The Dandenong Southern Stingrays good form continued with a solid 40 point win over the in form Murray Bushrangers at Norm Minns Oval, Wangaratta in the Round 7 TAC Cup last Saturday.
The Stingrays were a different side with six players rested for Vic Country under 18 duties, injuries to Jake Batchelor, Lachie Wallace, Jimmy Jennings, Jake Greeley and Stewart Damon. The Stingrays got back Mitch Gent, Arryn Sippos and Matt Buntine from injury, bought back Travis Bravo, Darcy Holden, Adam Giobbi and picked three first games in Jarryd Capiron, Mitch Viney and Adam Jaber. The Bushrangers were equally short of their best team with 5 players playing for NSW/ACT and another two rested for Vic Country so it was a test of depth; a test which the Stingrays passed with flying colors.
In superb conditions, the game started with all one way traffic as the Stingrays completely dominated the first term. Nine goals six from 21 inside 50’s to the Stingrays to two goals on the counter attack to the Bushrangers had the Stingrays 48 points up at the first change and the game safely in the Stingrays keeping. Three first term goals to Corey Buchan and Arryn Sippos and two neat finished from Nathan Allen on a wing were the finishers to some fine mid field work by the Stingrays. The second term saw the Bushies rally on the back of a restructure of their mids and forwardline and an old fashioned chat from the Bushrangers coach Darren Ogier. The bushies kicked the first four goals of the term before the Stingrays settled, lifted their work rate and rallied late with four goals of their own to head to the olong break still over 6 goals up.
The second half was more thrust and parry between the two teams with neither team able to control the game for long periods. Nine goals three to the Stingrays after half time to the Bushrangers eight goals eight was a true indication of the evenness of the two sides. Patches of quality football was regularly interspersed with basic unpressured errors put down to inexperience mainly by the new players from both sides. Nathan Allen was superb under duress on a Wing, Alex Benbow and Max Gearon racked up a heap of possessions in the mid field, Matt Buntine and Riley Heddles controlled the backline and Todd Elton continued his good work in the Ruck. Up forward, Corey Buchan continued his remarkable start to TAC Cup football with another 7 goals and Arryn Sippos finished up with 4 majors.
Next weekend is another week off for the TAC Cup with the first round of Under 18 Nationals with Vic Country taking on Vic Metro at the MCG at 9:50am on Sunday. Six Stingrays made the initial team for Vic Country. Luke Parker, Mitch Hallahan, Daniel Harrison Andrew McInnes and Tom Lynch with strut their stuff on the biggest AFL stage. The following weekend the Stingrays head to Balcktown, NSW to take on the Kevin Sheedy coached Greater West Sydney for Round 9 TAC Cup clash, the same day and venue as the Vic Country Under 18’s play NSW/ACT in the AFL Under 18 Nationals.
Last Modified on 23/05/2010 16:39