With coach Troy Vennix having his side primed to win its first match since rolling Wahgunyah in round 18, 2014, the Saints made the running early and refused to look back.

Club president Dale Skinner said it was a huge day for the success-starved club.

“It was fantastic,” Skinner said.

“It’s been a long time coming.

“Blokes like ‘Jarvo’ (Craig Jarvis) have been really loyal and he certainly enjoyed it.

“It’s not just the players though as a lot of people off the field have put in plenty of work and it’s reward for everyone involved.”

The win ended a 48-match losing run with Jarvis, who recently played his 150^th match, leading the victory charge at John Flower Oval.

Broady Mills, Sam Huxtable, Simon McLeish and Brad Potter also played well as Wodonga Saints climbed off the bottom of the ladder.

Dederang-Mt Beauty’s Luke Jones, Frank Iaria and Trent Barton were gallant in defeat.

The clubs used the match to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute.

Barnawartha caused the upset of the round by defeating Kiewa-Sandy Creek by nine points.

With premiership forward Josh Spence outstanding, the Tigers skipped clear in the second term and went on to record their best win of the season.

Spence kicked six goals while Jarrod Woodall, Cameron McNeill, Seamus Quinn and Aaron Craufurd worked tirelessly further afield.

The win saw Barnawartha climb to sixth spot on the ladder, but its chances of playing finals look remote as it trails Wahgunyah by 10 premiership points.

Zach Mona, Ryan Wallace and Jay Berry were best for Kiewa-Sandy Creek.

Thurgoona won a shoot-out against Yackandandah by 43 points.

With 33 goals being kicked for the match, big Bulldog Matt Fowler proved the difference with nine majors to take his season tally to 90.

At the other end of the ground, Fowler’s former Albury premiership teammate Trent Castles snared seven to move to 79.

Darcy Moore, David Price, Aydan Brown and Corben Rawlings were in everything for Thurgoona while Grady Nigsch and Michael Rose played well for the Roos.

Mitta United brushed aside Rutherglen by 48 points at Mitta.

The Blues were always going to be difficult to beat at home but not even coach Mark Dicketts would have expected a 42-point buffer by half-time.

Jack Gilbee continued his strong form with support coming from Joel Parsons, Craig Lieschke and Jackson Ellis.

Rutherglen coach Damien Wilson tried to lift his charges but Reece Brennan was one of the few to respond in his first senior match this season.

Beechworth accounted for old rivals Chiltern by 22 points and Wahgunyah brought down Tallangatta by 28 points.