Representive Match - Saturday, June 9, 2012
Venue: Blacktown Sports Park Oval No. 1
Umpires: Roger Crowhurst, Adel Kittel and Sam Wemyss
Riverina FL ................. 3.3 .. 8.6 .. 10.7 .. 17.11 (113)
Black Diamond FL .... 2.3 .. 3.5 ..7.12 .. 7.14 (56)
GOALS
Riverina: Marc Geppert 5, Michael Duncan 5, Andrew Johnston 3, Will Overs, G Ward, Curtis Steele, Tim Sullivan, Jamie Maddox
Black Diamond: S Brasington 3, J Wheeler 2, M Healy, M Wheeler
BEST PLAYERS
Riverina: Guy Orton, James Rice, John Anstee, Guy Ward, Michael Duncan, Jamie Maddox
Black Diamond: Bryce Singleton, Chris Bishop, Matt Bailey, Anthony Stewart, Luke Rawnsley, Blake Erickson
A summary of match report, with thanks
Five goals to Griffith star Mick Duncan have helped the Riverina Football League crush Black Diamond by 57 points in their representative clash in Sydney on Saturday. The RFL looked in complete control for much of the game and pulled clear from Black Diamond in the last quarter to take away any chance of an upset.
RFL captain Guy Orton said before the game the competition's reputation around the state rested on how they performed this weekend.
But the first-time leader of the side said the entire playing group lived up to the standard expected of an RFL representative side.
"We always wanted to go away and get the win so to do that was very pleasing," Orton said. "We were saying after the game that all of the boys came together really well especially since we had three weeks to prepare for it. "So, the coaching staff and the rest of the officials reminded us of what this game meant for the RFL and we did what we had to do."
Both sides spent the first quarter feeling each other out as RFL grabbed a narrow five-point lead at the first break, before the locals blew the game open, kicking five majors for the second to grow the gap to 31 points. But the RFL failed to keep the foot on Black Diamond's throats in the third term as their opponents bagged four goals to bridge the deficit to just 13.
"I think we let them come back into the game a bit too much in the third, we just relaxed because we should have won by a lot more," Orton said. Buit a final quarter scoring spree saw the RFL kick seven goals to cruise to a comfortable and well-earned victory.
Marc Geppert also kicked five for the victors while Curtis Steele and Andrew Johnston found their way to goals with Orton, James Rice, John Anstee, Guy Ward and Jamie Maddox all having outstanding games. "Jethro (Calma-Holt) went really well for us and he stood up to the better level required in a side like this, obviously Che (Jenkins) is as consistent as always," Orton said. "Matt Noonan was strong down back for us and Mick (Duncan) was good up forward." (The Area News - Monday June 11, 2012).