A depleted Plains Rangers men's team travelled to play Ngongotaha on Saturday. Rangers were missing several regular players and had three on the field playing through injuries or illness. The good pitch at Jesse Martin Park and the sunny weather set a good scene however, and Rangers started fairly well. Ten minutes in, Ollie Fort had a shot saved after a good passing move. Rangers continued to press, and Hamish Wilde got a shot on goal. The home team roared into action and Rangers keeper Elijah Wetting made a save but the rebound was tucked away to give Ngongotaha the lead. Wetting made a strong save only a minute later to keep the hosts from doubling the lead. On the half hour, Rangers created chances to equalise. A Sam McPherson free kick saw his brother Ben put a header just wide. The latter had another shot go close. Late in the half, the home team pushed hard. Rangers defender Shane Baillie got back to clear an attack off his own line, but shortly afterwards an attempted clearance from goal was blocked and Ngongotaha scored, to lead 2 – 0 at half time.
Rangers determined to get their shorter passing game going after the break. Fifteen minutes in, they again went close. Ben McPherson and Fort played some good one-twos, the resulting shot went wide. The home team were cutting off the supply lines, but a good pass from Wilde found McPherson through the defence but the shot went just over the bar. Ngongotaha stretched the lead with fifteen to play, when a corner was bundled in. Rangers were still pushing till the end. Wilde made a great run into the box and his strong shot was saved. Fort pounced on a rare errant pass in the Ngongotaha defence and rolled the ball into the net to give his team some reward. Wilde made another good run on goal, but the home defence held firm to win the game 3 – 1.
While Rangers were disappointed with the result, it was a creditable effort. The McPherson brothers and Wilde were the stand-outs for Rangers. This Saturday Rangers are away again, this time to Papamoa and will hope to have a few more players available.

Sunday's clash at Edgecumbe Domain saw the Plains Rangers women put on a spirited performance against a tough Te Puke Wahine Toa side. With sharp passing, gutsy plays, and undeniable determination, it was a game full of fight—and a few bruises to prove it.
First Half Highlights:
The first half was a showcase of beautiful football from the home side. Our passing game was on point, with crisp connections and confident ball movement across the pitch. Shots on goal from Rose Sinkinson, Danielle Haldane, and Lucy Cox-Ellison kept the pressure on.
Despite our dominance in play, Te Puke managed to sneak one into the net before the break. But spirits stayed high, and our girls showed real hunger to strike back.
Standout Performances:
•Olivia Rossouw absolutely owned the midfield, hustling hard and distributing the ball like a pro.
•Samantha Stewart impressed with her explosive runs down the wing, creating space and opportunities throughout the match.
•At the back, Ella-Rose Bain worked seamlessly with Samantha, shutting down several dangerous attacks and showing real grit under pressure.
Second Half Struggles:
The second half proved more challenging. The smooth play of the first half began to slip as fatigue (and some very questionable tackles took a toll. Te Puke added two more goals. Still, the team fought hard and never lost their spark, even as knocks piled up.
Let's not forget the well-taken penalty kicks, corners and the collective resilience after a few (too many) hard tackles. The bruises may last a week, but the heart shown out there will carry us through the rest of the season. Also—shoutout to Te Puke for showing up in the wrong socks. Classic.
It may not have been our day on the scoreboard, but there were flashes of brilliance all over the pitch. That first half performance? A taste of what this team is capable of when it clicks. Keep building, keep believing, and next time we're putting those shots in the back of the net. With a bit more consistency and a touch of luck, the wins will come.
On to the next one, oi oi Rangers. ����

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