DANDENONG Southern Stingrays got back on the winners’ list with a 46point victory against local rival Oakleigh Chargers in round 11. The Stingrays had shown gradual improvement over the past few weeks and this time did not let the game slip.
The Stingrays started kicking into a strong breeze. With control of the midfield and strong defenders, the Stingrays made use of their attacks to kick four straight goals and kept the visitors to 2.4 to take an unlikely eightpoint lead at the first change.
The second term was by far the best quarter of football the Stingrays have put together for the year. Scores of 8.2 to 0.3 meant a halftime lead of 57 points that all but settled the game at the long break. With Mitch Bosward dominating the stoppages and wingmen Curtis Barker and Matt Robinson continually pumping the ball forward, the Chargers’ back line was under extreme pressure. Russell Gabriel, Dale Whelan and Darren Sheen played the role of the tall forwards well and crumbers Ricky Harley and Logan Hill mopped up.
The third term was controlled by the Chargers as the wind freshened to a gale but strong work by the Stingrays’ midfield in supporting their backs kept the Stingrays’ lead at 27 points at threequarter time with a sixgoal to eightgoal wind at their backs. Trent Shinners and Brad Horaczko controlled the ruck and Jarrad Grant provided plenty of rebound as the Chargers tried desperately to make inroads into the Stingrays’ lead. Six goals to three in the last term got the Stingrays home by 46 points.
Scores: Stingrays 18.6.114 d Chargers 9.14.68.
Goals: Ricky Harley 5, Russell Gabriel, Darren Sheen 3, Dale Whelan, Curtis Barker, Mitch Collins 2, Logan Hill 1.
Bests: Mitch Bosward, Curtis Barker, Matt Robinson, Ricky Harley, Dale Whelan, Jarrad Grant.
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