The Dandenong Southern Stingrays got back on the winners board with a very strong 26 point victory over the traveling Tasmania in the Round 8 TAC Cup match at Shepley Oval Dandenong last Saturday.
The Stingrays added debuting players Zak Rouse, Gach Nyuon and top age players Taylor Joyce and Caleb Gray for their first game for 2014. They also welcomed back 19 year old Troy Jacobson who successfully returned from two years of injuries.
The Stingrays had trained well during the week and started like a shot out of a cannon, dominating most of the play in the first half of the first term. Tackling was a highlight and relentless pressure resulted in numerous inside 50’s for the young Rays. Taylor Joyce took control early in the air, kicking one of his 5 goals in the first term. Tasmania steadied a little and converted well to kick 3 straight goals with their limited opportunities and the Stingrays led 4-3-27 to 3-1-19 at quarter time.
The first ten minutes of the second term was very messy skill wise and the term was a bit closer as both midfields rolled back to support their defenses and scoring opportunities dried up a little. An opportunist goal to Keegan Downie and an interception mark from an errant rebound kick gave Taylor Joyce another goal, but they were the only goals for the Rays as Tasmania took their turn on dominating the play. All the hard work from the Stingrays midfield group went to waste as time after time panic kicking forward allowed Tasmania to easily defend and rebound, which resulted in 6 goals for the quarter- most came from Stingrays turnovers. During the long term break, Stingrays Coach Craig Black was full of praise to his players for continuing to play their individual role, but challenged them to work harder defensively and to use the ball better in contested and uncontested situations- especially entering the forward line as 2 goals 2 points from 12 inside 50’s for the term was poor conversion. At the end of the second, the Stingrays trailed on the scoreboard by 16 points, with Tasmania scoring every time they went inside 50 so a huge challenge was set for the defenders to close down their individual player at the long break.
The third saw the first goal come within a minute to Stingrays player Joyce, followed with another a minute later to the dynamic Bailey Dale. Midfielders Alex Harnett, Jake Lovett and Dan Moloney were brave throwing their bodies at every contest, which became effective as the pressure and intensity lifted for both teams. Another goal to Mitch White a few minutes after some good defensive pressure looked like the Rays might blow the game apart but Tasmania locked down and made scoring a little harder. Great work from Bailey Dale and Jack Lonie resulted in two opportunistic goals to Tomkins and Dale. Tasmania made the Stingrays pay from poor defensive acts that resulted in two of their own goals before the Stingrays once again hit the scoreboard through Joyce and Jacobson. The end of the third saw the Rays kicking 7 goals to 2 and holding a 16 point lead, but would be defending against a 2-3 goal breeze in the last.
The final term was more hard running and hard work as the Stingrays continued to outplay and out-muscle their opposition. The Stingrays added another 4 goals to Tasmania’s 2 with eight different players on the goal kickers’ list indicated a very even team effort and should instill a lot of confidence in the Stingrays squad. The non-negotiables of hard work, hard running, good defense and multiple avenues to goal were all front and centre in the very good 26 point win to the Stingrays and only allowing 4 goals defensively after half time which was led by best on ground Bailey Dale who racked up 21 possession, most from winning his own ball from contested contests (16) then rebounding inside 50 kicking 3 goals and supported strongly from the ever reliable Jack Lonie, Jayden Tomkins and return to form Taylor Joyce and hardnosed midfielder Alex Harnett.
Next Sunday, June 1st in the TAC Cup Round 9 game sees the Dandenong Stingrays play the Northern Knights at Shepley Oval, Dandenong. The game starts at Midday and entry is free.
Last Modified on 11/06/2014 00:02