By Phil Edwards - Examiner
Tasmania kicked 17.16 (118) to hold off a last-quarter fight back by a talent laden Sandringham, 15.15 (105).
The history-making win was Tasmania's first at Sandringham since the club's inception in 2001 and the first time the club has won five matches in a row in the VFL competition.
Importantly it maintained the Devils place in the VFL eight after both its closest rivals North Ballarat and Williamstown won their round 16 matches.
"It was one of the best club wins I've been associated with and was a fantastic effort," coach Mathew Armstrong said.
Sandringham's line-up was replete with at least 12 AFL-listed players and a number of former AFL-experienced players, making the Devils' win more meritorious.
The Devils started with the aid of a howling gale blowing to one end of the ground but wasted the wind advantage kicking 4.5 in the first quarter.
"But we won it in the second quarter when we outscored them kicking six goals into the gale, with Kenny Hall booting four goals at full-forward and Ben Beams with three was fantastic as well," Armstrong said.
The Devils took a 15- point lead at half- time but with the wind advantage in the third term, kicked 7.8 to extended that to a 10-goal lead at the last change.
Sandringham stormed home with the wind in the final term booting 7.7 to Tasmania's three behinds, but fell short of victory.
"Don't worry they came at us in the last quarter which went 32 minutes - but we hung in there and won by two goals," Armstrong said.
Ian Callinan was again outstanding with 36 possessions and was well supported by Matthew Geappen, Ken Hall, Ben Atkin, Sam Lonergan and Travis Ronaldson, who were the Devils' best.
"I didn't think we were hard enough at the ball in the first quarter and told them at quarter time they had to improve in that area and they knew they had under achieved with the wind," Armstrong said.
"We showed true character to outscore Sandringham in the second quarter and then kicked enough goals in the third quarter to win the game."
Final Scores
TASMANIA 4.5 10.5 17.13 17.16 (118)
SANDRINGHAM 3.2 7.8 8.8 15.15 (105)
Goals: Tasmania: Hall 4 Beams 3 Ronaldson 3 M Geappen 2 Plapp 2 Callinan Henley Lonergan.
Sandringham: Sautner 2 Godfrey 2 Poyas 2 Gallagher 2 Motlop 2 Bell O'Keeffe Armstrong Dunn Summers.
Best: Tasmania: Callinan Ronaldson Hall M Geappen Atkin Jovanovic.
Sandringham: Ott Crowe Liddell Gallagher Kennedy.
Reports: Nil. At Trevor Barker Oval.
Last Modified on 26/07/2005 08:29