Wanderers win ‘home’ social darts competition

DARTS WINNERS: The West Inn Wanderers won the West Inn social darts competition in a final that had to be decided by a teams game of 1001. Wanderers team members are, back (from left): Mark Taihuka, Aaron Lum, Ian McGrory, Robbie Thornton, Rob McGuffog and Zarne Quigley. Front: Joanne Austin, Ernie Quigley and team captain Clinton Worsnop. Picture by Liam Clayton

SIX years on, the social darts team Ernie Quigley founded have won the championship . . . their first.

And, what’s more, his team — the West Inn Wanderers — won their “home” competition.

They beat last year’s winners, Mangapapa Garage, in a final that had to be decided by a teams game of 1001 at the West Inn Tavern.

Both teams recorded strong scores in the deciding game. Ian McGrory sealed the win for Wanderers with a double 1, and the West Inn social darts competition title was theirs.

Members of the winning team are Zarne Quigley, Ernie Quigley, Joanne Austin, Rob McGuffog, Robbie Thornton, Mark Taihuka, Ian McGrory, Aaron Lum and captain Clinton Worsnop.

Since Ernie Quigley founded the team in 2014, they have made the playoffs each season, but this is their first title.

Eleven teams took part in the competition, which is held in winter. Teams have their own “home ground” and so have home and away fixtures thoughout the season.

The Wanderers won all but one of their matches to finish the round robin in the No.1 position, just ahead of seven-time champions and last year’s beaten finalists, Roseland Red, and last year’s champions, Mangapapa Garage.

In the six-team playoffs held last Saturday, another West Inn team, the Nomads, caused an upset by defeating strong contenders Roseland Red in the quarterfinals. But the Nomads then lost to Mangapapa Garage in the semifinal.

The Wanderers reached the final by beating a team representing Tyre General in a close semifinal.

In the final, Wanderers pulled away to a 7-4 lead and needed just one more win to take the championship.

But a fightback by Mangapapa brought them level, forcing the tie-breaking teams match. It was left to McGrory to seal the win for Wanderers with his perfectly placed finishing double.