Round 5 - Saturday May 11, 2002
Riverina Football League
Venue: Gumly Oval 2.10pm 
Umpires: Peter Hughes and Paul Guthrie (RUA)
East Wagga-Kooringal ..... 5.4 .. 10.6 .. 13.10 .. 16.13 (109)
Griffith .................................. 5.2 .. 11.8 .. 13.13 .. 20.14 (134)
EAST WAGGA-KOORINGAL: Dean Spencer, James Geale, Steven King; Brad Miller, Mark Gorham, Jamie Keenan; Geoff Hopkins, Kerry Brain (c-c), Clint Campbell; Jamie Charlton, Stuart Bond, Ben Murnane; Michael Fabre, Leigh Bourne, Danny Bromham; Tom Gorham, James Richards, Steven Quirk; Brendan Schumack, Steve Bromham, Wes Pollard-Carver 
GRIFFITH: Shawn Conlan, Jonathan O'Dwyer, Damien Scott; Jason Malone, Chris Blanchard, Craig Conlan; Chris Conlan, Phillip Rowston, Matthew Kenny; Jeff Mickan, Shane Ruyg, Luke Condon; David Curran, Danny Beriman, Michael Duncan; Brendan Giason, Michael Johns, Trevor Clarke; Matt Bunn, Kaine Malone, Matthew Olney
GOALS
East Wagga-K: L Bourne 2, J Charlton 2, M Fabre 2, D Bromham 2, B Murnane 2, K Brain 2, J Richards, T Gorham, S Bond, G Hopkins
Griffith: M Olney 8, M Duncan 3, L Condon 2, T Clarke 2, Chris Conlan 2, D Beriman, S Conlan, C Blanchard
BEST PLAYERS
East Wagga-K: J Keenan, K Brain, G Hopkins, J Geale, J Richards
Griffith: M Olney, J Malone, C Blanchard, M Johns, M Duncan

A summary of match report, with thanks

It was a "reality check" for the Griffith Swans on Saturday when they had to come from behind in the final quarter to take a 20.14 (134) to 16.13 (109) win over East Wagga-Kooringal, in their Riverina Football League clash at Gumly Oval. The home side came out hard early and put on four goals before Griffith got on the scoreboard, but the Swans fought back to trail by two points at the first break 34-32.

In the second quarter the Swans managed to take the lead but by half-time were only up 74-66. The Hawks kept the pressure on in the third term, kicking three goals four behinds to Griffith's two majors and five behinds. Holding a slim three-point lead heading into the final quarter, Griffith went goal for goal with the Hawks until 20 minutes into the term when East Wagga booted two consecutive majors.

This put the home side up, before the Swans then lifted to regain the lead and hold on for a 25-point win. "It was a bit of a test ... it certainly tested the boys' character there towards the end," said Griffith captain-coach Cian Ebert. "It was credit to the boys the way they fought, it was one of those close ones that in years gone by, we've let opposition sides win. "You have to win the close ones to be a good side so it's goods from that point of view." 
Forced to watch from the sideline due to a niggling injury, Ebert said sitting on the bench with the match in balance is not an experience he wants to repeat. He said he was happy with the last 10 minutes, but the majority of the game saw the Swans making too many skill errors and turning the ball over. "It was a bit of a reality check for the boys," Ebert said. "They put a bit of pressure on us, but we put more pressure on ourselves by not doing the things we've been working on. "It proved what can happen if you're not on your

game, if you give anyone a chance, they'll take it, and East Wagga certainly did. "The most striking thing was the turnovers and skill errors, which haven't been part of our game at all, really crept into it and gave the opposition a chance."

Ebert said Matt Olney was one player who really stood out for the Swans, taking some good marks and kicking seven goals for the match.

Playing at half-back, Jason Malone had another solid game for Griffith, while Michael Duncan and Damien Scott were others who stood up when it counted. Duncan kicked three goals and Trevor Clarke, Chris Conlan and Luke Condon added two majors each.

"We've certainly got plenty of things to work on, but in the end, it was good to be five and 0, rather than four and one,' Ebert said.

 (By Rebecca Kroek - The Area News, Monday May 13, 2002).

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OTHER MATCHES - SAT: Narrandera 58 def by Coolamon 95; SUN: Ganmain-GGM 105 def Mangoplah-CUE 86, Leeton-Whitton 60 def by Turvey Park 93

Reserves: Griffith 27.21 (183) def East Wagga-Kooringal 2.2 (14).
Goals: R Simpkin 8, G Foley 4, T Bradley 3, B Owen 3, P Thornton 2, A Freyer 2, D Best 2, M Harris, Myles Bunn, B Ford
Best players: R Simpkin, A Noad, B Ford, G Foley, D Best
Under 18: Griffith 19.24 (138) def East Wagga-Kooringal 1.3 (9)
Goals: D Cunial 5, B Hicken 3, B Owen 2, S Stubbs 2, R Brill 2, L Catanzariti, T Matheson, A Gardner, K Duncan, B Murphy
Best players: B Owen, B Wade, D Cunial, N Malone, T Mathieson