By JARROD POTTER
TAC CUP
REVIEW – Round 12
A WORRISOME wind left the Stingrays chasing all day against Calder Cannons.
Gale-force winds at the notorious Highgate Reserve beset both sides, with the Cannons able to do the previously impossible – kick multiple goals into the wind in the final term to run out 29-point victors.
Dandenong kicked four goals in the final term, with Jack Wheeler (2 goals) leading the way, but was at Calder’s mercy as the Cannons fired three of their own to clinch the victory.
Hard-nut Alex Harnett was best afield after playing the majority of the match with a broken hand. Also impressing were Tom Glen, stand-in captain Jake Wilson and first gamer Jordan Rouse.
“Our first quarter was as good of a first quarter we’ve played all year – playing into the breeze,” Stingrays’ coach Craig Black said.
“I think we were still a chance at three-quarter-time.
“We were five goals down, but it was a pretty strong breeze and they took the momentum away from us – in the last quarter they kicked three goals into the breeze – and it was a bit disappointing in the end.”
Falling back into the logjam – with teams from third to seventh on 24 points – the sixth placed Stingrays will face Murray Bushrangers at home on Saturday from 1pm.
UNDER 18 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – ROUND 5
THE television spotlight didn’t shine positively on Victoria Country, with the home side belted on the nationally broadcast match by South Australia.
Taking to Simonds Stadium on Friday, Vic Country failed to make any inroads on the scoreboard – kicking one-goal-six to three-quarter-time. Another eight points finished the Vic Country tally as South Australia dominated throughout the field to take a 12.11 (83) to 2.8 (20) win.
Dandenong’s Daniel Capiron was one of the best afield in a lacklustre day for the home team.
Vic Country’s last chance at redemption will be Wednesday night when it faces Western Australia in the last match of the national championships from 5pm at Etihad Stadium.
To win the national championship, Vic Country would need to defeat Western Australia by a whopping margin and hope for Vic Metro to knock off South Australia narrowly on Thursday at Simonds Stadium.
TAC CUP SCOREBOARD
CALDER CANNONS 1.7 2.7 7.11 10.11 (71)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 0.0 2.3 2.5 6.6 (42)
CALDER
Goals: J. Foster 3, X. Dimasi 2, H. Kerbatieh 2, C. Kilbane, R. O’Brien, Z. Wunhym. Best: R. O’Brien, Z. Wunhym, T. Nilsson, M. Conn, R. Smith, N. O’Kearney.
DANDENONG
Goals: J. Wheeler 2, D. Moloney, T. Joyce, B. Rice, B. Dale. Best: A. Harnett, T. Glen, J. Wilson, J. Rouse, T. Joyce, R. Fischer.
