DANDENONG Stingrays scored their third win in a row to get off the bottom of the TAC Cup ladder when they defeated the Bendigo Pioneers by 21 points at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo last Sunday in their round13 clash.
The game was of much higher standard than positions on the ladder of the clubs would have indicated. The Stingrays made the early running and, with Darren Sheen on fire up forward and kicking six goals in the first half, held a 13point lead at quartertime and extended this to 32 points at the long break.
Curtis Barker was dominant on his wing but blotted his copybook with an inaccurate 1.4 from his five shots on goal. Khalid Foggi, Alex Lee and Ziggie Alwan were solid all day in the back line. Luke Potts, Matt Robinson, Mitch Bosward and Nick Bateman were all good playing through the midfield, controlling their dangerous opponents.
The third and fourth terms were hard and tough as both teams worked the ball from end to end and the Pioneers finished the stronger, outscoring the Rays by six goals to four in the second half.
Ultimately it was superior delivery into the forward line and finishing by the Stingrays early in the game that proved the difference.
Scores: Pioneers 13.13.91 d Stingrays 10.10.70.
Goals: Darren Sheen 6, Russell Gabriel 2, Luke Potts, Curtis Barker, Nick Bateman, Matthew Davis, Trent Shinners 1.
Best: Curtis Barker, Khalid Foggi, Luke Potts, Alex Lee, Matt Robinson, Darren Sheen, Ziggie Alwan.
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