On Saturday Plains Rangers men hosted Tauranga City Juggernauts in a game with a lot at stake. Rangers were one place behind their third placed visitors on the table.
The game kicked off in good conditions at Edgecumbe and Rangers made immediate headway. A good team move ended with striker Sione Lotu hitting the crossbar in the second minute. The game then settled into a good even battle. Both teams were trying to play a passing brand of football, but both teams also defended strongly. Late in the half it looked like Juggernauts would take the lead. An attack down the right, led to their forward being brought down in the penalty area. The resulting penalty was well struck but Rangers' player-coach goalkeeper Christian Wetting dived and threw up a strong right hand to beat the shot away. In the final minute of the half, Rangers' substitute Earle Tuhimata, who had been causing his opponents a lot of headaches, was fouled. Captain James Hart hit a powerful freekick from 25 metres, which unluckily hit the post and rebounded away. At half time the scores were locked at 0 – 0.
The second half saw Rangers getting some dominance with their play. Backed by a super-tight showing from the defence, the midfield and frontline kept up the pressure on the visitors. After ten minutes young Elijah Wetting was fouled and the Tauranga keeper made a good save on Hamish Wilde's free kick. It was not all one-way traffic though. Five minutes later Christian Wetting had to make an excellent one-on-one save at the feet of Tauranga's dangerous striker. Tuhimata then went very close to opening the scoring with a shot brilliantly saved onto the post by the visiting keeper. Wilde tested the keeper too with a flying volley. On the half hour a goal was finally scored. Wilde sent in yet another free kick, which a defender got a partial head to. The Tauranga keeper did really well to keep the deflection out, but Phil Ballingall was well placed to head the rebound into the net, to the elation of the crowd.
The game ended in dramatic fashion. In the final minute the visitors restarted play while Rangers were making a substitution and had the ball in the Rangers net, so the goal was ruled out. The final score, a tough 1 – 0 win to Rangers.
Rangers were well worth their win over a strong opponent. Despite the woodwork denying them three times, they stuck to their game to achieve the result. Christian Wetting was deservedly named player of the day for Rangers for paving the way for the win. Also in outstanding form were Teimana Awhimate and Jon Barnes in defence and Elijah Wetting who was a skilled speedy outlet on the left.
This Saturday Rangers men are away at Omokoroa Fury.
Plains Rangers women again had to cope with late withdrawals for their trip to play Papamoa Icons on Sunday. The conditions were cold and wet, but that didn't stop Rangers from playing some nice passing moves, including some very effective triangles. Icons took the game 2 – 0 in the end. Player of the day for Rangers was Amie Morris, who started off a lot of the passing moves and had some shots on goal as well. Others to impress were Paige Pullar in goal and the energetic Julie Reihana.
This Sunday Rangers women are at home to Papamoa Legends.

Ranee's report:
Us VS Papamoa Icons
0- 2
It's was a cold windy wet day in Papamoa today, but we didn't let that stop us from playing a really good game of soccer today. Well done ladies on another great game of soccer, our passing game is great to watch and I saw some triangles that got made around the Papamoa players and they didn't quite know what to make of it. The wind didn't help with the play of the game but keeping the ball on the ground helped us out. Once again losing two players on way to game doesn't help us.
Thank you Paige Pullar for playing in goal for us today. You had a great game and saved some great shots.
Julie Reihana you had a great game of soccer, you were all over the field with great running passing and just everything.
Player of the day goes to Amie Morris. You start the team off on the passing and moving the ball and play around on the field and had some shots on goal as well. Week in week out you've played great games, well done.
Well done ladies on today's efforts, keep it up. See you all at training Wednesday night.

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