Plains Rangers men travelled to play Papamoa on Saturday. Conditions were good for football, although Gordon Spratt Reserve was crowded due to a large junior tournament also being played there.
Rangers welcomed back captain James Hart from injury and started the game well, moving the ball around and enjoying plenty of possession. Hamish Wilde had the first shot on goal, following good work from Anaaru Awhimate and Ben McPherson. Hart himself had the next shot on target after fifteen minutes but the Papamoa keeper saved well. Two minutes later Christian Wetting had to make a save from a corner. The home team was by now having a decent share of the game. On the half hour, a defensive header was missed and the home team scored with a clean finish by Kyle Van der Merwe. Two minutes later an unlucky deflection in the Rangers defence led to the same striker scoring again. Late in the half Sione Lotu subbed on for Rangers and helped put pressure on the home defence. At half time Papamoa led 2 – 0.
Rangers pushed hard during the second half to get a goal back and won a series of free kicks as the home team determined to stop their progress. A Kobi Wetting free kick was tipped over the bar by the keeper. Papamoa retained their threat however, and it took a fine one-on-one save by keeper Wetting to keep out one attack. Late in the game, good work from Joseph Spalding gave Wilde another chance, but again the shot was saved. Tempers boiled over in the final minutes as the home team worked to thwart the visitors. The strategy succeeded, with the final score remaining 2 – 0.
Player of the day for Rangers was Reimana Robinson, who put in a strong showing at left fullback. Rangers will need to get back their goal scoring knack quickly. This Saturday they are at home to Ohope Sharks, who will be keen to reverse the results of the last meetings between the clubs. It will be a hard-fought encounter. Kick-off at the Edgecumbe Domain is at 2.30pm.
Rangers women had no game this weekend, with none scheduled for the long weekend. Unluckily, next weekend they have a bye, so hopefully they haven't forgotten how to play when they finally get some more game time!

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