On Cloud Nine...

They say lightning doesn't struck twice. But Phil Taylor proved that's possible with what is questionably one of the greatest sporting achievements of all time in throwing two perfect 9 dart legs in last night's Premier League Darts final.

Whilst next door in Wembley Stadium, England's World Cup hopefuls put on a mediocre performance in beating Mexico, just metres away in Wembley Arena, one of the best champions of any sport was showing that perfection isn't a momentary thing.

The first 9 darter came in just the second leg of the match against James Wade, that after the Machine had fired in a 136 checkout to win the opening leg. So far, so perfect. It was becoming one of the greatest matches of darts to be seen. The Power switched on, Wade matching the 15-time World Champion throw for throw.

Then in leg number 15, with the score at 7-all - the impossible became reality. OK, Taylor had hit 8 televised 9-darters before, but the Power is beyond any other man to throw a dart. And when he hit double 12 to complete the feat for a second time in a match, he wrote yet another piece of history for himself.

Is it the greatest sporting achievement? Many will argue not, for they do not see darts as a sport. But there is no denying Phil Taylor's brilliance - anyone who has played a bit of arrows down the pub will know how difficult this game is - and his continued ability to dominate and dictate, improve and influence, can only manifest itself in true greatness.

Dare to dream

Is there a small child out there who hasn't dreamed of running out at Wembley? Scoring a goal for England. Thousands of fans cheering out their name. I know I did when I was younger. The realisation that I was never was going to be good enough to be a professional footballer soon materialised. I knew quickly I wasn't even going to be a decent amateur footballer for that matter. But it doesn't stop the dream of winning a trophy, no matter how small time it is, remain bright.

In fact, I had that feeling just a couple of weeks ago. My rugby 7s team, the Waunfawr Warriors, reached the final of the Plate competition at the Aberystwyth 7s after a brilliant semi-final display. We believed we could win silverware. We dared to dream. But as we arrived for the advertised kick-off time of 6pm for the final, we were informed the final had been moved forward and we'd conceded as a result.

As painful as that experience was, it's to the players and fans of Lille and Mallorca where my heart really goes out, after having Champions League football snatched out of their hands in dramatic style last night. Auxerre scored a stoppage time winner to nick third place in the French League, but the story of the night came at Mallorca.

Having beat Espanyol, Mallorca had moved into fourth spot in La Liga. Only Sevilla could catch them. Mallorca's players watched the conclusion of Almeria v Sevilla on the big screen at their stadium. Just two minutes to go. As the game entered the fourth minute of added time, Rodri scored for Sevilla, destroying Mallorca's dreams and their players sunk to their knees in disappointment. Their season ended by what coach Gregorio Manzano described as "two cursed minutes". Sport hurts.

Semi seems to be the hardest word

Semi-finals. The prize for winning is a shot at the big one, the trophy, overall victory, the championship. Fail at this stage though and no one remembers you. England's footballers have fallen at this vital stage in 2 major tournaments since 1990 - twice beaten by the necessary evil of a penalty shoot out. Fabio Capello says the semi-finals are the minimum for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa and it's the least England fans will accept when the tournament starts in less than a months time.

The semi-final at Italia '90 is my first memory of supporting England, the hope when Gary Lineker scored and the heartbreak when Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle missed their spot kicks. It's surely the cruelest stage to suffer such failings - the toughest to stomach when one looks back over the record books. Just ask Leicester City fans after last night's play-off pain.

It's for these reasons that England's thrashing of a strong Sri Lanka side in today's ICC World Twenty20 semi-final was so impressive. England's cricketers have been successful at the Test match format of the game for some time now, but their limited overs form has been patchy at best. Indeed the only success coming in last year's ICC Champions Trophy (guess where they lost though? - that's right, the semi-finals). Their success in this tournament has been low key in the media thus far, partly because of the announcement of England's provisional World Cup squad this week and partly because of Fulham's fantastic run in the Europa League, which sadly ended in final defeat last night (at least they made the final though).

Now is the time for Paul Collingwood's men to be saluted. They've been a unit throughout this competition, and especially in this one sided encounter against a talented but ageing Sri Lanka side (albeit the notable exception of Ryan Sidebottom's attitude towards his fielders whilst bowling - rightly chastised by Nasser Hussain during the live coverage). If England go on to win this tournament, they will be rightful champions - the only defeat coming against the West Indies in a Duckworth/Lewis affected game - having played superb cricket throughout, aggressive and attacking but tactically astute.

If England's footballers go on to make Capello's minimum target of a semi-final appearance this summer, we'll remember it in 20 years time with the same affection I regard the achievement of the late great Sir Bobby Robson et al. But lest we forget England's cricketers, who've already shown in Ashes success they are champions in their own field and come Sunday could be crowned World Champions. Sounds good doesn't it?