Tasmania Devils tamed as Bushrangers leave Launceston with big win

The Tasmanian Devils have put in a shocker after being mugged by the Murray Bushrangers in Launceston.

NAB League, Tasmanian Devils William Peppin handballs during the game against the Murray Bushrangers at UTAS Stadium. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

IT was a disastrous day for the Tasmania Devils as they were ambushed by the Murray Bushrangers in a punishing first half and despite a late resurgence copped a surprise 38-point NAB League beating at UTAS Stadium.

The Devils went into the game placed 10th on the ladder, five spots higher than the Bushrangers, who had only two wins to their name.

But the visitors were ruthless in their road raid.

The Bushrangers stood and delivered a decisive 10.14 (74) to 4.12 (36) loss and a significant reality check to the home side.

NAB League, Tasmanian Devils Joseph Chaplin and Murray Bushrangers Charlie Crisp contest a mark at UTAS Stadium. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Devils coach Adrian Fletcher was surprised by the performance.

“We’ve got to be better at ground level and we will be working on that, and we will be working a lot on our structure because it’s not always about possessions,” he said.

“We need to be able to open up the game in the areas we want to open up to allow our ball flow to be better.

“I think we are playing individually, and we’ve got to get back to playing in the team environment.”

It was the second time the Tasmanians were taught a lesson at their Launceston home ground, having been shot down there to the tune of 47 points by the Western Jets in round five.

The Devils managed only four goals against the Bushies, kicked by debutant Lachlan Borsboom, Jye Menzie, Ollie Sanders and Will Peppin — three of them coming in the final term.

NAB League, Tasmanian Devils Isaac Chugg during the game against the Murray Bushrangers at UTAS Stadium. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Tasmania trailed by 52-9 at halftime and 65-17 at the final change, but shifted the momentum in the final term to stage a face-saving fightback.

The backline was under siege all game and that’s where Matt McGuiness stood tall with his 20 possessions, seven marks and 10 rebound 50s.

Oliver Burrows-Cheng was the Devils’ best midfielder with 17 disposals, five tackles and four inside 50s, while spearhead Jackson Callow had an off day with the boot (0.4) but worked hard for 16 touches and five marks inside 50.

“The Bushrangers were very clean and we were fumbly, and they used the ball really well by foot and we gave up too many soft goals with our mistakes and that hurts team confidence,” Fletcher said.

“We didn’t have an inside 50 for the first 20 minutes and that really zaps you as a team.

“In the last quarter we had the ball in our half for most of the time but we couldn’t convert on the scoreboard.”

Fletcher was particularly pleased with the potential of towering debutant Jordan Lane.

“Jordy is 198cm and showed he can play key forward and he’s good at ground level, he just has to keep working on his fitness,” he said.

The Devils have a week off before facing Northern Knights at the Twin Ovals on June 22.