Plains Rangers survived a stern battle with Te Puke in heavy conditions at the
Edgecumbe Domain on Saturday.
The high flying Te Puke team started the game very strongly. They had the home
team pinned inside their own half for the first twenty minutes. Te Puke capitalised on
this with a well worked goal coming at the end of a flowing passing movement.
Rangers started to claw their way back into the game, and just before the interval
Rangers got back on level terms. A lovely strike from midfielder Bas Overdevest was
tipped onto the crossbar by the Te Puke keeper. The ball was cleared to the edge of
the penalty area and Rangers defender Jason Shaw steamed in and drove it into the
goal. All of a sudden Rangers were believing in themselves again. At half time the
score was 1 - 1.
The second half was a good even struggle. The Rangers midfield cut down the supply
of ball getting to the Te Puke strikers. Then for quite a period, Rangers had Te Puke
on the rack. They forced a succession of corners and were unlucky not to score.
Overdevest had a header palmed onto the cross bar. Craig Lambert had an excellent
volley saved. The game opened up as the players’ legs tired on the muddy pitch. Near
the end, Te Puke won a penalty after Rangers defender Barrie Hawkes had a shot
cannon into his chest and arm. However Rangers keeper Matt Aberhart once again
distinguished himself with an excellent diving save. The final score: Plains Rangers 1,
Te Puke 1.
Rangers were probably content with the draw, and it was a fair reflection of the game
in the end. Dean Butterworth was named player of the day after a typical hard grafting
showing in the midfield. Unfortunately Rangers will have to do without Butterworth
for the next few weeks, and will find him hard to replace.