Gisborne Club Darts Association results

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It was another full-house at the 2NZEF Club as 10 teams vied for bragging rights.

Of keen interest, however, were the two near-top-of-the-table clashes. The 2NZ Bullz hosted old rivals 2NZ Rebels and eventually won 8-7, while 2NZ Titans — away at the Roseland Tavern — went home with a winning 9-6 smile.

Tom Irwin’s Bullz, depleted by the flu, fielded an understrength six. Missing in hospital was George Vaotu’ua and down with the flu, successful anchor-man Morris MacDonald.

Georgina Osborne’s Rebels were without their top seed, Charlie Reiri. Shane Horne proved a competent replacement for Reiri, while Osborne came off the bench for Mark Edwards.

The pairs were torrid, with the lead changing five times.

Bullz point-pairing of Mike Hughes and Rowe Mason secured three wins from three, with victories over Lorenzo Kaa and Lee Barbarich 2-1, Jesse Noa Noa and Tina Aspalter 2-1, then Osborne and Horne 2-0.

Their mid-pairing of Colin Edwards and Irwin, after an initial lacklustre 2-0 loss to Noa Noa and Aspalter, lifted their game as well as their team’s chances by winning the next two — 2-0 over Osborne and Horne, then 2-1 over Kaa and Barbarich.

For the Rebels, mid-pairing Noa Noa and Aspalter took two, as did their anchor-pairing of Osborne and Horne.

Having to leave the venue early, the anchors, Gary Poi and Horne, opened the singles, Horne scoring a 2-0 win, thus squaring the match at 5-5.

In the next two closely fought encounters, the Bullz looked defeat squarely in the eye as Hughes lost to Kaa 2-1 then Mason lost to Barbarich 2-1.

However, the tide seemed to turn as Irwin claimed Noa Noa’s scalp 2-0. Edwards pulled out a timely 2-0 performance over Aspalter. Seven-all!

For the Bullz, Scott Cunningham had the unenviable task of having to play the decider against Queen Rebel herself, Georgina Osborne. Then there was a sigh of relief among the Bullz as Scotty brought haam the bacon.

After 11 games, six teams are certain to make the A Grade.

Cossy DONE & Dusted sit at the top, undefeated on 22 points and 133 legs. Following them are 2NZ Titans (20-129), 2NZ Bullz (20-115), Roseland Tavern (18-126), 2NZ Rebels (16-105) and Cossy Shakers (16-101). The jostling will certainly change things next week.

COMING UP — GCDA women’s and men’s set pairs, at the Gisborne Cosmopolitan Club, TOMORROW: Check in by 10am for a starting time of 10.30am. Entry fee $5 for members.