The hosts held a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break before holding off a late surge from the Tigers to claim the points on home soil. Illawarra’s Hannah Beard, Michelle Carney and Tilly Kramer all bagged goals while former Stingray Michelle Heyman scored what proved to be a consolation goal in the final 20 minutes for the Tigers. 

The strong home performance lifts the Rays to third on the ladder. 

“It was a dominant performance for most of the match,” Stingrays coach Carmelina Moscato said.

“We are still looking for that 90 minute performance, but we are inching closer to it.

“We had about 70 good minutes on Sunday but unfortunately let them back into the game in the last 20 minutes.

“You want to be in control of the game more when we are in front.

“Other than that though, the girls are firing at the moment.”

Moscato maintains the Stingrays still aren’t the finished product, but the former Canadian international believes they’re edging closer to their peak. 

“The girls have adapted really well to a high level of possession based football,” she said.

“The front five were excellent again on Sunday and Caitlin Cooper and Katelyn Leadbeatter have really stepped up their game as well.

“We’ve conceded just once in the last four games and that gives us confidence all over the field.”

Illawarra host Blacktown Spartans at JJ Kelly Park next Sunday. Blacktown are seventh in the league.