Second Semi Final - Saturday 2 September 2023 @ 2.15pm
Riverina Football Netball League
Venue: Narrandera Sportsground
Umpires: Ryan Dedini, Symon Tardrew and Nathan Brookes (RUA)
Turvey Park ..... 2.2 .. 5.4 .. 6.7 .. 7.11 (53)
Griffith .............. 3.2 .. 6.4 .. 7.6 .. 11.8 (74)
TURVEY PARK: Darcy Irvine, Tim Doyle, Lachlan McRae; Jack Haggar, Andrew Emery, Jesse Margosis; Hayden Smith, Ethan Weidemann, Luke Mazzocchi; Joel Peters, Rhett Weidemann, Harry Stapleton; Callum Dooley, Bradley Ashcroft, Jack Granvill; Antony Forato, Luke Fellows, Joshua Ashcroft (capt); Matthew Ness, Sam Jones, Lachlan Leary, Ben Lewington 
GRIFFITH: Sam Foley, Alec McCormick, Taine Moraschi; Nicholas Conlan, Charlie Cunial, Dean Simpson; Jay Summers, Jack Rowston (capt), Mason Rosengreen; Oliver Bartter, Patrick Payne, Kahlan Spencer; James Toscan, Henry Delves, Bailey Morrissey; Nathan Richards, Rhys Pollock, Alex Page; James Girdler, Broden Spencer, Daniel Peruzzi, Kieran Ruyg
GOALS
Turvey Park - L Leary 2, B Ashcroft, E Weidemann, A Forato, L McRae, L Mazzocchi 
Griffith - B Morrissey 3, J Toscan 2, K Spencer 2, H Delves, M Rosengreen, O Bartter, K Ruyg 
BEST PLAYERS
Turvey Park - J Ashcroft, R Weidemann, J Haggar, L McRae, H Smith, J Margosis
Griffith - A Page, N Richards, J Rowston, J Toscan, R Pollock, T Moraschi

A summary of match report, with thanks - by Jimmy Meiklejohn
GRIFFITH are the first team to secure their spot in this year's Riverina League grand final after defeating Turvey Park by 21 at Narrandera Sportsground. Ahead by only five points heading into the final quarter, the Swans then surged home late kicking four consecutive goals on their way to a 11.8 (74) to 7.11 (53) victory over the Bulldogs. 
It will be the first time the Swans play in a decider since 2019 and coach Greg Dreyer was proud of the performance by his side. " It was a good tussle actually, " Dreyer said. "It took us until the early part of the last quarter to break away really and it was a real finals game.

"We sort of felt that we had the better of it, but we just weren't executing, but that's a credit to them and their pressure. "The pressure from both sides was pretty good and it was a real good game of footy."
It's been a remarkable turnaround of form in recent weeks for the Swans who have kicked into gear at the right time of the year.

A few weeks ago, they looked destined to potential finish fifth after going down to Collingullie-Glenfield Park by 30 points in round 17. 
But since then, they have racked up impressive victories over Wagga Tigers, Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong and now Turvey Park to find themselves in the grand final. 
Dreyer was proud of their late season resurgence and revealed that an important conversation after the loss to the Demons had paid major dividends. "To their credit they've always fought hard," he said. "They always try hard, but it was just stopping and having a conversation with the group, just talking to each other of what we were capable of and just having the confidence to do it. "The credit is with them as they really reset after that Collingullie game and put their head down and we've played finals type footy for a while now.
"We've been trying to get that third spot and then Gullie touched us up, but to then have Wagga Tigers fighting for their season and win that was good. They've worked very hard, and they've certainly earned this.
It was an entertaining opening quarter as the Swans kicked three goals to two to head into quarter time with a six-point lead. Griffith small forward Bailey Morrissey kicked the first goal of the second term to extend the Swans lead out to 12 points before the Bulldogs kicked the next three to hit the lead. The Swans however replied through James Toscan and Morrissey to head into the major break up by six points.
It was an absolute arm wrestle in the third as neither was able to get control of the contest. Mason Rosengreen kicked the first goal of the quarter at the 12th minute mark to extend to extend the Swans lead by out to 12. However, a goal in red time to Lachlan McRae had the Bulldogs within reach with a quarter to spare.
In the last all the momentum and luck was with the Swans as they rallied to kick four straight goals to clinch the game. Luke Mazzocchi got some reward for the effort kicking a late goal for the Bulldogs; however, it was too little too late as the Swans surged into the grand final. 
Morrissey finished with three goals for the Swans which followed on from his pair of majors last weekend against the Lions. Dreyer was impressed with the performance of the teenager who was close to best on ground at halftime after a solid opening half.

"Yeah, that's how Bailey plays he said. "He is a bit of a soccer convert, he's played now for a couple of years, and I've always known him.

He's got that X factor, which is what you need, and he can pop up at the right time, he's a good little player."

(The Daily Advertiser - Monday 4 September 2023).

​

Reserves
Coolamon Rovers .... 1.4 .. 3.6 .. 8.8 .. 11.10 (76)
Collingullie-GP ......... 0.2 .. 2.5 .. 4.6 .. 7.7 (49) 
Goals - Coolamon: J Maddox 5, H Wakefield, A Carroll, C Neyland, D Mullen, K Woods
Collingullie-GP: Marc Geppert 2, B Williams, W Hughes, Z Burkinshaw, S Durnan, T Wichman
Best players - Coolamon: R Mitchell, D Mullen, J Maddox, K Woods, W McGowan, J Carroll
Collingullie-GP: Z Burkinshaw, T Wichman, T Banks, D de Jong, Matt Geppert
Umpires: Brian Robinson, Michael Jones and Rob Johnston (RUA).

​

Under 17.5
Mangoplah-CUE .... 2.3 .. 5.5 .. 5.7 .. 8.9 (57)
Wagga Tigers ......... 0.3 .. 0.4 .. 2.7 .. 3.11 (29) 
Goals - Mangoplah-CUE: H Wheeler 3, H Brown 2, J Warden 2, L Crittenden
Wagga Tigers: R Hulm, L Field, M Pavitt
Best players - Mangoplah-CUE: H Brown, S Pigram, M Beer, S Martens, M Walker, D Okerenyang
Wagga Tigers: L Field, M Ryan, O Whelan, C Wadley, J Hinds, E Middleton
Umpires: Cam O'Kane and Clayton Delaney (RUA)

​

NETBALL: A Grade: Mangoplah-CUE 66 def Coolamon 45, A Reserve: Mangoplah-CUE 51 def Turvey Park 46, B Grade: Turvey Park 32 def by Griffith 42, C Grade: Griffith 41 def Coolamon 33, U17: Turvey Park 47 def Wagga Tigers 38.

​