Murray Bushrangers continue winning ways in NAB League

Tasked with combating strong winds and heavy rain, the Bushrangers edged out the Pioneers to climb into ninth position on the ladder.

Inaccuracy in front of goals almost curtailed Murray’s chances of victory — kicking 12 straight behinds in the first half — but they persevered through the rain and wind to kick three majors in the second half.

‘‘It was certainly very tough conditions out there,’’ Murray coach Mark Brown said.

‘‘Everything was difficult to do, it made the going pretty tough for the players.

‘‘We just wanted to get the ball into dangerous positions that we knew we could score from.

‘‘When you have conditions like that it’s all about gaining meterage and driving the ball forward.’’

Brown said the conditions were ‘‘almost the perfect storm’’ with gale-force winds and torrential rain blanketing Victoria Park.

But like good players do, they adapt to the conditions.

Which is what Shepparton United pair Zane Barzen and Jye Chalcraft, along with Congupna’s Jimmy Boyer did.

And along with Cobram’s Harry Beasley, the quartet helped seal Murray’s third win in a row.

Barzen held on to five marks and had 19 disposals playing across half-back, while Chalcraft continued his impressive form with 33 disposals, five tackles and four inside 50s.

Boyer was damaging in the wet, racking up 27 disposals, eight tackles and a goal.

Beasley was influential across the last line of defence and the bottom-age player earned the praise of Brown.

‘‘Harry was really strong in defence and I don’t think he lost a one-on-one contest,’’ he said.

‘‘Zane reads the ball really well and had a superb game.

‘‘And both Jye and Jimmy had outstanding games, they found plenty of the ball and Jye was super clean below his knees.

‘‘Full credit to the boys, I thought they did a terrific job.’’

Looking ahead to this weekend, the Bushrangers will host the ladder leading Eastern Ranges at Wangaratta’s Norm Minns Oval.