The Dandenong Southern Stingrays followed up their good opening round win with a hard fought one point victory over reigning premiers the Murray Bushrangers, in the Round 2 TAC Cup clash at Shepley Oval, Dandenong last Saturday.
With Shepley Oval in the best condition it has been in for many a year and the day hot with no wind, the scene was set for another superb game of TAC Cup football. It was the Stingrays who started the more efficiently and with tall targets Myles Pitt and Levi Casboult to aim at deep inside 50 made the most of their forward forays. Accurate kicking from close to goal contrasted to the Bushrangers wayward attempts from their smaller more mobile targets who had to venture higher and wider to find enough supply of the football to score.
The second quarter was a lot closer as the Bushrangers started to get on top through the midfield. Inaccuracy was to once again to burden the visitors they kicked 3 goals 5 to the Stingrays 3 goals 2 and the Stingrays held sway by 11 points. Casboult continued to present up forward and relieve in the Ruck, Jim Cotrell was on top of his direct opponent at half back and youngster Matt Shaw showed he is a talent to watch with his clean handling and precise disposal. Tom Scully was playing well again at half back and on the Wing and was watched like a hawk by the bushrangers after last weeks dominance.
The third quarter was another tight affair with the Stingrays extending their lead to nearly 30 points only to have the Bushrangers rally to close the gap to 16 points at the last change. Corey Millard was well on top at CHB and Mitch Hallahan was at his best in and under through the middle of the ground
The scene was set for a torrid last term as the heat and pace of the game was starting to take its toll. The Stingrays bounced out kicking 4 of the first 5 goals for the term and lead by 32 points but the move by the Bushrangers of Sam Reid into the Ruck was starting to pay huge dividends. Reid worked the ball to the gun Bushrangers small men who repeatedly pumped the ball to the hard leading and sure hands of Jake Lorraine who ended up with 8 goals in an inspired performance. Stingrays second gamer Jake Batchelor could do little to prevent the ball getting to Lorraine such was the precision of the foot skills of the Bushrangers midfield but in 1 on 1 duels Batchelor more than held his own. The Bushrangers dominated possession and had the last 6 shots at goal as the Stingrays stopped to a walk. The Bushies fell agonizingly close but had enough chances to steal the game form the Stingrays had who controlled the play for most of the first three quarters.
Next Saturday the Stingrays head to Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo to tackle the Bendigo Pioneers at 10.00am as part of a TAC Cup triple header with many Stingrays looking to continue their good form with the first of the trials for National Under 18 Championships on the following weekend.
Last Modified on 12/04/2009 22:03