Rangers 1984 to 2008
If you look south across the oval to the shops on the other side of Apsley Road you can just see the radiant glow of the Bottle O shop (formerly Liquor Barons). Its lip smacking iridescence is resplendent amongst the bitumin car park and less auspicious shop fronts. This purveyor of beer, fine wine and spirits is much loved by the Rangers because it is a final refuge for any memory challenged player who has forgotten to bring “the Port”. Prematch Port is a long standing tradition with the Rangers whose wine coloured jerseys hide the stains of many a dribbled sip. The amount imbibed pre-game is often an indication of how well they play and certainly for the past 4 years they have been playing very well. Alas it was always not so.
The Rangers began life in 1984 as the Yobbos. It was at the height of the “keep Australia clean” campaign just before or after Norm the obese couch potato and the get fit campaign. The slogan of the time was “Don’t be a Yobbo, put it in the bin”. Other teams took particular delight (Ross Limpus of the Aarks in particular) in chanting this slogan at the end of each game after having easily dispatched the wanton Yobbos.
Many of you may not be aware that the Willetton Men’s Softball Association was originally formed for fathers whose children were playing Tee Ball. It was believed at the time that playing softball would instill a better understanding of the game thereby fostering a father-child bond which would ensure development of the child into an upright, solid citizen who would get along well with his peers and progress through life in an appropriate and successful manner imbued with a sense of responsibility and dedication to the work ethic, sport, baseball, family, the state and last but not least the drinking of Port and other various alcoholic beverages. But in particular Port!
Below is a photo of the Statesman Homes T.Ball team for 1981 with coach Neville JIGGINS (Arrks) and to his right Geoff OTTERMAN (Rangers). Second from the left standing is Neville’s son Michael JIGGINS (Arrks). Oh my! The Port and various other imbibifications haven’t been kind to Neville. He also seems to have shrunk since then compared to Geoff and Michael.
So the Yobbos came into being. Strip colours were green shirts, green pants with a gold stripe, gold socks and green caps. Camouflage (more foliage than grape) still didn’t stop the chant. The first team was made up of : Doug BENNETT, Mike CEBALO, Peter DALGRIN, Syd HIDDLESTONE, Graham JENZEN, Ernie MARTIN, Dave OTTERMAN, Peter RAMSAY, Les TOTH and Peter YOUNG. The Yobbos (and Rangers) have had many outstanding players but Graham JENZEN stands out as one of the best. Although he had never played softball he had a natural talent for the game and was still very fit in 1984 from his footy playing days. The team also included a paraplegic in a wheel chair who would bat but have one of the other players run and field for him. From my recollection he played about three games during the first season. Wonder of wonders the team made the finals that year but were beaten by the Flyers who went on to win the Grand Final.
In 1985 Peter KNIGHT joined and became the backbone of the team. Peter played every game for sixteen years in a row. He was team delegate for many years and was always last to leave when the team was on duty. He loved the Port. His wife Diane used to say “We’d like to get away for the weekend but Peter feels his duty is to the team”. Truth was he had to have his port. Every week. He quit when gout from over indulgence crippled him, his batting average slumped to .001 and his error rate jumped to 10 per game despite the fact that only 2 plays per game ever came his way.
Over the years there were many funny incidents on the field, but they pale into insignificance when compared to an incident in the traditional clubroom festivities after the game. The Aarks Wheel, as it was affectionately known, has always been a highlight and in bygone days a couple of barbecued chooks were part of the ritual spins. These were real chooks, not the paper variety doled out today. They came in proper bags, although the bags were invariably somewhat sodden. Often the winner on examination of his prize would exclaim “One of the legs is missing!” and the duty team would hide their guilty faces and greasy lips in shame. On the particular day in question the proud winner with great delight hoisted his trophy on high. Unfortunately the bottom fell out of the sodden bag and the chook fell to the floor. A passing player inadvertently kicked the chook, half of which stuck to his boot, the other half sliding across the floor and careening into the doors at the far end of the hall where it promptly disintegrating into a mass of flesh, bones and grease. The winner was heard to exclaim above the screams of laughter, “Linerrrrrr!, Reee-spin!”
Port was definitely taking complete control. The team reveled in the delights of “Claude’s Port” However it was soon found the white was not compatible with the Port. Stainwise that is. At that time the team list comprised: Roger D’ARCY, Steve DOHERTY, Gary HAY, Peter KNIGHT, Glen MAXWELL, Garry McCARTHY, Kelvin McDERMOTT, Dave OTTERMAN, Neil STEVENSON and Ken WALTERS Now years later, the Yobbos are a fading memory (except for Ross Limpus who every now and then can’t resist an in your face “Don’t be a Yobbo, put it in the bin”). But the team has persisted as the Rangers and, after four plate final wins and two miserable Grand Final losses to the Steelers, finally broke through to win a Premiership in 2005.
