marlborough football Football kick off looms

play in the 2023 Marlborough football season is set to begin.

Senior men’s grades kick off on Saturday, April 15, with the 14 sides involved split into two sections.

Mayfield Motorworld division one will comprise six teams, regular top-echelon sides Central Buccaneers, Bottle-O BV Masters, Central Wolves and Call Care Trojans being joined by Rangers Woodbourne, the first time for many seasons a team from the Base has been involved, and Picton Wildcats, who have reluctantly been promoted from last year’s division two. There will be no Rangers Development side in division one this year. The second division will feature eight teams – Rangers Masters, Rangers Reserves, Picton Crow Tavern, Trojans Marlborough winner, with no promotion/relegation this season, while division two teams will complete two full rounds. At the conclusion of the league season the annual Knockout Cup competition will again be played.

Also kicking off on April 15 will be the region’s flagship side, Rangers AFC.

They will open their 2023 campaign with a cup match at A&P Park, followed by their first match in the Nelson division one league on April 22, also a home fixture.

Once again, they will be guided around the paddock by player/ coach Tore Waechter, the vastly-experienced midfielder a key part of the side which secured the league/cup double in 2022.

Despite the absence of such influential players as Carl Con- nor-McClean, Harrison Pine and Louie Poletti for this campaign, Rangers’ ranks have been bolstered by the introduction of former midfield dynamo Taine Swete, the impressive Alex Duley, Guy Nolan and Boyd Elvy, the latter two making the step up from the reserve team last year. While Rangers have a strong squad on paper, a string of recent injuries has left them light on numbers at the outset of the season.

Aaron Hayes (concussion), Swete (ribs), Sverre Waechter (collar bone) are all sidelined at present while the availability of Scott Belsham and Sam Hickmott is up in the air. However, classy campaigners such as Jordan Columbus, Bjorn Waechter, Kane Elvy, Callum McDonald, Keagan Mortimer, keep- er Luc Sherwood and Jack Morris will provide a solid base.

Tore expects the Nelson league to remain at eight teams this year, and is sure it will be just as competitive.

“I know we have it in us to defend our title, and that’s what we are aiming for,” he said.

“But I also know we have nothing to prove as we are consistently a top two team in this league. Dur-