The Tech College Old Boys men have all but secured their spot in the Manawatu league semifinals but not without a few heart palpitations as their younger Wanganui town mates gave them everything on Saturday.
The unfancied Rangers lifted themselves in the second half to draw the score 2-2, before TCOB regained composure to finish the game off 4-2.
Most importantly, coach Langley Atkinson got the word from Palmerston North that their close neighbours on the table Marist had been held to a 3-3 draw with MCOB, having to come from behind to even get that.
"I was very happy when I heard the news about the Marist team," he said.
"No matter what happens next week [against Massey], we've got a 17-goal differential."
If TCOB manage to do well against the competition leaders next weekend and into the playoffs, they will owe a debt of thanks to the young Rangers who hustled hard and capitalised when Tech's foot slipped off the gas.
"We waddled along, not enough intensity," Atkinson said. "There were a few nervous moments for a little while. They thought they were just turning up to get the points.
"Rangers outplayed us structurally at times."
Tech's Bryce McKenzie opened the scoring from a penalty corner, then a Martin Atkinson field goal took the favourites to 2-0.
But Rangers stepped up with two well set up field goals to Connor Mill and Logan Anderson in the second stanza.
"It was a good effort for the boys, because Tech wanted to beat us by quite a few goals," said Rangers manager Bryce Balsley, who helmed his team with double-coach Langley Atkinson focusing on TCOB.
Filling in for Tech, Ash Blanch broke the deadlock and then former Ranger Patrick Reynolds whisked his team away with their fourth goal.
It was a double celebration for the club as TCOB women took themselves one step closer to a historic semifinal appearance in their debut season when they beat High School Hockey Club Evergreens 4-2 in Palmerston North.
Leading 2-0 going into the break, manager Ian Glenny said his team did not succumb to their Achilles heel.
"This Saturday was the game where we started well in the second half."
"Techno" got the crucial score after the break to lead 3-0 and from there never looked like losing, trading goals with Evergreens for the rest of the match.
Kathryn Paul scored a hat trick with Melissa Hylton adding another.
With coach Mason Glenny playing in Wanganui, Techno were able to call on the services of Jeff Currie, who helps out occasionally along with his wife Helen, who played.
Jeff Currie had the whiteboard out so Techno knew exactly where they were going.
"We played a double half structure, it helped us with attack plus screening," Ian Glenny said. Captain Michelle Low had another great game at the back, her carries creating opportunities for Paul.
Techno now have a nervous wait as their final round robin game with College has been deferred from this coming Saturday through to July 21.
Evergreens play the more fancied HSHC team this coming Saturday.
If Evergreens lose, then July 21 will be a nice warm-up match for Techno's first ever semifinal, but if an upset goes down then the Wanganui team will be playing for their spot.
While an HSHC loss seems unlikely, stranger things have happened as fellow Wanganui club Collegians proved in their 3-1 loss to them at Gonville Domain.
Down 3-0 at the break, Collegians won the second half with the only goal to left wing Lizzy Brooks-Mann.
Coach Jan Dixon, with a few players away, had to move some of her strikers back into the midfield, but nonetheless it was a good effort.
Her young team would be looking for some veterans to come in and help out next season, she said.
Collegians have moved their final round robin game with Massey tomorrow night at Gonville Domain, because several of their players are in the Central Under 18 team preparing for their upcoming tournament.
Results
Manawatu club competition Men: TCOB beat Rangers 4-2. Women: TCOB women beat HSHC Evergreens 4-2; Collegians lost to HSHC 3-1.