SUPER SAINTS STAY IN WINNING FORM
ST MARY’S stretched its winning run to five matches when it led Waratah at every change to win the blockbuster Round 11 clash by 24 points.
Saints’ 12.12 (84) to 8.12 (60) win also snapped Tahs’ three-game winning run.
Waratah surprised Territory football fans by naming former Melbourne and Collingwood utility Lynden Dunn in its starting 18.
That was despite no indication of his selection on Thursday night.
Dunn responded with two classic marks and goals in the first half. One of them was a pack mark and the second a one-handed juggle while opposed to Saints defender Matthew Wilkinson.
But it was St Mary’s which led at the main break through a greater intensity around the fall of the ball.
Nate Paredes, Lucas JellymanTurner and the Landt brothers, Dylan and Jack, found plenty of the football.
The match was played with finalslike intensity.
Several clashes on and off the ball kept the crowd on its toes as match fortunes swung from one side to the other. Waratah stayed in touch with its opponents, despite Saints having a big share of possession.
A long shot by Jake Sutton got the Warriors to within three points at halftime.
That momentum continued in the third term, when the busy Jack Cattanach and a powerful Callum Searle kicked the first two goals of the second half.
Searle’s goal-square mark over Dylan Landt and resultant goal shot the red-and-whites to a nine-point lead.
But Saints continued to run the ball from half-back, and were eventually rewarded with four straight goals to end the quarter a deserved four goals in front.
– St Mary’s: N Paredes 3 J Landt 3 R Smith 2 J Calder B Tedcastle J Cheek S Edwards.
Waratah: L Dunn 3 W Collis C Searle J Sutton J Cattanach R Turnbull.
– St Mary’s: N Paredes J Landt T Saunders S Edwards J Williams.
Waratah: J Stevens J Cattanach A Kirby M O’Donnell R Turnbull.