The Saints, fresh off the first win of their 2026 campaign last round against Kyabram – a crushing 57-16 victory – headed into the clash against the Cats at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve on a high, but were ultimately outclassed by the home side in a 77-17 loss.
At different stages of contention, the young Benalla group was valiant, keeping within striking distance of the Cats to trail 15-6 at the first break, however, the classy Mooroopna outfit managed to pull away by half-time, with a 10-0 run to start the second quarter contributing to the 31-8 scoreline at the main break.
While the second half saw Mooroopna continue to pull away, the Saints never dropped their heads, fighting hard until the final whistle against a side that is well within the premiership window.
Claire Marriott was named Benalla’s best, working tirelessly for four quarters at goal keeper against a formidable Mooroopna shooting line-up, while Alex Davies and Gemma Mathieson were strong through the midcourt, fighting hard to provide the Saints shooters with quality looks.
It seems rather cruel that in the month after recording its first win, Benalla will be made to play each of the top four teams, with Saturday’s contest against second-placed Mooroopna to be followed by a home game against third-placed Echuca, both sides having dropped only one game for the year.
Road trips to fourth-placed Seymour and first-placed Euroa await in the following fortnight in what is the hardest four-week stretch across the competition by some margin.
Across the other grades, Benalla’s B-grade side was competitive against a finals bound Cats outfit, but ultimately went down 27-53, while B-reserve picked up a win for the second week in a row, triumphing 42-33 to maintain sixth spot and a one-game gap to Echuca in seventh, with the opportunity to move two games clear when they meet the Murray Bombers this weekend.
The under-17 side was also among the winners, coming from a goal down at half-time to emerge 45-42 victors, having now won three of their past four to move within a game and a half of the top six, while the under-15 Saints were brave, but fell short in a 21-47 defeat.
