TERRY Jenkins hit the ground running in his bid to win the William Hill World Championship as he averaged 98.73 and hit five 180s in his 3-1 first-round victory over John Weber.

The Bull from Ledbury started off brilliantly with a 12-dart leg, which included a 140 and a 180 and culminated in a 121 finish to give him a storming start.

Weber responded but Jenkins hit a second 180 in the third leg before taking out 80 at the first attempt followed by a third 180 as he clinched the set with a 107 average.

The Australian left-hander hit back as Jenkins dropped off in his doubling, but the Herefordshire star hit another 180 to set up a 36 finish before grabbing a fifth of the match – only to see Weber pinch the leg with a brilliant 128 check-out.

A 180 for a fired-up Weber gave him the second set to level the match but Jenkins responded again and pushed on as he claimed the next six legs without reply.

The third set came quickly and clinically despite not being of the greatest quality.

But in the fourth set he upped his game as 51-year-old Jenkins kicked it off with two 140s and a 170 in setting up a 15-darter.

Two more 140s led to a 13-darter and The Bull finished the game off with a 14-darter, capped by an 80 check-out to book a second-round tie with another Australian in Laurence Ryder after Christmas.

“I played really well, there was only that second set – actually just one leg in that set – that set me back a bit,” said Jenkins.

“Otherwise, I played nicely. I was hitting a lot of 140s up there and playing consistently. It was just the odd double here and there I need to tighten up on.

“I didn’t really know what to expect from the match. I hadn’t played him before.”

Perth-based Ryder, who was born in Derby but moved to Western Australia in 2001, beat Justin Pipe 3-2 in a shock first-round result.