Holsten Premier League Darts - Night Four, Newcastle

REPORTS and stats from the fourth night of the 2007 Holsten Premier League Darts at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.

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Holsten Premier League Darts
Night Four, Metro Radio Arena
Colin Lloyd 8-5 Roland Scholten
Adrian Lewis 1-8 Dennis Priestley
Peter Manley 2-8 Phil Taylor
Terry Jenkins 7-7 Raymond van Barneveld

COLIN LLOYD 8-5 ROLAND SCHOLTEN

COLIN LLOYD grabbed his first win of the 2007 Holsten Premier League Darts with an 8-5 win over Roland Scholten.

The league's bottom two clashed in the opening match of the night at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena, but showed few nerves in a stunning opening to the match.

Both began with 180s before Scholten added a second maximum to set up a potential nine-darter, only to see his seventh dart at treble 20 go astray.

The Dutchman went on to take the leg against the throw on double ten in just 12 darts, only for Lloyd to storm back.

He won the next four legs without reply, including a 13-darter against the throw and a 104 finish in leg four.

Lloyd was also off-target on the bullseye for a 121 finish in the sixth leg, allowing Scholten to take out double nine and reduce the arrears.

The next four legs were shared to leave Lloyd 6-4 up, and the former World Number One then ensured at least a point with double eight on his last dart.

Scholten landed double eight to stay in the match in the next leg, after Lloyd was narrowly off-target on double top for a 120 finish.

However, he clinically ensured the win with a superb two-dart 86 finish to register his first points of the year.

"It was a tough game, but every game is tough in the Premier League," said Lloyd.

"Roland is a very good friend of mine and it was a case of battling away. The defeat won't dent his confidence, he's a class player.

"I had a 98 or 99 average but it didn't feel like that, it was a workmanlike performance. I broke him a couple of times but then I had to hold my throw.

"I've got a couple of points on the board now and I feel like I'm involved."

The win came in front of almost 4,000 fans at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, and Lloyd added: "The people in the crowd are fantastic.

"They are darts enthusiasts and we want to play in front of them all the time. Every week is absolutely fantastic."

Match Stats

Colin Lloyd	8-5	Roland Scholten
16	100+	12
14	140+	9
2	180	4
32.96	Ave1	29.95
98.89	Ave3	89.84
104	High Finish	100
2	LWAT	1

* LWAT = Legs Won Against Throw

DENNIS PRIESTLEY 8-1 ADRIAN LEWIS

DENNIS PRIESTLEY'S sensational start to the 2007 Holsten Premier League continued with the biggest win so far this year against Adrian Lewis.

Priestley went into the game with two wins and a draw from the first three weeks, and extended his unbeaten run to four matches in superb fashion against the youngster.

Lewis won an edgy opening leg on double top, but Priestley battled back to level matters when his opponent missed doubles to double the lead.

Three ton-plus scores helped Priestley to break Lewis' throw in leg three, and he landed a second maximum in leg five to move 4-1 up.

Priestley extended the cushion to 5-1 going into the break, and stepped up a gear with legs of 16, 15 and 14 after the restart without Lewis having a shot at a double.

"I'm ecstatic with that result," said Priestley, who ensured he would finish the night at the top of the league table.

"I'm playing really well at the moment and the crowd have inspired me - they were singing my name throughout and it's amazing."

The defeat leaves Lewis on two wins and two defeats from his first four Premier League games, but Priestley added: "He'll learn from this and come back stronger.

"He is still getting experience on this stage and getting used to playing against different players."

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	1-8	Dennis Priestley
6	100+	12
7	140+	8
1	180	2
27.41	Ave1	29.43
82.22	Ave3	88.28
40	High Finish	56
0	LWAT	4

PHIL TAYLOR 8-2 PETER MANLEY

PHIL TAYLOR returned to top form with a brilliant 8-2 defeat of Peter Manley at the Metro Radio Arena.

Taylor's unbeaten run in the Holsten Premier League Darts continued as he moved on to six points for this year to stay hot on the heels of Dennis Priestley at the top of the table.

He showed some of his clinical best finishing in sweeping past an under-par Manley - who drew with Raymond van Barneveld last week - with ease.

The first two legs were shared before Taylor powered clear with four in a row to go into the break 5-1 up, including precision finishes of 88 and 74.

He returned from the interval with a 103 checkout and also landed double eight to move 7-1 ahead.

Manley took leg nine to stay in the contest, but his finishing deserted him in the next to allow Taylor to take out double top with his last dart for the match.

"I'm very happy," said Taylor, who has now won his last two games following a rocky start with a pair of draws in the opening weeks.

"My game's coming together. I want to be the best player in the world and it's not there at the moment, but I will get there."

Taylor takes on Raymond van Barneveld in a World Championship rematch at the Sheffield Arena next Thursday.

"I feel great and I'm really looking forward to it," said Taylor, who lost 7-6 at the Circus Tavern on New Year's Day.

"He's got a battle on his hands, I will be ready for it. It's probably one of the biggest games ever and it will be a real scrap next week."

Match Stats

Peter Manley	2-8	Phil Taylor
5	100+	12
11	140+	6
0	180	3
28.62	Ave1	33.56
85.86	Ave3	100.67
60	High Finish	103
1	LWAT	4

TERRY JENKINS 7-7 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD

TERRY JENKINS and Raymond van Barneveld slugged out a thrilling draw at the Metro Radio Arena in the match of the 2007 Holsten Premier League Darts so far.

The pair both averaged over 102 in the 14-leg contest, with van Barneveld forced to produce an 11-darter to snatch a draw in the final leg.

A high-tempo start saw Jenkins surge 4-1 up, thanks to finishes of 84 and 112 and an 11-darter against the throw, before van Barneveld hit back.

The Dutchman reeled off three successive legs to level matters, and could have gone 5-4 up - only to miss double 18 for a 156 finish.

He did manage a 170 checkout - the highest of the night, to earn him a £1,000 bonus - in the next leg to square matters once more, before Jenkins held his nerve to land double top with van Barneveld sat on 40.

The Dutchman took out 120 to make the scores 6-all, before Jenkins ensured a point with a 14-darter.

Van Barneveld, who drew a week earlier with Peter Manley, hit two maximums in the deciding leg, and took out 41 for an 11-darter to snatch a point at the end of a classic contest.

"It's amazing that I had a 107 average and didn't win!" said van Barneveld. "Terry and I always seem to have tremendous games and this was brilliant.

"I'm enjoying this tournament and these games are what this is about. The fans pay their money to see players having 100-plus averages in games like that.

"I play Phil Taylor next week and I can't wait for that. Hopefully I can give him his first ever defeat in this competition!"

Jenkins said: "I could have beaten Phil last week and I was a lot more pleased with my performance tonight.

"If I can play like this all the time I know I can give all of them a run for their money."

Match Stats