The more I play on stages, it will eventually get there.”

Sherrock also admits she doesn’t read social media after getting so much stick over the hype following her wins over men at the Ally Pally in late 2019. She added: “Most of the time it’s not the professional people who are saying it. The people on TV just see women playing men. The actual professional game of it, they see women as good players now. Which is where we’ve wanted to get to but now we get everything and the kitchen sink thrown at us.

“I’ve learnt to cope and deal with it. At the start I got caught up with it, reading everything, it got really bad. Now I just don’t read anything. People have their opinion yes it’s massive hype and stuff. I did do it, it’s not like I didn’t do it.

“With today’s society, it’s just how the world is. You just have to accept that people will criticise you, people are going to love you. You might as well ignore everything and do what you’ve got to do.”

PLNottingham_AndersonF1

Anderson admits he’s stuck in a “rut”

By Phil Lanning

GARY ANDERSON admits he’s in a Premier League “rut” before facing protege Michael Smith.

The Flying Scotsman has remarkably only won five matches in 11 nights before their quarter-final clash in Dublin.

Ando, 51, is bottom of the league and takes on Smith who is just one place above him and without a win in five weeks. 

He said: “Michael’s been in a couple of finals this season and we all know how good he can be.

“It’s a few weeks now since he’s won and he’s in a bit of a rut, similar to me, and it’s hard to get out of it.

“Even winning your first game one night can change things around but the more you lose the harder it gets.

“If you get a couple of results, all of a sudden things can change the other way. The way this Premier League’s gone, if you get a shot and don’t take it you’re bang in trouble and we both know that.

“I always seem to turn up and play well against Michael – even in some of the floor tournaments we’ve had some brilliant matches.”

Despite the grim record in the league, Anderson has far from written off his chances with the Glasgow night just a week away.

He added: If you can win the next three weeks then it’s 15 points and I know I’m right in the mix for the Play-Offs.

“If I play like I did the night that I won in Nottingham then I’ll be okay – it’s just that those nights are too few and far between at the moment.

“We’re both down there in the table – if it wasn’t for us the table would collapse! But it’s always competitive against Michael because we want to get the bragging rights against each other.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.

PLLIVERPOOL_38

Cullen ready to spice it up in Scotland

By Phil Lanning

JOE CULLEN is ready to face the Scottish crowds and spice it up with a bit of Cinnamon.

The Ladbrokes Masters champ has been an excellent addition to the Premier League as a three-time finalist and winner in Rotterdam.

Now he faces the prospect of taking on Peter Wright for his first-ever Scottish homecoming as World No.1 and World Champion in Aberdeen tomorrow (Thursday) night. 

Cullen, 32, has even taken advice for hometown hero John Henderson, revealing: “I’ve done lots of exhibitions in Aberdeen and around Scotland and I love the crowds.

“I’m in the same management stable as John Henderson, so I’ve managed to have a few with him and I change my walk on song to Belter by Gerry Cinnamon.

“It goes down well, especially when everyone has had a drink. I’m going to try and come out to it in Glasgow.

“I asked Hendo and he said that Gerry Cinnamon was a Glasgow boy, so it might be better for there than Aberdeen.

“Hendo is great. Everyone likes him. No-one has a bad word to say about him and I’m no different.”

Cullen has surprised many with his league form and his final defeat to James Wade last week leaves him just three points behind Wright.

A win over Snakebite could see him overtake him and go into the top four final places. 

He added: “It’s a bit full-on and after this weekend we have five Premier League followed by five Euro Tours, which is going to be tough.

“But I’d much rather that than be watching at home and I enjoy it every week. 

“It’s the pinnacle of the game to be in it and I’m one of the lucky ones.

“I’ve said a couple of times there’s been games this year on the floor that I shouldn’t have won. It’s like opponents are almost frightened to beat you.

“If you are off your game, they try to jump all over you and try too hard. I’m speaking from experience because I used to be the same.

“My first four or five years playing, whenever I drew a Premier League player, I was desperate to beat them and you struggled to play your normal game.

“The first Pro Tour I won this year, I should have lost a couple of games. “The guys had me on toast, but when it came to the big shots, they missed them.

“Sometimes you can afford a slow start as they are, if you like, caught in the headlines.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.

menzies

Tearful Menzies admits it “wasn’t pretty”

By Phil Lanning

TEARFUL Cameron Menzies admitted it “wasn’t pretty” after winning his opening WDF World Championship clash.

The Ayrshire ace beat Ian Jones 3-1 in a cracking encounter at the Lakeside yesterday afternoon.

