Local derbies bring out plenty of passion, and Saturday's rematch between Whakatane and Gary Fowell Builders Plains Rangers was no exception. Both teams started strongly, and Rangers opened the scoring early. Striker Jono Whitaker was pushed as he tried to get on the end of an inviting Simon Gowing cross, and captain Richie Nillesen put away the resultant penalty. The home team's best chance to equalise fell to Martin Winterson who got through on goal but Rangers keeper Christian Wetting pulled off an excellent one-on-one save.
Rangers began to gain the ascendancy in the second half. Jeremy Hawkes hit the crossbar. Gowing opened up the defence for Ben McPherson to put the ball in the back of the net, but the linesman's flag was up for offside. Then super-sub Dylan Arthur came on, and after good link up play with Hawkes, he had a tremendous shot blocked by Whakatane keeper Paul Shakes. Rangers still had the odd break out to deal with and Wetting pulled off another one-on-one before Rangers sealed the win through player of the day Arthur. The final score was Whakatane 0, Plains Rangers 2.
This coming Saturday Rangers have another tough assignment, at home to the in-form Te Puke team. Kick-off at the Edgecumbe Domain is likely to be at 2 pm.