Dartplayers New Zealand’s representative side took back the Frampton Stewart Trophy when they defeated the DPA representative side 12 – 2 in Auckland at the Howick Club on Friday.
From 1001 John Hurring, Ben Robb, Wayne McRae and Haupai Puha won the first leg of the series with a break of throw before winning the second leg on throw to take out the fours opening match. Mark Cleaver, Jaymie Hilton-Jones, Stu Irwin and Kayden Milne then lost their opening throw to Harley Kemp, Andrew Eagers, Rob Modra and Brandon Weening before storming back to break throw in 35 darts before holding throw for the match. With their opponents just needing 24 and Kemp up next, Cleaver checked out 39 for a 2-0 lead overall in the competition.
In the opening doubles match Rob Modra and Jeremy Fagg broke the Irwin and Cleaver throw in the opening leg before the Kiwis drew level straight away, a 180 from Cleaver leaving his darting partner Irwin to clean up 37. Fagg and Modra broke again, this time in 14 darts, before having their throw broken for a second successive time. The Kiwis then held throw for the first time in the match to lead 3-2.
John Hurring and Ben Robb broke the throw of James Bailey and GG Mathers before holding to take a 2-0 leg lead in their doubles match. The Aussies then held throw before the Kiwis did the same to take out the match. Haupai Puha and Wayne McRae then defeated Andrew Eagers and David Boyle 3-0 with only one break of throw needed for the clean sweep.
Kayden Milne and Jaymie Hilton-Jones the won by the same scoreline over Brandon Weening and Harley Kemp although the Aussies spurned good chance in legs one and three, both on their own throw.
Thus after the fours and doubles it was six nil to the Kiwis and the Aussies had to win all eight singles matches to take out the trophy.
Ben Robb, on really local soil, held throw in 16 darts against Gordon Mathers before breaking the throw of his opponent with another hod of throw and break he won his match 4-0. James Bailey held throw in his first leg against Haupai Puha but then the Kiwi won his next foru legs straight, including a 16 dart break of throw in the third leg.
Harley Kemp broke the Stu Irwin throw in 15 darts to open his match and was then able to hold throw. He broke once more in 17 darts in leg three and cleaned up the match with a 16 dart hold of throw to give the Aussies their first point of the trophy.
Brnadon Weening held throw against Mark Cleaver before Cleaver pulled out a 10 dart hold of throw with a start of 140, 180 and 177 to leave four for his 10th dart. He then broke the Weening throw in 15 darts before holding throw. Weening was able to move back within a leg by holding throw but when Cleaver did the same in the 6th leg the match was his 4-2.
Wayne McRae held throw against Jeremy Fagg before the Aussie did the same in leg two. Fagg then broke his opponent before holding in 15 darts, including a 101 check out. Fagg then rboke McRae in 18 darts to give Australia their second point of the tournament.
Jamie Hilton-Jones opened with a break and hold of throw before Rob Modra held throw in 15 darts in leg three of their match. Hilton-Jones then held his throw before breaking the Modra throw in 14 darts to take out the match.
Andrew Eagers opened his match with John Hurring with a hold of throw before the Kiwi held his own. Hurring then broke the Eagers throw before pouncing on Eagers missed chances at 20 to move within a leg of the match. 15 darts from Hurring later and the match was his 4-1 having wont he last four legs straight.
Kayden Milne held throw against David Boyle in the final match before breaking the throw of his opponent in 17 darts. He held throw once more before breaking Boyle to take the match 4-0.
Thus with six of the matches going to the Kiwis in the individual events the trophy concluded with the Kiwis winning 12 – 2 overall and picking up the Frampton Stewart Trophy of 2024