By David Nagel
Hawthorn.
If the name ‘Michael Tuck’ was mentioned in a game of word-association then the famous AFL club with the brown and gold stripes would almost unanimously be the answer.
But the response would be different for players in the South West Gippsland Dart League (SWGDL) just two weeks into a freshly-minted 2025 season.
The answer to the same question after two rounds would be; “180-machine”.
Michael Tuck made it consecutive 180s on the second night of the season as the Mud Rats kept their undefeated start in tact with an 11-4 victory over Bullseyes.
Not to be outdone, the husband-and-wife combination of Bill and Chris Richardson also threw 180s as the Snipers moved to top-of-the-table with a thumping 14-1 win over AAA Dartz.
Three other teams also remain unconquered after impressive starts to the season.
Cheers scored an 11-4 win over Generals; Dart Devils were ruthless in a 12-3 victory over Dart Attack; while Just Social sat back quietly with the bye after its 11-4 round-one triumph.
In other games, Dart Vaders scored their first win of the season; with Fred Dewart leading the way with a 101-peg out in a 10-5 win over Gembrook; while Predators are also on the board after an 11-4 success over 26ers.
Dean Gibbs from Snipers maintained his lead in the most tons; adding four centuries to his impressive total of 10 from night one, while Jordan Gray from Predators closed the gap with five tons against 26ers.
The feature match-up in round three sees Dart Devils and Mud Rats come together for a battle of the top-four teams in the competition.
SWGDL SUMMARY – ROUND 2
RESULTS
Snipers def AAA Dartz 14-1, Dart Vaders def Gembrook 10-5, Predators def 26ers 11-4, Cheers def Generals 11-4, Dart Devils def Dart Attack 12-3, Mud Rats def Bullseyes 11-4; Bye: Just Social.
LADDER
Snipers, Cheers, Dart Devils, Mud Rats 8, Just Social, Bullseyes, Predators, Dart Vaders 4, Garfield Generals, Gembrook, Dart Attack, 26ers, AAA Dartz 0.
FIXTURE – R3
26ers v Snipers, AAA v Just Social, Predators v Generals, Dart Attack v Cheers, Dart Vaders v Bullseyes, Dart Devils v Mud Rats; Bye: Gembrook.
MOST TONS
Dean Gibbs (Snipers) 14, Jordan Gray (Predators) 11, Shane Van Eyk (Predators) 9.
180s
Michael Tuck (Mud Rats) 2, Bill Richardson, Chris Richardson (Snipers) 1.
TOP-THREE PEG OUTS
Jamie Brown (Snipers) 104, Fred Dewart (Dart Vaders) 101, Jay Mazruek (Mud Rats) 92.
