DENNIS PRIESTLEY made a successful start to his Holsten Premier League darts challenge last week - and even had time for some sightseeing in Plymouth.
The Menace, from Mexborough, overcame fellow Premier League debutant Terry Jenkins 8-5 in the historic port city to open his account with two points.
Priestley - who faces defending champion Phil Taylor in Wolverhampton in tonight's second round of matches - enjoyed the occasion in front of a packed house of 1,500 fans at the Plymouth Pavilions.
"It's my first time in the Premier League and I've got loads of experience but it's still a new thing for me," admitted Priestley.
"I wanted to get off to a winning start, that is a crucial part to the Premier League.
"We had a look during the day at where Queens Elizabeth I summoned the Army to go and fight the Spanish, and I had my own little battle on stage!"
The first five legs of the match went with the throw to leave Priestley 3-2, despite three maximums from Jenkins.
Priestley took a crucial break of throw in the sixth leg with a 93 finish to go into the interval 4-2 up.
A brilliant 157 finish from Jenkins for a 12-darter saw him break back following the restart, and he took the next with a 13-darter, including another maximum, to level matters.
The next two legs were shared, but Priestley found his rhythm in the 11th to edge clear and he then broke Jenkins' throw with a second maximum in as many legs for a 13-darter and a 7-5 cushion.
Not content with sealing a point, he won the next leg in 15 darts to seal the win and a perfect start to the tournament.
"It looked like it could have been a draw at one stage," said Priestley, "but I dug really deep and got the win I wanted.
"All of the eight players want to be in the semi-finals after 14 weeks. If you finish fourth, you're still in the play-offs and have the same chance as the one who finishes first.
"Obviously there is the kudos of being the number one, because that puts a little bit of fear in everybody - if I went on and finished number one they would be frightened to death of me!
"Even at my age I have got to think along those lines, that I have got to get in and make the other players fear me."
Priestley admitted that the atmosphere was one of the best he has experienced during a career spanning 20 years as a professional.
"It reminded me of the old News of the World tournament," he said. "I lost the final to Dave Whitcombe in 1989 and it was a similar sort of thing.
"There were so many people in there, and you have just got to get on with it and concentrate on the board.
"I used to get annoyed with crowds making noise but Eric Bristow said to me to get on stage, win my games and take the money!
"I've taken that on board, try to blank the crowds out, concentrate on the dartboard and win my games. The crowd pay their money and up to an extent should be able to do what they want, within the bounds of sportsmanship."
Priestley's clash with Taylor will be a repeat of five World Championship finals the pair have contested during their careers.
"He has been my greatest opponent," added Priestley. I enjoy playing him because you're going up against one of the best.
"That's what I play the game for."
