The Awakeri Sportsfield was the scene for a good BOP division two battle between hosts SLH Contracting Plains Rangers and Kawerau Sports on Saturday. From the outset, Rangers were the stronger of the two teams, but Kawerau were tenacious in their defence. Rangers moved the ball nicely down their flanks with some good link up play and created a number of chances which were not converted. The home team was starting to look frustrated until a Jaiden Ibbetson wonderstrike eased the nerves a few minutes before half time. Ibbetson, playing in centre midfield, launched a shot from 35 metres, which powered in off the upright, giving the well-performed Kawerau keeper no chance.
At half time Rangers led by that goal. It looked like the gates might opened early in the second half when Rangers left winger Jordan Ogilvy cut into the box only to be fouled, but the Kawerau keeper saved the resulting penalty. Fifteen minutes into the half Rangers doubled their lead, when a cross from Ali Scott was calmly slotted home by Petir Gray. Kawerau, to their credit kept pushing for reward, despite having no substitutes to call on. Their strikers kept the Rangers defence on the alert. With fifteen minutes to go the home team made the game safe, when an Ibbetson shot took a deflection and went in. The final score was Plains Rangers 3 Kawerau Sports 0.
Player of the day for Rangers was Petir Gray, who has made quite an impression in his debut season, showing good skills and a calm head. Others to impress were Ogilvy, Ibbetson, captain James Hart and Mike Johnstone.
Rangers will now await the draw for the BOP div 2 split league to see who they are playing this Saturday.
On Sunday, Plains Rangers women's game at Opotiki had to be transferred to Opotiki College, sadly because of vandalism to the nice surface at Magpie Park. Rangers' keeper Jo Ingle did well in goal. Player of the day Julie Reihana linked up well with the players ahead of her. Mishka Barry and Janelle Cashell also contributed well. Opotiki won the game 6 – 0.
This Sunday Rangers women have another away game, this time to Te Puke.

A more colourful account:
Hi ladies! Good game out there today, just a couple of things to work on at training to put into play on the field.
Nice work Joe in goal today. Thank you to Mishka and her players for playing today. Congrats to Julie for player of the day, you did an awesome job out there today, putting some good passes together with Jenny and other players. Nice work again out there Sophie, you were all over the show again. Janelle good work again on the field, your aggressive side is starting to come thru!
Unlucky on the penalty kick Ranee, nice kick though, shame the goal posts aren't higher! lol!
See you all at training on Wednesday night. Score 6-0.