Taking on the red-hot Demons has proved a tough ask for many a side this season, and so it proved for the Saints, who suffered a 6.4 (40) to 22.10 (142) defeat on Saturday afternoon.
Fresh off a thrilling victory over reigning premier Kyabram in round eight, the Demons were clearly up and about from the opening ball-up, and delivered a brutal blow in the first term, from which Benalla never fully recovered.
While the Saints countered United’s opening two goals of the contest with their first through Tom Riley, the home side seemed intent on inflicting damage early, and did so with a run of seven unanswered goals to close out the term, while adding five behinds, as Benalla went into the quarter-time huddle shell-shocked, trailing 1.0 (6) to 9.5 (59).
The second term though spoke to the resilience that is building within the Saints setup, as while the contest was seemingly out of reach, the visitors rallied to deliver a much tougher, more competitive second term.
Michael Mummery kicked a goal early in the second quarter, which was quickly followed up by a second to Riley, as the Saints made booted consecutive majors for the first time in the contest.
While United responded with two of its own late, the Saints had at least regained level footing in the contest, equalling the home side’s output of 2.2 for the term to ensure the quarter-time deficit of 53 points stayed put at the main break.
Unfortunately for Benalla, the intensity couldn’t be matched after half time, as once again the Demons capitalised with dominant periods in the third term to add multiple unanswered goals.
Jaidyn Chee and Sam Begley added their first majors for the afternoon in the third term for the Saints, but runs of four and then three goals without reply to Shepparton United saw the margin balloon out to 84 points by the final break.
A four-goal-to-one final term in favour of the home side pushed the margin into triple figures, as the Saints fell to a third consecutive defeat.
Ruckman Mark Marriott was a bright spot in the loss, named Benalla’s best and kicking a goal, while David Mennen and James Martiniello also led from the front to be named alongside Marriott in the best.
Travis Young wasted no time in returning to form, slotting straight into the most influential upon his return, while Ryley Ely was brilliant and Mummery finished as the only multiple goal scorer for the Saints, with three majors.
The Saints have now suffered three straight losses, and the past two by over 100 points, as they encounter a bit of a rough patch following an encouraging start to the season.
They will have the opportunity to make amends when they face a Kyabram side struggling for form and outside the top six this Saturday at Benalla Showgrounds.
