MURRAY Bushrangers coach Darren Ogier has lauded his team’s fighting qualities after it overran the Northern Knights by 12 points in a scrap at Norm Minns Oval yesterday.
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But the Bushies weren’t able to wrestle the ascendancy until the dying stages of a nailbiting contest.
Ogier said his team, fielding several inexperienced players, stood up when it counted.
“The guys stuck with it,” he said.
“We just had to keep at them.
“We had an inexperienced group but they played a really good brand of footy over four quarters and kept on coming. There wasn’t a great deal in it all day.”
Josh Schache and Brody Webster each kicked two goals, with Kyabram’s Tom Holman, Benalla’s David Mennen and Wangaratta youngster Murray Waite also prominent.
Holman performed well at centre half-back.
North Albury’s Shaun Mannagh also came under notice.
Several regulars were missing from the team because of state commitments.
“Our last month has been pretty good bar a quarter here and there,” Ogier said.
“We wanted every guy to contribute in some way, every second of the match.
“That was our focus.
“I didn’t think we had a great deal of lapses.”
The Bushrangers’ win gained further merit with Julius Battista and Jay O’Donoghue forced off with concussion.
The Bushrangers take on Dandenong next week.