Border Mail | IF Benalla had any fear or doubts going into Sunday's Goulburn Valley league grand final, it didn't show it.
The Saints led from start to finish to record a 59-point win over Kyabram.
The experience from last year's grand final loss clearly held them in good stead, as they delivered the club's first premiership since the 1973 flag against North Albury, when Benalla played in the Ovens and Murray league.
The Saints kept their heads when it counted, and withstood a second quarter charge to boot 10 goals to three in a dominant second half.
Despite the near 10-goal winning margin, it was an entertaining contest, with both teams providing plenty of highlights for the 8000-strong crowd.
Farran Priest reeled in a Gary Moorcroft-esque hanger to kick-start proceedings in the second half, while a number of Bombers players also took to the skies, though none could hold on to the ball on the way down.
Kyabram's Sam Sheldon had a day to forget, taken from the field in the third quarter after an enormous collision with star Benalla sharp-shooter Josh Mellington.
Play was halted as Sheldon was stretchered off, with the melee that ensued sure to attract the attention of the match review panel.
The Saints opted to slow the play down somewhat after play restarted and it paid off, as the Bombers gave away three unnecessary free kicks, including a couple of 50 metre penalties.
Benalla held Kyabram goalless in the third quarter, a crucial effort as the Bombers were kicking with the breeze.
Saints coach Luke Morgan was over the moon for his team after the drought-breaking victory.
“This side has been working for this for three years,” Morgan said.
“This is home-grown talent, 18 of these boys played junior footy for Benalla, so for them it’s been 10 years of hard work coming to fruition.
“We turned things around from two weeks ago, and we needed to, and a comprehensive win was really good.
“We had 21 blokes stand up on the day, they were fantastic.
“Full credit to Kyabram though, you don’t play in grand finals for no reason and they pushed us again.
“But going into half time I really thought we had the upper hand.
“Composure was the key, in the second half we really ran away with the game, you could see all their hard work paying off.
“These guys finally realised how good they could be.
“Premiers in 2015 sounds pretty good.”
After being denied last year, Morgan said nothing could beat the premiership winning feeling.
“For me personally, this is my first premiership,” he said.
“I finally know what footy is all about.”
