The Benalla Saints’ hunt for premiership glory in the B-reserve grade of the Goulburn Valley Football Netball League is over after a crushing single-goal loss against Euroa.
As the only team from the Saints to qualify for finals, the netballers have been a shining light in a dark, gloomy season at the Benalla Showgrounds.
Even before arriving at Mooroopna, the Saints knew they would be in for a tough match against the Magpies, given their previous outing in round 17 had ended in a tight 42-45 victory to Euroa.
With a squad of 12 compared to the Saints’ nine, the Magpies went into the clash with a crucial numbers advantage, which would be expected to pay dividends over the 60-minute game.
The Magpies took flight minutes into the contest's opening minutes, taking an early three-goal lead.
The Saints would limit the issue before it became problematic as Euroa took a goal lead at quarter-time.
In the second quarter, the effects of the intense game were already starting to show on both teams, as both sides substituted regularly.
The Saints, despite lacking in numbers, showed the depth in their squad to take a goal lead into half-time.
Following the pattern of the first half, the third quarter was as hard-fought as ever. Both sides exchanged leads, and the margin never got beyond two goals.
A pair of Jodie Symes goals in the last minute tied the game up, leaving it all to play. No supporter, Saint or Magpie, knew whether it would be their side moving on.
The crowd got their money’s worth in the last quarter, as both sides took a multiple-goal lead, only for the other to claw their way back into the match.
With three minutes to go, Euroa signed the death certificate of Benalla’s season, as three goals in a row gave it just enough breathing space to pip the Saints to the finishing line.
Both teams were loudly applauded off the court by a crowd thoroughly entertained by the day’s action in Mooroopna.
The Saints’ mood was further soured with the news of a suspected broken wrist to goal defence Sharni Symes.
The Magpies now face the Seymour Lions, who had a 37-31 qualifying-final win over the Rochester Tigers in Tatura.