By JARROD POTTER
TAC Cup – round 6
DISPATCHING the interstaters, Dandenong Stingrays eased away from the NSW/ACT Rams with a 29-point wet weather win.
As the rain started to come down in sheets around Shepley Oval it was the hard run and tenacious tackling of Dandenong that took effect.
NSW/ACT stuck firm in the contest through the first half as Jack Hiscox and Isaac Heeney gave selectors someone to keep an eye on from north of the border, but the harder bodies of the Stingrays managed to take the game by the scruff after half-time.
A captain’s effort from Jack Lonie saw him lead the side not only on the park but also in the best afield list as was high-marking Nick Riewoldt-clone Tom Lamb and Bailey Dale, who charged into any pack and emerged with the ball more often than not.
Four goals to one in the atrocious conditions was a sufficient third quarter to push aside the Rams before the sides ran out the clash in the slop for a 12.8 (80) to 7.9 (51) win to the Stingrays.
Sharing the goals around for the Stingrays, Rourke Fischer (2) bagged a couple from the midfield while Jayden Tomkins (2) and Keegan Downie (2) gave Dandenong something to aim at in the soggy conditions.
The sixth-placed Stingrays now clash with the Eastern Ranges on Saturday 10 May in a rematch of the 2013 TAC Cup grand final.
It will be Dandenong’s last weekend without the interruptions of the National Under-18 Championships, with Vic Country set to take a fair few Stingrays for its clash on Sunday 18 May against Vic Metro at Visy Park.
