ADRIAN LEWIS held off a rousing fightback from Ledbury's Terry Jenkins before opening his Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts challenge with an 8-5 win.

In an incredible game of two halves, Lewis roared into a 7-0 lead and looked on course to condemn Jenkins to only the second whitewash in Premier League history.

But Jenkins, roared on by the Glasgow crowd, hit back with five legs in a row to stay in the game before Lewis took out a second ton-plus check-out to finally seal the win.

Lewis kicked off in superb form, taking the first leg with a two-dart 72 finish with Jenkins sat on double top and doubling his lead with a 140 checkout.

He also included a 93 finish and a 14-darter in moving 6-0 up at the first break and a two-dart 88 check-out saw him go one leg away from the win.

Jenkins, who was the victim of the only other Premier League whitewash, against Colin Lloyd at Alexandra Palace last April, rallied and a pressure double three in leg eight saw him finally get off the mark.

His confidence suddenly returned and he won the next three legs with his first dart at a double, twice punishing Lewis' misses for the match to stay in the contest.

Jenkins also scrambled home double ten in leg 12 to stay in the game at 7-5, but Lewis hit his second 180 of the game in the next to open up a cushion and he took out 124 for a 15-darter and victory.

"I was thinking at one stage about getting the 8-0 win and putting myself top of the league but Terry came back with some brilliant finishes," said Lewis.

"People don't realise the pressure when you have one dart to save the match and he did it for four or five legs on the trot.

"He finished well at the end and if he'd started like that I'd have been in deep trouble. In the end, I'm just happy with the win!"

Jenkins admitted: "It was a struggle for me and I have been struggling a bit lately. I'm working hard in practice and it will come together soon."