The top four seeded teams in division one of the Far North Darts Association 2017 championship were all in action at the Kaitaia RSA last Wednesday and the scoring was "epic" as a result, noted local commentator Laurence Erstich.
Waipapakauri proved a little too polished for RSA One, winning 10-6 with John Proctor and Brian Steed hitting 180s and Jo Steed getting a highest 111 finish, while RSA One standouts included Nelson Ashley, 180, and BJ Williams with 12 100-plus scores including three 140s.
At the same time, XL showed why they were finalists last year with a 10-6 victory over a strong RSA Red, John Stewart leading the way with two high finishes of 113 and 90 and 10 100-plus scores; RSA's Steve Doak scored a 180 and, with Graham Parker, compiled 30 100-plus scores.
Elsewhere, Mussel Rock took a 10-6 win over Houhora Chiefs (standouts being Treena Baker, winning all her matches and Jeff Hobson and Sam Ruke hitting a number of 100-plus scores); the Squash Club came out swinging against Middle Earth and staggered them 12-4 (Squash's Neil Travers with 13 100-plus scores, Chris Bell and Andrew Lovich made some good finishes, while for Middle Earth, Lionel Korach scored well and Laurence Erstich had a 136 high finish).
There was another close game at Houhora where the Warriors went down to the Ahipara Aces 9-7 (Houhora's Harry Tepania claiming a 76 and a bullseye 72, Aces' John Hincho winning all his games); Wild Thing blooded a new player in Chris Hilton Jones who, with Cullen Wild, led the scoring to a comfortable 14-2 win over RSA Mixed; Arrows beat Awanui 14-2 (Leighton Matthews 74 highest finish and most 100-plus scores but also going down to Awanui s Emily Waenga by 2-1); Muriwhenua beat RSA Two 9-7 in a close contest at Kauri Arms last week (Ian Webb 180, and seven 100-plus scores, Vince Christensen with three wins); and no result from Murrays Bar vs Mission Impossible.
