COLIN LLOYD 8-6 DENNIS PRIESTLEY
COLIN LLOYD finished his Holsten Premier League Darts campaign with a narrow 8-6 win over Dennis Priestley.
Lloyd entered the final night unable to overhaul fourth-placed Priestley, who will now face Phil Taylor in the semi-finals on 28 May in Brighton.
The Yorkshireman had harboured hopes of jumping above Terry Jenkins into third placed, but never recovered after going 5-2 down.
Colin Lloyd's win means he finishes the league phase just a point behind Priestley, paying the price for a poor start to the campaign.
He certainly started well against Priestley, opening up an early 4-1 lead including back-to-back 13-darters.
Priestley hit back with a 72 checkout to win the sixth leg, but Lloyd returned from the break with a 104 finish.
Priestley took the next two legs, hitting three 180s and an 11-darter in the ninth to cut the deficit to 5-4.
But Lloyd again pulled clear with a 108 finish followed by a 14-darter to put one foot over the finishing line at 7-4.
He paid for missing darts to win the game in the next two as Priestley stayed in the contest and took the game into a decider.
Priestley also gave himself a chance to snatch a draw in the final leg, but missed doubles again cost him before Lloyd hit double 16 for the win.
