RSA (4) magnanimous in darts victory

Darts by Tutu Wynn

PERHAPS RSA (4) captain Kehu Beauchamp was in a different frame of mind from usual before her evening’s night of darts. Who knows?

Her team of six might have managed only six ton-plus scores, but they plugged 10 winning doubles on their way to recording a first for 2016: a win.

Gracious as always, Beauchamp smiled with nonchalance as she gave the final handshake to her host captain, 2NZ McCann’ics Ngata Monika, moderating her elations as is the protocol among all great sportspeople.

RSA’s point-pairing, Beauchamp and Aunt Gaylene Taitapanui conceded only one leg in winning all five points available to the two of them.

Conversely, the McCann’ics counter-pairing, Mackey Walker and Leah Monika, did not record a point.

Keeping with the RSA, the mid-pairing of Mary Panirau and Sarah Brown lost their first game to Chris Giddens andJohn Stewart before securing the next two — against Mackey Walker and (Leah) Monika, and Ngata Monika and Ross Bishop.

RSA anchor-pairing Rowe Mason and Andre Grant squeezed two more from (Ngata) Monika and Bishop, and Walker and (Leah) Monika to give the visitors a commanding 7-2 lead.

Giddens and Stewart scored the two points for McCann’ics.

Into the singles, Beauchamp shut the gate on the match with a 2-0 victory over Walker. Panirau emulated her skipper’s feat against Leah Monika.

Then, too little too late, the big three for McCann’ics — Giddens, Stewart and Ngata Monika — each scored wins before the anchoring Bishop conceded the final leg to RSA’s Andre Grant.

All smiles afterwards and gracious in defeat, Ngata Monika’s 2NZ McCann’ics admitted having one of those frustrating nights where the big scores came relatively easily but all too often a crucial double just couldn’t be bought.

GCD Association Tournament

Tomorrow at the Gisborne Cosmopolitan Club, the Eric and Anne Torrie Memorial Trophies are to be contested. This is a men’s and women’s singles tournament. Reigning champions Harley Ngarangione and Sha Hohipa have been on form lately so they will want to keep the trophies. So ladies and gentlemen — “Bring it!”

Date: Sunday, July 31.

Venue: The Cossie Club

Registration time: 10am to 10.30am.

Starting time: 11am.