Round 7 - Sunday May 15, 2005
Riverina Football League
Venue: Griffith Exies Oval 2.10pm
Umpires: ----
Griffith ..................... 5.2 .. 10.4 .. 13.7 .. 18.10 (118)
Leeton-Whitton .... 5.4 .. 9.8 .. 13.9 .. 16.9 (105)
LEETON-WHITTON: Graeme Dale, Justin Davidson, Bruce Gilmour; Adam Cameron, Jamie Broadbent, Ben Dryburgh; Adrian Howe, Matthew Sharman, Travis Doyle; Matthew Meladonis, Greg Looby, Drew Dunscombe; Matthew Lang, Rhys Thomason, Brendan Greatz; Kurt Bullock, Travis Irvin, Daryl Clayton; Dale Symes, David Harrison
GRIFFITH: Dean Catanzariti, Simon Spiers, Josh Ward; Myles Bunn, Adam Brander, Craig Conlan; Jason Hampel, Michael Duncan, Ben Ford; Mathew Crack, Jeff Mickan, Jamie Bennett; Graham Foley, Ashley Gardner, Adrian Burns (c-c); Ryan Hill, Tim Birks, Matt Bunn (capt); Nic Hetherington, Trent Bradley, Kris Duncan
GOALS
Griffith: A Gardner 6, J Bennett 3, J Mickan 2, M Crack 2, A Burns 2, T Birks 2, Craig Conlan 
Leeton-Whitton: M Lang 5, B Greatz 3, D Dunscombe 3, M Sharman 3, T Irvin, D Clayton
BEST PLAYERS
Griffith: M Duncan, Craig Conlan, Matt Bunn, T Birks, J Mickan, G Foley
Leeton-Whitton: J Davidson, B Dryburgh, D Harrison, M Lang, K Bullock, M Sharman
A summary of match report, with thanks
The Griffith Swans produced their most telling win to date yesterday when they came from behind to beat a more fancied Leeton-Whitton side by 13 points. In front of a large home crowd at Exies Oval, full-forward Ash Gardner produced a sensational last quarter to get the injury-ravaged Swans across the line. Thanks to two quick goals from Matt Sharman early in the last quarter, Leeton got out to a 14-point lead, but the Swans replied with five goals in 11 minutes to take the game in fine style.

The four points to the Swans also meant the end of their troublesome run. Swans coach Adrian Burns said it was a big win for the club.

"It's been a tough six weeks," Burns said. "A lot of people have bagged us and written us off. "So, I'm pretty happy to get the win on the board." The game got off to an eventful start with the Crows leading by two points at quarter time.

Leeton-Whitton was outscored in the second quarter with the Swans midfielders running forward and chipping in with goals while Matt Lang up forward for Leeton-Whitton, was proving hard to contain. In a seesawing encounter, consecutive goals to Drew Dunscombe had Leeton-Whitton surging away with the game. But the Swans kicked four goals straight to draw back within two points heading into the last quarter.

A composed Burns then addressed his charges and asked for one last effort while Jamie Broadbent pleaded for his side to lift. Sharman kicked two goals in the first five minutes and Griffith looked gone. But showing spirit, the Swans came back and with Ash Gardner proving miraculous up forward slotting goals in from everywhere and the Swans came away with an emphatic 13-point win.

Continuing his best season yet, Swans on-baller Mick Duncan had the ball on a string and single-handedly kept the Swans in the game at stages. Burns named Duncan as best on the field while commending Ryan Hill, Josh Ward, Myles Bunn and Craig Conlan on gutsy efforts.

For Leeton-Whitton it was a case of running out of legs when it counted, but Lang and Sharman proved reliable.

(By Matt Malone - The Area News, Monday May 16, 2005).

 

OTHER MATCHES - SAT: Coolamon 18.12 (120) def Mangoplah-CUE 7.12 (54), Turvey Park 7.7 (49) def by Eastern Hawks 22.22 (154); SUN: Narrandera 21.10 (136) def Ganmain-GGM 9.9 (63)

Reserves: Leeton-Whitton 15.14 (104) def Griffith 10.7 (67)
Goals: M Burke 5, M Butcher 2, W Tyndall, J Gastin, G Dreyer
Best players: C Lugton, M Burke, J Codemo, M Kenny, H Robertson
Under 18: Leeton-Whitton 11.14 (80) def Griffith 10.11 (71)
Goals: D Crack 4, J Gastin 3, K Hicken, R Hannon, T Wade
Best players: T Matheson, D Crack, J Gastin, A Baker, M Hewitson