by Davyd Reid
Yarragon held off a determined Nyora to finish round five just outside the Ellinbank District football top five by percentage.
A goal in the opening minute of the second term put the Saints in front, only for Yarragon to click into gear to open a handy buffer at the long break on the way to winning 13-12 (90) to 9-5 (59).
The two sides had traded blows for much of the first half, before a run of three goals in time on opened the buffer the Panthers needed.
A Braydon Preuss conversion just beyond the 25-minute mark saw the lead extend to 23-points as the sides headed back to the makeshift facilities.
Riley Kop soccered one through as the Panthers continued their charge before a 50-metre penalty gifted William Kemp his first.
A high mark in the pocket and successful switch saw James Harvey convert and extend the lead to 43-points. Still the Saints were able to challenge for periods, with two late goals punctuated by a steadier from Preuss.
Tyler Kirkbride, Jesse Heylen, Dante Di Pietro, Jordan Anderson, Lucas Lee and Dylan Heylen were leading the improved form for the Saints.
For the Panthers it were the likes of Preuss, Devin Pollock, Jesse Hayhow, Sam Clebney, Kemp and coach Sam van der Zalm helping maintain the comfortable buffer.
The Saints snapped truly to being the final term before Paul Delaroche put through his fifth as the visitor rallied again, bringing the margin back to 26.
A running snap off the left from Jack Symes provided the much-needed steadier.
The Saints continued to hang around with another major, only for the Panthers to ultimately ice the contest through the agency of a Gabriel Bonicelli snap shepherded across the line.