A COMMANDING defensive performance by the Horsham Saints allowed the side to register a fifth win of the season when it defeated Minyip-Murtoa on Saturday.
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The Saints started strongly then withstood a lot of pressure during the second quarter before the side eventually registered a comfortable 9.9 (63) to 3.10 (28) win at Coughlin Park.
Saints coach Luke Fisher said the Burras applied a lot of pressure in the early stages of the contest but his side was able to run the game out better.
“They are a bigger-bodied team so we knew they would bring that physical pressure,” he said.
“Eventually we broke them open and everyone was still running at the end.”
The home side was eager to return to the level it had played at against the Southern Mallee Giants and the signs were positive from the start.
Three unanswered goals in the opening quarter allowed the Saints to establish an early lead.
A fortuitous Jayden Egan goal early in the second quarter added a fourth for the Saints before Clint Midgley finally got Minyip-Murtoa’s first.
The Burras then dominated possession and territory for much of the quarter. The side peppered the goal face but could not manage to add a second goal while Egan’s third of the day on the half-time siren saw the Saints win the quarter.
“The Burras were winning it through the middle of the ground but our back six, and everyone else who was down there, really stood up,” he said.
“We just didn’t give up, we didn’t let them get the goal to take it back to the middle and we just applied constant pressure.
“I think that would have been deflating for the Burras because they were trying so hard for no result.”
A 22-point half-time margin grew to 40 by the final break as the Burras were once again kept to just one point for the quarter. Andy Devereaux and Alexander McRae continue to marshal the Saints backline while Micheal Rowe took a number of intercept marks through the middle of the ground.
A quick Minyip-Murtoa goal within the opening minute provided a glimmer of hope for the away side before the game again settled into an end-to end battle.
Each side managed just one more goal by the time the siren ended a 35-point win for the Saints.
The Saints sit fourth on the ladder behind the Giants on percentage.
“We’re well set for the second half of the year but we can’t get ahead of ourselves because everyone is beating everyone,” he said.
“I expect Minyip-Murtoa will bounce back strongly next week.”
The Burras sit one win back and will likely welcome back Damian Cameron, Kieran Delahunty and Sam Winfield in the coming weeks.