The Matchplay doubles held at the fabulous Howick Club in Auckland overnight saw GG Mathers and James Bailey take out the title.
The quarter finals had seen Craig Caldwell and Scott Menzies eliminate Rob Modra and Andrew Eagers 4-2 whilst another Kiwi paring of Tukina Weko and Haupai Puha won by the same scoreline over Emilio Hovell and David Adams. Brandon Weening and Harley Kemp defeated Aron Krause and Jeremy Fagg 4-1 whilst Mathers and Bailey took out Harrison Donegan and Jamie Roberts 4-0. The semi finals saw another whitewash as Weening and Kemp won 5-0 over Weko and Puha whilst Menzies and Caldwell fell 5-2 to Mathers and Bailey.
The final saw Bailey break the Weening throw in the first leg after Kemp could not take out 5. Mathers then held his throw before a 12 dart leg that started with two 180 visits from Weening and contributions of 99 and 42 from Kemp, gained the two younger players their first leg. Mathers and Bailey held throw for the second time before breaking their opponents throw once more after Weening was unable to check out 5 to hold throw. At 4-1 in a chase to six things seemed dire for Weening and Kemp but the earlier held throw to give them life. The break was handed straight back after a 14 dart leg against the throw from their opponents. Weening then made some amend as he checked out 86 before Kemp checked out 56 to move one leg off their opponents at 5-4. Mathers and Bailey then combined well to take the tenth leg of the match and thus win the final of the Matchplay doubles 2024 edition 6-4
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