Round 8 - Sunday June 9, 2002
Riverina Football League
Venue: Griffith Exies Oval 2.10pm
Umpires: Glenn Steinke and Russell Jones (RUA)
Griffith ...................... 6.10 .. 11.16 .. 17.19 .. 18.25 (133)
Mangoplah-CUE .... 2.2 .. 5.6 .. 6.7 .. 7.11 (53)
GRIFFITH: Shawn Conlan, Jonathan O'Dwyer, Damien Scott; Jeff Mickan, Brendan Giason, Luke Condon; Kaine Malone, Phillip Rowston, Michael Duncan; Craig Conlan, David Curran, Chris Conlan; Ben Wade, Danny Beriman, Jamie Bennett; Matthew Olney, Cian Ebert (c-c), Trevor Clarke; Matt Bunn, Simon Spiers, Matthew Kenny
MANGOPLAH-COOKARDINIA UNITED-EASTLAKES: Grant Bruce, David Pike, Adrian Short; Stephen Wheeler, Geoff Spriggs, Xavier Higgins; Wayne Schultz, Aaron McVilly, Jeff Millar; Brad Sanbrook, Trent Balding, Ricky Thomas; Brad Roberson, Casey Godde, Peter Byrne; Stephen Lawrence, Neil Lawson, Chris Higgins; Gareth Langfield, Dean Howard, Ben Killalea
GOALS
Griffith: D Beriman 8, J Bennett 5, Chris Conlan 2, B Wade, Craig Conlan, D Curran
Mangoplah-CUE: R Thomas, N Lawson, X Higgins, M Balding, G Spriggs, W Smith, B Roberson
BEST PLAYERS
Griffith: J Bennett, Chris Conlan, J Mickan, Craig Conlan, K Malone
Mangoplah-CUE: X Higgins, E Smith, N Lawson, W Schultz, G Spriggs
A summary of match report, with thanks
Although not playing up to their usual standard, the Griffith Swans posted an 80-point, 18.25 (133) to 7.11 (53) win over Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes at the Exies Oval yesterday afternoon. The Swans turned over plenty of ball and struggled with accuracy in front of goal, but still did enough to ensure a comfortable win on the scoreboard. Among those to standout were Jamie Bennett, Chris Conlan, Craig Conlan, Jeff Mickan and Kaine Malone. Bennett finished with five goals after working hard all game, while Chris Conlan kicked two and Craig Conlan one. Danny Beriman led the scoring again, booting eight majors, while Ben Wade and Dave Curran added one each. 
The Swans began slowly, Mangoplah clearly determined to make a game of it against the undefeated competition leaders.

More than three minutes had gone before the first score, a behind to Griffith, with the opening goal coming with the clock at 5.00 minutes to see the home side to an 8-1 lead. Mangoplah was playing well, although unable to get close enough to goal to add to its score, while Griffith were making too many mistakes and turning over possession.

However, by the end of the quarter Griffith led 46-14, inaccuracy keeping the margin from being even greater. The second term was a more even affair on the scoreboard, as the sides fought out a battle played mostly in midfield. Griffith kicked five goals six for the term, while Mangoplah lifted to boot three goals four, both sides having opportunities to score more but let down by behinds.

By half-time the score was 82-36, the Swans holding a comfortable lead. It was the third quarter which was the decider as Griffith lifted to blow out the gap between it and Mangoplah. The Goannas were still in the match, if only barely, but needed to score several goals before Griffith could get on the board to narrow the gap. However, the Swans had their best quarter of the game, kicking four goals two before the Goannas could get on the board. By the time Mangoplah kicked a behind after 21 minutes, the margin had blown out to 71 points.

Beriman added two more majors before Mangoplah finally kicked a goal in the final minute of the term, the result virtually decided at three-quarter time at 121-43. The final quarter was a poor effort by both sides in the terms of scoring, Mangoplah kicking a goal with the clock at 2.45, but it was followed by a string of behinds. More than six minutes had passed before Griffith scored in the final term, the Swans then kicking five behinds in a row. Mangoplah added two more points before Ben Wade kicked the second goal and the Swans' first for the quarter with 21 minutes gone. The Goannas kicked two more behinds before the siren, to see them finish with 1.4 for the term and Griffith with 1.6.

However, although not one of their best efforts, Griffith still came away with a comfortable 80-point win.

(By Rebecca Kroek - The Area News, Monday June 10, 2002).

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OTHER MATCHES - SAT: East Wagga-K 77 def by Turvey Park 113, Ganmain-GGM 121 def Narrandera 71; SUN: Coolamon 100 def Leeton-Whitton 57.

Reserves: Griffith 36.22 (238) def Mangoplah-CUE 2.1 (13).

Goals: S Ruyg 17, S Driscoll 4, A Trotter 4, G Dreyer 3, T Bradley 3, W Armstrong 2, D Best, Myles Bunn, B Owen
Best players: D Kidman, S Ruyg, D Best, N Creevy, S Driscoll
Under 18: Griffith 24.19 (163) def Mangoplah-CUE 2.1 (13)
Goals: A Gardner 12, B Hicken 5, B Owen 2, N Malone, S Stubbs, M Davis, D Creevy
Best players: B Owen, W Archibald, A Gardner, B Hicken, N Malone