Teenage recruit Aidan Broadway, who joined the club from Cardiff, led the way from the centre repeatedly sending the ball into attack where captain Rob Eddy took full advantage slotting seven goals.

Centre half-forward Matthew Hogan was dominant up front as well giving a first-up target and matching the heavy bodywork of the Bombers, who were fielding their best team for the year. 

Luke Damico was in electrifying form on the wing, collecting 35 possessions and repeatedly breaking the lines with his pace and hard running.

After setting the platform for the Saints’ early lead, Cameron Mitchell was switched to the backline to bolster a defence ably led by Andrew Elbourn and 17-year-old Lucas Sargent.

  Saints coach Steve Mitchell said he it was an important win  as it kept the team in finals contention and was achieved with just one man on the bench, with the reserves playing at Muswellbrook.

Mitchell said Jim Taranto was again influential winning many possessions at the bottom of packs, but his other star midfielder Wade Beard was again heavily tagged by the opposition and was beginning to get frustrated.

“I feel it from the bench, so Wade must be so frustrated, he has done well not to retaliate,” Mitchell said.

“We need to look at tactics to free him up. He never gives up but it is hard when you are being scragged and blocked all the time.

“Killarney Vale are a hard-bodied side and they put our boys to the test. I was proud of the way they stood up in the end.

The Saints’ division two side had a heavy loss against Muswellbrook going down 23.18-156 to 1.1-7.

Killarney Vale 2.0,   3.1,  6.3,  8.4 - 52

Maitland 4.1, 6.2, 8.5, 13.8 - 86

MAITLAND

Goals: R. Eddy 7, J. Button 2, J. Mcrae, L. Damico, J. Taranto , A. Damico 

Best: A. Broadway, L. Damico, R. Eddy, A. Elbourn, M. Hogan, J. Mcrae