Benalla's Wade King snaps on goals during the Saints’ narrow win over Mansfield on Saturday.
Photo by
Brenden Paddock
Benalla is back, baby.
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The Saints have had hellishly bad luck at times this season and have been on the receiving end of some unholy scorelines, but all was well and good with Benalla on Saturday.
Jarrad Waite’s side returned to Benalla Showgrounds with a point to prove against Mansfield in Goulburn Valley League.
The last time they met the Eagles in the competitive ring, it was not pretty.
Mansfield’s 146-point smashing of the Saints in round four was present on Waite’s mind in the lead up to Saturday, with the Benalla mentor stating if his side was “not on, it turns into a pretty solid defeat”.
Thankfully, Benalla was on, but the five-point winning margin against the Eagles at the weekend suggests that, by god, the Saints had to earn it.
Benalla's Jack Fullager scrambles to snap up a ground ball.
Photo by
Brenden Paddock
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Benalla's James Martiniello loads one onto the boot.
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Brenden Paddock
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Benalla's Charlie McCarthy and Mansfield's Billy Chiller go at it.
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Brenden Paddock
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Benalla's Sam Begley is wrapped up by his man.
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Brenden Paddock
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Benalla's Aaron Blackburn moves the football forward.
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Brenden Paddock
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Benalla's Aaron Blackburn weaves his way through traffic.
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Brenden Paddock
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Benalla's Chris Welsh gets a kick away while being hounded by Mansfield players.
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Brenden Paddock
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Benalla's Sam Begley and Patrick Warner double up in the tackle.
Photo by
Brenden Paddock
The two sides traded blows for the opening 10 minutes before Benalla tore away with a hiss and roar, kicking 6.2 to Mansfield’s 3.2 in the first term.
Both teams battened down the hatches in a second-quarter arm wrestle, and at the half, Benalla’s lead was reduced to 15 points.
Another evenly-keeled exchange followed and things were set to get tighter still.
Mansfield booted the first two majors of the fourth quarter to come within striking distance of the hosts, and a wayward kick floated through the behind posts to bring the Eagles within a point.
Benalla kicked a goal at the start of red time to bring restitution, but another Mansfield major and behind drew things level with not long to play.
The Saints, however, were not prepared to throw this one away.
Benalla kicked the go-ahead goal as the game’s wick burned to its end, snapping a month-long losing streak and plastering win number three on the board as the siren sounded at 11.5 (71) to 9.12 (66) in the host’s favour.
Philip Edgar, playing only his seventh game of the season for Benalla, was awarded best-afield merits following his four-goal performance, while Mark Marriott and James Martiniello were among the Saints’ other starring men.
For Mansfield, Matthew King put in a respectable shift, while Billy Hogan added three more goals to his tally, taking him to 32 for the season (seventh best in the league).
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