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MARLAINE Pohio’s 2NZ (3) hosted Ryan Kirkland’s Cossie 4 PHL in what really was a game of two halves. It was not until the final leg that the visitors gained the match-winner.
At point for 2NZ was the hugely talented Ora Pohio. She was partnered with a relatively unknown Eria Thomas. This dynamic duo proved more than capable, completing a clean three-from-three pairs sweep. First, they beat PHL’s Kerry Hopper and Lindsay Grenfell, then the mid-pairing of Allen Wildbore and Norm Shann, and finally PHL’s solo anchor-pair-man, captain Kirkland.
The 2NZ mid-pair of Heni Pewhairangi and Ryan Atkins, and anchor-pair Tahawai Pewhairangi and Faenza Hewitt managed a win each to give them five wins.
PHL’s Hopper and Grenfell chalked up two wins, as did Wildbore and Shann, to trail by one going into the singles.
Again there seemed to be no stopping Pohio as she lifted the odds in her team’s favour by winning a sixth point over Hopper.
Unfortunately for 2NZ, the walls came tumbling down as the age and experience of PHL’s tight four proved overwhelming for the relative inexperience of their less-capped opposition.
Grenfell defeated a spirited Thomas 2-1 and Wildbore defeated Heni Pewhairangi. PHL’s ring-in, Norm Shann, still knows how to group them. He hit a 180 then gave his team the lead with a seventh win.
With 2NZ’s anchor-woman Hewitt having won a no-contest, the scores were tied at 7-7. This left Tahawai Pewhairangi and Kirkland to decide it.
As the Highlander put it. There can only be one! This time, Cossie 4 PHL caught the breaks.
With Matt Reedy and Sha Hohipa away on Winmau duties in Australia, and Marcus Leach relocating to Wellington, Cossie Done&Dusted were left short-handed. But they showed true grit and determination to overcome a full-strength 2NZ McCannics side 11-4.
Ngata Monika’s McCannics could not counter the intensity of Done&Dusted. Captain Brian Leach led by example, playing solo, securing two wins at anchor in the pairs, performing well in the singles and amassing 12 hundred-plus scores into the bargain.
RemindersGisborne Club Darts Association regional team qualification — Tomorrow — Venue: 2NZEF Club. Registrations close at 10.30am. Start: 11.00am (top 10 men and top eight women qualify).
2NZEF Club Championship — Saturday, June 11 — Men’s and women’s set pairs. Registrations close at 12.30pm. Start: 1pm.
GCDA Tournament — Sunday, June 19 (changed from the 12th June) — Drawn seeded pairs. Venue: Gisborne RSA.
Registrations close at 11.30am. Start: 12 noon.