Melbourne ace Brody Klinge toppled the leader Raymond Smith to claim night four of the ANZ Premier League in Hobart.
It was a richly deserved win for the Victorian, who looked electric from the off. In game one, Ally Pally–bound Tim Pusey felt the full force of his compatriot, as Klinge produced a ton-plus average in a high-quality encounter that set the tone for the evening.
James Bailey, meanwhile, had limped past Joe Comito in his opener but couldn’t find the firepower to match Klinge in the semi-final. Despite a spirited late rally, Klinge held firm to edge it 5–4 and book his place in the night’s decider.
At the other end of the draw, The Guru Raymond Smith continued to set the benchmark in this inaugural ANZ Premier League season, much like he did when the Australian Darts Association kicked off earlier this year – winning every event on the opening weekend.
Smith again looked a cut above, breezing past Simon Whitlock 5–1 in a match that never really caught light. The Beard was certainly not feared on this occasion.
That set up a blockbuster final: Klinge versus Smith. And it lived up to every bit of the billing. The Hobart crowd – and those watching live at home – were treated to a classic, as Smith stormed into a 3–1 lead before Klinge launched a relentless four-leg comeback to snatch the nightly crown. Well, “crown” might not be the best description – more of a nice-looking plaque.
A huge congratulations to Klinge who ended the final with a marvellous 104 plus change average, ending superbly including a pair of stunning 12-darters on his way to victory. Next stop: Adelaide, next Saturday – and if this is the standard, you won’t want to miss it.
Quarter-Finals
James Bailey 5-2 Joe Comito
Brody Klinge 5-2 Tim Pusey
Raymond Smith 5-3 Ben Robb
Simon Whitlock 5-4 Jonny Tata
Semi-Finals
Brody Klinge 5-4 James Bailey
Raymond Smith 5-1 Simon Whitlock
Final
Brody Klinge 5-3 Raymond Smith
—–ENDS——
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