A much-depleted Plains Rangers men team hosted Otumoetai Special Reserve on Saturday in the BOP Division Two top four round. Rangers were missing a lot of players, for various reasons, but were determined to put up a good showing against their free-scoring visitors. Unfortunately, Otumoetai started strongly and found an early gap in the Rangers defence to score. However, Rangers fought back, with several players getting to grips with unfamiliar positions. Good work down the flanks put the pressure on, and Rangers created openings. Sione Lotu was always a threat up front and veteran Barrie Hawkes was unlucky to see his sweetly hit volley get blocked by a defender's shoulder on the goal line following a Hamish Wilde free kick. Otumoetai's speedy and dangerous forward line worked hard to create chances and five minutes before the break one of them cut inside a defender to score a good goal. They added another on the cusp of half time to have a 3 – 0 buffer.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Rangers' stand-in keeper Ian Gray was unlucky to have a rogue bounce of the ball hit him in the face and a striker pounced on the rebound to score. Midway through the half Otumoetai finished the scoring with a good team goal, to make the final score Plains Rangers 0, Otumoetai 5.
Jon Barnes was named player of the day for Rangers. He did a fine job marshalling the defence against some very good attackers. Others to impress included Phil Ballingall and Levi McIntyre, who made big contributions playing out of position in the midfield and defence respectively.
This Saturday Rangers men have their final league game, away to table topping Papamoa United, who will be smarting from the recent defeat Rangers inflicted on them. Rangers will hope to be back to full strength for the challenge.
On Sunday Plains Rangers women had their final game of the season against undefeated league leaders Whakatane Town. Lovely fine weather set the scene for a good game, even if the pitch was soft and muddy in places. Rangers got off to a great start, passing the ball around and they opened up the Whakatane defence, getting in a couple of shots before Rebekah Johansen was very unlucky to see her goalbound strike cleared off the line by a desperately lunging defender. Whakatane gradually got their game going and after ten minutes they scored when a cross was finished off from close range. The home team doubled their lead before Stevie Clarke had a strong shot well saved by the Whakatane keeper. Whakatane Town then found the going a bit easier and scored some very nice goals to run out the winners 13 – 0 in the end. However, Rangers women made them work for it and played some good football too, a credit to them, rather than just defaulting the game to Whakatane like some other teams have done.
Rangers coach Ranee Whiting was proud of her team's efforts and named the whole team players of the day.

Ranee's report:
Us vs Whakatane, 0-13

Well ladies what a way to end the season off. Bloody awesome hard work on the field today and you all left nothing behind, it was a hard fought game by all. Proud of you ladies.
The sun was shining, the field was mucky and ripped up.
There was nice tackles, passing and running with the ball today and plenty of shots on goal and plenty of fight.
In the first 15 minutes we had some great moments in their goal mouth, looked like Whakatane didn't quite know what to do or just wasn't expecting it, nice ladies.
We keep the pressure on them all game. All round was a great game of football.
Tracey Buckley excellent goalie work today.
Dani Howard, Alexaan-Kelly Puutu Dredge, Tayla Jones nice work in the centre backs.
Acacia Wakefield, Sarah Wigzell, Paige Pullar, beautiful work in the backs.
Rebekah Johansen, Abby, nice wing work today.
Amie Morris, Danielle Haldane bloody good work in the centre mid.
Stevie Clarke, Katie Peterson fantastic work as strikers today.
Julie Reihana legend support work today.
Jason thanks for the great work on the side line today.
Lexi Pullar thanks for the videos and photos today.
Amy Maybe Hayes great work at work today. Hope it wasn't too bad of a day.
Shannon Frost hope you had a fantastic hens weekend.
Players of the day goes to the whole team, you all deserve it today. Give yourself a pat on the back.
Thanks to our supporters as well today ��
Well ladies that is a wrap for the season. Thank you all for the great, hard played, entertaining season.
See you all at prize giving��
FYI no training this week. ��

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