A spate of injuries didn't stop Plains Rangers Edgecumbe giving a good account of themselves in their local derby with Whakatane town at Rex Morpeth Park on Saturday.
Despite having four players unavailable, the game began well for Rangers when Dean Butterworth snatched the ball off a hesitant Whakatane team and ran forty metres before putting the ball past the advancing keeper. The game then settled into a hard fought battle with Whakatane playing a short passing build up and Rangers creating chances on the break. The home team got a lucky break when a Rangers clearance bounced off a defender and put Werner Rechsteiner in on goal. He duly slotted the chance. Rechsteiner then put his team in front with a well-hit shot following a corner. Late in the half he obstructed Dean Butterworth, giving Rangers a free kick. James Mitchell floated in a great cross which Dan Logan latched onto behind the Whakatane defence and slammed past the keeper. The sides were locked at 2 - 2 at the break.
Whakatane gained a greater share of possession in the second half, but despite the loss of player-coach David Dennis to an early injury, Rangers were coping well with the defending. Player of the day Matt Ward dropped back to sweep and Jeremy Hawkes got his first run of the year and did well. However, with fifteen minutes to go, the referee called, what looked to many like a well timed tackle by Hawkes on Tom Davison, a foul and pointed to the penalty spot. Rechsteiner made no mistake, to put his side ahead. Some frustrations began to surface in the final stanza, it being a willing game, but the score remained Whakatane Town 3 Plains Rangers Edgecumbe 2.
Rangers will be disappointed with the loss, but pleased with the effort against an improving Whakatane team. Standing out for Rangers were Ward, who played with maturity, and the midfield duo Bas Overdevest and Jason Pullar. One of Pullar's crunching tackles was particularly memorable. Brendan Cusack also got a rare run and acquitted himself well. This Saturday Rangers are at home to league leaders Rotorua Suburbs. The kick-off at the Edgecumbe Domain is at 2.30pm