Round 10 - Sunday June 20, 2004
Riverina Football League
Venue: Leeton Showground 2.10pm
Umpires: Tom McDonald and Brett McDonald (RUA)
Leeton-Whitton .... 2.4 .. 6.10 .. 10.13 .. 12.16 (88)
Griffith ................... 7.4 .. 7.6 .. 9.8 .. 15.11 (101)
LEETON-WHITTON: Matthew Flagg, Adam Cameron, Michael Lashbrook; Jamie Broadbent, Greg Looby, Daniel Sullivan; