TAC CUP
REVIEW – ROUND 6
By Nick Creely
For three-and-a-half quarters it was a game that was controlled by the Dandenong Stingrays.
Yet two pieces of individual brilliance in the dying moments meant another four points eluded them on Saturday.
After the Rays registered the first major of the game, it seemed like a win was inevitable and the momentum was impenetrable.
The Rays were inaccurate but far more potent early, kicking 2.6 in the breeze to just a solitary point in the first quarter, before the Knights bit back and regained some ground by half time.
Some smooth passages of play ensured the Rays were able to climb out to a healthy four goal buffer, but the Knights started shutting them down once inaccuracy become an issue, zapping them of confidence and allowing the Knights all the momentum heading into the last.
Despite the Rays showing intent to score in the final quarter, the Knights, albeit from a few questionable free kicks, were rampaging home and doing all the attacking.
Leading until the 25th minute of the fourth quarter, the dam walled finally burst wide open as the Knights stole victory from the jaws of defeat.
Slick moving midfielder and Knights skipper Nick Coffield finally gave them the match-winning lead with a brilliant running goal from outside 50, before a game-saving tackle from Ollie Wilson deep in the Rays attack as they looked certain to kick a goal sealed victory.
“When you lead all bar the last minute of the game, it’s pretty deflating for the group when that happens – in some critical moments of the game we let ourselves down and didn’t take our opportunities, and that’s what happens,” Stingrays coach Craig Black said.
“To the Knights’ credit, they stuck at it all day and pounced at the right time – we just have to get better as a group in some of our decision making in critical times of the game.
“But our young backmen stood up to the test, and it just came down to sheer volume of numbers and they were under the pump a bit.”
Black was particularly disappointed with the side’s first quarter, with the Rays dominating the game but not putting enough score on the board.
“Our first quarter we kicked with the breeze and we kicked 2.6 – that’s not ideal – scoreboard pressure is just so crucial – even at three quarter time, I felt like we just needed another goal – we made errors and just conceded goals,” he said.
Stingrays’ defender Angus Paterson (12 disposals, four contested marks) was a shining light in the absence of a few senior heads, while Tom De Koning once again showed immense promise in his forward role, kicking three goals and competing hard around the ground.
The ultra-young Rays, missing even more cavalry than last week, were also well serviced by the impressive Tom Young and solid midfielder Will Hamill, while Hunter Clark continues his emergence into the elite bracket of draft prospects.
“It was (Angus) Paterson’s best game of the year as a key defender, Hunter Clark was great, and most of our leaders did really well,” Black said.
Bailey Williams was also impressive in the ruck, winning plenty of hit outs and giving the midfielders some silver-service as he continues to build into a strong 2017.
The Stingrays move to a 3-3 record, and face a crucial clash with Oakleigh Chargers at Shepley Oval next Sunday.
NORTHERN KNIGHTS 0.1 5.3 6.3 10.9(69)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 2.6 5.7 7.12 9.12(66)
NORTHERN KNIGHTS
GOALS: J. Shea 4, N. Coffield 2, J. Petruccelle, S. Binion, O. Stapleton, B. Gillard.
BEST: J. Shea, J. Petruccelle, O. Wilson, S. Binion, J. Grace, M. Andrews.
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
GOALS: T. Dekoning 3, J. Nanscawen 3, R. Piper, L. Young, H. Clark.
BEST: A. Paterson, T. Murphy, J. Davies, T. Dekoning, B. Williams, W. Hamill.