Menzies, 32, was watched by girlfriend Fallon Sherrock as he led 1-0 only for Jones to peg it back. But he then scorched home with ease. 

He said: “It was one of those games. It wasn’t great, it wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t fancy, it wasn’t nice, it was a battle.

“It was a left punch, right punch, left punch. I broke his throw, he broke me back. There was spells of scoring and then spells of nothing. 

“I didn’t want to go last set, I was like please just hold your throw and get off that stage. 

“All I could think about was it’s my first time up there, I’ve never won up there. So that was why I was getting adrenalin and nerves were packing in. 

“I’ve played in big venues but that stage has been there for years. That was adrenalin, I don’t know!

“I just wanted to win I didn’t want that last set and go that far, I wanted to kill it off. Just get it done and chill out. 

“I had spells when I was banging them in. But he didn’t let me go. I wasn’t great, I’ve played better. 

“Sometimes it’s not how good you are, it’s the mentality difference. He kept making sure I wasn’t making mistakes, he was always there.”

Known as ‘Mad Cammy’ in WDF circles, Menzies could now face former BDO World Champ Wayne Warren in the last 16.

He added: “I’m just chuffed to win, that means a lot to me. Hopefully I won’t be as nervous next time. 

“There’s something about that stage that makes you nervous. Lakeside is a famous stage and it brings back memories, there’s nostalgia about it, a whole buzz about it. I just wanted to win a game and it meant a lot.”

Picture WDF/Chris Sargeant

PLLIVERPOOL_73

Price blasts that “game is gone”

By Phil Lanning

GERWYN Price lashed out that the “game is gone” after a controversial Premier League night. 

The ex-World Champ took to Instagram after crashing out of night seven in Rotterdam to fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton. 

Price, 36, who recently lost his world No.1 ranking to Peter Wright, lost 6-5 in his quarter-final meeting with an average of 94.91 – before taking to social media. 

He stated: “The best player doesn’t win anymore. The game is gone. Well done.”

Following that post, multiple major winner went into further detail about his feelings – insisting that it wasn’t in relation to the night of Premier League action.

He added: “I wasn’t talking about my game or about last night in particular, the best player on the day doesn’t always win because the game is spoiled, dictated and influence by non darts fans.

“But what I say will always be twisted. Makes me smile though.”

With Clayton then losing to Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals, Joe Cullen would go on to win his first night of the campaign having seen off James Wade and Peter Wright before MVG.

Price’s comments came after a controversial night in which objects were thrown at both Michael Smith and Cullen by the crowd, with Gary Anderson losing his cool on stage for an incident with the overall winner.

Images by Taylor Lanning.

EXETER_2

Van Gerwen tells Price boxing is not “best decision”

By Phil Lanning

MICHAEL van Gerwen has told Gerwyn Price it’s not the “best decision” to step into the boxing ring. 

Price is suffering from a hand injury that has coincided with his training for a charity boxing match.

The Iceman was subsequently forced to pull out of week five of the Premier League – a night which Van Gerwen went on to win.

Price is back on stage now but is risking further damage by continuing his boxing training and rumours are circulating that the bout could be called off.

Three-time world champion Van Gerwen said: “I don’t think boxing is good for your body, I think you can get injured. I think it’s not the best decision to make in your life but Gerwyn is Gerwyn. He always does things differently so that’s his own thing. I don’t think he’s going to do the fight now with his hand. I’d be surprised. It’s something he likes to do and good luck.”

MVG also hit back when asked whether he would ever consider putting on the gloves. He said: “No! What do I look like? A boxer or a dart player?” 

Van Gerwen is still reeling from his 6-4 defeat to Price in the first round of last week’s Premier League, but the Dutchman blamed himself.

He added: “I lost focus during the game. If you make a mistake and give them a finger, they’ll take your hand. Unfortunately things like that happen in darts. 

“The Premier League is too long not to make any mistakes. You need to keep doing the right things at the right time. 

“Now you have to perform three times a night at the Premier League against the best players in the world. 

“It’s been going a lot better lately. I’m playing OK and being a lot more effective at what I need to do. 

“It’s going to be a big crowd here in Rotterdam, the pressure will be on my shoulders. 

“It works both ways. I know it’s more pressure but it also gives you more energy. It all comes down to what happens on the night.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.

PLNottingham_Smith

Smith in shock “heckle” by Wright claim

By Phil Lanning

MICHAEL SMITH claims he was “heckled” by Peter Wright before losing the Premier League night six final.

