The Under 18’s had another big top of the table clash, this week against Launceston in a congested and tight premiership race.  After 2 weeks off, it was going to be interesting to see how the boys reacted to the break.  John Crooks and Gareth Otley had worked the boys hard during the break, and a great show last Saturday for a training game in the pouring rain may have been just what was needed.

The wet conditions greeted the sides again, and the game was moved off the main ground onto the smaller training pitch.

Rangers never really got control of the game during the first half, and were 1-0 down after Launceston showed the early initiative.  The score remained to half time but Hayden Vanderveld got Rangers back level with a magnificent goal from 25 yards into the top corner.

Launceston grabbed the lead back shortly after when Rangers let them track into the box from the corner and Alex Bligh was beaten at his near post after the defense failed to deal with the danger.

Rangers were not giving up though, Crooks opened the game up nicely with a tactical change pushing Rangers into a 3-4-3 formation and it worked wonders with Rangers drawing level through Nelson Namsang, and then into the lead when Zac Pearce cut around the back of the defense and on toward goal, finishing his one on one expertly across the keeper and into the side netting.

Rangers only mistake could have been not protecting the lead, the side didn’t go back to a defensive formation and were caught out at the back as Launceston broke through and finished the one on one chance to level the scores and draw the game.

Crooks said after the game that he thought the boys would respond well to the lead, and looked like they could go and get the 4^th goal and close it out, and he wasn’t too disappointed as the result still leaves them very much alive going up against Riverside next week.

That game the boys will have to win.