Tasmania chalks up third victory in eight days and lands maiden NAB League win on home soil

The Devils continue to defy expectations on their NAB League adventures, defeating Dandenong for their third win in eight days to entrench themselves in second spot on the ladder.

• Coastal pair to debut in front of home fans
• Devils girls back in action

THE Devils girls continue to go from strength to strength in their NAB League infancy after securing their first victory on home soil in the competition.

Despite playing its third game in eight days, Tasmania proved too strong for the Dandenong Stingrays at Penguin’s Dial Park, running out 6.3 (39) to 3.4 (22) victors to complete a clean sweep of its condensed schedule.

In slippery conditions, the home side jumped out of the blocks with two goals to none in the opening quarter, and added a further two to one in the second term to open up an 18-point buffer at the main break.

Aprille Crooks of the Tasmania Devils with the ball at Dial Park, Penguin. Picture: Linda Higginson

The visitors were again held goalless in the third stanza as the margin grew to four goals by the final change, with the damage well and truly done.

“It was a great performance by the girls, we focused a bit on the conditions prior to the game and the girls adjusted to them really well,” coach Cameron Joyce said.

“It was reasonably wet and while it dried out a little bit, it certainly affected the game and it just meant whoever was cleaner with the ball and who was able to get it forward more often would get the better of that.

“We had a bit of rain prior to the game on Monday against the Jets and there was a bit late in the game as well but this was the slipperiest its been.

“The ground was amazing up there, could not fault it but it was slippery at the same time.”

Tasmania’s Priscilla Odwogo gets tackled. Picture: Linda Higginson

Winger Meghan Gaffney worked tirelessly all day in a best afield effort, Jemma Webster was at the bottom of every pack and thrived in the conditions while midfielder Ella Maurer booted two goals in a strong performance.

Debutant Shania Saward — one of two new faces in the team — also hit the scoreboard in front of her home crowd.

The Devils now have an eight-day break before hitting the road and facing the Eastern Ranges next Sunday.

“They are amazing the girls, they haven’t wavered in their effort, their intensity every game so far,” Joyce said.

“We have plenty still ahead of us but we have laid a pretty good platform.”

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