By JARROD POTTER
TAC CUP – ROUND 11
WAYWARD kicking didn’t help the Dandenong cause as the Stingrays conceded the points to ladder leading North Ballarat Rebels.
Led out by stand-in skipper Lachie Batten – with captain Lachlan Williams sidelined following appendix surgery – the Stingrays weren’t able to stop the Rebels’ charging away with the 23-point win.
Dandenong coach Craig Black’s men didn’t have the answers in front of goals and despite having more scoring shots, the majority flew through the wrong side of the posts. In an even match-up against two high-quality sides that proved to be the difference.
Dandenong held a slender lead at quarter time but fell away as the Rebels’ midfield engine started cranking out forward-50s and clearances.
The best efforts of utility ruckman Harry Prior and midfielders Mitch Cox and Brad Kiely were not enough for the undermanned Stingrays to wrench control of the match back through the centre.
Starring on their returns from Vic Country, Brandon White, Myles Poholke (2 goals) and Cox (2 goals) flew the flag for the Rays in the 23-point defeat.
“I just thought we allowed them to have too many entries,” Black said.
“I think we were lucky that they didn’t capitalise more on their forward-50 entries.
“For us it happens when you kick too many points – I think we had more scoring shots than them, but if you don’t kick straight it will come back and bite you on the bottom.”
Black believes North Ballarat is one of the big threats in the competition this season after seeing them up close, even with both sides featuring a number of outs to school and state duties.
“We haven’t played Murray yet – they are going really well – but North Ballarat has only had one loss so I guess they have some quality players missing from their program as well,” Black said.
“So I think they are (a benchmark side), but we were right in it – had a shot on goals with probably two minutes to go to bring it back within four points and we missed and they went straight up and kicked a goal.”
The Rays drop to third on the TAC Cup ladder with the loss against the high-flying Rebels.
Dandenong travel to face the Calder Cannons on Saturday from 11.30am.
TAC CUP SCOREBOARD
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 4.3 4.7 8.10 9.16 (70)
NORTH BALLARAT REBELS 4.2 6.4 10.5 14.9 (93)
Dandenong Stingrays Goals: M. Poholke 2, M. Cox 2, B. Kiely 2, S. Downie, M. Kleverkamp, T. Young. Best: B. White, H. Prior, B. Kiely, J. Bubb, M. Poholke, M. Cox.
North Ballarat Rebels Goals: L. Meek 2, J. Cowan 2, J. Wheelahan, B. Simpson, C. Wellings, Y. Eades, J. Symons, J. Webster, S. Beks, J. Carrick, J. Korewha, C. Lee. Best: L. Meek, B. Lloyd, B. Simpson, L. McLeod, T. Williamson, J. Cowan.
