With scoring proving difficult at times against a stifling Swans defence, the Saints fell 23-65, slumping to a fourth straight loss in what has been a difficult season so far.
The Saints struggling to find a way to goal to start the contest, with the visitors piling on seven goals before the home side managed their first through Bridget Hill, while adding nine of the final 11 goals of the term as Benalla trailed 3-16 at quarter-time.
While scoring picked up somewhat for the Saints in the second term, adding eight goals for the quarter, it also picked up for the Swans, who were ruthless in opening up a 23-goal lead by half-time, with an unanswered 11-goal run in the middle of the second term accounting for much of the lead.
The second half continued in the same vein, as Benalla found it difficult to bypass the string defensive end of the Swans, while at the other end proved no match for the visitors’ attack, giving up another 17 goals to trail by 35 with a quarter to play.
The Swans kept the foot down until the end, adding goal after goal right up until the final whistle to eventually hand Benalla the 42-goal loss.
Olivia Dalton, Bridget Hill and Gemma Mathieson were named the best in the loss, working tirelessly despite the result.
The assignments don’t get any easier for the Saints, either, who will travel to Deakin Reserve this weekend to face unbeaten Shepparton in round 13, before enjoying a week off due to the split round.
In B-grade, the Saints fell 20-53, with Claire Marriott, Nat Pritchard and Amelia McKenzie leading the way, while the B-reserve side went down 33-42 despite strong efforts from Caitlin Timmers, Kate O’Donoghue and Zoe Liddington.
The under-17 side provided the highlight of the day, securing its first win of the season with a 50-41 victory led by Ruby Richardson, Meg Evans and Georgia Levy, while the under-15 side went down 32-59, with Ilka Cunneen, Millie Homes and Claudia Kelly named the best.
