The Junior Power League returns on Friday, with another mouthwatering set of matches in store as some of the best junior dart players go head-to-head in front of the cameras.
After two rounds of matches, junior darts’ in-form player Ryan Branley leads the way in the boys’ event, while Lexi-Jayne Rooksby is setting the pace in the girls’ event.
After two matches, they are the only players across the JPL to have won both of their games so far.
We take a look at this week’s head-to-heads.
Rebecca Allen v Lexi-Jayne Rooksby
With Paige Pauling unable to participate this week, the unbeaten Allen plays twice – and her opening match against table-topping Rooksby has the look of a classic.
After beating Lilly Wheeler on the opening night, Allen drew 3-3 with Pauling last time out, with both players averaging 73 and Allen hitting a 118 checkout during a thrilling match.
Rooksby will be looking to continue her fine form after wins over Ruby Grey and Yazmine Ruck-Havard. She beat the latter 4-2 last time, capitalising on Pauling and Allen’s draw to go top of the table.
Archie Self v Jayden Walker
Self and Walker go into their clash with one win apiece, albeit Self has one point more having also drawn a match.
Last time out he beat Jack Johnson 5-1, averaging 85.79, and producing such highlights as a 13-dart leg and three 180s.
Walker was beaten 5-3 by Ryan Branley on his last outing, but will have taken heart from a performance in which he averaged 85.64 and hit three 180s.
Lewis Cook v Jack Nankervis
Such is the competitive nature of the JPL that Cook sits eighth in the table despite producing an excellent 5-3 win against world champion Lex Paeshuyse in his last outing. Cook averaged 86.02 and won all of his legs in six visits or fewer – as did Paeshuyse – to claim his first win of the JPL season.
Nankervis is yet to lose, having following a breathtaking 4-4 draw with Self on opening night by beating Tergel Khurelkhuu 5-2 last time out. Nankervis averaged 90.22 and produced consistently good darts to move up to third in the table.
Lilly Wheeler v Yazmine Ruck-Havard
Both Wheeler and Ruck-Havard go into this one eager to claim a first win of the JPL season, with Wheeler looking to build on a 3-3 draw with Ruby Grey last time out.
She no doubt felt she should have gone on to win the match, having led 3-1, getting off the mark with a 90 checkout, before losing the last two legs.
Ruck-Havard has come up against the top two players in the table, Pauling and Rooksby, losing 4-1 and 4-2 respectively, and will surely see Friday’s match as an opportunity to get off the mark.
Tergel Khurelkhuu v Jack Johnson
Tergel and Johnson are the only players in the boys’ JPL yet to claim a point, so something will have to give on Friday.
Tergel was beaten 5-2 by Jack Nankervis last time out despite averaging 83.34 and producing legs of 12 and 15, which again underlined the strength of the JPL.
Johnson was beaten 5-1 by Archie Self despite averaging 84.53 and producing a 12-darter of his own, and both players will feel they can claim a first win of the season on Friday.
Lex Paeshuyse v Ben Townley
Paeshuyse and Townley meet having each won one of their opening two matches. Paeshuyse was beaten 5-3 by Lewis Cook last time out, even though he averaged 84.07. The Belgian hit a 113 checkout in that match but suffered his first defeat of the JPL season.
Townley, meanwhile, was unable to build on his 5-0 opening win against Cook as he lost 5-0 against Mitchell Lawrie. Despite failing to win a leg, Townley had the higher average and was on a double in every leg when Lawrie checked out.
Rebecca Allen v Ruby Grey
Allen returns for her second match on the night when she faces Grey, who drew 3-3 with Lilly Wheeler last time out. Grey had trailed 3-1 but showed real character to come back and seal a point, hitting tops at the first time of asking and then taking care of double 10.
Allen has impressed so far and is yet to lose, following a 4-1 win over Wheeler and a 3-3 draw of her own with last year’s Girls Series champion Paige Pauling.
Ryan Branley v Mitchell Lawrie
Branley is the boy of the moment having won a PDC Development Tour title at the weekend – and he will be looking to make it three wins from three in the JPL against Lawrie.
Branley beat Jayden Walker 5-3 last time out, averaging 90.70 in the process, and is clearly enjoying his darts.
Lawrie won’t be lacking confidence, though, having beaten Ben Townley 5-0 in the second round of matches, including checkouts of 102 and 94.
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