Holsten Premier League Darts - Night Two, Wolverhampton

REPORTS, reaction and stats from the second night of the 2007 Holsten Premier League Darts at the Wolverhampton Civic.

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Holsten Premier League Darts
Night Two, Wolverhampton
Colin Lloyd 6-8 Raymond van Barneveld
Roland Scholten 6-8 Terry Jenkins
Phil Taylor 7-7 Dennis Priestley
Peter Manley 4-8 Adrian Lewis

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 8-6 COLIN LLOYD

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD maintained his 100 percent start to the 2007 Holsten Premier League Darts with a hard-fought win over Colin Lloyd.

The World Champion raced into a 3-0 lead early on before being pegged back by Lloyd - but raised his game in the second half of the match before sneaking the win in the deciding leg.

Lloyd, who also lost 8-6 to Peter Manley last week, missed doubles in two of the first three legs and eventually had too much to do in his late bid to snatch a point.

"Colin did really well to come back but I'm very happy to get the win," said van Barneveld.

"There is a lot of difference between 8-6 and seven-all, and it could be two crucial points."

Van Barneveld made a fine start, stepping in to win the first and third legs against the throw when Lloyd was off-target on double top, and landing double 16 with his first dart in leg two.

Lloyd kick-started his effort by breaking van Barneveld's throw on double eight in the fourth leg, and then landed double 18 to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Lloyd began the sixth leg with a maximum, and was given a reprieve when van Barneveld missed double top to steal the leg, with the world number three hitting the same bed to level matters.

Van Barneveld returned from the break in blistering form, hitting six perfect darts in the opener, which he won in 11 darts.

His missed doubles allowed Lloyd to take the eighth, before the Dutchman owon the next two, including finishes of 126 on the bullseye and 71 in two darts, to move 6-4 up.

Lloyd landed a second maximum of the match on his way to the 11th leg, but even another 180 could not save the next leg, with van Barneveld taking out double 16 on his final dart with his opponent sat on 41.

That earned the Dutchman at least a point at 7-5, but a fine leg from Lloyd kept alive his hopes of snatching a draw.

But van Barneveld opened with a maximum for the third time in the match, and took out double nine to ensure another victory.

"I was happy that Colin missed some doubles early on but then he came back," added the Dutchman. "I had to start playing after the break and was pleased."

Lloyd admitted: "I let him get ahead and I came out still a little bit jittery. I've done that two weeks on the spin now and I'm not going to let it continue.

"I know how good I am and there's nothing wrong with my game. I've got to prove that and I'm going to do it."

Match Stats

Colin Lloyd	6-8	Raymond van Barneveld
16	100+	17
10	140+	12
3	180	4
31.52	Ave1	31.89
94.55	Ave3	95.66
40 x3	High Finish	126
3	LWAT	4

LWAT = Legs Won Against Throw

TERRY JENKINS 8-6 ROLAND SCHOLTEN

TERRY JENKINS produced a brilliant finish to get his first victory in the Holsten Premier League against Roland Scholten.

The SkyBet World Grand Prix finalist lost 8-5 on his debut in the tournament in Plymouth last week, but got off the mark in style against Scholten.

After the opening eight legs were shared as the pair held their own throw, Scholten moved 6-4 up and within touching distance of at least a point.

But Jenkins won the final four legs to claim the win and his first points in the event.

He began the game strongly, with two 140 scores followed by a 123 to leave a finish, but missed doubles allowed Scholten in to take the leg.

Jenkins also landed a maximum in leg two, and took out double eight before Scholten hit back to take the third leg and edge back in front.

The two shared the next three legs to go into the interval level, and Scholten missed double 19 for a 158 finish to break Jenkins' throw in leg eight before the Ledbury ace took out double eight.

Scholten's 81 finish on the bull saw him take leg nine, and he finally secured a break of throw in the tenth leg after Jenkins wasted his darts at double 16.

The Dutchman also gave himself a chance to secure at least a point in the next leg, but he missed double top and Jenkins stepped in to hit the same bed.

He then levelled matters on double ten after Scholten was off-target with the final dart for a 104 finish.

