By Nick Creely
TAC CUP
REVIEW – ROUND 14
Wild winds lashed bayside Frankston on Saturday afternoon, with a bruising affair resulting in a painstaking two-point loss for the Dandenong Stingrays.
Up against their closest country rivals – Gippsland- a midfield masterclass by Hunter Clark wasn’t enough to give the finals bound ‘Rays the four points.
With a five-goal breeze to the City End, the Power couldn’t quite capitalize in the first quarter, kicking seven behinds to hold just a narrow six-point quarter time lead.
In the second, Clark and midfielders Mitch Cotter and Tom Murphy started gaining an advantage at the clearances, with the combination of Tom De Koning and Bailey Williams in the ruck causing the Power some headaches.
An avalanche of goals to the City End, including an utterly classy snap from Clark and some fine work by Riley D’Arcy forward saw the ‘Rays surge clear by 13-points at the main break.
With injuries mounting for both sides, in what was already a fierce contest with plenty of bone crunching tackles and contests, the Power finally used the wind to their advantage, slamming on six-goals to two to once again wrestle the lead back narrowly with a quarter to play.
The Power refused to give up against the wind, taking their lead out to as much as 22-points at the 15th minute mark of the final quarter.
The ‘Rays – down two on the bench – finally got the game on their terms, running quickly off the backline via some daring kicking from Mason De Wit and giving forwards De Koning, D’Arcy and Jai Nanscawen the silver service that had been lacking before hand.
Despite finishing with a flurry of goals, the under siege Power held firm – namely through the efforts of Sean Masterson and tough midfielder Callum Porter, to breathe life into their season once more.
There was plenty to like from an individual point of view for the ‘Rays, with Clark playing a colossal game through the midfield, using his excellent hands and elite foot skills to set up his teammates.
Will Hamill, De Wit and Campbell Hustwaite (three goals) all played strong games.
The loss did nothing to the Stingrays’ pursuit of a top four spot, with only percentage keeping them out.
They will look to rebound quickly when they host Bendigo Pioneers on Saturday at Shepley Oval.
STINGRAYS 2.2 8.4 10.6 14.8(92)
POWER 2.7 5.9 11.10 14.10(94)
Dandenong Stingrays Goals: C. Hustwaite 3, R.
D’’Arcy 3, H. Clark 2, J. Nanscawen 2, T. Murphy,
F. Bayne, M. Cotter, T. Dekoning
Best: H. Clark, W. Hamill, C. Hustwaite, M. Cotter,
J. Davies, M. DeWit.
Gippsland Power Goals: A. Hodge 3, S. Flanders
3, C. Serong 3, X. Duursma 2, K. Drew, R. Henkel,
N. Hogan. Best: S. Masterson, C. Serong, B.
Smith, N. Hogan, C. Porter, C. Henness
