Dandenong Stingrays deal blow to Tasmania Devils in NAB League thriller at Blundstone Arena

For the third week in a row the Tasmania Devils played an NAB League thriller and this time they came off second-best to top-of-the-ladder Dandenong Stingrays in a three-point heartstopper at Blundstone Arena.

Will Peppin of Tasmania gets the ball away in the NAB League Tasmanian Devils v Dandenong Stingrays match at Blundstone Arena. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

FOR the third week in a row the Tasmania Devils played an NAB League thriller and this time they came off second-best to top-of-the-ladder Dandenong Stingrays in a three-point heart-stopper at Blundstone Arena yesterday.

The Devils were gutted that a golden opportunity to make a statement slipped through their fingers, going down 9.5 (59) to 8.8 (56), but coach Adrian Fletcher was impressed by the courage of his boys.

“I’m proud,” Fletcher said.

“You’ve got to be disappointed we lost but I’m proud of the boys.

“It shows we are around the mark.”

There was some heat in the game between the Devils, seventh on the ladder, and Dandenong, the competition’s No. 1 team.

DEVILS TO PLAY LADDER LEADER DANDENONG

Will Peppin of Tasmania gets the ball away in the NAB League Tasmanian Devils v Dandenong Stingrays match at Blundstone Arena. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

That was never more obvious than when the half-time siren sounded, when only two points separated them in Dandenong’s favour, and a near all-in skirmish broke out.

Dandenong edged away in the third and early in the fourth.

The green machine came from 20 points down early in the final term to hit the lead when towering debutant Hamish Allen _ who was presented with his jumper pre-game by Tasmania’s cricket Test captain Tim Paine _ marked and goaled at the 15 minute mark.

It capped a run of four unanswered goals — two by midfielder Mitch O’Neill — as the Tasmanians got on top at the clearances and its backline, led by the brilliance of Sam Collins, shut the door.

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However, Dandenong took back the lead in time-on when Stingray Declan Gould was caught holding the ball close to goal, and before the Devils could take the kick the umpire controversially reversed the decision and gifted the visitors the goal that won the game.

“You have to feel for the boys. They put a lot of effort into that one,” Fletcher said.

“It was a tough game of footy. We just didn’t take our chances and there were a couple of skill areas at times and we could have won the game but the scoreboard shows we didn’t.

“We’ve got to get better in certain areas and we’ll keep improving.”

Oliver Davis was sensational in the Devils engineroom, amassing 30 possessions and six marks, while O’Neill and Allen kicked two goals apiece.

The Devils have a bye next weekend.

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