Report by Mitch Brown
The Dandenong Southern Stingrays have backed up last week’s effort with a convincing and hard fought win against the Bendigo Pioneers by 41 points in Bendigo on Saturday under lights at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo.
The Stingrays won the toss and dominated the entire first term keeping the Pioneers goalless. The Stingrays first goal came through Captain Lachlan Williams who hit the pack hard hitting front and centre splitting the middle, followed a few minutes later by young gun Josh Battle, the first of (5) goals for the day.
But the day belonged to the smallest player on the ground in Darcy Warke with his elite pace, ability to play tall and small topping it off by adding inside pressure and splitting the middle with 4 goals by the time the final siren sounded.
The Stingrays held a 30 point lead as the siren sounded and were well on top of their opponents, who would be frustrated by wasting opportunities in front of goal.
The Pioneers came out a different team in the second quarter kicking the first 3 goals. The Pioneers players had eyes only for the ball and were hunting in numbers causing huge headaches for the Stingrays coaching staff who were throwing magnets around- a little due to the fact Sean Downie went down with a sublaxed shoulder and was headed to the emergency department for the night .
The Stingrays backline and midfield lifted their work rate with some hard overlapping running, eventually hitting the scoreboard again through Darcy Warke. This was quickly answered by the Pioneers moments later who completed dominated inside 50’s (20 to 6) and the savour for the Stingrays was wayward kicking by the Pioneers allowing them to maintain the lead at the long break- 14 points.
If the quarter had gone longer the Pioneers were looking dangerous as they were completely dominating the loose ball and were prepared to run harder than the Stingrays- something Stingrays Coach Craig Black addressed sternly at the long break.
Within 45 seconds in the second half the ball went deep inside the Stingrays forward line, but poor execution allowed the Pioneers to rebound and add kicks a much needed goal. A steadying goal to the Stingrays came through livewire Darcy Warke that opened the flood gates once again with the Stingrays kicking 5 on the trot, 3 of those to Battle.
The Stingrays backline had lifted through Daniel Capiron, Brandon White and Bailey Rice marking everything coming their way and rebounding deep inside 50. The entire back 6 started working as a unit with the midfield working harder and longer between the arcs offering numerous avenues to rebound the ball deep inside 50.
The last few minutes of the quarter saw the ball stay inside the Pioneers fifty and eventually through hard work they managed to kick a much needed goal. As the siren sounded the Stingrays had taken full control of the game with a handy 35 point lead.
The last quarter started as the previous quarter with the first goal to the Pioneers which was quickly answer through a cracking individual roving goal to Liam Myatt. It was quickly followed by a team lifting interception mark and goal to James Jimmy Freeman who had successfully returned from a badly broken leg and displaced ankle 12 months earlier in Bendigo.
To the Pioneers credit they came hard again managing to steer one through the big sticks after numerous of failed attempts. The Stingrays stuck to their guns and fought back strong. Battle took a few big grabs and kicked another to put the game out of reach for the Pioneers, who never gave up just lacked the finishing touches.
Warke added the X factor in the forward line continually on the move making it hard for the Pioneer defenders all day, which was rewarded with the last goal of the night.
Stingrays Coach Craig Black said “I thought the group set the game up in the first quarter, it’s a credit to them as we travelled up on a bus and playing under lights throwing everyone’s normal routine thrown around a lot.
“ We had a small lapse in the second quarter after losing Downie, but to the players credit they took the challenges set for them at half time only allowing 4 goals to the Pioneers.”
In closing he said “To keep them to only 8 goals showed the back 6 had a strong play in the team’s performance today… We went Inside 50’s 50 times with 30 Scoring Shots and had 12 Tackles Inside 50m causing 5 turnovers from kickins, along with 8 Individual goal kickers with a mix of mids and forwards shows the team is balanced”
The Stingrays have the chance to regroup next week, courtesy of a bye for 'Vic Country Trial games', before turning their attention to the match against Queensland, which is played on Anzac Day in Queensland at 11.30am.
Last Modified on 12/04/2015 23:11