For the first time in 2026, the Saints have claimed victory in the Goulburn Valley League A-grade netball competition, and they didn’t just win – they delivered an absolute smashing.
Entering the clash at Benalla Showgrounds on Saturday against Kyabram with both sides vying for their maiden victory of the campaign, the Saints were ruthless in their execution to record a whopping 57-16 victory over the Bombers, ending the winless streak in style to deliver new mentor Colleen Balfour her maiden win at the helm.
From the opening whistle it was clear that the Saints were playing with an intensity that Kyabram simply could not match, firing home the first three goals of the contest and extending the lead to as much as seven goals early in the piece, leading 10-3 halfway through the first quarter.
But the Bombers steadied, reducing the margin to six by quarter-time, and it looked as though the game was going to be a real arm wrestle.
By half-time, though, the result had seemingly been secured.
With an emphatic second term, the Saints blew their opponent out of the water, with a 7-2 run to open the term pushing the margin into double figures, while another seven goals uninterrupted before the main break saw the game effectively put to bed, as Benalla cruised out to a 27-12 lead.
Sensing the first victory of the season was only half an hour away, though, the Saints continued to put the foot down in the second half and made sure any lingering doubt over the result was well and truly extinguished.
Nikita Hanson and Grace Thomas continued to dominate proceedings inside the shooting circle, capitalising on the solid work up the court from the likes of Alex Davies, Eliza Sammon and Milly Evans, as the margin continued to balloon.
A rock-solid defence, led by Claire Marriott and Charlotte Quilliam, as well as Megan Morrison, saw the Saints heavily restrict the Bombers’ ability to score, too, and the resulting 14-3 term ensured Benalla entered the final huddle with a monstrous 41-15 advantage.
But Benalla had saved the best for last, and the Saints feasted in the final 15 minutes, piling on the pain with a 16-1 fourth quarter, tipping in the final 11 goals of the game to secure the dominant 41-goal win.
Thomas was named the Saints’ best in the victory, adding 31 of her side’s goals in the victory, closely followed by Hanson, who was equally superb with 22 goals, while Evans rounded out the most influential.
It capped a huge day for Benalla’s netball sides, with B-grade earning a crushing 57-11 win, led by best-on-court Mia Ely, while B-reserve also cruised to a 62-23 victory, with Sharni Symes her side’s best in the clash.
Darcey Carracher spearheaded a 55-29 victory for the under-17 side, while the under-15s were valiant in their clash, too, but ultimately fell 28-37, with Ruby Duncombe named best-on-court.
The A-grade Saints will look to carry their momentum into a tough match-up this weekend against Mooroopna at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, with the Cats sitting in third spot having lost once this season.
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