Plains Rangers were involved in two very similar nail-biting, gutsy thrillers at Links Avenue, Mount Maunganui at the weekend.

On Saturday, Rangers’ men travelled to play league leaders Tauranga City Juggernauts, determined to do better than their five-goal trouncing in the first round.

The game was full of attack from the outset. An early Juggernauts’ long ball put their striker through one-on-one with keeper Christian Wetting, who raced out to put enough pressure on to force the shot wide.

A minute later, Ryan Elliot had a shot cleared off the line by a home team defender.

Seventeen minutes in and the game really took off.

Joseph Spalding picked up the ball in the midfield and blasted a 30m “worldy” that flew into the top left corner of the Tauranga goal.

The home team were shaken and Rangers, playing with confidence, almost doubled their lead just before half time when an Elijah Wetting chip was cleared by a defender with the goalkeeper beaten.

Rangers were good for their 1-0 lead at half time.

Rangers started the second half well when Ollie Fort beat the offside trap to race through on goal, but the keeper pulled off a good save.

Tauranga upped their efforts and keeper Wetting  pulled off a fine double-save.

He also saved a shot after eight minutes, but the rebound was blasted in for the equaliser, despite Rangers’ protests that the ball had gone out of play before the shot.

Midway through the half, the home team were relieved to score again and get their noses in front.

Rangers poured on the pressure and were on the end of quite a few niggly fouls that almost boiled over at one point.

Rangers won a number of corners, but Juggernauts repelled them all, except for the last one.

Kobi Wetting floated the ball over, a minute into injury time and centre defender
Sam McPherson headed the ball into the net to earn a well-deserved 2-2 draw.

The result was built on the never-say-die attitude of the team.
Spalding was player of the day, with Sam McPherson and fellow defender James Hart also very impressive.

This Saturday, Rangers men will have to cool their heels with a bye.

What a rollercoaster at Links Ave on Sunday too. Plains Rangers’ women may have been the away team, but they brought heart, hustle and a few injuries in a wild 2-2 comeback against Tauranga City Wolves.

After the home team had slotted two goals, things were looking a little dicey, but Rangers don’t go down without a fight.

Showing the kind of resilience that makes coaches proud, the girls clawed their way back into the match in style.

Olivia Sheaff sparked the fightback with a clinical finish that lifted the team’s spirits and the tempo of the game.

Meanwhile, Gemma Stuckey was busy collecting bruises like loyalty points, going down not once, not twice, but multiple times throughout the game. Yet, somehow in her true fashion, she shook it all off and delivered a clutch equaliser late in the match that had the sidelines erupting.

In the engine room of the pitch, Olivia Rossouw and Danielle Haldane controlled the midfield like absolute bosses, breaking up play, creating chances and keeping the energy high.

Holding it down at the back, Rose Sinkinson and player of the day Lucy Cox-Ellison were a rock-solid duo in centre defence, sending some silky passes forward and shutting down Tauranga attacks with cool composure.

All in all, a performance Rangers would be proud of. Solid teamwork, some spicy moments and enough bruises to go around.

A hard-earned point, and a whole lot of heart.

This Sunday, Rangers’ women are at home to Otumoetai. Kick-off at the Edgecumbe Domain is at 12.30pm.