Sport
Benalla caps season on a high with a 24-point win over Tatura on Goulburn Valley League’s final day
Whoever thought Tatura versus Benalla would’ve been a throwaway was silenced on Saturday.
Tatura Park played host to a genuinely great game between the 10th and 12th-ranked Goulburn Valley League sides, both of which have been cruelled with injury throughout 2024.
In the round 18 meeting, though, it was nothing but healthy competition between two teams signing off for the year.
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Benalla's Aaron Blackburn and Nathan Hill shroud Tatura's Tim Wilson. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 2 of 10
Benalla's Philip Edgar gets off the ground to mark the ball ahead of a pack of Bulldogs. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 3 of 10
Benalla's James Martiniello is tagged by a handful of Tatura players. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 4 of 10
Tatura's Will Pyke is handled by Benalla's Blake Uebergang. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 5 of 10
Tatura's Tim Wilson and Benalla's Mark Marriott get vertical. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 6 of 10
Benalla's Nathan Hill competes in a goal line scramble against Tatura's Jacob Simpson. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 7 of 10
Tatura's Andrew Ciavarella just about beats Benalla's Chris Welsh to the football. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 8 of 10
Benalla's Jack Fullager lays a crunching tackle on Tatura's Jacob Chessells. Photo by Brenden PaddockImage 9 of 10
Kyabram, James Hargreaves.GMJL U16 Div 1 football Tatura v KyabramEuroa, Memorial Park Photo by Megan FisherImage 10 of 10
Benalla walks off the field victorious for the final time in 2024. Photo by Brenden PaddockThe Bulldogs won the first-half battle, but were outmuscled by Benalla when it counted, eventually falling by order of a 12.14 (86) to 7.20 (62) defeat.
However, Tatura was right in the race for three, if not four quarters of the match.
Jacob Chessells got his side off to a flyer with an early major before Benalla went bang via Philip Edgar and Mark Marriott, setting the trend for a see-sawing first-quarter affair.
Tatura headed into the huddle five points to the good and, by half-time, the trading blows meant the lead stood at a goal at the main break.
Here, something stirred within Benalla’s camp.
Edgar converted twice in quick succession to propel the Saints ahead and, despite Nick Watt equalising the balance, two more Benalla majors had the visitors chirping at three-quarter time, up 63-52.
Three Benalla goals to Tatura’s one in the final exchange proved to be the silver bullet for the Saints — not enough to save their season, but enough to plaster smiles on the players and supporters who’d made the trek to see out the year.
Will O’Donoghue and Marriott were named among Benalla’s top performers, while Edgar rounded out the day with four majors.
For Tatura, Mitch Elliott and Curt Ryan were among the Bulldogs’ best.