Major titles for Irwin, Tamihana

NATIONAL TITLEHOLDERS: Brezz’n Darts Club members Errol Tamihana (left) and Tahuna Irwin won the men’s open singles and junior singles titles respectively at the Clubs New Zealand Darts Association national tournament in Upper Hutt. They are pictured holding the trophies they won, and below with their cups and winners’ certificates. They are understood to be the first Gisborne winners of these titles. Pictures by Lynmarie Edwards

Tahuna Irwin and Errol Tamihana brought back two of the major titles from the Clubs New Zealand Darts Association 50th jubilee national tournament.

Irwin, 20, won the men’s open singles title, contested since 1968, and Tamihana, 15, won the junior singles title, contested since 2009.

Both are Brezz’n Darts Club members, and are understood to be the first darts players from Gisborne to win these titles.

The tournament was held at the Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club.

It was Tamihana’s first clubs national tournament.

Irwin’s victory was especially noteworthy, as he was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the youth section, then came back to win the premier event, the men’s open singles.

This was also his first clubs national tournament

Winning this title gave Irwin a place in the Dart Players New Zealand (DPNZ) team to play in Australia this year.

Another Brezz’n club member, Hayden Kiri, was runner-up in the men’s plate.

Congratulations go to these three and the other club members who took part.

SOME great scoring darts were thrown in Brezz’n Darts Club winter league play on Tuesday night.

Against Pythons, the opening players for Stallions hit out in the first set of singles, Patrick White defeating Sonny Laulau 2-1, teammate and pairs partner Tom Hindmarsh defeating Louise Laulau 2-1, team captain Kazius Unuwai def Hine Wharehinga 2-1 and William Brown def Mere Keenan 2-1.

Pythons anchors Kiri Hawea and Temple Edwards took the last two singles, Hawea def Chris Beattie 2-1, and Edwards recording a 2-0 win for her bye game.

Stallions led 4-2 going into the pairs, and won that section 6-3 for a 10-5 lead heading into the reverse singles.

Stallions were riding high at this stage and did not hold back. They won five of the last six singles to take the match 15-6.

INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS

180s: Tyson Eyles (2), P Tom, J Ngarangione, E Tamihana, M Awatere, W Edwards.

Highest start (148): William Brown.

Highest finish (115): Kazius Unuwai.

Most high scores (15): Tyson Eyles.

RESULTS from Tuesday

Stallions 15 Pythons 6: P White 125 (2), 100 (2); T Hindmarsh 140, 125, 121, 100f, 100 (2); K Unuwai 160, 140, 123, 116, 115f, 100 (2); W Brown 148st, 120 (2), 108f, 100 (3); C Beattie 100st, 100 (3). S Laulau 127m 120st, 115; H Wharehinga 134, 113, 101, 100 (4); K Hawea 100 (2).

Ruahine 5 Rhinos 16: C Te Moni 104, 100 (3); M Awatere 180, 140, 120st, 105st, 101st, 100 (2); P Te Kira 135, 123, 100 (3); T Te Kira 121; J Smith 100st, 100; T Kauika 100 (3). H Kiri 135, 100 (5); T Eyles 180 (2), 140 (4), 130st, 121, 120st (2), 120, 109, 101st, 100st (2); J Kiri 129, 120st, 117, 101st, 100 (4); E Tamihana 180, 140 (2), 125, 119 (2), 101, 100 (4); C Kiri 140 (2), 125, 105, 100 (3).

Sharks 4 Ford Falcons 17: B Campbell 121, 120st, 100st, 100 (2); K Lewis 100 (3); H Tawhai 100 (5). T Irwin 140 (2), 125st, 125, 120st, 105, 100 (4); J Ngarangione 180, 125, 101st, 100st, 100 (7); A Curtis 140 (2), 125, 101, 100 (8); C Saddlier 126, 121, 120st; S Kirikino 115st, 100; P Tom 180, 140, 120st.

Scorpions 15 Pumas 6: J Lynch 121, 112f, 100 (5); H Eyles 100 (2); B Allen 121, 105st; E Moses 120, 100 (3); S Edwards 140, 114, 100 (2); V Mackey 100 (4). K Larby 125, 100 (2); J Larby 105; I Te Aho Rangi 105, 100 (3); S Tom 114; B Walker 115st.

Tigers 19 Hawks 2: S Henry 121, 120st; W Edwards 180, 132, 121, 100 (2); T Ratapu 140 (3), 131, 121, 100st (2), 100 (4); A Campbell 100 (3); C Timothy 140, 102st, 100 (7); T Te Moananui 140 (2), 125, 119. M Hawea 132, 123 (2), 121, 100st, 100; N Fox 120, 100; M Renata 100 (3); P Renata 100st; T Mauheni 110, 100.

Draw — A Grade: Sharks v Hawks, Ruahine v Tigers, Ford Falcons v Rhinos.

B Grade: Pythons v Pumas, Humming Birds v Stallions. Scorpions have the bye.