The Dandenong Southern Stingrays travelled to City Oval Box Hill on Sunday to take on Eastern Ranges in the Round 15 TAC Cup to record a very workman like 67 point win.
In fine and sunny conditions the game started at breakneck speed with the ball whipping up and down the ground as both teams tested each other out, but the Rays slowly got on top across the ground and it become all one way traffic with the Stingrays completely dominated the scoreboard to keep Eastern scoreless in the first. It was the Stingrays steadier defence and more dangerous forwardline which was to prove the difference. The stingrays kicked 4 goals 5 points from 11 inside 50’s compared to the Ranges 3 inside 50’s for no score. First term goals were spread with four individual players, Nick Haynes, Lachie Whitfield, Alex Benbow and Darren Minchington who were the finishers to some fine mid field work and the forwards were applying some heavy tackling to keep the ball inside 50 to give the Stingrays numerous scoring opportunities. A continuing first quarter highlight was the tackling and pressure the entire midfield group was putting on the Ranges midfield, something the young Stingrays are becoming renowned for.
The second term saw the Ranges rally gaining a little bit of impetus through the midfield and kicking truly in the first part of the quarter as they took advantage of some poor decision making by foot by the young Rays, which they should have had scored 3 more but for poor shots on goals. The Rays rallied and started driving the ball inside 50 from the defensive back six. The midfield group got back on top with some fantastic gut running to win the football with some strong defensive pressure. A magnificent goal to Brett O’Hanlon was the only major for the term for the Stingrays who had many inside fifty entries but strong defensive work from the Ranges set up their own shots on goal. At the long break Stingrays Coach Graeme Yeats spoke to the group about intensity and efforts and delivery into the forwardline and stressed lapses in concentration against teams in the finals wouldn’t be so forgiving.
The premiership third quarter saw the Stingrays pull away from the inexperienced Ranges who were playing their 56 player for the season, they have blooded seven 16 and eleven 17 year olds for the 2012 season. Piva Wright’s role changed this week, he was taken from the forwardline and given the all mighty task of controlling potential first round draft pick Jonathon Patton at Centre Half Back. Piva took the challenge and continued on his form from the previous weeks to keep Patton goalless and keeping him to 3 marks and 4 kicks for the game. Lachie Whitfield also liked the freedom up forward and through the midfield to kick two goals for the quarter. Brett O’Hanlon kicked his second for the game. At the last break Stingrays Coach Graeme Yeats was happy with his chargers with his main message to continue with the 1%ers, again lift the intensity and ruefulness they showed in the first quarter and finish off the game.
The last quarter started with the Stingrays dominating all parts of the ground. The Stingrays backline was superb and continually worked the ball forward, with Matthew Buntine and Damien Johnston marking everything in sight. Buntine was released onto the wing after half time and was influential in the dominance through the midfield. Robert Hill and Nathan Wright continued with their form they showed last week, whilst the leg speed of the Stingrays midfield started to expose the younger Ranges team. Alex Benbow explosives running and the ability to break the lines, Jason Pongracic’s strong contested mark and goal was dynamic. Jason Salopek pace and skills came into play in the last half and a much need crumbing goal at the right time continued the scoreboard ticking over for the Stingrays. Two more goals to O’Hanlon took him to 4 for the day, whilst a nice finish to Jack Sheppard on the run from the wing was quickly followed by a running goal from dynamic midfielder Alex Benbow, who took the ball off the wing and battled through heavy traffic to cut open the defence and split the middle from 45. The Stingrays kicked 6 goals 2 points for the quarter and limited the Ranges to 2 points to win the game by 67 points.
After the game Yeats said “It was great that we played four quarters of football and everyone contributed. We could have named every player in the best today, it was that even. Our mids worked up and back and we had some quality delivery to our forwards…another pleasing factor was we had three blokes who kicked more than two goals and 5 others who kicked singles.”
Next week in the final round of the TAC CUP the round 17 match the Dandenong Stingrays play Bendigo Pioneers on Saturday 27th August at Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigeburn. The game starts at 12.15am, which is game 2 of a TAC Cup triple header. Entry is free.
Last Modified on 24/08/2011 09:25