The winning team was: Bob BAUGH, Steve “Cougar” CLARKSON, Paul “Angry” DEWAR, Alan GROSE, Dave “Iceman” KENT, Dave OTTERMAN (Coach), Geoff OTTERMAN, Paul “Riggers” RIGBY, Dean “Deano” SWAN, Will WALQUIST, Ron ZATELLA and Fiona CLARKSON (Scorer)
Successive wins came in 2006 and 2007. The transition was brought about to a great extent by replacing old worn out Port sodden players with worn out baseball players who are now Rangers “Portos. A Grand Final loss to the Sliders in 2008 ended the dream run and gave the Sliders their first ever Premiership although the Rangers were Minor Premiers for their third year in a row. We are looking forward to next year with avid anticipation.In order to accommodate the Port, colours are now wine shirts and grey trousers and stains are no longer an issue for players and disgruntled wives. A degree of sophistication has come into the team with a weekly “Port” report on the pre-game elixir of the week from one of our many outstanding players, Ron ZATELLA. Here are a few samples of Ron’s handiwork.
Port consumed 21/06/2008
“It is time to finally review Dean’s contribution. Not everyone had the good fortune to taste this remarkable fortified wine so comments should be treated as not fully informed. Then again, much of what I say could be taken that way. Aided by the special tasters’ plastic cups (clear) it was noted the port did not display the tawny hues we have been accustomed to in recent weeks. The colour was more reminiscent of a cold climate pinot or petrol that had been standing in a fuel filter for several years. The palate was remarkably subtle – you could call it the lingerie of ports. The best flavours were strategically masked so that you couldn’t taste the really good bits but it offered enough to tease and keep you guessing. Some suggested they noticed Ribena (blackcurrant) undertones, but who could be sure? Personally I thought it displayed luscious, youthful fruit characters. The finish, like the palate, was remarkable – remarkably short. Tremendous advantages in a finish like that though – it can trick you into thinking you haven’t had a port all. So you have another one. But hang on, you haven’t had one, have you? Perhaps it is the Alzheimers of ports – you can’t remember youv’e had it. Fortunately we have plenty left and will be able to give it a real test this week – especially given the forecast inclement conditions.
Score: Did I?
Coming Attractions: Penfolds Bluestone Port (10 year old tawny).”
Port consumed 28/06/2008
“Can you believe how fast the Rangers got through the flagon of the McWilliams Royal Reserve Port to get at its more elite relative, the Penfolds Bluestone Tawny Port? We discussed the understated qualities of the McWilliams port last week thinking we would have weeks to dissect the well hidden elements of this secretly complex port. But no, Fiona threatened to kick over the flagon and the next thing you know Dean is brandishing the empty flagon like another premiership trophy. That is not to say that Dean drank it all, he had plenty of help. It is however, nice to review something with a bit of history. You probably all know this but in 1844 Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold planted vines on the slopes of Magill to produce fortified wines. By 1881 Penfolds was producing a third of South Australia’s entire fortified wine production. Penfolds Bluestone Ten Year Old Tawny is a tribute 150 years of winemaking excellence housed within the bluestone cellar walls of Penfolds Magill Estate (hence the name).
The Cougar, whose sensory capabilities are beyond those of a normal Ranger, did describe the port thus, “it is a wine with exceptional fruit richness”. He suggested that the mellow aged complexity (a bit like Dave KENT) was due to extended barrel maturation. Huh!??? As for the length of finish well, the bottle did not last long but the port did demonstrate great length of flavour.
Score: Let’s do it again
Next week’s port bringer: I can’t remember.”
And this after our second loss of the year to the Sliders on 3/07/2008. “We were always in trouble when we discovered we didn’t have enough cups for the port. Drinking out of glass added a new dimension to the pre-game ritual. Suddenly everyone one was a critic and comments came thick and fast. There was general agreement that the port was “clingy”. Angry pretty much covered it when he said the palate was complex with hints of licorice, sump oil and beetroot overtones. He starts week 2 of his 30 week wine appreciation course next Thursday. Of course the port we are reviewing this week is Galafrey Tawny Port. Most agreed that it was typical of the light Portuguese style tawny ports and showed great rancio characters. It would be great next to a roaring fire with a good cup of espresso although I don’t know how you would drink both at the same time. Riggers provided the port and it was an excellent choice.
Rating: Hard to beat
A small observation – this week we only had the one bottle of port. It was consumed with gusto before the game and we lost. The only other game we lost this year we also ran out of port during the game – Hmmmm? Back to the quality Vs quantity issue again – or is it just a logistics issue?
Port bringer/s next week: ????????????????”
So here we are 25 years and counting. What a competition it has been. Congratulations and thankyou to all those players who have served in executive capacities, as committee members and delegates and to the few hardy (or foolhardy) souls who have played the whole 25 years battling at times to keep their teams going. Also thanks to the many players who have been part of the Rangers for long or short periods of time over the years. As well as those mentioned above they are: Dave ALLEN, Gary BAILE, Geoff BAILEY, Travis BAUGH, Ray BELLENGER, Daryl BINNING, Peter BRAITHWAITE, Mike CAREY, Ray DALLIN, John DIMITROFF, Ken DOWE, Gary FOWLES, Ron HATHAWAY, Steve INGRAM, Ian JOHNSON, Tony LEE, Frank MANGARON, Shane McGLYNN, JEFF MUSTARD, Arnie NOEL, Brian RODERTSON, Greg SCOTT, Ric SETH, Tom SMITH, Steve SYMES, Justin UTTLEY, Jim WILSON and Ron WHITTAKER.
The Rangers tip their Port glasses to all past players. Here’s to the next 25 years and a big glass of Port to future players.