THE Dandenong Southern Stingrays showed signs of improvement despite suffering a seventh loss in a row, by 13 points by the Eastern Ranges in the roundeight game at Box Hill last Sunday.
Playing a standalone match in perfect conditions after a humiliating thrashing last week, the Stingrays showed plenty of spirit and teamwork but eventually ran out of legs and were overrun in the last term.
The Stingrays, missing Troy TharleAdams, Daniel Calteri, Peter Dal Lago, Curtis Barker and Alex Lee to leg injuries, made seven changes to their lineup and promoted Shannon Henwood and Tim Scarpella to play their first TAC Cup games.
The Stingrays started well and, despite kicking into a three to fourgoal breeze, controlled the play and led by 10 points at quartertime. Logan Hill was on fire in the midfield, assisted by Brad Horaczko in the ruck and James Magner on the ball. Up forward Darren Sheen, Andrejs Everitt, Michael Lourey and Matt Robinson were looking dangerous.
The second term was similar but poor kicking in front of goal restricted the halftime lead to just 20 points. Only 2.6 for the quarter, including 1.4 by Robinson, was lean pickings but the Stingrays’ back line was standing firm with Russell Gabriel a standout at centre halfback, Jarrad Grant playing well in only his second TAC Cup game and fellow secondgamer Scott Simpson being solid on the last line of defence.
In the third term it was the turn of the Ranges to be inaccurate as they poured on the pressure but 1.7 by the home team left the Stingrays a 21point lead into the final term. It was here the Ranges grabbed the momentum and finished all over the tired Stingrays. Ranges kicked 6.6 to the Stingrays’ 1.2 to run out 13point winners in a game that despite solid endeavours by both sides never rose to the usual standard.
This makes a total of 42 players the Stingrays have played this season so far and coach Graeme Yeats was keen to play more firstgamers this week.
Scores: Eastern Ranges 10.18.78 d Stingrays 9.11.65.
Goals: Darren Sheen 3, Brad Horaczko 2, Nick Williams, Matt Robinson, Shannon Henwood, Andrejs Everitt 1.
Best: Brad Horaczko, Russell Gabriel, Logan Hill, Scott Simpson, James Magner, Jarrad Grant.