Rangers AFC off to promising start

Senior football kicked off in Marlborough on Saturday, with players across several competitions relishing the opportunity to get their 2023 season underway in favourable, autumnal conditions.

Rangers AFC, the region’s flagship side, opened their Nelson Pine men’s premiership division one campaign with a home game against Nelson-based Richmond, coming away with a 3-1 victory. Both sides were considerably changed from last season, several experienced players departing which opened up opportunities for young talent to shine. The result was an open, evenly-contested match.

Rangers opened their season with Luc Sherwood in goal, in front of a back three of Jordy Columbus, Callum McDonald and Boyd Elvy. The middle of the park duties were shared by Fynn Hawes, Tore and Bjorn Waechter, Kane Elvy and Jack Morris with Keagan Mortimer and Alex Duley up front. On the bench were Guy Nolan, Nikau Bell and Alan Elvy. Rangers started strongly, dominating possession, but were rocked by an early counter-attacking goal to Richmond’s Joaquin Serrano after just eight minutes.

However, the home side kept their heads, raising their intensity and were rewarded six minutes later when Hawes was in the right place to tap in after Duley had competed strongly with the Richmond goalie as a cross came in.

Thirteen minutes later the home side took the lead, player-of-the-match Morris scoring after one of many strong surges on the left wing.

Trailing 2-1 at the halftime break, Richmond came out strongest and almost levelled from an adjacent free kick as Rangers’ defence was fully tested.

However, they weathered the storm and banked an ‘insurance’ goal after 68 minutes, Mortimer latching onto a through ball from Tore Waechter, beating a defender then slotting past the keeper oneon-one.

Soon after came another of the game’s turning points. Richmond took advantage of a defensive mix-up to loft the ball towards goal. It looked certain to find the back of the net before McDonald, sprinting back, headed the ball clear to ensure there would be no lastgasp concerns for the locals.

“We were happy with the result,” said Rangers’ manager Wolfie Waechter. “For some of the young ones in the team it was the first time they had played the full 90 minutes at this level. Fynn [Hawes], the Elvy brothers, Callum McDonald, Alex Duley and Luc Sherwood were outstanding, while Jack Morris ran hard all afternoon.”

Next up for Rangers is another home encounter, against FC Nelson Locomotive at A&P Park next weekend.

Local leagues

Meanwhile, the Marlborough

Mayfield Motorworld senior men’s division one and two competitions kicked off at various venues on Saturday, producing some interesting results.

In division one, the newly-promoted Picton Wildcats combination scored a 5-1 win over Central Wolves at Endeavour Park, Central Buccaneers beat BV Masters 5-0 at A&P while Call Care Trojans downed Rangers Woodbourne 8-0 at Athletic Park.

Four division two matches were played, including a couple of club derby clashes. Call Care Spartans downed Call Care Red 3-0 at Renwick, Picton Crow Tavern beat Trojans Marlb Men 7-1 at Endeavour Park, Rangers Reserves overcame Rangers Masters 5-1 at Oliver Park while Rangers City got the better of Central Privateers 5-1 at Renwick.

Marlborough’s burgeoning junior tennis talent was on full display during the Wilding Cup representative fixture against West Coast on March 12-13.

The annual event was staged at the Forrest Wines Marlborough Tennis Centre and resulted in a comprehensive victory to the local juniors, making amends for a loss in the cor- responding fixture last year. Marlborough prevailed 26-8, winning five doubles on day one to set up the emphatic victory, including a 6-3, 6-2 win to Marlborough’s top duo Dan Clarke and Ella Sowman over leading Coasters Franklin and Honor Barry.

Ella, Max Sowman, Leon Marusaki, Flynn Weaver, Zihan Hong and Emily Preece went unbeaten over the two days.