SWDFL GRAND FINAL REPORTS - by Jack Luhrs 
SENSATIONAL WIN FOR NARRANDERA

TWO names will stand in the history written about the 1974 South West League grand final - Dick Pieper, of Coolamon and Tony Turner of Narrandera. 

Narrandera won the premiership in a sensational manner when Coolamon appeared to have the match sewing up.
Nothing separated the two sides until the dying moments when after the scores had been levelled four times in the final quarter.
Coolamon with a six-points advantage were in defence when Dick Pieper kicked the ball through the Narrandera posts for a point.
One can understand Pieper's thinking at the time because six minutes of added time had already been played and to relieve the pressure on his own goal, Pieper elected to rush a point and give his fullback the advantage of a clearing kick in.
Little did Pieper and Coolamon realise that this was to be the signal that won the premiership for Narrandera, because seconds later, wingman Tony Turner marked from close-in and his resultant goal snatched victory for Narrandera on the siren.
Few South West grand finals have been won in a more sensational fashion, with the final scores being Narrandera 19.17 (131) to Coolamon 19.16 (130). 

It was a match that could have gone either way, and the big crowd which paid $3908 at the gate enjoyed every moment.
Constrasting styles were evident early in the play, with Narrandera's class and poise showing itself when they led by 15 points at the end of the first quarter.
Their forwards were on target and they had a good winner in Neal Durnan at centre half forward.
Showing they were determined not to be defeated, Coolamon fought back magnificently to be eight points in front at half time.
Again nothing separated the sides on the final break, but with Narrandera just leading by four points.
Under these circumstances the stage was set for what was the most thrilling quarters ever seen played in a South West grand final.

Errors were few as each side had the big crowd in an uproar, but with Coolamon looking an almost certain winner.
Not to be denied, Narrandera's tremendous fightback after being down 17 points, had its rewards when goals from Garry Powell, Rodney McCallum and the match-winning Tony Turner.
Narrandera's successfully used a ruck change between Terry O'Neill and coach, Adrian Collier and these two were amongst Narrandera's many good players on the day. Cooolamon's best player was Garry Buchanan closely supported by John McKenzie.

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BLACK DAY FOR THE SWANS SECONDS AND THIRDS

IT was a black day for Griffith at Narrandera when both the Seconds and Thirds teams.
In the seconds grand final, Narrandera 11.13 (79) defeated Griffith 9.10 (64) in a match that was a high standard and exciting right up to the final siren. Griffith led by a narrow one point at half time, but it was Narrandera's turn to lead at three quarter time when they held a break of two points. Both sides stood deadlocked and for a long time it appeared as though a draw was the likely outcome.
However, Narrandera showed their better football where it counted and in quick fashion had two goals on the board to seal the result.
Griffith received great service from Garry Parslow who had a great match midfield, and he was well supported by Warwick Collis and Denis Tyndall. Ian Hamilton showed himself to be one of the best defenders on the ground and both Neville Hall and Don Coleman played well. Griffith looked a good side when they had Trevor Reed and Garry Parslow driving the ball into attack, and their forwards were able to capitalise many times on the drive provided by this pair.

 
In the Third eighteen grand final, Narrandera defeated Griffith 15.14 (104) to 10.6 (66). 
Griffith staged a remarkable fightback after trailing by three goals at half time to be two goals clear at the final break.
Up to this stage they were playing fine team football and were inspired by Joe Catanzariti, whose ruck work around the ground was excellent. Catanzariti's kicking at goal provided plenty of confidence to his teammates and at the three-quarter time, Griffith looked as though they could have gone onto the premiership. 

Showing the class that made them the outstanding third eighteen team, Narrandera went on to clinch their fourth successive premiership. (The Area News - Monday September 30, 1974).