Travelling to Tatura Park for their round five clash against the Bulldogs, the Saints led from first bounce to final siren, clinching an impressive 17.9 (111) to 7.4 (46) win that never looked in doubt.
The Saints’ opening term was a carbon copy of their first-quarter efforts against Echuca a week before, slamming home four straight goals, only this time they restricted Tatura to two behinds, taking a 22-point advantage into the quarter-time huddle.
By half-time the lead ballooned out to 10 goals as Benalla ran riot, torching the Bulldogs in a seven-goal-to-one term that essentially put the game to bed.
Coach Jarrad Waite pulled on the boots for the first time this season and wasted no time in making his mark, booting three of his side’s seven majors for the second term, while Jordan Wolff added two and Chris Welsh and Nick Mellington slotted one each, as the Saints set themselves up for their first victory of the year.
Tatura wasn’t without a chance, however, and came out firing in the third term, adding three goals to its total, while Benalla mustered just one, leaving the Bulldogs with a 48-point deficit to overcome in the final term.
But Benalla let it get no closer than that, peppering the goals with a return of 5.5 in the last quarter, while Tatura kicked three straight, handing the Saints an emphatic 65-point victory.
Waite starred with a bag of six goals, however, it was Nick Warnock that was named the Saints’ best for the second week running, alongside Mellington (two goals) and Welsh (one goal), while the ever-reliable James Martiniello (one goal) and young gun Ryley Ely were also impressive.
There were also a number of milestones notched in the win, with 17 goals the best return during Waite’s tenure as coach, while 46 points is also the lowest score the Saints have conceded since Waite took the reins at the beginning of last year, a tangible sign that things are beginning to turn around for Benalla.
The Saints will look to carry the momentum forward into their clash against Rochester at home this weekend, while the Bulldogs face a road trip to Kings Park as they take on Seymour in search of their first win of the season.
