By PHIL EDWARDS
A timely defensive mark in the Williamstown goal square by Tassie Devils defender Scott Stephens in the dying minutes of the game helped Tasmania hang on for a thrilling five-point victory over the Seagulls in their final roster match at Burbank Oval yesterday.
In tough, blustery conditions, the Devils led by a goal at three- quarter time and held on in a see-sawing affair in the last quarter to beat Williamstown 12.7 (79) to 11.8 (74).
The win extended the Devils' record-breaking winning streak to nine games and ensured them of a third finals campaign in a row, after finishing fifth on the ladder.
Devils coach Mathew Armstrong was full of praise for his team's efforts after the game.
"I was happy to get out of it with a win in horrendous conditions with a gale blowing across the ground," Armstrong said.
"The way they went about it was a fantastic effort and what the team has done in the past nine weeks to come from where they have has been unbelievable and the players deserve all the credit."
The Devils start was exceptional, kicking three goals into the stiff breeze in the opening quarter with Justin Plapp and Scott Stephens outstanding early in the game.
After trailing by four points at quarter time the Devils kicked three second quarter goals and three goals against the wind in the third to Williamstown's four, to hold a narrow three-quarter time lead.
"The wind died in the last quarter when we were kicking with it and they used the ball a bit smarter than us but we probably died in the last 10 minutes which was a bit of a concern," Armstrong said.
The Tasmanian defence stood up brilliantly under pressure all day with Mathew Jovanovic, Nathan Street and Stephens among the Devils' best along with Mathew Geappen, Ian Callinan and Tim Peterson.
Justin Plapp booted three goals with captain Ben Beams, Ben Setchell and Kurt Heazlewood chipping in with two each.
The Devils came out of the game with no serious injuries, meaning Armstrong will have a full-strength squad to choose from for Tasmania's clash against Frankston at Bellerive Oval on Sunday, with the experienced Ben Atkin likely to return to the side.
Final Scores
TASMANIA 3.0 6.5 9.6 12.7 (79)
WILLIAMSTOWN 3.4 4.4 8.6 11.8 (74)
Goals: Tasmania: Plapp 4 Beams 2 Hall 2 Lonergan 2 Callinan Peterson. Williamstown: Smoker 2 Galea 2 Cloke Jarrad Rose Pearce Dukes Tallis Williams.
Best: Williamstown: Jarrad Smoker Lawry Theodore Cloke Hall. Tasmania: Stephens Callinan Jovanovic Grima Ronaldson Heazlewood.
Reports: Nil. At Burbank Oval.
Last Modified on 22/08/2005 15:28