THE newly-formed Rangers team have taken the honours at the weekend’s Divisions Two and Three Slowpitch Tournament. The red-and-blacks are no strangers to the fastpitch version of the game having first won the title back in 1950.

Created at the start of the season, their slowpitch team have dominated the second division, losing just once so far in the campaign, to Northern Trust.

In the tournament final at the Beau Sejour diamond, they beat Division Three’s Bourse Warriors 19-14.

Rangers had gone into the competition as favourites, but according to team member Matt Marquis, that was more of a hindrance than a help.

‘It’s nice to win as everyone looks for an upset when you go in as favourites,’ he said.

‘It was a really good game to watch. Both teams batted well and both teams fielded well.’

On Saturday, the two finalists won their first three games of the round-robin stage with ease.

Rangers took care of Specsavers Bears 16-5, Pirates 23-12 and Specsavers Cubs 25-11.

The Warriors in their first game with Cubs wiped the floor with them 25-0 and went on to beat Credit Suisse Stormers 26-5 and Bears 25-4.

On Sunday, Rangers and Bourse met each other first up. Rangers put down their marker by winning it 24-9 and then went on to defeat Credit Suisse 16-1. Bourse bounced back from their loss by getting the better of Pirates 24-14 to book a place in the final and a chance to get revenge over Rangers.

It was Rangers who started stronger in this match, stretching into an early lead with some solid batting.

But Bourse never gave up the chase to ensure they stayed in touch by five runs as they reached the middle innings.

A period of scoreless innings followed to maintain the status quo but Bourse were never able to get on equal terms. A straight three outs at the top of the seventh gave Rangers the silverware as they won by five clear runs.

‘Bourse were a shock entity,’ said Rangers coach and Guernsey Softball Association president Paul Vaudin.

‘They are a Division Three team and to make the final they did really well. It was a really good weekend.

‘It was fantastic weather and that makes a difference.’