Rangers AFC forced to battle, but get job done

Peter Jones

Blenheim swim club’s talent pool runs deep

Peter Jones

Blenheim swimmers have produced a swag of medals and personal bests on the national stage over the past two months, underlining the local club’s ability to compete with the nation’s best.

Local para swimmer Jack Bugler got the season underway with a superb performance at the New Zealand Championships staged in Auckland. He won two silver medals (400m free and 4 x 100IM relay) and two bronze medals (100m and 200m freestyle free) in the multi-class events. Jack is currently representing New Zealand at the Virtus Games in France.

Meanwhile, four Blenheim swimmers excelled at the National Age Group Championships, held at the brand-new aquatics facility in Hawke’s Bay.

The quartet of Jack Love (16), Finn McNabb (15), Max Skehan (14) and Nicola Lovell (14) attended, all four swimmers recording personal bests over the week.

Jack, Finn and Nicola qualified for finals in events that ranked them in the Top 10 in the country. Jack finished fifth in the 200m fly, sixth in the 100m fly and 10th in the 200m free. Finn came ninth in the 200m back while Nicola Lovell finished sixth in the 50m breaststroke.

Finally, nine swimmers represented the Blenheim club with distinction at the recent Division II Championships in Wellington.

The team of Jack Love, Kyla Thorstensen, Sophie Kole, Finn McNabb, Carys McNabb, Charlotte Rose, Jessica Lovell, Max Skehan and Nicola Lovell swam extremely well, with all swimmers posting personal bests throughout the week.

Several of the Blenheim contingent also managed podium finishes.

Jack showed the way with one gold, one silver and three bronze, Jessica bagged one gold and a silver, Max won a silver, Nicola claimed a gold and two bronze while Finn picked up one gold, one silver and one bronze.

The girls relay team, comprising Kyla, Sophie, Jessica, Charlotte and Carys, also swam very strongly to secure fourth and eighth placings, while competing against some much larger clubs.

Also of note was the fact Blenheim finished in 12th position out of all attending clubs, despite only travelling with a relatively small team.

All swimmers are now training hard for upcoming regional and national short course championship events.

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Rangers AFC kept up with the pace in the Tasman division one football competition, producing another gutsy effort to get the better of recent nemesis Richmond 1-0 in Nelson on Saturday.

The Blenheim-based side travelled west with just 11 squad members on deck. On the bench for the day were young Tana Connor-McClean from Rangers Masters, plus the experienced Shiv Chandra and manager Wolfie Waechter. In yet another team reshuffle, Tore Waechter slipped into the backline with Jordy Columbus, Callum McDonald and Kane Elvy, covering for his brother Boyd. Youngsters Fynn Hawes and Rico Chen took the centre midfield places with Bjorn Waechter.

Richmond brought good form into the clash, coming off a win over Suburbs Reserves in a midweek Prize Charity Cup knockout game. However, it was the visitors who began strongest. Rangers dominated the first 20 minutes, controlling the ball and forcing the Richmond keeper into action on several occasions. Midway through the first half Richmond found their rhythm, winning more ball in midfield and launching a few attacks of their own but, after an evenly-contested 45 minutes neither team had troubled the scorers.

The visitors were forced into a change at half time. Guy Nolan, after a strong first stanza, had to come off due to a worsening injury from the previous game and was replaced by Connor-McClean.

The second half saw both games battling away in midfield, trying to string passes together on a bumpy, slippery pitch.

It was Rangers who upped the ante in the last 20 minutes, coming close through Morris, Alex Duley and Tore Waechter, while Chandra replaced the tireless Hawes in midfield, bringing extra height to the centre of the park. With 10 minutes remaining Rangers won a corner, with almost everybody pushing forward into the goal box. Duley’s sharp delivery was flicked on by Columbus, the ball finding Connor-McClean’s head and he diverted it in for the match-deciding goal.

Rangers’ defence held firm with Bjorn Waechter again winning most midfield battles with the aid of brother Tore and winger Jack Morris. Chen had another good run for the full 90 minutes, Callum McDonald was as dependable as always in defence while young Luc Sherwood had another fine game in goal, keeping a clean sheet.

Next week Rangers are on the road again, taking on FC Nelson Locomotive in Nelson.

Nelson division one points:

FC Nelson 21, Rangers 18, Suburbs Reserves 12, Motueka

10, Richmond 7, Suburbs Seals

6, Tahuna 5, FC Nelson Locomotive 0.

Buccaneers sail clear

On the local scene, Central Buccaneers handed Call Care Trojans their first defeat of the season and moved to the top of the Mayfield Motorworld division one points standings after eight rounds.

Central prevailed 2-1 at Renwick. An early goal to Thom Hall saw them ahead 1-0 at halftime, before Tomas Lupani equalised on the hour mark. However, a 85th minute goal to Jared Haley proved the matchwinner.

BV Masters and Central

Wolves enjoyed a high-scoring clash at A&P Park, Masters eventually prevailing 8-6 after leading 5-3 at halftime. Ben Clarke scored a whopping six goals for the victors, James Coughlan and Ben Blackman bagging the others. Brendan Jackson scored a brace for Wolves.

The third match saw Picton Wildcats host Rangers Woodbourne and come away with a 4-0 win. The hat-trick hero for Picton was Jack McFadden after his side led 3-0 at the break.

Division one points: Central Buccaneers 20, Trojans 19, BV Masters 15, Picton Wildcats 7, Central Wolves 4, Rangers Woodbourne 4.

In division two, Rangers City continued their reign at the top of the table with an emphatic 6-0 win over Central Privateers, Stewart Sloan notching a first-half hat-trick.

Rangers Reserves kept the pressure on with 7-0 win over Rangers Masters, Nikau Bell bagging a hat-trick. The other matches were closer, Call Care Spartans beating Call Care Red 3-2 and Picton Crow Tavern eclipsing Trojans Marlb Men 2-1.

Division two points: Rangers City 21, Rangers Reserves 19, Spartans 18, Privateers 13, Picton Crow Tavern 10, Call Care Red 9, Rangers Masters 3, Trojans Marlb Men 0.