Benalla shakes injury curse to wrap up Rochester at Moon Oval

By Liam Nash

Jul 30, 2023

Welsh terrier: Benalla's Chris Welsh dives for the football.

Bar a few tight limbs Benalla’s playing contingent is laughing all the way to the bank ― just don’t ask it to run there.

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The Saints stumped up all the guts and gall they could muster to run over the line 9.5 (59) to 3.9 (27) victors over Rochester on Saturday.

Jarrad Waite and Nick Mellington picked up hamstring tweaks early on, but played through the pain, but a more severe stretch had Tom Bennett go down in the third quarter.

It makes this week’s Goulburn Valley League game against visiting Echuca a threatening proposition, but for now the Saints are basking in a cracking win ― its third of the season.

“It’s no lie that it’s been a tough year for us with only the two wins before yesterday’s game, tough with injuries and suspensions and whatever else has happened throughout the year,” Benalla co-coach Will Martiniello said.

“The boys really deserved a win and to get it against Rochy at Rochy I’m really happy for everyone at the club.”

Martiniello labelled the opening exchange ‘‘defensive’’ as both sides felt each other out, but Benalla took advantage of a slight breeze in the second quarter.

The Saints hadn’t kicked a goal in half-an-hour of football, but that was about to change.

Three majors in the second term turned a six-point deficit into seven-point lead by half-time and with the scoreboard reading 29-23 at three-quarter time all was to play for.

Benalla went on to kick five goals straight with Wade King showcasing his speed for a couple, powering Martiniello’s side to a memorable four points at Moon Oval.

The Saints mentor praised Jordan Wolff’s performance at centre half-back on Saturday and throughout the entire season, especially considering he has been hampered by an ACL tear sustained late last year.

“He’s been good all year, I think he’d be right up there in our best-and-fairest. Done ACL late last year,” Martiniello said.

“It’s obviously been a tough year for him down at centre half-back with some of the results we’ve had, it was a best-on-ground performance and I’m definitely happy with his efforts.”