Power fails to spark

LACK of pressure and lapses in defence proved costly for Gippsland Power on Saturday, losing to Dandenong Stingrays by 12 points in the round 12 TAC Cup clash.
The Power went into the game with many positives and was looking to use the game as a springboard for the ‘business’ end of the season.
Conditions at Shepley Oval were challenging for both sides and it was always going to be a test of physical and mental toughness.
The Power began well and continually pumped the ball forward only to squander opportunities when there was no one front and centre to capitalise when the ball hit the deck.
The Stingrays hit on the rebound and made the Power play for its wasteful play.
Brent Macaffer replied from a free and it seemed as if the Power had woken up that hard work was required.
Ben Hughes finished off some clever ball use, but Dandenong hit back to punish some poor defensive options by the Power.
It took some great teamwork to set up Ben Ross for the Power’s third major and it went to the first break seven points up.
Some poor defence by the Power gave the Stingrays the first of the second term and this was the impetus to shake it into action with Lachlan Hansen goaling after a 50metre penalty.
The Power then moved the ball with purpose to give Marc Truscio a crumber’s goal before Ricky Delphine gave Macaffer his second.
The Power was three goals up and seemingly in control, but some slack manning up on the rebound and undisciplined play allowed the Stingrays to narrow the deficit to three points at the long break.
In the third quarter the Stingrays again punished the soft Power defence to regain the lead and it took another 50metre penalty to Tyson Goldsack to allow it to reassert itself.
The Stingrays struck back hard and Hansen replied after the Power had wasted too many forward thrusts with a lack of purpose.
A brilliant goal by Goldsack from a kickin showed what the Power was capable of and it looked as if it was finally going to shake the Stingrays off.
Not to be outdone, the Stingrays capitalised on more slack Power defence and it led by three points at the final change.
Basically it was ‘who dares wins’ in the last term and the Stingrays struck first after a ball up in front of goal.
The Power was struggling to win ruck clearances and it was a dour struggle as both sides kept the pressure on each contest.
Poor defensive decision making was costing the Power and the Stingrays gleefully exploited this.
Jeff Ryan scored a timely goal after some good work by Hughes, but it was the Stingrays that finished the game off.
Score: Dandenong Stingrays 12.9.81 d Gippsland Power 10.9.69.
Goals Power: Brent Macaffer, Tyson Goldsack, Lachlan Hansen, Ben Hughes, Ben Ross, Marc Truscio, Jeff Ryan, 1.
Best Stingrays: Tom Johnson, Michael Todd, Lachlan Hansen, Ben Hughes, Tyson Goldsack, Ben Ross.
The Power play the Northern Knights this week.