Plains Rangers travelled away to Tauranga City on Saturday and played on a field that neither team had played on before: Ocean Downs Reserve.
The field was set in amongst suburbia but the pitch itself was fantastic.
Rangers had a super-fast start with a goal in the 2nd minute of the game from a Hamish Wilde free kick.
The Tauranga side were stunned when the Rangers captain, James Hart scored in the 8th minute to make it 2-0.
The Edgecumbe team held possession well but the experienced Tauranga side reorganised themselves and applied pressure in the last 15 mins of the first half.
After the half time break the Rangers came out strong and had their opponents struggling to keep them out.
The pressure told in the 52nd minute. Rangers were defending a corner by City, the ball was won by Rangers and a breakout attack ended with Jamaal James, Rangers answer to Lionel Messi, scoring at the other end of the field.
The game settled down with the Rangers now out to a 3-0 lead.
Rangers were trying to keep a clean sheet but a tiring defence made a mistake that ended with Tauranga scoring in injury time.
The final score was Plains Rangers winning 3 - 1. Samuel Christieson's blistering runs down the wing earned him the Player Of The Day.
Plains Rangers men's next game is away to Papamoa Old Boys on Saturday, 1pm kick off at Gordon Spratt Park.
On Sunday Plains Rangers women travelled to play the well performed Waiariki team. Rangers only had one sub, so they all dug deep and played their hearts out.Rangers put together some good passing and movement off the ball, but the home team was too strong, winning 5 - 0 in the end. Player of the day for Rangers was Mishka Barry, who played a half a game in goal and did well on the field too. Others to shine were Laura Powick, Amie Morris in the midfield and defender Sarah Boyce.
This Sunday Rangers women are away to Otumoetai.

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