The New Zealand Darts Masters kicked off on Friday night with the PDC professional players giving them quite a challenge by their Oceanic opponents on the stage in Hamilton.
The first match of the night saw the only World Series in debutant Daniel Snookes take on Peter Wright. Wright opened the night with a 125 and held throw before breaking with a 101 check out in leg two. He then held throw with a121 check out before cleaning up the last three legs.
Snookes was thankful to Dartplayers New Zealand for the opportunity. “I had fun out their tonight, and it was quite an experience, one that I would like to feel again now I know more about playing on the stage.”
Peter Wright was happy to progress “I am happy with the win but gutted for Daniel that he was not able to play his best tonight. I encouraged him to try and qualify for next year and learn from this experience.”
Mark Cleaver then took on Dimitri van den Bergh with the Belgian holding throw in the opening leg before checking out 149 to break the throw of his opponent. Two visits of 140 in his opening three legs helped Cleaver break straight back. Van den Bergh then broke back once more before holding throw to lead 4-1. Both players then held throw before Cleaver checked out 112 to move back within two legs. His opponent then cleaned up the next leg to win 6-3.
Cleaver was hard on his own game but enjoyed the interactions he had with the local crowd. “I am thankful to the crowd for their noise and support tonight, they were absolutely superb. I had more in my game and feel I could have done better tonight but it always brilliant to play in front of that crowd.”
The third match saw DPA number one Jeremy Fagg take on Michael Smith. Both players blew opportunities before Fagg threw double ten for the opening leg. He then held throw before Smith finally got on the board. Fagg then missed the chance to hold throw and Smith pounced to take out the 25 he needed to move the match to two all. Fagg then broke the Smith throw only to lose it straight back to his opponent. Smith then won the last three legs, including checking out 96 to close out the match.
Fagg was pleased with his progress. “I thought it was a better performance than in Wollongong. I felt more settled now that I understood better what the big stage experience would be like.”
Young star Kayden Milne took on current world champion Luke Humphries in the fifth game of the night. Humphries held throw in the first leg before breaking Milne in the second. He then held with a 92 check out. Milne then held throw in the fourth leg before both players held throw, Milne checking out 81 in the sixth leg. After Humphries held throw in the seventh Milne did the same in the eighth leg before the current World Champion closed out the match 6-3.
“I was really pleased with myself tonight, it was amazing to take on the World Champion but even more so that he would take the time to have a chat to me about how to progress my game and how good I already am.”
Gerwyn Price then took on Ben Robb and it was the Welshman who opened up with two triple figure check outs, 113 and 100. He was unable to take multiple check outs on throw in the third leg though and Robb eventually pounced. The Kiwi then held throw to draw level in the match. Price powered back with visits of 135, 180 and 162 setting up a double 12 check out but Robb responded with a hold of throw once more to move the match back into parity. With Price faltering at the end of the next leg Robb had a golden opportunity to take a lead in the match but he missed and Price pounced. From that point the Welshman dominated and won the last two legs to take out the 6-3 victory.
Price was happy enough with the result. “I slipped up early on and should have been three up and when he gets his tail up he starts throwing more comfortably and confidently. He could have gone four three up but I took the leg and went on from there.”
For the second week in a row the opening night saw Cross v Puha as the closest match for the night. Puha held throw with a 76 check out in the first leg before Cross held throw. Check outs of 83 and 87 from Puha put him ahead twice more, in between and afterwards Cross checked out with tops to hold his throw. Both players then spurned chances for the next leg until Puha held throw with double three to lead once again. Cross held throw with tops for the fourth consecutive time in the match. Double 18 then gave Puha the lead once more. Cross opened with 177 in response and held throw to take he match to a deciding leg. Puha did not get a match dart this week as Cross cleaned the match up with double eight.
Cross realised he was fortunate to get through “Today Haupai played a whole lot better on his own throw, he was much more clinical. I got a bit fortunate in the last leg and took the match.”
Luke Littler opened with six perfect darts and cleaned up the leg three visits later. He then broke the Tata throw before the Kiwi checked out 75 to break straight back. He then held throw to move the match to 2-2 before Littler held throw for the fifth leg. The Englishman broke Tata’s throw in the next leg, but lost it straight back thanks to a 155 check out from Tata. Littler held throw to move 5-3 clear before he checked out 66 for the final leg and a 6-3 win with Tata standing behind him needing 59 for the leg.
Littler was pleased with his own performance. “I felt really good coming into it and I am glad to take practice form onto the stage and get the win. I am happy with that performance.”
The last match on the night saw two Aussies go head to head (six years to the day that two other Aussies, Kyle Anderson and Corey Cadby went head to head in that year’s World Series of Darts final in Auckland.) Damon Heta broke the Simon Whitlock throw immediately and then held throw as the Wizard failed to take the break chances presented to him. He did break throw in the next leg only to immediately lose it straight back. Heta then held throw before breaking his World Cup teammate with a 132 check out to move 5-1 clear. He followed it up with a checkout of 116 to finish the match off.
For Heta it was all about getting through, but in a professional manner. “I got the job done but I did not go overboard in the celebrations, I think it was a bit of a respect thing.”
Overall the night demonstrated that New Zealand darts continues to be on the rise and that the people of New Zealand, and Hamilton in particular, still love their dart
Peter Wright 6 (87.55 6/18) Daniel Snookes 0 (65.15 0/7)
Dimitri van den Bergh 6 (94.14 6/11) Mark Cleaver 3 (83.23 3/8)
Michael Smith 6 (84.9 625) Jeremy Fagg 3 (77.96 3/20)
Luke Humphries 6 (99.07 6/13) Kayden Milne 3 (89.6 3/6)
Gerwyn Price 6 (96.62 6/17) Ben Robb 3 (82.83 3/17)
Rob Cross 6 (97.12 6/14) Haupai Puha 5 (92.24 5/10)
Luke Littler 6 (102.24 6/14) Jonny Tata 3 (93.34 3/7)
Damon Heta 6 (97.43 6/8) Simon Whitlock 1 (84.78 1/10
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