HIGH MARKS AND FUMBLES

By Neil Griggs

There was a large crowd number of Griffith supporters in the good crowd at Grong Grong last Sunday and they must have been rewarded for their keen interest in making the trip by the outstanding exhibition of the team. Grong Grong-Matong officials, who were quite hopeful of a win, were surprised and also impressed by the football of the Griffith team and after the game rated them a definite premiership prospect, especially if their goal kicking can improve a little.

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The old saying of "a bad start and a good finish" certainly applied to one Griffith player at Grong Grong last Sunday. Vic Hathaway was the player in question and he opened with a missed "speculator", an almost unforgivable act, and finished as one of the best afield. Unable to  find a hole to crawl into after his "perhapser" missed. Vic soon redeemed himself in no uncertain manner, and must further enhanced his prospects of making the SWDFL team.

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It is rather coincidental that the same four players repeated the previous week's effort and monopolised Sunday's voting in the Ron Dalla-Daroff suit award. Jim Eley topped with 7, topped the votes for the G.G.-Matong game and moved to second place with 10 points, only three behind Vic Hathaway who followed his initial 7 points with another 6 last Sunday for a total of 13. John Foley received 4 to total 8, while Bill Biron with one point moved to 5. We hope to see some new names added to the contenders for this valuable trophy next week.

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After opening with a nice goal Griffith full forward Malcolm Brauman seemed to catch the evidently infectious inaccuracy that was so prevalent in the team last Sunday and missed some reasonably easy chances. Nevertheless he finished up with four goals, enough to keep him in second place on the goal kicking ladder with17 but now 7 behind Tom Carroll who with 7 on Sunday moved to 24.

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Fred Mundy's Wagga Tigers are testing the nerves of their supporters this year with a tie and a late minute three point win in their last two games. Fred has been playing brilliantly and lifting the team by example, and the Tigers are highly rated as a premiership contenders. Incidentally, a team-mate of Fred's in Mick Newman has signed up and played his first game with them last Saturday.

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It is apparent that former SWDFL secretary Fred Bratton hasn't forsaken the game "of the people for the people", as Bert Schmidt would say for bowls, as he was a onlooker at Grong Grong last Sunday. Mellowed with a little Griffith hospitality, Fred, after the game reckoned that 1964 could be Griffith's year - here is hoping he is a good prophet.

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Young Ray Smith, just up from the 16 years schoolboys, continues to show good form on the wing in the second 18. Ray, each week is amongst the team's best and being fast, a sure handler and a good kick, he definitely has the potential to make the first 18 within the next year or two.

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There were reports at Grong Grong last Sunday that the local team were hopeful the talented full forward Kevin Coleman, now with Essendon, would possibly be back with the Magpies again soon. Coleman is playing on match permits in Melbourne and now he seems unlikely to make the Essendon firsts isn't finding the city to his liking and wants to return to the bush. He would make a big difference to G.G.-Matong for their attack could do with some strengthening.

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Vic Hathaway (4 points last Sunday) and Bill Biron (3) share the lead in the first 18 Col. Longobardi Point Score award with 16 points. Challenging strongly is Jim Eley (5) with a total of 13, and then follows Gordon Browne (1) 11, Mal Brauman (1) 10, Ron Pattison (2) 7, John Foley (4) 6, John Bortolazzo 6, John Walsh (2) 5, Les Collis (1) 3, Ray Davies (1) 1 and Don Best 1.

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No second 18 player polled well last Sunday in the Longoardi Point Score award. 13 players sharing the 24 points with Gordon Brennan, Peter Booth, Sid Robins and John Forbes each receiving 3, Ron Dreyer, Gordon McDonald and Ray Smith got 2 each and Allan Anderson, Bob Woolnough, Bob Smyth, Harry Moses, Fred Gambell and Kevin Phillis 1 each. The leaders in the award at present are Ray Smith and Peter Booth 11, Bob Carroll 9 and Gordon Brennan 8.

Riverina Advocate - Wednesday May 6, 1964