Heading to Deakin Reserve, to face the Demons in the round nine clash on Saturday, Benalla showed plenty of persistence despite a tough start to the contest, saving its best for the final term, although eventually went down 22-57.
The Demons, who are an aspiring finals side on the cusp of the top six, came out firing, and while the Saints did their best to quell the momentum and give up only 14 goals, they managed just five goals of their own in the opening term to trail by nine at the first break.
Benalla would get its offence moving a little more in the second term, scoring seven goals in the second period, but the Demons upped their output by two as well, doubling the quarter time deficit to lead by 18 at the main break.
The Saints were soundly beaten in the third term, held to two goals, however responded well in the last with an eight-goal return, their best of the contest, as they fought valiantly despite the scoreboard weighing heavily in the Demons’ favour.
Coming up against a lively intercepter in Olivia Kirby, Nikita Hanson fought well inside the circle to end the afternoon with 13 goals for the match, while Grace Thomas managed nine, making the most of the opportunities when they came their way.
The loss leaves Benalla with a 0-9 record, however, round 10 presents the Saints with the best opportunity this season to claim a win when they host bottom-placed Kyabram at Benalla Showgrounds on Saturday, the Bombers entering the clash off the back of a 65-goal loss to Mooroopna at the weekend.
Shepparton United meanwhile moves to seventh with the win as it knocks on the door of the top six and will host sixth-placed Seymour in a ladder-shifting clash, with the Lions coming off the back of a 16-goal win against Rochester at the weekend.
In round nine’s top-of-the-table clash, Echuca ended Euroa’s unbeaten start to the season in a 57-51 thriller, while ninth-placed Mansfield stunned reigning premier Shepparton by seven goals, handing the Bears their third loss of the season as Kim Borger was absent ahead of Melbourne Vixens duties.
Tatura won an effective eight-premiership-point swing in its 15-goal defeat of Shepparton Swans to close out the round’s results.
