Stingrays hit back

THE Dandenong Stingrays rebounded strongly from some recent poor form to advance directly into the preliminary final with an impressive 41point win over the inform North Ballarat Rebels in the second qualifying final at Optus Oval last Sunday.
The Stingrays went into the game without vicecaptain Matt Stanley, who was still recovering from a knee injury, and Nathan Jones and Justin Farrelly, who both twisted ankles at training last Thursday. These losses were well compensated by Brad Horaczko, Travis Tuck, Curtis Barker and Jason Ferraro returning following layoffs.
The pace and standard was a cracker and the Stingrays prevailed with a more open and efficient forward line. The midfield was led by Horaczko in the ruck and Greg Bentley, Daniel Nicholls, Tuck and James Magner were on top of their respective opponents. The tall forwards Alex Lee and Aaron Murray provided a strong contest in the air and crumbers Curtis Barker, Brad Scalzo and Sam Carpenter repeatedly got opportunities near goal. The sixgoalstothree quartertime lead of the Stingrays was a fair indication of their midfield dominance and winning forward line.
In the second term the Stingrays extended the lead with five goals to two for the term and were up by 37 points at the long break. Murray kicked three goals for the term, Nicholls had 20 possessions to halftime and Horaczko was gathering plenty of possessions a kick behind the play.
The Rebels got out of the blocks quickly in the third term and kicked the first three goals, but the Stingrays steadied and replied with three. The back line of Adam Kirkwood, Mitch Bosward, Sam Gill and Ben Crowe was rocksolid and continually attacked to rebound the ball into the Stingrays’ forward line. In the final term the Stingrays finished the game with three goals to one and ran out 41point winners. The Stingrays were primed to take on the winner of the Cannons v Eastern Ranges semifinal.
Scores: Stingrays 17.14.116 d North Ballarat Rebels 10.15.75. Best: Brad Horaczko, Greg Bentley, Aaron Murray, Mitch Bosward, Ryan Cook, Daniel Nicholls.