Round 12 - Sunday July 8, 2012
Riverina Football Netball League
Venue: Griffith Exies Oval 2.10pm
Umpires: Ryan Dedini, Pat Harris and Rob Johnston (RUA) 
Griffith .................... 6.2 .. 8.6 .. 12.11 .. 14.17 (101) 
Leeton-Whitton .... 3.0 .. 7.2 .. 11.2 .. 18.5 (113)
GRIFFITH: Tim Matheson, Matthew Noonan, Tom Webb; Che Jenkins, Glen Snaidero, Jonathon Gastin; Toby Blissett, Michael Duncan, Tom Buckley; Mathew Crack, Jethro Calma-Holt, Tom Miller; James Fallon, James Toscan, Dean Crack; Dylan Cudmore, Guy Orton (c-c), Brett Owen; Andrew Hawkins, Rick Daniher, Alex Blissett*
LEETON-WHITTON: Kabe Stockton, Craig Townsend, Jamie Broadbent; Jarrod Gornall, Ben Curley, Ryan Dunn; Matthew Irvin, Ben Woods, Jonathon Spina; Brad Boots, Will Overs, Brady Dunn; Grant Commins, Matthew Robertson, Sam Hills; Calum Garvey, Bryce O'Garey, Sean Browning; Chris Downes, David Elwin, Matthew Flagg 
GOALS
Griffith: J Toscan 3, T Blissett 2, J Calma-Holt 2, T Miller, J Gastin, D Crack, D Cudmore, A Blissett, M Duncan
Leeton-Whitton: M Robertson 3, B Dunn 2, G Commins 2, B O'Garey 2, W Overs 2, B Boots 2, B Woods 2, J Spina, S Hills
BEST PLAYERS
Griffith: C Jenkins, G Snaidero, B Owen, J Fallon, D Crack, J Calma-Holt 
Leeton-Whitton: S Hills, B Boots, C Garvey, B Woods, B Curley, J Gornall
SENIOR DEBUT: Alex Blissett

A summary of match report, with thanks
The Griffith Swans have been left to wonder what might have been after suffering a nail-biting 12-point loss in the much-anticipated Riverina Football League local derby against Leeton-Whitton at Exies Oval yesterday. Outplaying the visitors for most of the game, it was the Swans that were left with the commiserations as the final siren sounded, with players visibly gutted by the result.

However, the Crows were more clinical when it mattered in front of goal and in the final quarter, hardly missing a target as they marched the ball downfield into the forward 50.
Speaking to The Area News after the siren, Griffith coach Guy Orton said while his men were shattered to lose such a tight game, they were at times their own worst enemies.  “In the end we pretty much outplayed them all day, but what let us down was us kicking all those points,” Orton said. “They (Leeton-Whitton) are one of the best team in the comp so to match it with them for three quarters and to be up by the last quarter we did really well. But at the end of the day, I think that’s pretty much all (Leeton-Whitton) have got, I don’t think they’re going to get any better than that.” 
From the opening bounce Griffith pressured Leeton around the ball as Tom Buckley got several good touches to help the home side lead by 20. The Crows then started to dominate the ruck and quickly got the ball forward with Callum Garvey’s size proving hard to handle as they closed the gap to single figures.  Orton crumbed a good goal from the left-pocket to give his side some breathing space before the long break, leading 8.6 (54) to 7.2 (44). 
James Toscan kicked the first goal of the third term to give the home side the perfect start, with Jethro Calma-Holt kicking the goal of the game, after he spoiled a clearing kick only to snap a left foot shot over his shoulder. Griffith’s backline continued to hold strong and repealed several Crows’ attacking raids allowing the home side to open up its biggest lead of the game at 25 points.

A 50m free to Leeton saw Brady Dunn covert from in-front as the Crows refused to go away. But in a special moment Alex Blissett, playing alongside older brother Toby, bagged a goal in his first-grade debut seeing him swamped by teammates as Griffith held a 9-point lead at the last break. The Crows ambushed the hosts at the start of the last term, with a goal to Jamie Broadbent giving his side the lead for the first time, as the Swans continued to not make Leeton-Whitton pay for their mistakes.

(By Scott Hazlewood – The Area News, Monday July 9, 2012). 

​

OTHER MATCHES - SAT: Collingullie-AK 12.10 (82) def by Narrandera 20.8 (128); SUN: Ganmain-GGM 27.18 (180) def Turvey Park 7.10 (52), Wagga 8.12 (60) def by Coolamon 14.9 (93); Mangoplah-CUE, bye.

​

Reserves: Leeton-Whitton 16.5 (101) def Griffith 6.12 (48) 
Goals: C Boye 2, M Griffin, J Hampel, A Cappello, O Delves
Best players: J Tyndall, B McRae, J Ryan, O Delves, J Tyrell, D Dunbar
Under 17: Leeton-Whitton 13.6 (84) def Griffith 8.8 (56)
Goals: D Cassidy 2, N Witherspoon 2, J Gordon, T Shannon, L Peruzzi, H Delves
Best players: D Evans, L Peruzzi, H Delves, J Evans, B Tarr, N Witherspoon