Hosting the Tigers in the round eight Goulburn Valley League senior football clash, the Saints were outclassed in the 7.9 (51) to 25.11 (161) defeat, going down by 110 points in soggy conditions.
It would be the home side that made the faster start to the contest, though, with big man Mitchell Vasterink slotting the opening major of the game, but the visitors fired back with venom, booting the next five to open up a 23-point gap.
The two sides traded a major each before quarter-time and it was Rochester that led 37 to 15 at the first break after an ominous opening term.
But Benalla continued to hang in there and, despite giving up four of the first five goals in the second term to trail by as much as 40 points, the Saints rallied, booting the final two majors to close the gap to a much more respectable 30 points at the main break.
Come the third term, though, the Tigers unleashed a withering burst, killing off any hopes of a Benalla challenge by putting an unanswered 7.4 on the board, restricting the Saints to a point in the process and widening the margin to 75 points by the final change, as the Saints were unable to reproduce the intensity they showed throughout the first half.
The home side showed plenty of fight in the face of the onslaught, though, with Michael Mummery adding a pair of majors in the final term to momentarily halt the Tigers’ assault; however, Rochester proved far too strong and closed the game out to win by the eventual 110-point margin.
There were still positive signs for Benalla, with Sam Begley finding form to be named the Saints’ best in the loss, while James Martiniello used all of his class and experience to great effect.
Kevin Maroney continues to impress in his first year at the club, notching a fourth mention in the best in his seventh outing, while ruckman Mark Marriott was also influential, as was Tom Riley.
Riley booted a team-high two majors alongside both Vasterink and Michael Mummery, while senior debutant Josh Hart slotted a goal in a nice moment for the first gamer, who also impressed with 10 contested possessions and didn’t look out of place at the level.
The win leaves Benalla in 10th spot on the ladder, possessing a 3-5 record through eight rounds, although still only a game outside the top six, as are Rochester in eighth, also with a 3-5 record, amid what is a competitive battle from fifth through to 10th.
The Saints will look to turn their recent fortunes around this weekend when they hit the road to take on Shepparton United at Deakin Reserve in round nine, searching for their first win since defeating Tatura in round six.
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