A whole lot of shaking

BULLY BOY Michael Smith was grateful to survive dark horse Steve Lennon’s fightback and admitted: “I was shaking up there.”

Smith lost a 2-0 lead before pulling out of his nosedive in the nick of time to beat the Irishman 3-2 and then admitted: “I was more nervous up there than when I beat Phil Taylor in the second round four years ago.

“Although I am the more experienced player, my heart was really pounding when he pulled it back all square at 2-2.

“Steve just wouldn’t lie down and I’m just glad it didn’t go to a shoot-out.”

Apart from one dreadful leg where both players ended up in the ‘madhouse’ – chasing double one to check out – it was a highquality contest with No.13 seed Smith, 27, earning a second-round date with Rob Cross.