Ahead of Thursdays Premier League Play-off night, live on Sky Sports 2, Rod Studd remembers when Michael van Gerwen faced Phil Taylor in the 2013 final. Chris Doleman Jersey . Van Gerwen lines up against Adrian Lewis in the opening match of this weeks Play-Off night, while Taylor takes on defending champion Gary Anderson in the other semi-final at The O2, live on Sky Sports 2.The Premier Leagues top two players could meet again in the final, just a week after Van Gerwens win in Rotterdam, and Studd recalls a thrilling final encounter between the pair... Taylor v Van Gerwen, 2013 Premier League final at The O2I think the 2013 final between Van Gerwen and Taylor was probably the most defining darts match of the Premier League era.The reason I say that is because Phil had clung onto his title that year by beating Van Gerwen, but Michael was hot on his heels, so they were clearly the big two players. During Van Gerwens first ever season in the Premier League, they had drawn in their first match and then he defeated Taylor later in the competition. Here they were, the big two, and it was for the heavyweight darts championship of the world at that time. Rod Studd Here they were, the big two, and it was for the heavyweight darts championship of the world at that time. The winner could claim he was the best player. There was that little between them and there was little separating them on the scoreboard as well.Taylor made a brilliant start, hitting a 13-darter, a 14-darter, and led 5-2. But he missed doubles crucially in legs nine and 10, allowing Van Gerwen to pounce and get back to 5-5. Michael then made it five legs on the trot to go 7-5 in front, again with The Power missing darts at doubles. Phil Taylor had a message for Michael van Gerwen after their Premier League draw on night seven of 2016 season Phil trimmed it back to 7-6 and the match appeared to be turning in his favour in the 14th leg when Van Gerwen decided not to go for the bullseye, leaving Taylor a shot at 160, which he duly took out.Wayne Mardle was on commentary and memorably said: You shouldnt play mind games with the master!Van Gerwen shrugged it off quite quickly, going 9-7 up, but there was a further twist in the 17th leg when he missed two darts at double eight for the title and Taylor hit double top, last dart in hand, to make it 9-8. Michael van Gerwen won his only Premier League title after a thrilling final with Phil Taylor in 2013 Taylor had the darts in the 18th leg, which had he held throw, would have gone into a last-leg decider. He played a brilliant leg, leaving double top again after 12 darts.It felt like Taylor was about to prove he was still the old master, but Van Gerwen completed a fantastic 132 finish.Still three years on, that lives long in the memory of Michael van Gerwen. Not because its a roof-raising finish, but due to the significance, the circumstance of the match and who he was playing. Van Gerwen celebrates with Premier League trophy You would be a brave man to say it will definitely be Van Gerwen and Taylor again in Thursdays final, because whatever combination we get - were guaranteed three brilliant matches at The O2.Watch the Premier League Darts play-offs from The O2 Arena tonight at 7pm, Sky Sports 2. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Also See: Mardles PL Darts prediction Sky Live: PL Darts play-offs Darts stars hidden helpers Adams: MVG showed early talent Steve Bono Jersey . - The RBC Canadian Open will return to Glen Abbey Golf Club next year, marking the 27th time that the national open championship will be played at the Oakville, Ont. Larry Allen Jersey . The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the league hasnt announced the award. Crawford was the Clippers third-leading scorer and the NBAs top-scoring reserve with 18. SAN FRANCISCO -- Colin Kaepernick let his guard down just enough to razz Michael Crabtree about not scoring on a flashy 60-yard catch and run in his season debut. At last, Kaepernick has his receiving corps intact, just in time for the stretch run. Crabtrees return opened up the field all the more for Anquan Boldin -- not to mention Vernon Davis and his high-hurdle show -- in the San Francisco 49ers 23-13 victory against St. Louis on Sunday. Boldin caught nine passes from Kaepernick, Crabtree made his long-awaited debut six months after Achilles tendon surgery, and the 49ers pressured the Rams defence from every angle. Next up: NFC West nemesis Seattle in a week at Candlestick Park. "Were very eager," safety Donte Whitner said. "They embarrassed us last time." Kaepernick went 19 of 28 for 275 yards and Frank Gore ran for a 3-yard touchdown as the reigning NFC champion Niners (8-4) boosted their position in the playoff picture. Crabtree had that 60-yard catch, while Davis hurdled into the end zone on a 17-yard touchdown reception. "I wish I would have scored," Crabtree said. "I was supposed to take that to the house." With Hall of Famer Jerry Rice in the house, Boldin had six receptions in the first half on the way to his second-most productive game of the year behind his 13-catch performance in the season opener against Green Bay. He, too, teased Crabtree about not getting into the end zone. "We give him a pass on that one; Thanksgiving was this week," Boldin quipped. Crabtree, San Franciscos leading wide receiver during last seasons Super Bowl run, had two catches. Just having him on the field kept the St. Louis defence from focusing all its attention on Boldin and Davis. Davis displayed his athleticism with a new signature move, and did so not once but twice: a high hurdle over defenders. He led with his right foot while leaping over safety Rodney McLeod in the first half, then again to reach the end zone on his team-leading 10th touchdown catch. Davis also was tackled by T.J. McDonald with a prolonged, painful grab to his crotch. That was a first in his career. "I was hurting," Davis said. Phil Dawson kicked three field goals, and San Franciscos swarming defence made things tough on Kellen Clemens all day. The Rams managed only 73 total yards in the first haalf. Emmanuel Moseley Jersey. Clemens went 19 of 37 for 218 yards with a late TD pass in a dismal afternoon for the Rams (5-7), who were trying for their first three-game winning streak of the season. "There were some plays out there that we had opportunities to make which would have gotten us into a little bit of a better rhythm offensively," Clemens said. "We didnt make them." A year after the teams left Candlestick with a 24-24 tie, the 49ers methodically took care that it didnt happen again. They made it consecutive commanding victories in a short week following a 27-6 win at Washington on Monday night that snapped a two-game skid. "All the pressure, all the high stakes this time of the year, I thought our guys answered the bell on that," coach Jim Harbaugh said. While Kaepernick was sacked four times, Robert Quinn and the opportunistic Rams defence failed to make the game-changing plays it had the past two weeks -- even when 49ers left tackle Joe Staley was lost to a right knee injury early in the game. The St. Louis defensive line had scored touchdowns in each of the past two games. The Rams thwarted drives with costly penalties, settling for a 43-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein just before halftime in their best drive of the half. Zuerlein kicked a 34-yarder in the third quarter. After a debated 15-yard personal foul penalty on Jo-Lonn Dunbar when he ran into a sliding Kaepernick, the quarterback completed a 23-yard pass to Davis. Dawson kicked a 32-yard field goal. He added a 43-yarder early in the second period, then a 24-yard field goal in the third. The Rams managed 11 total yards in the first quarter and 73 in the first half. The 49ers held the Rams in check before the second-team defence surrendered Brian Quicks 3-yard touchdown catch with 18 seconds remaining. Crabtree had a pair of penalties in San Franciscos opening series, an illegal block to the back and an offensive pass interference. "I had to get those jitters out," he said. NOTES: 49ers TE Vance McDonald injured an ankle in the first quarter. ... St. Louis lost left tackle Jake Long late in the third quarter to a concussion after he collided into running back Zac Stacy, who played after dealing with concussion-like symptoms following a win against the Bears. Rams C Scott Wells also suffered an ankle injury. ' ' '