Premier League darts: Phil Taylor held to draw by James Wade in Exeter

Phil Taylor: Allowed Wade to battle back to earn a point

James Wade snapped a 13-match losing streak against Phil Taylor with a battling draw on Week Four of the McCoys Premier League in Exeter.

In a rematch of the 2010 Premier League final, where Taylor fired in two nine-darters, Wade broke Taylor in the 12th and deciding leg to claim a share of the spoils.

The result keeps Taylor at the top of the standings but he now has a number of rivals breathing down his neck.

Dutch duo Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen and debutant Robert Thornton are tied with 'The Power' on six points after all three men recorded emphatic victories inside the Westpoint Arena.

Thornton kicked off Week Four with a stunning 7-2 demolition of out-of-sorts Scottish counterpart Gary Anderson.

'The Thorn' registered a 109.33 average - the best of this year's competition - as Anderson was restricted to just two darts at doubles.

Thornton told Sky Sports afterwards: "The crowd were brilliant and I just got up there and enjoyed myself. Everything I threw went in. I'm having fun and it's an honour to be here. It's definitely it's the best I've ever had to and against Gary I had to. I had to hit the ground running and I think I sprinted!"

Van Gerwen then maintained his unbeaten start to the campaign with a comfortable 7-2 win over Andy Hamilton.

The 2013 World Championship runner-up rattled in five 180s and continues to look a major contender for the title.