Round 16 - Sunday August 10, 2003

Riverina Football League
Venue: Ganmain Sportsground 2.10pm
Umpires: Brett McDonald, Duncan Potts and Tim Beard (RUA)
Ganmain-GGM .... 1.3 .. 4.4 .. 6.8 .. 8.10 (58)
Griffith .................. 6.2 .. 12.6 .. 23.12 .. 24.15 (159)
GANMAIN-GRONG GRONG-MATONG: Troy Lenon, David Cox, Michael Mazzocchi; Jason Hamblin, Adam Symons, John Lawton; Luke Walsh, Brett Lenon, Mitchell Steele; Nathan Irvine, Chris Kelly, Daniel Underwood; Scott Hamblin, Matt Scott, Crag Lenon; David Logan, Shane Lenon (c-c), Mitchell Carroll; Clinton Renner, Chris Pedler, Paul Lucas
GRIFFITH: Myles Bunn, Damien Scott, Jonathon O'Dwyer; Ben Wade, Jeff Mickan, Matt Bunn; Trevor Clarke, Rodney Duncan, Ben Ford; Phillip Rowston, Matthew Olney, Antony Greely; Andrew Hill, Jason Vant, Craig Conlan; David Curran, Cian Ebert (coach), Jamie Bennett; Brendan Giason, Kaine Malone, Jason Hampel
GOALS
Ganmain-GGM: C Kelly 2, M Carroll 2, S Hamblin, M Scott, N Irvine, C Renner
Griffith: J Vant 7, M Olney 5, Craig Conlan 2, C Ebert 2, J Bennett 2, J O'Dwyer, A Hill, R Duncan, P Rowston, D Scott, B Ford
BEST PLAYERS
Ganmain-GGM: C Kelly, John Lawton, N Irvine, T Lenon
Griffith: T Clarke, D Scott, D Curran, B Ford, J Vant
A summary of match report, with thanks

With the Riverina Football League finals just three weeks away, Griffith sounded a warning yesterday for the other sides in the premiership race. In one of its most impressive performances of the season, Griffith blasted away its old adversary, Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong, to the tune of 101 points. Slowly returning to full strength, the Swans were new troubled in winning 24.15 (159) to 8.10 (58) at Ganmain. 

The Swans made their presence felt from the outset, firing off six goals in the first quarter and restricting Ganmain-GGM to just one. Another six goals in the second quarter, saw thew Swans extend their lead to 89 to 28 at half-time, only allowing the Lions three majors in the quarter. However, it was the Swans third quarter that put the result beyond doubt, 11 goals coming in impressive fashion to put them ahead by 106 at the last break. The final quarter saw scoring slow down as both sides looked to tire somewhat, the Swans only able to add one more goal to their already impressive total and the Lions kicking two more to bring the scoreline to just outside the 100-point mark.

The win had statisticians running for the record books to find out the last time - if at all - the Swans had defeated Ganmain-GGM by such a big margin. A crippling injury toll has prevented Griffith from playing to its full potential all season, but yesterday's success was evidencing the best is still to come from the Swans, who should gather momentum from here on.

There were many signs for Griffith with the forward zone in full flight and spearhead Jason Vant made the most of his opportunities presented. In his best haul of the season Vant kicked seven goals to move to third position (45) on the leading goal-kicking list, behind Warren Sykes, of Turvey Park (67) and Clinton Renner, (53), of Ganmain-GGM.

Also, in fine touch around the goals was ruckman Matt Olney, who notched up five. Griffith other 12 goals were shared between nine other players, Craig Conlan, Jamie Bennett and coach Cian Ebert providing good support with two goals each. Jon O'Dwyer, Andrew Hill, Rodnet Duncan, Phil Rowston, Damien Scott and Ben Ford all chipped in with one goal each.

However, it was on-baller Trevor Clarke who provided many opportunities and Olney and big Dave Curran were ready to take full advantage. Ganmain-GGM are the only team in the competition who are able to match the Swans in the terms of height, especially in their forwards, but they were kept very quiet today with a good performance by the Swans defenders.

The Swans would have also been impressed by their much-improved accuracy this week and in last weekend's game against Mangoplah, their majors far out-weighing their minors, unlike many of their games in the middle part of the season. By Peter Baker - The Area News, Monday August 11, 2003). 

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OTHER MATCHES - SAT: Mangoplah-CUE 6.6 (42) def by Turvey Park 19.16 (130), Narrandera 12.22 (94) def East Wagga-K 9.12 (66); SUN: Coolamon 21.15 (141) def Leeton-Whitton 17.11 (113).

Reserves: Griffith 12.17 (89) def Ganmain-GGM 9.8 (62)
Goals: B Harrison 3, M McDonald 2, A Gardner 2, W Tyndall, M Duncan, Chris Conlan, Ryan Hill, D Best
Best players: G Dreyer, D Best, M Duncan, M McDonald, Chris Conlan
Under 18: Ganmain-GGM 15.16 (106) def Griffith 6.2 (38)
Goals: M Crack 2, K Duncan, T Webb, B Hicken, J Hampel
Best players: Reece Hill, L Catanzariti, T Condon, K Duncan, T Wade