A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
RHINOS produced the comeback of the night to beat Ruahine 8-7 in Week 2 of the grading round in Brezz’n Darts Club winter league play on Tuesday night.
The short 15-game format meant the captains had to ensure they had their teams lined up strategically.
Last year’s A Grade runners-up Rhinos were a player down due to work commitments, which put them on the back foot from the start.
Whanau team Ruahine, who were fourth in the A Grade last year, won the pairs section 5-4 with some hard-fought 2-1 wins.
In the singles, Rhinos were a game down before they started, and Ruahine looked as if they might cause the upset of the night. With five games to go, Rhinos needed to win four for overall victory.
New Zealand Clubs 2017 junior champion Errol Tamihana set the platform for his Rhinos teammates by defeating Potz Te Kira 3-2.
Cody Kiri, another up-and-coming junior player, chimed in by defeating Tom Te Kira 3-1.
Rhinos captain Tyson Eyles, inspired by his younger players, didn’t disappoint. He defeated Sin Tupene 3-0.
Ruahine’s Ripeka Te Kira slowed the Rhinos’ momentum by defeating Katrina Roseboom-Devries 3-2 in a hard-fought game.
That made it 7-7 with one game to play.
Rhinos’ Jono Griffiths, a Gisborne-born-and-bred A Grade player recently returned from Australia, defeated Johnny Smith 3-0 to give the Rhinos a well-deserved 8-7 win.
Individual highlights180s: Tyson Eyles, Jono Griffiths.
Highest start (160): Jono Griffiths.
Highest finish (152): Peter Tom.
Most high scores (21): Tahuna Irwin.
ResultsRhinos 8 Ruahine 7: Errol Tamihana 140 (2), 121 (2), 120, 100st, 100 (3); Cody Kiri 125 (2), 101, 100 (3); Tyson Elyes 180, 140 (3), 105, 100st, 100 (3); Katrina Roseboom-Devries 100; Jono Griffiths 180, 160st, 140 (7), 125st, 120st, 115, 100st (2), 100 (4). Potz Te Kira 100 (3); Tom Te Kira 134, 131, 106; Sin Tupene 140; Ripeka Te Kira 100; Johnny Smith 100 (2); Chris Te Moni 140, 125, 119, 100.
Tigers 14 Stallions 1: Hukanui Brown 100 (6); Toby Ratapu 140, 100st, 100 (6); Cory Timothy 105, 100 (5); Shiloh Henry 140 (3), 105, 100st, 100 (6); Tipi Elyes 110f, 100 (9); Leroy Eyles 140 (4), 121, 120st, 100 (7). Wi Brown 102, 100 (2); Matt Morrell 105, 100 (3); Chris Beattie123, 100; Neville 100; Kaz Unuwai 136, 134, 100; Edward Brown 123st, 120, 100.
Pumas 9 Tao Matarau Hawks 6: Ike Te Ahorangi 140, 100 (5); Rendall McDonald 125, 100 (2); Kriss Larby 100; Jacob Larby 100; Mike Evans 140, 121, 101, 100 (4). Irie Eyles 140, 103 (2), 100 (3); Hunter Eyles 140, 121, 120, 100 (4); Ani Tangira 110f, 100; Te Waiawa Irwin 140, 112, 105, 100 (3); Shaolyn Edwards 100 (4).
Pythons 4 Scorpions 11: Temple Edwards100; Hine Wharehinga 140, 105st, 100; Shannon Eyles 106st; Joanne Matete 123, 111. John Lynch 115st, 100 (3); Antz Hulley 140st, 140 (2), 100st, 100f; Brian Royle 135, 100; Bill Allen121, 100 (2); Vic Mackey 140, 100 (2); Brian Walters 121.
Humming Birds 0 Falcons 15: Gaye Tamihana 142; Nyoka Fox 100 (2); Nikila Irwin 120, 100; Bobbi Eyles 105, 100st, 100 (2); Jessis Richardson 125, 100. Tahuna Irwin 140 (4), 125st, 120st (2), 120, 105, 100st (2), 100 (10); Jordan Ngarangione 120, 106f, 100st, 100 (7); Harley Ngarangione 140 (3), 135st, 125, 120st, 120; Antonio Curtis 140 (3), 125, 118, 100 (6); Sam Kirikino 140 (2), 131, 100 (5); Peter Tom 152f, 100f, 100.
DRAW: Falcons v Scorpions, Ruahine v Pythons, Stallions v Pumas, Sharks v Humming Birds, Tigers v Rhinos. Bye: Tao Matarau Hawks.