Gisborne Club Darts Association results

Darts by Tutu Wynn

DARTS

As predicted, Roseland Tavern and Cossy Done & Dusted remain unbeaten. However, a subtle placement shuffle puts Roseland in a two-leg lead over the reigning champions due mainly to the stiffer opposition in Done & Dusted’s away 11-4 win against robust 2NZEF Rebels, whereas Roseland comfortably dispatched less formidable hosts Cossy Downers 14-1.

2NZEF McCann’ics scored a 12-3 season-first victory over stablemates, 2NZEF Rose & Thorns. By both scoring four wins from four games, McCann’ics’ most valuable players, Keladene Nepe and the nine-gram-dart-throwing Walter Whaitiri added considerable oomph to their team’s victory.

Rose & Thorns’ mid-pairing of Kelly Cribb and Mary Panirau managed one win in the pairs.

In the singles, Rose & Thorns fared better with Di Leach at point and anchor-man Bob Fraider taking two wins. McCann’ics’ calm Keladene Nepe, Chris Giddens, Mere Nepe-Nepia and Whaitiri each won a singles game.

The only 8-7 game of the week was contested by the already much-mentioned stablemates, Cossy (2) PHL and Cossy B Coz.

Leading 5-4 at the turn, PHL had to dig deep after B Coz led 7-5.

Keith and Heather Hannam and Ryan Kirkland defeated Mike Price, Allen Wildbore and Vern Marshall respectively.

However, Steve Nisbett, Monty Reedy and captain Puna McRoberts were able to deprive Nicki Stairs, Gary Harding and Kerry Hooper the honours, PHL winning the match 8-7.

Region 7 playoffsIn the past two years, both Region 7 teams have lifted their national ranking markedly. Having two of the country’s top-ranked players — Tahuna Irwin and Sha Hohipa (now representing Region 11 Wairarapa) — regularly taking part in local competitions has exposed more players than ever to standards that have pitched their throwing skills way above acceptable averages.

Twenty-nine men and 12 women from the two local associations, Gisborne Club Darts Association and Turanganui a Kiwa Darts Association, vied for Region 7-Gisborne representation at this year’s New Zealand Darts Council Nationals, to be held at the Rotorua Events Centre.

The playoffs, held upstairs at the Brezz’n Bar, started at 10am.

The eight women’s representatives were determined from 132 games. That was 2pm.

R7 women: Nyoka Fox, Mihi Awatere, Sina Brown, Nikila Irwin, Chae Whaitiri and Bobbi Eyles. Reserves: Pauline Haapu and Jessica Richardson. Captain: Syndi Barbarich. Manager: Georgina Osborne.

It was a much different story for the men, who played an incredible 812 games before team selection could be confirmed. The last dart hit its designated double just after 7pm. Then the waiting . . . oh, the waiting!

R7 men: Jono Griffiths, Kayne Arahanga, Marcus Leach, Tahuna Irwin, Lorenzo Kaa, Cris Kiri, Corey Kaio and Leroy Eyles. Reserves: Harley Ngarangione and Tyson Eyles. Captain: Jono Griffiths. Manager: Willie Edwards.