The St.Helens went down 6-4 to a revitalised Gary Anderson in Nottingham on Thursday night. 

But Smith, 31, says he over-heard Wright talking to Ando prior to the final match which angered him.

He told Online Darts: “It’s getting there, it’s not too bad when Peter Wright says good luck Gaz, he can’t win in a final. 

“But it’s one of them, I’ve won Shanghai and other things but when you go on stage and you’ve got other professionals trying to heckle you then Gaz played amazing up there.”

Smith also dismissed claims from his old mentor Anderson that he doesn’t practice. 

He added: “For someone who’d not thrown a dart for six months, it wasn’t too shabby. He practices everyday and he knows when he’s playing me he steps up. He talks absolute rubbish.”

The World Championship and UK Open runner-up was also disappointed with Gerwyn Price after recovering from 4-1 down to win their semi-final.

He added: “I was more annoyed that I beat Gez the way I did and he didn’t speak to me after so I was like was it my fault, have I done something. I know I never but he let me off massively.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.

PLNottingham_AndersonF1

Angry Anderson hits out at rivals over practice claims

GARY ANDERSON had an angry rant at his rivals who say he’s telling porkies about his practice regime.

The Flying Scotsman got off the bottom of the Premier League with a win on night six in Nottingham on Thursday, despite claiming he never puts in the work off stage.

Ando, 51, beat Michael Smith in the final and afterwards his protege suggested he didn’t believe the Scot’s claims.

That angered Anderson who lashed out: “These lads should be battering me 6-0 every night. My regime on the darts board now compared to a few years ago is not the same. 

“I’d swear in front of my dad’s ashes right here, everyone that says it, I’ll tell them f*****g do one. That is God’s honest truth.

“My missus will tell you, the boys at the lakes will tell you, anyone who doesn’t believe you, do one.

“That’s the only way I can say it because it does pee me off. I do not practice. 

“Ryan (Searle) comes every blue moon. Have you asked him? I’ve not seen Ryan for donkeys now. We do a few legs and the rest of the time I sit on my arse. Because that’s what I do quite well. 

“They all say ‘I don’t believe, I don’t believe’. My kids, my missus, my mum, my dad’s ashes, I will swear on the lot hands down in front of you. And anyone who comes up to my house who says different we are going to have a bit of a problem because I’m telling you the truth.

“I don’t lie, I don’t bend the truth, I’m telling you now, I don’t do it.”

Anderson beat Jonny Clayton and Peter Wright before a classy win over Smith in the final.

But he also admitted that the pressure was building. He added: “Once you go up those steps and that foot is on the stage, you want to play. 

“If you lose a few nights, it kills you. Trying to get back into the winning bit, it’s hard work. There’s so much extra pressure on you, you’re thinking you’re going to end up bottom of the table. Which I have done a few times in my life. It gets to you.

“I’m off the bottom of the table and I’m happy. Just to get two points would have done me, I’d have been happy.

 “It was a struggle against Jonny, I played a bit better against Peter and I played well against Michael. When I got to near the winning line I was panicking a bit!”

Images by Taylor Lanning.

EXETER_6

Wright will play through the pain barrier

By Phil Lanning

EXCLUSIVE

PETER WRIGHT will play through the pain barrier to continue his bid for a first Premier League title. 

The World Champion has been hit with a double whammy of gallstone and back injury issues, the latter forcing him to pull out of a Euro event on Sunday.

But Wright, 52, went straight to hospital on his return to the UK and will carry on playing tomorrow night (Thursday) after extensive physio and a course of pain killers.

He said: “It’s been a really hard couple of weeks, definitely. I’ve not been anywhere near 100 per cent this month at all.

“That obviously makes competing really tough. It’s hard to focus on throwing and also the pain alters the way you stand and move about the oche. 

“The back issue on top of the gallstones was the last straw for me in Germany at the weekend. I needed a break and just to make sure there was nothing more serious going on.

“But I feel better now that I’ve been checked out by the docs. I will have to look after myself a bit now, rest as much as I can between events. 

“The trouble is with the Premier League and Pro Tours, the tournaments come thick and fast.”

Wright faces Joe Cullen in Nottingham and hopes can just concentrate on the games ahead.

He added: “I’m satisfied with being second in the table right now. It’s been a bit up and down, I missed my chances against Jonny (Clayton) last week. But fair play to him, he punished me. 

“It’s just a case of trying to pick up points every week. I think the last two weeks I’ve not felt great on stage. If I can focus on the darts, I think I win matches.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.

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