THE Dandenong Stingrays finally opened up the game in the last quarter
against the North Ballarat Rebels to win by 48 points.
The win moved the Stingrays into third place on the TAC Cup ladder after a
favorable round of losses.
The
first quarter saw the Stingrays defend against the Ballarat breeze
that seemed to favour the Ararat end of Eureka Stadium.
The
game was scrappy with both sides throwing themselves at the loose ball, with neither being able to penetrate the opposition defence for
the first 20 minutes of the game.
After numerous stoppages, the Stingrays
broke the stalemate with a goal through Dale Gawley, the only
major for the quarter.
The
cold wet weather was set in and at the break Stingrays coach Graeme Yeats asked
his players to focus on the transition of play.
The
second quarter was another scrappy affair but goals came through Gawley after
a strong contested mark. It was quickly followed up by a nice roving goal
to Brady Egan.
It wasn’t a day for either team’s big men but the Stingrays’ rucks and mids were working overtime to get first possession and trying to
exploit the Rebels around the ground.
The wet slippery conditions had the ball
on the deck for the majority of the day, but there were passages of play that saw it move coast to coast without reward for both sides.
The
Stingrays’ defensive team held Ballarat goalless for the first half only
conceding three points as well as setting up opportunities on the rebound.
When the
siren sounded for the long break the Stingrays went in with a 13-point lead.
Ballarat got the first goal of the last quarter
straight from the middle with the ball clearing the pack and dribbling through.
The Stingrays kicked the next three goals through Nathan Gardiner, the
always dangerous Jack Lonie and first-game 16 year old Lachlan Batten.
By the end of the term, the Stingrays led by 31 points.
Ballarat was kept scoreless in
the last whilst the Stingrays added goals through Nathan Gardiner and Jack
Lonie to record a 48-point win.
Stingray’s
defensive coach Wayne Siekman thought it was a great day for the team and club.
“We thought it was one of our best
team performances for the year, we were harder for longer and wanted it more,” Siekman said.
“I thought our backs were
near faultless today, defending the area and not allowing space or conceding a
mark inside 50 with our blokes taking eight for the game. We only conceded one goal
for the game in very tough and trying conditions, so mentally the group must be
praised for it.”
This
weekend is a bye for the AFL Victoria TAC Cup with the next game for the
Dandenong Southern Stingrays on Saturday, August 17, against Gippsland Power.
The
game starts at 1.30pm at Shepley Oval,
Dandenong and entry is free.
SCORES
Dandenong Stingrays 8-10-58 North Ballarat Rebels 1-4-10.
Goalkickers: Dale Gawley 2, Jack Lonie 2, Nathan Gardiner 2, Lachlan Batten and Brady Egan.
Best
Players: Dale Gawley, Nathan Foote, Clay McCartney, Jordan Bastinac, Jack
Soroczynski and Blake Mullane.
