Well, it wasn’t so much a clash as a train wreck for the Bulldogs after the Saints set up a 21 point lead in the first quarter, and followed up with another seven goals in the second quarter to take their lead to 61 at half-time.

Saints captain Nick Baird said considering the wet and muddy conditions on the day, it was good football.

“I thought the boys played really well and put some good passages of play together,” Baird said.

“The win was crucial in the race for third spot. 

“That gives us a bit of separation from both the Bulldogs and the Narrabri Eagles.

Baird said the win presented the Saints with a very interesting situation at the business end of the season.

“The Tamworth Kangaroos, who are currently second, are coming up here this weekend,” Baird said. “Obviously we’re just starting to hit our straps with a couple of good results in a row, so if we can start to put this good footy together against the top two sides it’ll give us a lot of confidence.

“The finals are only six weeks away, and you never know what’s going to happen from here.” Baird said he hoped the Saints were peaking at the right time.

“I think we’re just starting to get a bit more experience back,” he said

“Couple that with a bit of youthful enthusiasm we’ve got this year with a few new players around the club, and it’s really quite a positive environment around the club at the moment,” Baird said.

He said the return of Corey Borthwick on the weekend helped the Saints enormously and Michael Corcoran kept the game flowing.

“We’re getting some really good numbers to training, which is three quarters of the battle really,” Baird said.

“I think we can put a really strong side on the paddock against the Tamworth Kangaroos this weekend, and it will probably be the real test of us, of where we’re sitting in this competition.”