Stan James World Matchplay - Day Two Afternoon Session Reports

REPORTS from Monday's afternoon session at the Stan James World Matchplay as the first round continues.

Highlights will be available in DartsTV from 7pm on Tuesday 24 July.

Stan James World Matchplay
Terry Jenkins 10-5 Alan Tabern
Ronnie Baxter 10-6 Bob Anderson
John Part 10-5 Alan Warriner-Little
Barrie Bates 10-8 Andy Smith

TERRY JENKINS 10-5 ALAN TABERN

TERRY JENKINS battled past Alan Tabern to win his place in round two of the Stan James World Matchplay with a 10-5 victory in Monday's opening game.

The in-form world number five, who reached the Las Vegas Desert Classic final earlier this month, made a strong start to his challenge in Blackpool to see off the emerging left-hander from St Helens.

A mid-game surge saw him establish a 6-2 lead, and that proved crucial in the final outcome.

"I had to score big against Alan and put him under pressure, and I did that," said Jenkins.

"I never normally do well at Blackpool but I'm having a good run at the moment and hopefully that can continue. I'm not going to start looking too far ahead though, I'll just concentrate on every game."

The opening five legs of the game went with the throw, before Jenkins gained the first break to move 4-2 up in the sixth.

The World Grand Prix finalist landed maximums in each of the next two legs as he opened up a four-leg lead.

Tabern stepped up a gear to take the next two, but paid the price for failing to leave a double in the next by hitting single nine instead of 12, with Jenkins mopping up a 95 finish on the bullseye.

Tabern took the 12th leg with a superb 11-darter to pull back to 7-5, but Jenkins won the next three to ensure his last 16 berth.

Terry Jenkins	10-5	Alan Tabern
24	100+	21
8	140+	11
4	180	2
31.74	Ave1	30.93
95.23	Ave3	92.79
100	High Finish	83

RONNIE BAXTER 10-6 BOB ANDERSON

RONNIE BAXTER booked his place in the second round of the Stan James World Matchplay with a grinding 10-6 win over Bob Anderson at the Winter Gardens.

Lancashire-born Baxter, the 1998 runner-up in Blackpool, was never allowed to settle into his usual rhythm by methodical Anderson, who played his part to the full in an entertaining contest only to suffer for missed doubles late in the game.

Anderson began well and took the first two legs, winning the first against the throw when it was Baxter who missed his finish and then finishing a 101 checkout on double 16 in the second.

Baxter hit back to win three in a row and edge in front before Anderson produced a 13-darter in leg six.

The pair shared the next four legs with the throw before Anderson hit the front at 6-5 when Baxter wasted his doubles.

Back-to-back 13-darters put Baxter 7-6 up, and he punished misses from the former World Champion in leg 14.

Another 13-darter put Baxter to the brink of victory before a landed double five for the win after Anderson was again off-target on double top.

Ronnie Baxter	10-6	Bob Anderson
22	100+	20
5	140+	14
2	180	2
28.54	Ave1	28.26
85.61	Ave3	84.78
92	High Finish	101

JOHN PART 10-5 ALAN WARRINER-LITTLE

JOHN PART began his Stan James World Matchplay challenge with an impressive 10-5 win over Alan Warriner-Little at the Winter Gardens.

The Canadian has twice reached the final of the Blackpool event, and his impressive recent form continued against the local favourite.

He averaged almost 95 in the game and hit six maximums, with a 167 finish from Warriner-Little - the highest of the tournament so far - not enough to stem the tide.

Part set his stall out early on, opening up a 3-0 lead before Warriner-Little took two of the next three to pull back to 4-2.

Part opened the next two legs with 180s as he pulled clear, moving 7-3 up before a 167 finish from his opponent stopped the rot.

Part paid for wasted doubles in the next as Warriner-Little stepped in on double five, but a brilliant 11-darter from the Canadian - including back-to-back maximums - restored his cushion.

Warriner-Little broke back on double ten, but Part's class showed as he swept to the next two legs and set up a second round clash with in-form Terry Jenkins.

"I was solid throughout the match," said Part. "I had enough experience to know I had to stick with it throughout the match.

"He's throwing very well and just the odd double is tripping him up. I am in good form, I feel good and am playing well."

He added: "Terry's a great player, steady and I enjoy his company. He'll play tough against me and I have to play solid like I did today and if I do I have a chance.

"I have it inside me to respond in certain situations, and maybe Terry is newer to that than me so it could make a difference."

John Part	10-5	Alan Warriner-Little
15	100+	19
12	140+	2
6	180	0
31.54	Ave1	28.33
94.62	Ave3	85.00
70	High Finish	167

BARRIE BATES 10-8 ANDY SMITH

BARRIE BATES pushed himself through the pain barrier to win a place in the second round of the Stan James World Matchplay with a 10-8 defeat of Andy Smith.

Bates has been struggling for the past month with the symptoms of gout in his right knee and ankle, but limped his way to a narrow triumph.

He trailed 3-0 early on but clawed back to lead 5-4, and then pulled away by winning back-to-back legs for the match.

"The pain I've been in is unbelievable," said Bates. "That's no excuse though because I got to the last eight of a tournament on Saturday, beating Peter Manley and Denis Ovens.

"I was feeling sorry for myself at 3-0 down but I thought I'm up there for an hour, one game and that I should concentrate. I got back into it and kept plugging away, and finally won in the end.

"It was more important for get that win - I've not won a game on TV since I got to the final of the UK Open last year so hopefully that's a good omen.

"I've got either Denis Ovens or Raymond van Barneveld next, but they've got to beat me - not the other way around!

"I'll rest the knee and ankle tomorrow and have a quiet day and get myself ready for Wednesday. With a bit of luck the foot will feel better!"

Smith piled on the agony for Bates early in the match, hitting two 180s in the first three legs and jumping on the Welshman's misses in leg three.

Bates stormed back, winning four straight legs and hitting three ton-plus checkouts of 100, 150 and 117.

The see-saw encounter continued as Smith took four of the next five to put himself 7-5 up, only for Bates - aided by legs of 14, 15 and 13 darts - to regain the lead.

Smith took out 106 to level matters at eight-all, only for Bates to hold his throw in the next leg and then punish missed darts from his opponent to wrap up the win on double five - finishing with an impressive 50 percent checkout ratio.