A superb 117 finish saw Jenkins move ahead for the first time in the match by taking the 13th leg - earning him at least a point - and a fine two-dart 80 finish in the decider wrapped up the win.

Match Stats

Roland Scholten	6-8	Terry Jenkins
20	100+	16
13	140+	14
4	180	2
32.14	Ave1	31.44
96.43	Ave3	94.32
81 x2	High Finish	117
1	LWAT	2

PHIL TAYLOR 7-7 DENNIS PRIESTLEY

DENNIS PRIESTLEY snatched a draw with Phil Taylor in a thrilling Holsten Premier League Darts clash at the Wolverhampton Civic.

The two legends of the oche produced a humdinger of a contest, trading 180s throughout 14 vintage legs.

Taylor, who has never been defeated in the Premier League, was again left staring down the barrel of a possible defeat before earning a point - only for Priestley to win the deciding leg and a point.

Taylor took the opening leg, landing a maximum two set himself up before taking out double top.

However, Priestley hit back to win the next three without reply and storm into the lead.

Taylor responded to level the game going into the break with legs of 15 and 14 darts, but paid for missed doubles in the seventh leg as Priestley stepped in with a fine 110 finish.

Taylor hit back with a 134 checkout for a 12-darter, and then pushed 6-4 up by landing maximums on his way to the next two legs.

Yorkshireman Priestley battled back to level the game at six-all, and had a chance to secure at least a point in the 13th leg - only to miss four darts at the double and allow Taylor to step in.

Three ton-plus scores from Priestley put him in command, and even a maximum failed to save Taylor as the two-time World Champion held his nerve to land double eight and grab a draw.

Priestley said: "I try my best every time we play and I've got half a result today.

"It would have been nice to be 8-6 but Phil's a great player and he keeps proving that.

"It's always a pleasure and we always enjoy ourselves when we play. Every time I play him it's been a case of ifs, buts and maybes, but I'll always give my best and I got some reward tonight."

Taylor also drew his opening game, against Roland Scholten last week, said: "I really enjoyed that, it was a great match to be involved in.

"Dennis is a great player and he was brilliant under pressure."

Taylor has adopted a new style of darts in recent weeks, as well as embarking on a new fitness and practice regime.

"I know I've made a few changes but it's getting better and I think it will click soon," he said.

"I'm playing really well in practice but I've got to take that on stage."

Match Stats

Phil Taylor	7-7	Dennis Priestley
11	100+	22
9	140+	7
7	180	4
32.32	Ave1	30.77
96.96	Ave3	92.30
134	High Finish	110
3	LWAT	3

ADRIAN LEWIS 8-4 PETER MANLEY

ADRIAN LEWIS claimed his first win in the Holsten Premier League with an 8-4 win over Peter Manley in Wolverhampton.

Premier League newcomer Lewis was taught a lesson in finishing by Raymond van Barneveld a week ago, but bounced back in style.

He included a 164 finish - the night's best to earn him a £1,000 bonus - among his winning legs and a burst of six legs in a row helped seal his first points.

"It means a lot to me," said Lewis. "I'm over the moon to get that first win and hopefully I can go from strength to strength now.

"I missed a few doubles last week but didn't tonight and I probably only let him in once. That shows the practice I've put in over the last week paid off.

"I didn't want to be at the bottom of the league after tonight, and I've made sure that I'm not."

Manley started well, taking out 108 in the first leg and then breaking Lewis' throw in the second.

But Lewis hit straight back to level matters and then stunned Manley by landing a 164 finish - having seen his opponent miss the opportunity to take out the same score.

A 13-darter put him 4-2 up, and he won the first two legs after the interval to move to within touching distance of a point.

Manley took the ninth leg, but Lewis landed double 15 on his final dart to ensure that he would return to Stoke with at least a point.

Manley won leg 11 to stay in the contest but Lewis wasted little more time in jumping over the finishing line.

Manley admitted: "Adrian's a quality young man, he has come through the ranks and he took out a superb 164 finish.

"He deserved the win."

Match Stats