Despite the cold, wet weather that greeted players, both sides were able to enjoy periods of dominance over the contest, although Benalla was unable to match the Lions when the game was on the line, going down 7.14 (56) to 14.6 (90) in a hard-fought battle.
The home side started the first term looking the more likely of the two, with intense pressure forcing turnovers and strong overlap run from the back half giving their forwards good looks in attack, however Benalla made the most of its forays forward to stay within touching distance and enter the first break down by just four points, trailing 3.3 (21) to 4.1 (25).
A similar pattern emerged early in the second quarter, as Seymour booted the first two majors of the term through Nathan Fowler and Will Le Deux, before Benalla hit back with a 50m bomb from Tyler McGregor to reel the margin back to 10 points.
But the Lions made a decisive move in the final 10 minutes before half-time, and the Saints were unable to go with them, as Seymour kicked three consecutive goals to take a handy 27-point lead into the rooms.
With the skies blackening and the wind picking up as the two sides returned from the main break, Benalla began the second half the way Seymour had finished it, with the Mark Marriott tap to Chris Welsh clearance combination in the centre circle looking at its potent best.
It was that man Welsh that opened the scoring for the Saints, roosting one from beyond the arc to put his side back to within three straight kicks, which was soon two, as Jordan Wolff slotted a beautiful set shot to have Benalla back to 12 points behind and well and truly on top of the contest in every facet.
But as they had all day, the Lions found a way to dent the Saints’ momentum just as the visitors got on a roll, with Lewis Lubeck and Rory Kennedy slotting consecutive goals, although a late Marriott major left Benalla in with a sniff at 19 points behind heading into the last.
The lights came on to kick off the final term, and with substantial rain imminent, Benalla was desperate to find the first goal and capitalise on some of the momentum they enjoyed in the third quarter.
While they dominated the territory battle to start the term, they were unable to convert a shot on goal, while down the other end poise and control from the Lions saw them land the first blow, pushing the margin back to 22 points as the heavens opened.
A pair of late goals the way of Seymour saw the final margin at 34 points, but it wasn’t as straightforward as the scoreboard suggests, with the Saints able to wrest momentum back at various times throughout the match and push the Lions deep into the final term.
Welsh and Marriott were Benalla’s best in the loss, the former racking up a ludicrous 36 disposals and 14 clearances in tough conditions, along with a goal, while Marriott monstered the Seymour opposition in the ruck, notching 17 disposals, five clearances and six marks to go with a major.
Sam Begley (24 disposals, 5 clearances, 1 goal), Jordan Wolff (14 disposals, 1 goal) and Colby Mathieson rounded out the best, while Jaidyn Chee, Tom O’Brien and Nathan Wright added a major each.
Benalla now has a run of three consecutive home games at the showgrounds, first hosting Mooroopna this weekend before matches against Shepparton United in round 11 and Shepparton Swans in round 12.
