After a week off to allow for state selection trials, the Dandenong Southern Stingrays regrouped and showed the passion and desire that had been sadly missing for the past two games and as a result ran out 22 point winners against the previously undefeated Murray Bushrangers at Shepley Oval in the Round 5 TAC Cup clash.
With Shepley Oval looking an absolute picture and a strong breeze heading to the creek end that the Bushrangers had first use of it was the Stingrays who struck first with goals to Hunter and Casboult. The Bushrangers moved gun Tom Rockliff from the midfield into the forwardline with immediate success as he kicked 4 goals as part of a 6 goals in 10 minutes run on by the visitors and they looked every part of the undefeated unit they were. A late goal after some individual brilliance by Matt Clark had the Stingrays down by 22 points at the first change.
The second quarter was very much like the first with both teams defending doggedly and rebounding on the counter attack to set up scoring opportunities. Five goals to the Stingrays for the term including 2 from youngstar Ryan Bastinac and three to the Bushrangers into the wind had the visitors from the Murray up by a solitary goal at the long break. The pressure from both teams at the ball and the man with the ball was a defining constant for the whole game as every possession was hard won and premium valued. The Stingrays midfield was playing with determination, grit and an unrelenting work rate which was a credit to the mindset of the players. Coach Graeme Yeats was quite pleased with the efforts of his players and urged them to not drop off their intensity and workrate.
The third quarter continued the high intensity of the first half and it was here the Stingrays set up their win. Even though they were out scored four goals to three, they were close enough if good enough to take the game in the last with the use of the wind. Michael Hibberd got on top of Rockliff, Steve Gaertner played his best game for the year, Clark, Rick Ferraro, Bastinac and the Rucks were tireless and contributions from 11 different goal scorers meant that the Stingrays hardly had a passenger. The last term started in the worse possible way for the home team with the Bushrangers kicking the first goal and the first 4 scoring attempts by the Stingrays could only result in points. The relentless pressure through the midfield by the Stingrays opened up the game as they piled on the last eight goals of the game to turn a 23 point deficit into a hard fought 22 point victory.
Next weekend the final selection game for the Under 18 National squads takes place at Victoria Park at 10.00am on Saturday. With Gaertner, Clark, Tom Scully, Aaron Purves, and Ashley Smith trying out the rest of the Stingrays players will return to local football for a game. The following week it is back into TAC Cup football with the Stingrays heading to Coburg to tackle the permanently strong Calder Cannons.
Last Modified on 18/07/2008 12:35