On Saturday, SLH Contracting Plains Rangers travelled to play league leaders Taupo in BOP division two. Rangers started the game in scintillating form. Attacking at pace, Rangers created several chances. In the first few minutes Hamish Wilde had two good attempts at goal. After ten minutes it was no surprise when the visitors opened the scoring. The speedy Jordan Ogilvy robbed a defender of the ball and slotted it past the keeper. Rangers were then unlucky, a Taupo corner came off a Rangers head into the goal. The game was evenly poised. Rangers put together a nice move ending with Wilde turning well in the box but putting his shot over the bar. Late in the half the home team took the lead in unusual circumstances. Taupo took a free kick quickly which was firstly allowed by the referee, then disallowed, then allowed again! The Rangers players may well have been unsettled by this turn of events.
Taupo took advantage early in the second half, scoring early with an unsavable chip, then robbing a defender to score twice in five minutes. Rangers kept battling away, but the team fluency had diminished. Captain James Hart put a header narrowly wide. Late in the game the home team added another, to make the final score 5 – 1.
While the score looks one-sided, the game was certainly competitive and entertaining for the spectators. James Hart was named player of the day for leading his team well. Ali Scott and Jordan Ogilvy also impressed.
On Sunday Plains Rangers women won by default against Rotorua.
This Saturday Plains Rangers have both the men's and women's teams playing at home in honour of their 25th jubilee. Rangers women kick off at 12.30pm at Awakeri, playing Ngongotaha. Rangers men play a local derby against Whakatane Town at 2.30pm. Both games should be well contested, with league points and pride at stake.
The Rangers jubilee also has a social evening on the Saturday night and social games on the Sunday.