MARTIN ADAMS 4 v MARTIN PHILLIPS 0

England skipper Martin Adams gave a polished performance to clinically dispose of Welsh veteran Martin Phillips 4-0.

It took Wolfie just  41 minutes to topple the left-hander who will rue a series of missed doubles throughout the game.

Adams admitted he was feeling a great weight of expectation on him to do well as the England skipper.

“It really is England expects….Just as there is expectation on the England football team there is an expectation on me and you just have to try to do your best. There are so many guys and girls who come here expecting English success.

“I have never played Martin without expecting a tough game but the match showed you cannot afford to miss doubles,” said Adams, who admitted to feeling “a little bit different up on stage as the defending champion.”

Both players had seen their odds slashed in half by the bookies before the eagerly awaited England-Wales encounter as the opening set went with the throw in the first four legs.

The Welsh left-hander had the opportunity to take an early psychological blow but nervously wired double 10. Adams’ right hand with its trademark shake, requiring 56, hit single 16 and planted a perfect dart in double tops.

It was a similar story in the second with the game going with the throw, Adams missing three attempts for double 18 after Phillips had missed two. Requiring five he hit single one and double two.

Phillips was first to the double in the fifth leg but fluffed his attempt for double 14, Adams missing double tops but recovering to take a 2-0 match lead on double 10.

The most capped Welsh international surged into a 2-0 lead in the next set but then squandered four doubles, Adams clinching double eight and double 16 in the next to pressurise Phillips.

There were howls of delight as Adams clinically struck treble 13 and double 12 for a comfortable 3-0 lead.

 The story of woe continued for the man from Dolgellau as he missed three double tops to take the opening leg of the fourth set against the throw. Adams responded by hitting the double tops and then added the next leg, leading all the way to hitting the match-winning double eight.

 
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