With the Saints having a week off to prepare for the Grand Final, it is a good time to look back at the season so far and the road the Saints have taken to get to the big one.
The season started for the Saints at home in Round 2 against the returning Narrabri Eagles. It was a strong Saints outfit that took to the field that day and the result was a convincing win by 87 points. Mick Viney got his defense of the Gerry Griffiths Medal to a good start, kicking 7, whilst Luke Selig, Peter Dunlop and Tony Gilles Medallist Corey Wheeler were among the Saints best.
In Round 3, the Saints travelled to Gunnedah with a side that was rocked by some late withdrawals. After trailing at the first break by 8 points, the Saints produced arguably their best quarter of the whole year to open up a 5 goal buffer at the long change. The lead was not relinquished and the Saints ran out 49 point winners. Viney was again on fire kicking 5, whilst Jono Elphick, Justin Pay and Wheeler were among the best.
The Saints received a forfeit in Round 4 from the Muswellbrook Cats and sat equal top the ladder at the end of the round.
Round 5 saw the Saints travel to Tamworth for the top of the table clash with the Roos. These matches have always been tough affairs between the 2 most successful clubs of the past 3 years and this was no different. The Roos got the jump on the Saints early, opening up a 33 point lead at the first change that the Saints could not reel in, with the final margin standing at 23 points. Both Chris Whitton and VIney finished with 4 goals apiece, whislt Elphick, Pay and Joe Kimmince were the Saints best.
The Saints were on the road again in Round 6, but only to Armidale to take on the Nomads. The match was very even throughout the first half, with only 10 points seperating the teams at the long change. However, it was all one way traffic after that, with the Saints kicking 11 goals to 3 in the second half to win by 62 points. Viney was again amongst the goals, kicking 8, whilst Kimmince, Stew Walker and Wheeler were the Saints best.
Round 7 saw the Saints playing at home, but in the unfamiliar surroundings of the Inverell Sporting Complex to take on the Swans. The reigning premiers bought a vastly understrength team to Inverell, and were no match for the Saints strongest outfit all year. The final margin sat at 127 points which flattered the Saints as the Swans had more of the ball than the score suggests. Viney firmed to an odds on favourite for the Griffiths Medal by kicking 9, and was named among the best with Elphick and first gamer Alec Deslandes.
After the bye, the Saints headed out to Narrabri for Round 9. Riding a wave of confidence, the Saints took an understrength side and were to good for the Eagles, winning by 6 goals. Whitton booted 4 goals, and Wheeler, Kimmince and Jack Lawton were best for the Saints.
At the end of Round 9, the Saints sat in second place behind the Roos and a clear 2 games ahead of the chasers. Tune in later in the week for the second half of the season.
Last Modified on 24/11/2010 10:37