Dandenong Stingray Khalid Foggi in action for the TAC Cup side. Foggi was among the Stingrays best players on the weekend.THE Dandenong Southern Stingrays suffered another loss this time by 22 points against local rivals the Sandringham Dragons in round 10. The Stingrays were a lot more competitive throughout the game but stumbled at the last hurdle when it was there to be won.
On a fine day both sides played with plenty of spirit and for three quarters the game was in the balance. The Stingrays only managed one goal for the first term for the eighth time this season and gave up too many soft goals. The Dragons made the most of the chances the Stingrays presented to lead by 23 points at the first change.
The second term brought a fightback by the Stingrays as they put together their best term since round one, but managed 5.7 when a lot of opportunities went begging. At the long break the scores were all square at 44 points apiece. Darren Sheen was working hard up forward and Ziggy Alwan and Khalid Foggi battled manfully in the back half. Ricky Harley and Mitch Bosward in the midfield were kept supplied by Trent Shinners, who again played with bounce and enthusiasm in the ruck.
The third term was controlled by the Dragons but it was their turn to be wasteful up forward and the last three goals of the term by the Stingrays had the margin back to a solitary goal at the last change. The Dragons leapt out of the blocks at the start of the last quarter and kicked four goals in eight minutes to close out the game. Three goals in a row got the margin back to 10 points but the Dragons kicked the last two goals of the game and ran out 22point winners.
Stingrays coach Graeme Yeats was disappointed at missing the chance to have a long overdue win and mooted several changes for the next game in two weeks. Yeats has run out of patience with quite a few topage players who repeatedly present inadequate performances and will change the team to take on the Oakleigh Chargers at Shepley Oval on 9 July.
This week is the under18 national championships and the Stingrays are represented by Luke Clark from Crib Point and Andrejs Everitt from Somerville, who will play for Vic Metro in Division 1 of the championships.
Scores: Dragons 17.12.114 d Stingrays 13.14.92.
Goals: Russell Gabriel, Ricky Harley 3, Darren Sheen 2, James Magner, Matt Robinson, Alex Lee, David Comben, Dale Whelan 1.
Best: Darren Sheen, Ziggy Alwan, Khalid Foggi, Ricky Harley, Mitch Bosward, Trent Shinners.
