Nick Mellington celebrates one of his two goals during Benalla's drought-breaking win over Tatura at the weekend. Photos: Locked In Media.
It’s been a long time between drinks, but Benalla made sure it was worth it.
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In their final home game of the Goulburn Valley League senior football season, the Saints ended a winless run spanning back to the start of May in front of local fans at Benalla Showgrounds on Saturday, accounting for Tatura in a back-and-forth contest.
While 10 weeks without a win may conjure up a mental image of an uncompetitive side, that couldn’t be further from the truth for the Saints, who in the weeks leading up to the bye were right in contention deep in the final term against top four sides Mooroopna, Echuca and Seymour, as well as reigning premier Kyabram.
Yet luck wasn’t on Benalla’s side, as they continued to be on the wrong end of the result until Saturday, when they carved out a resilient 13.7 (85) to 8.15 (63) victory over a plucky Tatura side, with the Saints forced to fight until the final siren for the win.
And while Benalla led at every break, they were perhaps a little lucky to be in front at quarter time, having kicked 1.2 (8) – the sole goal coming off the boot of Hugo Cornell - to lead Tatura by a point, with the Bulldogs having scored seven behinds in a wayward opening term.
The visitors found their range to open the second, though, with Will Russell booting the first two majors after breaking from the quarter time huddle to take the lead, however it only served to spark Benalla to life.
Nick Mellington would answer in kind with two consecutive majors of his own to reclaim the lead for the Saints, before big man Mark Marriott and electric forward Michael Mummery consolidated the lead with a goal each, making it four on the trot and ensuring Benalla headed into the rooms with a 5.5 (35) to 2.8 (20) lead.
The momentum stayed with the Saints as the two sides emerged from the rooms, too, and it looked as though the home side had finally broken the game open when Kevin Maroney and Jaidyn Chee booted the first two goals of the second half, making it six unanswered goals the way of the Saints and opening up a game-high 28-point lead.
Tatura finally ended the run with the next major via Xavier Hutchison, though Benalla countered immediately as Mitchell Vasterink hit the scoreboard to reinstate the margin, however, the Saints couldn’t shake the Bulldogs for good.
With the final two goals of the term, Tatura cut the deficit to 13 points at the final change, leaving Benalla ahead 8.7 (55) to 5.12 (42), setting up a brilliant finish.
Nick Mellington celebrates one of his two goals during Benalla's drought-breaking win over Tatura at the weekend. Photos: Locked In Media.
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Benalla’s Colby Mathieson runs from stoppage.
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Benalla's Mark Marriott and Tatura's Ben Darrou compete in the ruck.
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Benalla's Colby Mathieson wraps up Tatura's Tom Sullivan.
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Benalla’s Michael Mummery sets sail for goal.
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Benalla’s Tom Bennett lays a strong tackle.
While the Bulldogs peppered the goals early in the final term with the first two scoring shots for two behinds, cutting the lead to less than two straight kicks, the Saints struck first and struck hard, as Ryley Ely and Marriott added majors to push the lead out to 23 points.
Tatura countered with the next two, but in a clutch performance, Vasterink took over, with the next three goals all coming off the big man’s boot to put the game beyond the Bulldogs’ reach.
The hard-fought 22-point win was spearheaded by Saints skipper Chris Welsh, who was named best afield in the win, while Mellington (two Goals), Maroney (one goal) Marriott (two goals) and Vasterink all hit the scoreboard to round out the Saints’ best, the latter with a team-high four goals, only topped by Bulldog Russell with five.
Both Benalla and Tatura will wrap up their respective campaigns in the final round next weekend, with the Saints travelling to take on Shepparton Swans, while Tatura will host Seymour.
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