In places like Mayo, Waterford and anywhere else sports people have striven over an elongated period for a specific goal, often with scant reward, there was renewed hope last night. Now read on…
Switch sports to darts and there is no greater prototype for such a character than James Wade. This writer will admit that there have been times when The Machine hasn’t been flavour of the month here.
Coming across as brash and ignorant at best or just plain tempestuous. What could never be questioned, though, is the Aldershot man’s ability on the oche, his durability and his belief in himself.
Even though for as long as this observer has been properly attuned to affairs of the arrows, Wade has been one of the most consistent performers on tour, he hasn’t always got the rewards he deserved.
Last night however, The Machine finally began to purr like a tractor with a straight pipe. Having made the Final on a couple of occasions thus far under the new format in the Cazoo Premier League, last night the door finally opened for the gritty southpaw.
In one way, Wade’s 6-2 usurpation of Gary Anderson could have been classified as a surprise but on current form it wasn’t. The ‘Flying Scotsman’ is my favourite tungsten thrower and while the thought of his career being in decline cannot be countenanced, there’s no doubt his form fluctuates.
The same can most definitely be said for Gerwyn Price at present. A debilitating hand injury notwithstanding, the Welshman has been performing in a very up and down fashion of late. It was even in evidence last night and he looked highly impressive in his quelling of ‘Snakebite’ before turning a most insipid display against Wade in the semi final.
On the other side of the draw, Joe Cullen embellished his position as the most improved player in darts by firstly ruthlessly disposing of Michael Smith before racing into a 5-0 lead against defending champion Jonny Clayton in the semi final.
The former roofer is as resiliant as they come though. He did narrow the gap (3-5) but it was Cullen who made the most of the early momentum he had generated to garner another final berth for himself.
He was again quick off the blocks in the final, taking the first two legs. However, it soon became apparent it was going to be a ding dong affair, at the end of which Wade gained an overdue and deserved night of victory.
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