Round 12 - Sunday July 6, 2003
Riverina Football League
Venue. Maher Oval 2.10pm
Umpires: Peter Hughes and Pat O'Donoghue (RUA)
Turvey Park ...... 2.3 .. 7.5 .. 12.8 .. 17.13 (115)
Griffith ............... 2.0 .. 9.4 .. 11.11 .. 15.14 (104)
TURVEY PARK: Cameron Barker, Jeff Fletcher, Ben Rodham; Michael Wheatley, Ben Brown, Anthony Craig; Dane Campbell, Jeremy Masterson (c-c), Blair Campbell; Brett Daniher, Adrian Dowdle, Chris Cerato; Truman Carroll, Warren Sykes, Mitch Daniher; Andrew Loughman, Matt Bailey, Simon Nimmo; Michael Wilson, Josh Kennedy, Nathan Clarke
GRIFFITH: Myles Bunn, Damien Scott, Ben Wade; Matt Bunn, Kaine Malone, Jonathon O'Dwyer; Anthony Greely, Trevor Clarke, Simon Spiers; Craig Conlan, David Curran, Jeff Mickan; Rodney Simpkin, Jason Vant, Jason Hampel; Ryan Hill, Rodney Duncan, Jamie Bennett; Daniel Best, Ben Ford, Greg Dreyer
GOALS
Turvey Park: W Sykes 6, S Nimmo 3, C Cerato 3, A Loughman 2, A Dowdle, D Campbell, B Campbell
Griffith: J Vant 4, R Duncan 3, J Bennett 2, R Simpkin, J Mickan, D Curran, A Greely, B Ford, S Spiers
BEST PLAYERS
Turvey Park: J Masterson, B Daniher, D Campbell, C Cerato, A Loughman, S Nimmo
Griffith: J O'Dwyer, B Wade, Myles Bunn, Matt Bunn, K Malone, A Greely 
A summary of match report, with thanks
A gallant Griffith stretched Riverina Football League premier and competition leader Turvey Park to the fullest before going down by 11-points at Maher Oval, Wagga, yesterday. The Bulldogs were supreme by 17.13 (115) to 15.14 (104) with the game in the balance until the last three minutes after a struggle from start to finish. A goal by centre half forward Jason Vant five minutes from the finish left the Swans only three-points in arrears but a reply from Turvey Park on-baller Simon Nimo about three minutes from the end made the advantage too great. Playing to the best of their ability, the Swans had plenty of chances to win and coach Cian Ebert was clear about it after the defeat.

Unable to participate through injury, Ebert said the Swans went into the game expecting to win with the 21-players he had available.  Making no excuses, Ebert said the side got itself into a position to win on enough occasions.

"Our turnovers were costly and that cannot occur if any side hopes to defeat Turvey Park," Ebert said. 

"The opportunities were there but we didn't take full advantage of them when they presented themselves. "The Bulldogs have the ability to take the ball from end-to-end and goal and they did it at crucial times in a matter of seconds today.

"When the game got close our process fell down and we started running around all over the place instead of sticking to the game plan.

"They might be inexperienced but there comes a time when we have to take control of the side's destiny. "The game was close and a tense contest over the four quarter, but Turvey Park proved to be a bit too good at the moment."

Ebert did not accept the excuse that the Swans were under-manned through injury, saying that situation had been with the club all season. He said the way things are going, Swans' selectors may have to count on players they have and not wait to see who returns.

"I believe the footballers we have are good enough and they need to realise in themselves they are good enough," Ebert said.

It was a struggle which pleased Turvey Park captain-coach Jeremy Masterson, who said the pressure was good for his side at this stage of the season. He said the Bulldogs struggled but it was expected against a quality side like Griffith.

"We cannot expect to win by 100-points every week and besides that, I would not want to,"' Masterson said. "It is no good coming to the finals and winning by big margins all the time as we need hit-outs like today as a test.'  "Griffith had a lot of players out but still managed to lead by four goals at one stage in the second quarter and our payers responded well to that sort of situation."

(By Peter Baker - The Area News, Monday July 7, 2003). 

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OTHER MATCHES - SAT: Mangoplah-CUE 18.15 (123) def Narrandera 14.8 (92); SUN: Coolamon 13.15 (93) def Ganmain-GGM 5.19 (49), Leeton-Whitton 22.28 (160) def East Wagga-K 7.4 (46).

Reserves: Turvey Park 10.14 (74) def Griffith 10.3 (63)
Goals: B Hicken 3, D Pasin 2, D Dunstan 2, G Dreyer 2, K Duncan
Best players: K Duncan, O Brown, D Dunstan, A Trotter, R Frkovic, G Dreyer
Under 18: Turvey Park 13.14 (92) def Griffith 1.6 (12)
Goals: Dan Condon
Best players: T Condon, D Comomadal, K Duncan, T Campbell, D Condon