The Rangers, who finished the season in second place, conceded nine goals in their two finals games.

Macleay Valley suffered a 5-2 loss to Wallis Lake in week one of the finals.

Rangers player-coach Chris Walker, who took on the reins of the side for his first season this year, was upset by the way the season ended.

"It's definitely disappointing," Walker said.

"Knowing we had a squad to push further, we knocked off Wallis during the year and beat United in the final round, but we just haven't been able to continue that form and effort in these last two games and it will be disappointing to watch the rest of the season from the sidelines."

In the lead up to the elimination final, Walker had urged his side to start with intensity but instead they found themselves a goal down inside the first minute.

"They pretty much scored straight off the kick off, I don't think we touched it before the ball was in the back of the net," Walker said.

"They went through the centre, passed out wide and then found a man unmarked in the box and he tapped it home."

Saints doubled their advantage close to the 10-minute mark before the Rangers kicked into gear.

Kurt Riordan reduced the deficit to 2-1 after he headed the ball past the Saints keeper from a Tristan Smith cross.

The Rangers began to build momentum but Port managed to steal a goal against the run of play.

From a goalkick, the Saints' striker got in-behind the Rangers defence and fired a shot on goal.

Keeper John Clancy managed to get a hand to the ball but his save fell to the feet of another Saints player, who passed the ball into the open net to give his side a 3-1 lead.

The Rangers answered almost immediately after Tristan Smith was brought down close to the halfway line.

Rangers' Chris Walker fired in a ball into the box and Chad Applegate leaped highest to head the ball past the Saints keeper.

The Rangers continued to press but they missed a golden opportunity to level the scores before the break.

Smith was on the end of a low cross into the 6-yard-box but his close range shot was dived on by the Saints keeper who deflected the ball to safety.

The second half began the same as the first had finished, with Rangers controlling possession but they were unable to create a clear cut opportunity.

After numerous long range efforts, the Rangers were caught napping on the break and the Saints reinstated their two-goal cushion.

Macleay Valley created half chances and suffered from near misses but Saints' lead never looked in doubt as they maintained composure in the dying stages.

A scuffle unfolded close to the end of the fixture, which resulted in a red card for a Rangers and Saints player.

Walker was discouraged by his side's defensive lapses in the finals.

"I think it was just a lack of concentration at times, we were a bit off the pace, had a lack of discipline and weren't tracking properly," he said.

"But it's not that our defence has been terrible, I think teams have been getting their chances and taking them."

Walker thanked the support he received in his first season in charge of the first grade side.

"It was a great experience, there was a bit more stress on a Thursday and Friday night trying to pick my team but I enjoyed it," he said.

"The boys worked hard all year which made it a little easier. Having experienced players like Darren Cole, Steve Morn and a few others helping out at training took a bit of pressure off me."

Walker will wait to see "how things play out" before deciding to return as coach for a second year.

Rangers' pursuit of back-to-back titles has ended while the Saints will live to fight another day when they take on Wallis Lake next Saturday.

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