After their good result away at Taupo last week, Plains Rangers men were looking forward to their first home game of the season. Tauranga City were the visitors and they provided a strong challenge. Rangers started well, moving the ball quickly and had a couple of good attacks, with Jaiden Ibbetson hitting the side netting. Tauranga worked their way into the game and after twenty minutes Rangers' stand-in goalkeeper Jordan Ogilvy pulled off the first of a number of fine saves. Tauranga played a physical game and conceded a number of fouls. One tackle in the 25th minute sent Ibbetson crashing off the field, snapping the corner flag into pieces! However from the resulting free kick the ball came out to young midfielder Xavier Bain who sent a superb volley into the visitors' goal. One minute before the break Tauranga drew level with a good header from a corner.
Rangers started the second half well and had the ball in the net inside two minutes after a goalmouth melee, but, to the disappointment of the good sized home crowd, referee Darren Beattie disallowed it for obstruction. Twenty minutes into the half Tauranga scored with a nice header from a cross to put them in front. Rangers were caught napping two minutes later when the visitors worked their way through the defence to score. Rangers kept up their efforts and were rewarded soon after when Juan Bautista Propato bundled the ball in following a corner. The visitors held possession whenever they got the chance to try and preserve their lead to the final whistle. They almost came undone when yet another foul on a Rangers player earned a free kick just outside the box. Ibbetson struck the kick well, but the keeper tipped it over the bar, to make the final score Plains Rangers 2, Tauranga City 3.
Jordan Ogilvy was deservedly named player of the day for some excellent brave saves, but Rangers will look forward to having Christian Wetting back between the sticks for their much anticipated Chatham Cup game this Saturday, where they are at home to HNK Auckland. Kick off at Awakeri is at 2pm.
On Sunday Plains Rangers women were away to the very strong Tauranga City Federation team. They did put together some good passing moves, but were well beaten 17 – 0. Their player of the day was Laura Powick. Jenny McIntyre also impressed and Rangers welcomed back Cassidy Spillman to the side. This Sunday, Rangers women are at home to Otumoetai.

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