Jenkins Cuts The Power In Blackpool!

PHIL TAYLOR'S bid for a ninth Stan James World Matchplay title with a sensational 17-11 defeat to Terry Jenkins at the Winter Gardens.

Taylor has won six of the last seven World Matchplay events, but was out-gunned by a clinical Jenkins performance.

The world number five took out 59 percent of his doubles in the match and will now face 2006 runner-up James Wade in Saturday's decider.

Jenkins has now reached his fourth major final within a year, and is well-placed to claim the £50,000 winner's cheque on Saturday.

"I got in front early on and concentrated on the legs where I had the throw," said Jenkins. "Phil missed a few doubles and, where I've missed them in the past, took them out this time.

"He's the player I wanted to beat because I think he's the only one I've never beaten, and to do it on television is extra special.

"The only players who have stopped me in finals have been Barney or Taylor, so maybe this will be my week!

"James is playing absolutely brilliant and his finishing is unbelievable, but I'm feeling pretty confident."

Jenkins set his stall out early on, winning the first three legs without reply with back-to-back 14-darters and a 158 checkout in leg three.

Taylor hit back with four out of five legs, including checkouts of 109 and 94, in levelling at four-all, before Jenkins took three in a row to move back ahead.

Taylor's missed doubles were proving costly, although a 114 checkout in leg 12 slowed Jenkins' progress.

The Ledbury favourite responded with two 15-darters, including a 116 against the throw to stretch the lead to 9-5.

Taylor rallied, winning the 15th leg against the darts and then having seven perfect darts in the next leg.

Having steadied himself following a whistle from the crowd, he missed his eighth dart, at treble 19, but went on to win the leg in ten darts.

He cut the gap to 9-8, but Jenkins regained the momentum in a crucial 18th leg - punishing a missed double top from Taylor to stop the 13-time World Champion in his tracks.

Jenkins also won the next three legs to push 13-8 up, and hit a 110 finish in pushing further clear at 15-9.

Back-to-back 15-darters from Taylor kept him in the contest, but Jenkins took out double top for a 13-darter to move one leg away from victory and then made the defending champion pay for three missed doubles by taking out 84 in two darts for the win.

Taylor has now missed out on three successive major tournaments for the first time in the PDC's 14-year history, and he admitted: "This day was always going to come but what I've got to do now is go back, think about what I'm doing, get up off my backside and start doing something about it.

"I'll start practising and do something that will make me a little bit better - I have to because otherwise I'll keep getting beaten.

"The players coming through are brilliant and I've no complaints about this defeat.

"He was the better player, without a shadow of doubt, and his finishing was superb. Every time I left him a shot he took it out. He was great, really solid and I'm pleased for him.

"I can't complain. Over the years I've done this to other players and Terry bashed me up."