A slow start was costly for Gary Fowell Builders Plains Rangers in the CNS Cup Final on Saturday. Rangers started the game with the wind at their back, but it was BOP division one champions Katikati who controlled the first twenty minutes. Katikati kept the pressure on the younger Rangers side and drew first blood inside ten minutes. A free kick outside the Rangers penalty area was curled over the wall and keeper John Noblett couldn't keep it out. More pressure led to a Katikati striker being brought down in the box, but Noblett made a great save to keep his team in the hunt. Rangers started to get their brand of football flowing, with the best chance coming from an enormous throw-in from captain Christian Wetting. Under pressure from Cameron Wills the Katikati keeper only just clawed the ball to safety. Katikati converted a corner and had a 2 - 0 lead going into the break.
Katikati continued their good football in the second half and produced an excellent goal after good build up work. Rangers' defender Jono Whitaker was deemed to have handled the ball and Katikati put away the penalty to have an unassailable lead. However Rangers refused to lie down and had their best spell in the last twenty minutes. Ben McPherson was put through and produced a good shot, with James Krause on hand to bundle it in. Rangers created another couple of chances but the final score remained Katikati 4, Plains Rangers 1.
Rangers would be disappointed not to have produced their best football when it mattered, but the Katikati team played very sound football and deservedly won the league/cup double. This Saturday Rangers have their final league game, hosting Ngongotaha at Awakeri. Kick off will be at 2.30pm.