02/06/2019
Team Kiwi Flying High in Victoria
With the coveted prizes of positions at the PDC’s World Series of Darts at stake, the Team Kiwi boys are enjoying yet another successful DPA weekend at Barooga Sports Club in Victoria, occupying four of the six finals berths and taking out two of the three events to date. Following this weekend, the top 2 ranked players will each receive automatic wildcards to both the Brisbane and Melbourne iterations of the WSoD global roadshow.
Following a few logistical challenges, the players managed to arrive at the remote Victorian location with a couple of hours to spare before close of registration for Friday’s first event of four. There had been some suggestion, following an announcement posted after the gruelling six-event Dubbo leg of the tour, that the remaining tour weekends of 2019 would revert to three events per weekend as in 2018. However, with this tour weekend being the last to contribute to the two World Series of Darts automatic wildcards, the format has remained one event on Friday, two on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Coming into the weekend, Western Australia’s Damon Heta held a commanding, if not insurmountable, 30-point lead over Team Kiwi’s James Bailey, with teammates Haupai Puha, Ben Robb and Koha Kokiri a further 13, 29 and 32 points behind, respectively.
Ranking Table as at 30th May 2019
1 196 Damon Heta
2 166 James Bailey
3 153 Haupai Puha
4 151 Steve Fitzpatrick
5 137 Ben Robb 137
6 134 Koha Kokiri
7 115 Robbie King
8 109 Mick Lacey
9 87 Bill Aitken
10 82 GG Mathers
The Team Kiwi players demonstrated their intentions early on Friday with Robb and Bailey fighting out the final and Kokiri falling to Bailey in the semi finals having fought off Puha in the quarter finals. Robb took the final 6-2 over Bailey to set up an exciting race over the remainder of the weekend.
Ranking Table as at close of play 31st May 2019
1 208 Damon Heta
2 182 James Bailey
3 161 Haupai Puha
4 159 Steve Fitzpatrick
5 157 Ben Robb
6 146 Koha Kokiri
7 123 Robbie King
Saturday morning’s knockout event saw Heta hit back with a 6-3 final win over Kokiri, the maximum 20 points securing his return to both the Brisbane and Melbourne WSoD events. Heta performed well in both events in 2018 and will return in August justifiably full of confidence. Kokiri’s final place was enough to keep his hopes of the second wildcard alive. Whilst Puha and Robb fell at the quarter final stage and Bailey at the last 16, all remained in the battle, along with Victoria’s Steve Fitzpatrick.
Ranking Table as at close of Pro Tour Event 20 1st June 2019
1 228 Damon Heta
2 186 James Bailey
3 171 Steve Fitzpatrick
4 169 Haupai Puha
5 165 Ben Robb
6 162 Koha Kokiri
7 135 Robbie King
Following two quarter final exits, on Saturday afternoon Germany-bound Puha showed the form that earned his place in the New Zealand team alongside Europe-based Cody Harris for next week’s PDC World Cup. In a thrilling final where both players averaged over 90 and pushed 100 for much of the match, Puha recovered from a missed match dart in a nervy 10th leg to edge out Heta in the deciding leg and keep his “Hopes” alive for the automatic wildcards. The result meant Puha would return to play the final event on Sunday before heading to Germany from Melbourne in the early hours of Monday morning. Had he not been in contention, his plan was to travel to Melbourne early and rest ahead of his journey.
Bailey’s 4-6 semi-final loss to Puha was enough to hold him in pole position for the Brisbane and Melbourne wildcards, whilst Robb’s exit at the same stage to Heta and Kokiri’s last 32 finish ended their respective chances.
Anything short of a semi-final finish will automatically eliminate Puha from the race. Even then he will have to rely on Bailey falling early. If Puha wins the event, Bailey will need to reach the semi-finals to hold his position. A runner-up finish for Puha will see Bailey having to reach the quarter finals, whilst a semi-final exit for Puha will see Bailey hold with a last 16 finish or better. The only other player with a mathematical chance, albeit slim, of attaining the wildcards is Fitzpatrick, who requires a tournament win on Sunday with Bailey falling before the last 16 and Puha before the semi-finals to claim the prize.
Ranking Table as at close of play 1st June 2019
1 244 Damon Heta
2 198 James Bailey
3 189 Haupai Puha
4 179 Steve Fitzpatrick
5 177 Ben Robb
6 162 Koha Kokiri
Follow Sunday’s action on https://tv.dartconnect.com/matchlist/dpapro19e22b
All the best boys!
