The Tigers lost to Benalla by two points on June 3, despite dominating most statistical categories and having eight more scoring shots.
There is now a danger the team will be fighting it out with Shepparton United in the final round of the season to avoid finishing in the bottom two as fixturing would indicate another Benalla win is on the horizon.
Benalla has reigning premier Echuca this weekend, but faces bottom team United the following weekend, when current form would suggest a fourth win is on the cards.
On Saturday at Moon Oval the 11th-ranked Saints, who are now equal on three wins with Rochester, kicked five goals in the final term of the round 15 fixture to end up 32-point winners.
Seven weeks ago the Saints kicked four goals to the Tigers’ one in the final term to claim victory, aided by a match-winning eight goals from Jarrad Waite.
Waite was at it again on Saturday as he kicked three goals in the 9.5 (59) to 3.9 (29) result.
Rochester sits 10th on the Goulburn Valley League ladder with a 3-12 win/loss record, facing fifth-ranked Euroa, then top of the ladder and premiership favourite Echuca, before a final round match against bottom team Shepparton United.
United has won just two games this season. One of those was at Deakin Reserve against the Tigers when inaccurate kicking cost the Tigers certain victory.
Saturday’s 32-point loss to Benalla came after the Tigers were the only team to manage a goal in the opening term, leading by that margin at the first change of ends.
By half time however, Benalla led by seven points after kicking three goals in the second term.
An uninspiring third term made for a tense end to the match, with only two goals scored (one by either team) in the third stanza as Benalla led 29-23 with a quarter to come.
Five goals straight by the Saints in that final term, to Rochester’s four minor scores, had the most significant impact on the scoreboard and was a disappointing return for the Tigers’ recent solid form (a win against Shepparton and a narrow loss to Tatura preceding the weekend’s game).
Hamish Hooppell, who along with Joe Atley, Blake Evans and Mitch Cricelli, have been the Tigers’ most consistent performers this season, was named the best player from his team.
Sean Williams finished without a goal to his name for only the third time this season (34 goals from 15 goals makes him the leading goalkicker for the club), with Cricelli and Will Hamilton both kicking goals along with teenager Darby Wileman.
Rochester’s defensive work was again its strength, mid-season recruit Dylan Gordon, captain Nathan McCarty, Evans and Grant Fuller the other main contributors for the Tigers.
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