WALES 1
ENGLAND 5
JUST as the Welsh rugby side narrowly missed out on an appearance in last year’s World Cup final, the same was true for Wales’ darting stars.
It was the French who knocked Warren Gatland’s side out in the last-four in New Zealand in the autumn, while favourites England accounted for Wales in the semi-finals of the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts in Hamburg with a convincing 5-1 victory.
World number one Phil Taylor lost the opening singles game 4-1 against an inspired Richie Burnett, who averaged 108.93, before world champion Adrian Lewis kickstarted the English challenge with a 105.47 average in whitewashing Mark Webster.
Taylor then defeated Webster 4-1 before Lewis took out 155 and 111 in defeating Burnett 4-3, before the pair took the doubles contest 4-2 to seal their place in the final.
That booked a final meeting with Australia, who saw off the challenge of The Netherlands in the other semi-final.
A stunning performance from Burnett saw Wales claim the early lead.
Taylor missed tops for a 109 finish and Burnett punishes him by taking out double 10, while Richie hit a 180 and landed double 10 again in the next to move two legs up.
Burnett hit another 180 in leg three, only for Taylor to clinically finish 111 on double top, however the same double was a Burnett favourite to move within a leg of victory.
Taylor missed double 16 for a 106 finish and Burnett took out 76 to give Wales the first point.
However, a masterclass from two-time world champion Adrian Lewis had England back on course.
Mark Webster hit the game's first 180, but Lewis punished two double misses by hitting tops - and he repeated the trick in the next leg.
Lewis brilliantly scored 174, 121 and 174 before finishing double eight for an 11-darter in the next and then completed victory with a 13-darter.
It was Taylor versus Webster in the next game and Taylor took the first leg after opening with 174 and taking out double 16.
Taylor doubled his lead by finishing 66 with bullseye and double eight, before Webster hit double 10 to halve the deficit.
Webster missed a dart at tops in the next, allowing Taylor to step in to hit double three after being handed a reprieve - and the 15-time world champion claimed an 11-darter for a 4-1 margin.
In the final singles match, there was a brilliant start as Burnett hit a 180, but then missed two darts at a double and Lewis responded to power home a fine 155 checkout.
It was Lewis’ turn for a spot of doubles trouble in the next as he missed five darts to take the leg and Burnett hit double 10 to level.
Richie edged in front by taking out 93 on the bull, only for Lewis to level the game courtesy of double 16.
In leg five, Burnett missed darts at double 16 and double 12, and Lewis made him pay with a 111 checkout.
However, Lewis failed to take his chance to seal victory and Burnett hit double nine to send the game into a deciding leg.
Lewis opened this with a 180 and he landed tops to put England in a commanding position in the tie.
Wales had to win the doubles game to force a sudden-death leg, but they were playing catch-up after Lewis gave England the opening leg on double top.
Burnett posted a 180 in the next and then won the leg on double 10, however England regained the initiative when Taylor finished 111.
Taylor opened the next leg with a 180 and Lewis landed another maximum to set up a potential nine-darter.
Taylor hit the seventh treble 20, but then missed the treble 19, although he set up Lewis to finish double eight for a 12-darter.
In the next leg, Taylor missed two match darts and allowed Burnett in on double two to keep the Welsh hopes alive.
But England booked their final spot when Lewis hit double top in leg six to complete the win.