Saints suffer brutal Bomber blow

Kyabram has spared no-one this season and set the tone early with a four-goal blitz before Benalla managed to hit the scoreboard, however, the Saints managed to steady somewhat after finding their opening goal, with the two sides trading majors to end the term, although Benalla entered the quarter-time huddle down 12-39.

The second term saw the visitors begin to flex their muscle, recording nine scoring shots to a solitary behind for Benalla, with the Saints staring down a 55-point deficit as they entered the sheds for the main break.

Despite Nathan Wright registering his second goal of the afternoon, countering Kyabram’s opening goal in the third term, it was one-way traffic for the rest of the contest.

The Bombers booted the next three goals of the term and next nine of the contest, as the Saints found scoring almost impossible against the suffocating Kyabram pressure, going goalless in the final quarter as the visitor put the exclamation point on the big 120-point win.

Charlie McCarthy led the way for the Saints as the home side’s best, continuing the strong form that has had him in the votes in each of the past three weeks, while Mark Marriott’s exceptional season continued with yet another appearance in the best.

James Martiniello was named one of Benalla’s better performers alongside ball magnet Ethan Maney, with Wright, Benalla’s only multiple goal-kicker, rounding out the most influential.

Nathan Hill was the only other Saint apart from Wright to trouble the scorers, finishing with one major.

Benalla faces a brutal finish to the season, starting with a trip to Victoria Park to take on second-placed Echuca in round 15, before matches against third-placed Rochester and fourth-placed Mansfield to come in the final fortnight.

The only opponent the Saints will face in the final month of the season that currently sits outside of the top four is Tatura, with Benalla to host the Bulldogs in round 16 as it searches for a fourth win.