Waitakere Rangers
Encyclopedia
The Waitakere Rangers were a franchise in the now defunct Bartercard Cup
rugby league
competition in New Zealand
. They represented five clubs based in Waitakere City including the Glenora Bears
who previously represented the City in the Bartercard Cup. The other four clubs were the Waitemata Seagulls, Te Atatu Roosters
, New Lynn Stags and Bay Roskill Vikings
. They were based at the Trusts Stadium
although on occasion they played their matches at the grounds of their feeder clubs.
Cliff Beverley
, former Melbourne Storm
player Matt Rua
and Awen Guttenbeil
's brother Karl. Warriors assigned to the Rangers included Epalahame Lauaki
and Sione Faumuina
.
In 2006 the Rangers secured a playoff position and eventually finished third. The Rangers lost a close play-off match in Christchurch
to the Canterbury Bulls
26-20 and then lost to the Tamaki Leopards
25-24 in extra time the following weekend to be elimiminated from the play-offs.
35-18 in the first week of the playoffs to be eliminated from the competition.
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
competition in New Zealand
Sport in New Zealand
Sport in New Zealand largely reflects its British colonial heritage. Some of the most popular sports in New Zealand, namely rugby, cricket and netball, are primarily played in Commonwealth of Nations countries...
. They represented five clubs based in Waitakere City including the Glenora Bears
Glenora Bears
The Glenora Bears are a rugby league football club based in Glen Eden, New Zealand who compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. The club was established in 1931...
who previously represented the City in the Bartercard Cup. The other four clubs were the Waitemata Seagulls, Te Atatu Roosters
Te Atatu Roosters
The Te Atatu Roosters is a rugby league club based in Te Atatu. The Roosters compete in the Fox Memorial, the premier division in Auckland Rugby League...
, New Lynn Stags and Bay Roskill Vikings
Bay Roskill Vikings
The Bay Roskill Vikings are a rugby league football club based in Mount Roskill and Blockhouse Bay, New Zealand who compete in Auckland Rugby League's Sharman Cup competition. The club was established in 1979.-History:...
. They were based at the Trusts Stadium
Trusts Stadium
Trusts Stadium is an indoor arena located in Waitakere City, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a multi-purpose stadium that primarily holds sports events and music concerts...
although on occasion they played their matches at the grounds of their feeder clubs.
Notable players
At various times their playing squad included former WarriorNew Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
Cliff Beverley
Cliff Beverley
Cliff Beverley is a former professional rugby league player. His preferred position was Five Eighth, although he was somewhat of a utility and spent considerable time at fullback.-Early years:...
, former Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
player Matt Rua
Matt Rua
Matthew Rua is a former professional rugby league player.-Playing career:Rua was a Manly Warringah Sea Eagles junior in 1996 and played for the Junior Kiwis....
and Awen Guttenbeil
Awen Guttenbeil
Awen Guttenbeil is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer. Since retiring after a playing career spanning fifteen years, he now works as a broadcaster for Sky Network Television and as a presenter on Maori TV sports show, Hyundai Code...
's brother Karl. Warriors assigned to the Rangers included Epalahame Lauaki
Epalahame Lauaki
Epalahame Lauaki is a professional rugby league footballer formerly contracted to English club Hull in the Super League. He is brother of All Black Sione Lauaki...
and Sione Faumuina
Sione Faumuina
Sione Faumuina is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays for the Redcliffe Dolphins.He joined the Castleford Tigers in the European Super League at the start of the 2009 season....
.
2006 Results
| Season 2006 | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finished Third | 18 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 608 | 435 | 173 | 24 |
In 2006 the Rangers secured a playoff position and eventually finished third. The Rangers lost a close play-off match in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
to the Canterbury Bulls
Canterbury Bulls
The Canterbury rugby league team are a rugby league team who represent the Canterbury Rugby League. They are currently nicknamed the Bulls but have previously had other nicknames such as the Reds. They are based at Rugby League Park in Christchurch....
26-20 and then lost to the Tamaki Leopards
Tamaki Leopards
The Tamaki Titans were a franchise in the now defunct New Zealand rugby league Bartercard Cup competition. They represented Eastern Auckland, this area was previously represented by the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards and the Eastern Tornadoes...
25-24 in extra time the following weekend to be elimiminated from the play-offs.
| 2006 Finals Series | Winner | Loser | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Semifinal | Canterbury Bulls | 26 | Waitakere Rangers | 20 |
| Elimination Semifinal | Tamaki Leopards | 25 | Waitakere Rangers | 24 |
2007 Results
After finishing fourth in the regular season, The Rangers were defeated by the Canterbury BullsCanterbury Bulls
The Canterbury rugby league team are a rugby league team who represent the Canterbury Rugby League. They are currently nicknamed the Bulls but have previously had other nicknames such as the Reds. They are based at Rugby League Park in Christchurch....
35-18 in the first week of the playoffs to be eliminated from the competition.
| Season 2007 | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fourth | 18 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 638 | 430 | 208 | 23 | Lost Elimination Semifinal |
See also
- Bartercard CupBartercard CupThe Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
- Rugby league in New ZealandRugby league in New ZealandRugby league in New Zealand dates back to the very beginning of the sport in England. It is today a popular team sport played in New Zealand with participation and interest considered to be concentrated in the Auckland region. There are around 22,000 registered rugby league players in New...
- New Zealand Rugby LeagueNew Zealand Rugby LeagueThe New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
- Auckland Rugby LeagueAuckland Rugby LeagueThe Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...