The Matchplay Singles played on Saturday at the Howick Club in Auckland saw a quartet of New Zealand players make it through to the final eight. One of them was not Haupai Puha however, as he was upset by Andrew Eagers 4-3 in the round of 32, Eagers going on to fall at the round of 16 stage as did the likes of recent New Zealand Darts Masters participants Daniel Snookes, Mark Cleaver and Kayden Milne, who had eliminated Ben Robb in the previous round, as well as other Aussies Harley Kemp and Jeremy Fagg.
In the Quarter Finals Tukina Weko won an eliminating leg to defeat Josh Roberts 5-4 whilst Marc Cossey and Jaymie Hilton-Jones both won 5-3 over other World Series players from recent years Jonny Tata and John Hurring. Josh Walters eliminated Craig Caldwell, another former World Series of Darts player, 5-4.
Cossey was whitewashed by Josh Walters in the first semi final but the second was the opposite kind of match. Even after the first six legs Tukina Weko won legs 7 and 8 to move within a leg of the final, leading 5-3.he was then left needing tops after the next leg and from there did not get a chance with Weko winning three straight legs to make the final of the Matchplay Singles.
Walters held throw with a 14 darter, even missing the bull for a 145 check out. Hilton-Jones then held his own throw before breaking his opponent’s throw and then holding once more. Walters missed opportunities to break the Hilton-Jones throw in the second and fourth leg but was down 3-1. Hilton-Jones then broke once more but this time Walters fought back with a break of his own stopping a run of four straight legs from his opponent. Hilton-Jones then checked out 140 to break once more and this time with Walers unable to take 32 his opponent pounced to lead 6-2 and be one leg away from the title win. 16 darts later and Walters was now 6-3 down as he held throw. On throw Hilton-Jones threw 180 for his third visit and 139 with his fourth and a couple of visits to the oche later and Hilton-Jones had cleaned up the final 7-3.
Thus Jaymie Hilton-Jones was a well deserved Matchplay Singles champion for 2024.
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