File picture
SECOND-round grading matches are proving to be even closer than those in the first round of the Brezz N darts competition.
In the first round, Hawkz defeated Sharks 13-8, but this time round the Hawkz won by just one game.
The Hawkz were on top in the first set of singles, winning the last four games for a 4-2 lead. Thomasina Brown defeated Curly Waikare 2-0, Nyoka Lewis defeated Pete Archibald 2-1, Matiu Hawea defeated Joel Taingahue, and anchor Hinehou Namana defeated Dallas Joseph 2-0.
In the pairs, the Sharks pairing of Ken Lewis and Sonny Laulau won their three games. It was up to the other two pairs to each win at least two of their three games but they could only get one each, and Sharks took the pairs by only one game, 5-4.
That meant Hawkz still had the overall lead, 8-7, heading into the reverse singles. It was anyone’s game.
Sharks struck first, Ken Lewis defeating Namana 2-1. Hawkz struck back with Hawea defeating Laulau 2-1. Sharks got the next two games with Waikare defeating Nyoka Lewis 2-1, and Archibald defeating Brown 2-0.
That gave Sharks the lead, 10-9. It was down to the anchors. The Hawkz anchors came out on top, Selwyn Ruru defeating Taingahue 2-1 and Thao Duncan defeating Joseph 2-0 for a final score of 11-10 to Hawkz.
Highlights came from newcomer Pete Archibald, who had a 100 start, and Hawkz player Thao Duncan, who had nine high scores.
Ford Falcons were running hot against Pumas, taking the first set of singles 5-1.
In the pairs, Pumas struck first, Cory Timothy and Mark Bollingford defeating Falcons captain Harley Ngarangione and Hati Saddlier 2-1. This revved up the Falcons, and they won the next eight games to lead 13-2 going into the reverse singles.
Pumas again struck first, Timothy beating Pete Tom 2-0, and Bollingford beating Sam Kirikino 2-1.
This setback got the Falcons going again, and they won the last four games for a final scoreline of 17-4 in their favour.
Highlights came from Pumas’ Bollingford, who had a 114 start, and Falcons’ Claude Saddlier for a 120 start and Jordan Ngarangione for 10 high scores.
Stallions set the early pace against Pythons. They won five of the first six singles games.
Pythons pairing Joanne Matete and Antz Hulley beat Wi Brown and Matt Morrell 2-1. Stallions struck back by winning the next four pairs games.
Pythons anchor Errol Tamihana defeated Edward (Whata) Brown and Morrell 2-1. This young star topped the high scores for this match, with 10.
Stallions won the pairs 5-4 to give them a 10-5 lead heading into the reverse singles.
Pythons then went game for game with Stallions, and the margin stayed the same, leaving Stallions with a 13-8 win.
Highlights were the 180 from Stallions’ Kayne Arahanga, and the 10 high scores of Pythons’ Tamihana.
In the first singles game of the Scorpions-versus-Tigers match, Scorpions lead player John Lynch defeated Tobias (Toby) Ratapu 2-1.
Tigers struck back, Shiloh Henry defeating Heiwari Phillips 2-0, Tipi Eyles defeating Bill Allen 2-1, Haimona Ratapu defeating Dean Allan 2-0, Teretu Te Moananui defeating Itereama Candy 2-0 and Tigers anchor Leroy Eyles defeating Scorpions captain Vic Mackey 2-1. This put Tigers 5-1 up.
In the pairs, all games went to the final double finish but Tigers came out on top, 7-2.
In the reverse singles, Tigers finished strongly, winning 6-0, and the final score was 18-3 to them.
Highlights were the 180s of Leroy Eyles and Te Moananui, and the 13 high scores of Tobias Ratapu.
Ruahine set the pace against Humming Birds, winning the first set of singles 5-1.
In the pairs section it was a different story. The Humming Birds pairings all won a game. Kelly Munro and Tuihana Shephard defeated Tom Te Kira and Ella Rapana, Gaye Tamihana and Debs Mulligan defeated Te Kira and Rapana 2-1, and Nikila Irwin and Lynmarie Edwards defeated Tiana Kauika and Chris Te Moni 2-1.
Nevertheless, Ruahine won the pairs 6-3 and the reverse singles 4-2. Humming Birds newcomer Irwin defeated Ella 2-0 and Edwards defeated Te Kira 2-0.
The final score was 15-6 to Ruahine, whose Mihi Awatere provided the highlight — a 120 start.
HIGHLIGHTS180s: Teretu Te Moananui, Leroy Eyles, Kayne Arahanga.
Highest start 120: Claude Saddlier, Mihi Awatere, Leroy Eyles, Jordan Ngarangione, Haimona Ratapu, Tobias (Toby) Ratapu.
Most high scores (13): Tobias Ratapu.
RESULTSSharks 10 Hawkz 11: Ken Lewis 125, 100 (2); Sonny Laulau 140, 121, 100; Curly Waikare 133, 115, 113; Pete Archibald 140, 130, 125, 120, 100st, 100 (3); Dallas Joseph 100 (5). Thao Duncan 140, 135, 130, 100 (6); Selwyn Ruru 105, 100; Thomasina Brown 140 (2); Nyoka Lewis 138, 120, 100 (2); Matiu Hawea 140 (3), 120, 100 (3); Hinehou Namana 110.
Pumas 4 Ford Falcons 17: Cory Timothy 120, 110, 101, 100 (3); Mark Bollingford 140, 138, 112, 100 (6); Irene Taufa 140, 100; Ike Te Ahorangi 160, 114st; Eric Moses 120, 100. Harley Ngarangione 135, 125, 121, 100 (3); Hati Saddlier 140, 125, 121, 100 (5); Jordan Ngarangione 137, 120st, 120, 100st, 100 (6); Claude Saddlier 121, 120st, 100st, 100 (2); Sam Kirikino 140 (3), 100 (3); Pete Tom 140 (2), 122, 121 (2), 120, 110st (2), 100.
Stallions 13 Pythons 8: Wi Brown 150st, 100 (5); Matt Morrell 140, 125, 115st; Edward (Whata) Brown 100 (2); Kazius Collier-Delamere 100 (3); Kayne Arahanga 180, 140, 198, 121, 100 (4); Rocky Monika 140, 100. Joanne Matete 140, 137, 121; Antz Hulley 100st, 100 (3); Louise Laulau 115, 100 (2); Kiri Hawea 116st, 101, 100 (2); Errol Tamihana 140, 138, 125, 100st, 100 (6).
Scorpions 3 Tigers 18: John Lynch 140 (2), 120, 101st, 100 (6); Heiwari Phillips 121 (2), 100st, 100 (2); Bill Allen 132, 125, 119, 108; Vic Mackey 127, 125, 121 (2), 120, 103, 100 (2). Tobias Ratapu 125, 121, 120st, 101st, 100st, 100 (8); Shiloh Henry 120, 100 (3); Tipi Eyles 135, 125, 100 (9); Haimona Ratapu 120st, 112, 100 (8); Teretu Te Moananui 180, 138, 135, 128, 121 (2), 119, 100; Leroy Eyles 180, 140 (3), 120st (2), 100 (4).
Ruahine 15 Humming Birds 6: Tom Te Kira 140, 127, 106, 100 (4); Tiana Kauika 121, 100; Chris Te Moni 140, 101, 100 (2); Mihi Awatere 120st, 122, 100; Johnny Smith 125, 100. Kelly Munro 100; Tuihana Shephard 100; Debs Mulligan 114; Nikila Irwin 111, 101; Lynmarie Edwards 120 (2), 100.