Sport

Murray Bombers best plucky Saints

By Christian Marchetti

Apr 12, 2026

Aiden Mills led the way for Echuca against Benalla, kicking three goals. Photos: Jordan Townrow

Echuca made it two wins from two to start its Goulburn Valley League football season by disposing of Benalla, pulling away in the fourth quarter despite some inaccuracy in front of goal.

Mitch Wales absorbs the pressure from Mark Marriot.

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The Murray Bombers coasted to victory against Tatura in round one and, playing at home again, albeit a temporary one at Tongala Recreation Reserve, they met a Benalla side entering off the back of a heavy loss at home to Seymour.

The Saints showed no signs of their confidence being hit by that opening round defeat, making an excellent start against Echuca by holding their more fancied host goalless in the opening term.

Being held to three behinds to start the game clearly woke up Echuca, which responded strongly in the second quarter, keeping Benalla scoreless and kicking its first three majors of the game to lead 3.8 (26) to 2.1 (13) at the main break.

Cooper Barber takes the uncontested mark.

Cooper Barber and Aiden Mills made it five straight goals without reply for the Murray Bombers to start the second half, Echuca seeming to well and truly shake off some early rust.

Jack Fullager and Lachlan Hogan approach a contest.

But Benalla didn’t lie down, ending the run and kicking three of the next four majors, the Saints staying within striking distance at three-quarter time, trailing by 15 points.

Jackson Stewart tries to not fumble the ball under pressure from Colby Mathieson.

Echuca’s issues converting scoring opportunities into goals arguably kept Benalla in it, the Murray Bombers opening the match with eight of their first nine scores being behinds.

Jack Evans kicks it in from the boundary.

But in the fourth, the hosts had their most significant goal scoring output, with four majors to Benalla’s one, which only proved late consolation, Simon Maddox’s side finding another gear to ensure the four points were secured.

Echuca is only behind Mansfield on the ladder through two games due to having a lower percentage, with the Murray Bombers also being one of four sides to have won their first two matches.

Up next, Echuca has its first away game of the season, though it won’t travel too far to take on Rochester, the two sides squaring off in a rematch of last year’s tightly-contested semi-final.