Darts by Tutu Wynn
This week’s story features two teams both facing off a player short.
Maureen Kelly, playing at anchor for Cossie Downers, and Rowe Mason, playing at fifth spot for RSA (4), had the unenviable task of playing each of their three pair legs singlehanded. When the dust cleared, a relieved Downers side had an 8-7 home win.
In the first half, Downers’ mid-pairing of Liz Lowe and Jenny Northover combined to score two wins, the first against RSA’s Teena Baker and Sarah Brown, and the second against the soloist Mason. The point-pairing of Ruby Mackey and Downers captain Di Brown managed a point from Baker and Sarah Brown. The unaccompanied Kelly brought a raucous cheer as she scored a fourth point against the luckless Baker and Brown.
RSA’s point-pairing of Andre Grant and Mary Panirau produced a hundred percent effort with three wins from three. However, accolades must go to RSA’s rearguard, Rowe Mason, who won two more legs singlehanded, first from Maureen Kelly and then from Mackey and Di Brown to give RSA a 5-4 advantage going into the singles. At point for RSA, Grant extended his team’s lead to 6-4 with a hard-fought 2-1 win against Mackey.
The arrival of a disagreeable wind-change for the RSA saw Panirau, Baker and Sarah Brown succumb to their decisive counterparts, Di Brown, Low and Northover turning the tables in Downers’ favour, 7-6. Because Kelly and Mason had no opposition to play at the bottom of the ledger, each secured an individual win, which made no change to the outcome of the match. Di Brown said many of the games required a third leg and were decided by the double. It was one of the more enjoyable evenings of darts her team had experienced and that was down to the relaxed ambience between hosts and visitors.
After a month of intense competition, Cossie Done&Dusted lead the way on 10 points with five wins from five matches. Next are Roseland, four from four with a game in hand; and Rose & Thorns, four from five, and 2NZ Bulls (2), four from five, on eight points. Individually, Matt Reedy heads the men on 35 points. Tahuna Irwin and Lorenzo Kaa both have 34pts. The ever-consistent Sha Hohipa, on 28.5, leads the women’s table, followed by Ora Pohio, 26.9, and Lorna Wynyard, 25.0.
The Local Club Dart SceneOn Sunday, 2NZEF dart players contested the coveted Ron Lougher Memorial Trophy. After a drawn-threes round-robin competition, Bob Fraider, Mike Hughes and Veronica Pomana walked away with the silverware. Di Leach, Frank Hooper and Tom Irwin settled for the handshake.
COMING UP — 2nd NZEF Club Trophy Championship, Sunday, May 15: Women’s drawn pairs (members only). Starts 1pm.
Regional CalendarHawkes Bay/East Coast Area Championships, Napier RSA — Saturday, May 7: Men’s and women’s open pairs. Starts 1pm.
Sunday, May 8: Singles (NZ Clubs members only). Starts 10am.
Individual highlights from Tuesday180s: Mike Price (Cossie 2 PHL), Joseph D (Joe) Kiri (2NZ Mavericks), Scott (Scotty) Cunningham (2NZ Bulls), Wayne Morrell (Roseland), John Kingsbeer (Roseland).
Best start (180): Scott Cunningham (2NZ Bulls), John Kingsbeer (Roseland).
Best finish (120): Monique Renata (2NZ Mavericks).
Most high scores (12): Tahuna Irwin (2NZ Bulls), Corey Kaio (2NZ Rebels).
DRAW2NZEF: 2NZ Rebels v Cossie Downers, 2NZ Liquorland v 2NZ Mavericks, 2NZ Diamonds v 2NZ 6-Shooters, 2NZ (3) v 2NZ McCannics.
COSSIE: Cossie DONE & Dusted v RSA Rose and Thorns.
ROSELAND: Roseland v 2NZ Bulls.
RSA: RSA (4) v Cossie 2 PHL.
Bye: Cossie 4 PHL.