Round 6 - Saturday May 15, 2010
Riverina Football Netball League
Venue: Griffith Exies Oval 2.10pm
Umpires: Greg Walsh, Mark Rowe and Wayne Smith (RUA)
Griffith ............ 5.0 .. 8.2 .. 10.3 13.6 (84)
Coolamon ...... 4.6 .. 7.11 .. 15.14 .. 19.19 (133)
GRIFFITH: Luke Piccolo, Craig Lugton, Dean Catanzariti; Jonathon Gastin, Matthew Noonan, Tim Matheson; Theo Valeri, Brett Owen, Roland Finch; Casey Moore, Jeff Mickan, James Fallon; Josh Whelan, Matthew Hogan, Luke Humphries; Shaun Curran, Michael Duncan, Mathew Crack; Cameron Arnold, Dean Crack, Matthew Kenny 
GOALS
Griffith: L Humphries 5, J Whelan 4, M Crack 2, M Duncan, D Crack 
Coolamon: G Rudd 4, A McKenzie 3, B Garrett 2, E Edis 2, B Nolte 2, M Robinson 2, B Edyvean, R Chamberlain,

S Easdown, J Kew 
BEST PLAYERS
Griffith: G Owen, L Humphries, T Matheson, M Duncan, M Kenny, J Whelan 
Coolamon: N Edyvean, R Chamberlain, G Rudd, S Easdown, J Kew, B Nolte
A summary of match report, with thanks
Despite putting together one of their best halves of football all year, the Griffith Swans have not been able to withstand Coolamon as the Hoppers came over the top of the home side to score comfortable 49-point victory at Exies Oval on Saturday.

Injuries to key areas and a mismatch in size across the park allowed the Hoppers to climb back into the game, with their eight-goal third term leading them to the win. Griffith coach Matt Noonan again couldn’t fault the effort from most of his players but said the lack of depth allowed the Hoppers to get off the canvas and resigning Griffith to its third loss in a row.

“In the first half we were hitting our forwards with good leads, and it was all working well because we were getting our fair share of the footy around the ground,” Noonan said. “But in the second half we weren’t holding our tackles, we were getting brushed aside from their bigger bodies. We’re strapped for a bit of depth at the moment, our backline needs to be about three steps faster in closing speed, but we haven’t got the players there with that speed.”

Not helping the Swans’ defensive woes in the second half was a hamstring injury to ruckman Shaun Curran, which forced him from the field, meaning Noonan had to move into midfield with his experience missed sorely as the game slipped from the home team’s grasp.

Despite the loss Western Australian import Luke Humphries, who stayed with the club despite others from his former state leaving recently, continued to show excellent form in front of goals to bag five majors. “He got best on ground for us, and he seems to find himself in the right place at the right time in regard to getting to get to the front of the contests.

“We kicked a few goals yesterday, but we got a few from set shots which was pleasing as well,” Noonan added.

Josh Whelan also kicked four goals for the home side, but it proved no match for Coolamon’s Gregory Rudd, Adam McKenzie, Brett Garrett, Edward Edis, Brett Notte and Michell Robinson, who bagged multiple goals for the visitors.

(By Scott Hazlewood – The Area News, Monday May 17, 2010).  

   

OTHER MATCHES - SAT: Leeton-Whitton 14.10 (94) def Wagga 9.9 (63), Mangoplah-CUE 10.11 (71) def by Turvey Park 12.12 (84), Narrandera 12.13 (85) def by Ganmain-GGM 14.14 (98)

Reserves: Coolamon 9.11 (65) def Griffith 5.6 (36)
Goals: D Keenan 2, B Woolner 2, D Best 
Best players: G Taylor, R Johns, C Burge, L Catanzariti, B Woolner, A Cappello 
Under 17: Coolamon 13.12 (90) def Griffith 10.11 (71)
Goals: B Watts 3, P Whittard 2, K Hillier 2, Tom Valeri 2, M Oates 
Best players: P Rose, S Raulini, J Tyndall, P Whittard, B Watts, K Hillier