Representive Match - Saturday June 11, 2011
Riverina Football Netball League
Venue: Newcastle Sportsground
Riverina FL ........ 9.4 .. 13.5 .. 18.7 .. 19.8 (122)
Sydney U' 23 ..... 0.4 .. 3.7 .. 3.8 .. 8.14 (62)
RIVERINA FL: John Anstee, Geoff Spriggs, Matthew Noonan; Che Jenkins, Christen McPherson (capt.), Josh Gaynor; Curtis Steele, Mitch Carroll, Jarrah Maksymow: Guy Orton, Darren de Britt, Harry Collins; Beau Runnalls, Marc Geppert, Brad Aiken; Lachlan Hunter, Brett Doswell, Jamie Maddox; Jacob Olsson, Tim Sullivan, Brad Boots, Daniel Hitchens
GOALS
Riverina: M Geppart 5, B Runnalls 3, D de Britt 2, G Orton 2, J Maksymow 2, B Aiken, B Doswell, H Collins, C McPherson, J Maddox
Sydney U'23: M Hogan 3, M Edwins, Z Manley, T Scoular, C Smith, M Aikinson
BEST PLAYERS
Riverina: J Maddox, C Jenkins, J Gaynor, L Hunter, J Anstee, G Orton, B Aiken
Sydney U23: H Nicholls, B Hanson, J Mobbs, M Atkinson, Z Manley, D Fitzgerald
A summary of match report, with thanks
Riverina Football League has redeemed itself from last year’s Country Championships with a convincing win over Sydney under 23 at the weekend. The RFL team last year suffered a confidence blow when it fell to finish fourth at the Country Championship in Wagga but restored pride back into its representative jumper with a big 60-point victory in Newcastle.

RFL refused to let the eight-hour bus trip affect its game on Saturday as it capitalised on a monster first quarter to down Sydney under 23, 19.8 (122) to 8.14 (62). Experienced RFL coach Troy Maiden was over the moon with the result. Sydney under 23 beat us last year in the shorter format, so we weren’t knowing what to expect over a full game,” Maiden conceded yesterday just after leaving Newcastle.

“Our first quarter was sensational. “There was quite a strong breeze to that end of the ground which helped, but our second quarter was great without the wind too. “The boy's hunger to win really showed.

“They gelled together really quickly and played some really god team footy.” The home team looked good from the first bounce, but that illusion only lasted a couple of minutes, as RFL hit its straps and began to dominate play. RFL had a mammoth scoring shot in the opening term, as Sydney under 23 only managed four and failed to convert a major for the entire quarter.

The early surge essentially set up the victory for RFL, who was not troubled despite being outscored in the furth quarter.

RFL spearhead Marc Geppert slotted five majors and was aided on the scoreboard by nine teammates, while on-baller Jame Maddox was awarded best on ground for the winning team.

Defenders Che Jenkins and Josh Gaynor also earned a spot in the RFL’s best players list, but Maiden insisted the win was a team effort.

“The defenders did their job, the midfield was good, and the forwards converted the goals when they were there,” Maiden said.

“All the boys are really happy with the win. “There were a lot of fellas playing their first rep game for the league and they all stood up.”

(The Area News, Monday June 13, 2011)