Dannevirke: Loss can't take sparkle from title-winning year

Dannevirke Ranger's Jordan O'Neil heads a ball away against Feilding. PHOTO/CHRISTINE McKAY

Dogged determination and a great team spirit has taken the Dannevirke Rangers football team to the top of their competition.

The team had sealed the championship in their Manawatu-based competition by 14 points, before last weekend's final match, delighting coach Ray Gibson.

"I'm chuffed to bits," he said. "To win our league by that number of points was absolutely marvellous."

And although the Rangers went down 0-3 to Feilding on Saturday, it didn't detract from their league win. "It's been a great season," Gibson said.

Gibson also coaches the Valkyries, the Dannevirke Sports Club's women's team that finished in the middle of their league. "They did really well," he said.

The final games for the footballers will be this Saturday when they compete in the annual Thomas Raffaelli memorial tournament at the Dannevirke High School.

The tournament is held to remember the sports-loving teen killed in a car accident on June 14, 2008.

Thomas (17) had played football for his high school team just hours before the accident and the trophy was donated by his parents Joy and Alan as a positive way to remember their son.

The first game between a Dannevirke women's team and the Dannevirke High School girls' 1st XI will kick off at noon, followed at 1.30pm by an Invitational XI playing the Dannevirke High's boys' 1st XI.

Both will be played on the top field, with a friendly between the Vikings football team and the Dannevirke High School's 2nd XI on the lower field.