Shepley Oval dished up more ankle deep mud, but with a full list of players to pick from saw the Stingrays in the end dominate the game over the Bendigo Pioneers winning by 65 points time last Saturday (12th July) at Shepley Oval, Dandenong.
For the second week in a row the centre square resembled chocolate pudding. Aaron Pawel and new found ruck Daylan Kempster, who was relieved from full back duties for the day, controlled the ball from the ruck giving the numerous of midfielders first possession which was once again led by hard nut Sam Geurts, Blake Mullane and bottom age player Jake Lovett.
Vic Country representatives Aaron Wilson, Tim Lamb, Jack Lonie and Daniel Capiron were welcomed back into team, but again throwing the magnets around the board showing some coaching cunning Stingrays Coach Craig Black switched Lamb down back and Capiron given an opportunity higher up the ground on the wing.
The inclusions and new found positions of players seemed to upset the state of play with the Pioneers controlling the first quarter and having the run of the Stingrays, as the held a 5 point advantage as the first siren blew. The margin could have been more if the Pioneer’s had of taken their chances in front of goals.
Black was first on deck and demanded players lift and play their roles. He firmly asked many individuals to stop thinking about personal accolades. It seemed to ignite the run within the Stingrays group as they dominated the second quarter, also holding Bendigo scoreless for the quarter.
After the half-time break Dandenong appreciated the skies clearing up to slam on
5 goals, three behinds and again keeping the Pioneers goalless. Lachlan Williams was impressive in a huge third term clunking marks, opportunistic ground balls and kicking two of his four goals for the day that saw the string of Stingrays goals. He was supported strongly by Taylor Joyce who finished the day with 4 goals. He now sits second on the TAC Cup goal kicking ladder.
Some redemption from the visitors was found with the wind in the final term, but it was all to no avail as most ended being minor scores and the Stingrays continued to pepper the goals as Dandenong captured a 65-point win off the Pioneers.
Black said, "The way we started was poor but after quarter time our competitive effort was really good. It was a great second half but I don't think we got the reward for the effort as we missed too many goals, but to win the clearances around the centre bounce in those conditions, we had a lot of inside 50s which was promising."
Dandenong sits in third position on the TAC Cup ladder with a clash on Saturday 26th July at Trevor Baker Reserve, Sandringham against another highly rated side in the Sandringham Dragons which will determine if the Stingray’s can hold onto a top four or drop back into the mix with the 6 other TAC Cup sides aiming to play finals.
Last Modified on 24/07/2014 09:16