Cobras beaten comprehensively

By Ben Turner
KILYSTH Cobras were unable to the match the strength of the Dandenong Rangers on the weekend, going down by more than 15 points in both the men’s and women’s matches.
The Lady Cobras were no match for the balanced Rangers who swept aside all challenges for their eleventh straight win.
Deanna Smith played a lone hand at the offensive end for Kilsyth, but with four Dandenong players in double figures, it was the Cobras defensive efforts that needed the most attention.
Stephanie Cumming, Larissa Anderson, and Amelia Todhunter, were the main threats for Dandenong, but with Hope Terdich, Catherine Guest, Chelsea Burns and Faith Probst, all contributing, it was tough going at the defensive end for Kilsyth.
Dandenong jumped Kilsyth in the opening term building a 22-14 quarter time lead with the Cobras struggling to find their rhythm after the week off.
A three-point shooting exhibition in the second term saw Dandenong race to a 22-point half time lead.
Despite 12 third quarter points from Deanna Smith, Kilsyth saw the margin explode to 27 points by the final change.
Ellie Manou and Hayley Moffatt helped Kilsyth fight back in the final term, but even though they kept the Rangers to just 10 points for the quarter the margin was too great, 83-66.
In the men’s camp, the news wasn’t much better.
The Cobras continued their inconsistency with another disappointing loss, going down 81-63 to the Rangers.
Dandenong jumped the Cobras in a low scoring first term with Luke Fitzgerald scoring nine first quarter points.
However, Kilsyth managed to contain the Rangers other import Vince Inglima whose frustration caused him to foul out in just 15 minutes.
Cobras’ Ryan Bathie, Tim Lang, and Matt O’Hea mounted a fight back in the second term after Lucas Walker and Fitzgerald helped Dandenong build a 12-point lead midway through the term.
Kilsyth was able to cut the lead to two points at the half and went into the break with the momentum.
But Dandenong lifted their defensive efforts in the third term and exploded at the offensive end, scoring 28 points for the quarter, while Kilsyth only managed 12, extended the Rangers lead to 18 at the final break.
Kilsyth failed to pull back the margin in the final term with the Rangers closing out their fifth straight win.