Plains Rangers enjoyed having their first home games for the season. On Saturday Rangers men were at home to Ngongotaha. Rangers started the game determined to play a short passing game and got some good combinations working. After fifteen minutes, a good move got Jaiden Ibbetson to the bye line. He pulled the ball across goal and Ben McPherson slid in to score. Rangers had their visitors pinned back quite a bit, but Ngongotaha were fast on the break. A hopeful long clearance from their keeper caught out the Rangers defence and the striker neatly lobbed the ball over Rangers’ keeper for a goal. At half time the game was locked up at 1 – 1.
After the break Rangers continued to have the better of the game and a lot of chances were created but not finished off. Ngongotaha were always dangerous though and stand-in keeper Hamish Wilde earned player of the day for making a couple of sharp saves. The final score remained at 1 – 1. While coach Christian Wetting would not have been satisfied with the draw, there were good signs there for the future.
On Sunday Alignments Plus Ltd Rangers women hosted Rotorua United, who were fresh from winning by an astonishing 30 – 0 in their opening game.  Rotorua started out strongly and were two goals up in ten minutes. However, Rangers kept to a solid defensive structure and made their talented visitors work hard. In the end Rotorua won 14 – 0. Rangers’ player of the day was left back Tracey Pullar. Others to impress included Shirley Patterson and Julie Reihana.
There are no BOP games over Easter weekend.