The Dandenong Stingrays were too good for the North Ballarat Rebels in perfect football conditions in their final home and away TAC Cup game at Shepley Oval on Saturday.
In a game with both sides near full strength the Rebels knew that this could give a pointer to both sides chances when the final series begins next weekend.
The Stingrays opened with two goals, both from free kicks in the first three minutes as the Rebels tried to adjust to the firm ground and sometimes unpredictable bounce of the ball.
Will Young marked to open the North Ballarat scoring followed quickly by a long shot on the run from Tim Ruffles to level the scores.
Despite the great defensive efforts of Oliver Tate, Josh Free and Nicholas Suban Dandenong steadied with three goals to have a 15 point lead at the first break.
The second term saw the football move quickly from end to end as both sides were able to penetrate the opposition defence to score as Jordan Roughead worked hard in the ruck, Bryn Weadons long kicking created opportunities for Ben Peters, Josh Beardsell and late in the quarter Andrew Hooper to keep North Ballarat in touch.
The first half of the third quarter was a real arm wrestle with neither side able to score until midway through when the Stingrays broke through to goal.
The Rebels response was immediate with goals to Matthew Cranage, Young and Beardsell to narrow the margin and set up for an exciting final term.
Four unanswered goals to the home side gave them a comfortable lead, Cranage kicked a long reply but then three more to Dandenong sealed the game at the seventeen minute mark.
To their credit the Rebels managed the last three goals through Hooper and Ruffles but it was an indication that nothing less than being at their best will be good enough when they front up to Gippsland Power in to the new format sudden death finals series starting at 2pm this Saturday at Princes Park, Carlton.
Dandenong Stingrays 18.11 (119) d North Ballarat Rebels 13.7 (85)
Best: Oliver Tate, Josh Free, Nicholas Suban, Jordan Roughead, Ben Peters, Bryn Weadon.
Goals: Tim Ruffles 3, Josh Beardsell 2, Matthew Cranage 2, Andrew Hooper 2, Will Young 2, Ryan McKenzie 1, Ben Peters 1.
Last Modified on 08/02/2009 15:44