secured two victories to all but join Taylor at the O2.MVG

Phil Taylor secured a return to Premier League Finals Night with victory over Robert Thornton in Bournemouth on Thursday night. The Power sits top of the standings and his 7-2 victory over Thornton was enough to seal a top four finish and a place at the O2 in May having failed to qualify for the semi-finals in 2015. PL Darts Night 12 Relive the action in our live blog The six-time Premier League champion was not at his best and averaged in the 80s for much of his match with Thornton but Taylor had too much for the Scot and was always able to keep his nose in front having broken early on for a 3-0 lead. The 16-time world champion has not won the Premier League since 2012 but is the first man to secure his place this year and now has set his sights on the £25,000 bonus for finishing top of the league phase for the first time in three years. Taylor was too strong for Thornton in Bournemouth World No 1 Michael van Gerwen is hot on the heels of Taylor. After a run of four draws from his previous five matches, the Dutchman secured two victories to all but join Taylor at the O2.MVG kicked off the evening with a comprehensive victory against Peter Wright - Snakebite was unable to live with the Dutchmans power and another average in excess of 100 was enough to wrap up a 7-2 victory.Van Gerwen followed that up in the final match of the night with a win against Adrian Lewis - neither man was at their best as they felt the effects of a second game of the evening but the Green Machine came out on top following a topsy-turvy tussle.Jackpot, reeling from a 7-4 defeat to Raymond van Barneveld earlier in the night, missed four darts at a double to claim the opening leg but he was punished by Van Gerwen who roared into 4-1 lead. Premier League Night 12 - Results Michael van Gerwen 7-2 Peter Wright Raymond van Barneveld 7-4 Adrian Lewis Gary Anderson 6-6 James Wade Phil Taylor 7-2 Robert Thornton Adrian Lewis 5-7 Michael van Gerwen Lewis managed to find form midway through the match with a couple of big finishes to level at 4-4. MVG surged once again but when he missed four darts for the match it looked like Lewis could pinch a precious point.It was not to be for Jackpot as Van Gerwen, averaging in the mid 90s, wrapped up a 7-5 win that puts him two points behind Taylor and only an unlikely sequence of results can stop him returning to Finals Night. MIchael Van Gerwen won twice in Bournemouth to close on a semi-final place (Picture by Lawrence Lustig) Lewis first match of the night ended in a defeat to Barney, a win for the Dutchman somehow keeping his faint hopes of a play-off place alive.Barney won seven of his last eight games last year to make the O2 but he will require even more of a miracle run this year despite an impressive showing against Jackpot who was well below his best.In the nights other match, Gary Anderson picked up what could be a crucial point ahead of his double week in Birmingham next Thursday. The defending champion came up against a typically stubborn James Wade and a 6-6 draw keeps alive both mens hopes of joining Taylor in London on May 19. Premier League Night 13 - Fixtures Peter Wright v Phil Taylor Raymond van Barneveld v Gary Anderson Adrian Lewis v Robert Thornton James Wade v Michael van Gerwen Peter Wright v Gary Anderson Also See: Fixtures/Results Prem Table PL Darts Night 12 - as it hapened How to hit a nine-dart finish Nike React UK Outlet . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. Wholesale Nike React UK Shoes . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. http://www.wholesalenikereactuk.com/ . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Clearance Nike React UK .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Nike React UK Sale . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger. AMES, Iowa -- Standout Iowa State wide receiver Allen Lazard will return for his senior season.Lazard caught 69 passes as a junior in 2015, including seven for touchdowns, and his 1,018 yards rank third in school history. Lazard also averaged seven catches for 114 yards in his final five games, coinciding with quarterback Jacob Parks elevation to the starting job.The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Lazard, who grew up in nearby Urbandale, Iowa, was one of the most highly sought recruits the Cyclones ever landed in 2014. Lazard has lived to his promise, with 170 career grabs for 2,419 yards. The Cyclones finished 3-9 in 2016 despite averaging nearly 30 points in conference games, a program-high since the Big 12 was formed.Our football team made a lot of strides this past year, Lazard said. Coach (Matt) Campbell has this program going in the right direction and the enthusiasm and excitement within the locker room is extremely high..ddddddddddddazards return will boost expectations in 2017 for Iowa State, which made strides this season despite winning just two league games.The Cyclones will also bring back talented left tackle Jake Campos, who broke his leg early in fall camp and missed all of last season. Park and backup Joel Lanning are expected to return, as are running back David Montgomery and young receiver DeShaunte Jones.Iowa State has holes to fill on defense, and its offensive line could be in flux until September because of graduations, the development of younger players and some possible additions through transfers.But Lazards return is a big boost to a program hoping to reach its first bowl game since 2013 next season.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '