In a game that took three quarters to open up from a defensive stand-off, the Saints came from behind to record a 4.4.28 to 2.7.19 win.

The first quarter was as physical and tough as you would like to see with both teams attacking the ball with ferocity and almost the entire quarter being played between the 50m arcs with great pressure and intercepts being the order of the day.

The quarter ended, most unusually, without either team scoring.

Terrigal threatened to take the game over in the second quarter, but despite having numerous shots on goal, they were kept to just four points through pressure by Saints captain Anna Fraser, usual forward Sarah Burns and fullback Lou O'Donohue.

It wasn't until the third quarter that the Saints got on the board through a goal at the four-minute mark from full forward Jessie Burnham before Terrigal got one back two minutes later.

The game then settled into an arm wrestle again but the Saints were beginning to get on top physically and went into the last change trailing by just four points.

The Saints' class told in the last.

The Panthers got the first goal to extend their lead before the Saints came home with goals to Rhianon Dennis, Ash Fennell and then Burnham again on the siren to record a terrific nine-point win.

"It was a really good effort to come from behind against quality opposition and great to have kept up the effort the entire way through," coach Chris Pedler said. "We had a couple of injuries and some challenges but this is a quality team and they did what quality teams do and that's come away with the win".

The Saints best were Ash Fennell, Sarah Burns and Jodie Eager, while Richardson,Rowe and Grimmond-Lee stood out for the Panthers.

In the men's games the Saints were competitive in both against two sides who have been the benchmark of the competition in men's football for the past ten years.

The Premier Division team, after their first win of the season last round, enjoyed their best half of the season with a really competitive effort against a Terrigal side that does not turn the ball over often.

"We showed in the first couple of quarters that we can match it with the best sides," coach Ben Stewart said. "But, for a young side, it is about being able to sustain that effort and that quality over four quarters.

"They got away from us a little in the last quarter but we did get to show the type of football we can play when we are on our game".

Ten second half goals to Terrigal put the game out of the young Saints reach. But they will be buoyed by the return of Greg Mudd to defence and the quality of Steve Dolan, Jason Adlington and Riley Newstead on a dull and wet day.

In the Reserves, Maitland battled gallantly before going down by 60 points against the ladder leaders with Bangers Jones-Mashman playing his best game at the club and taking a couple of screamers. He was supported by Matt Jackson, Rob Eddy and Hugh Matheson in a good team effort.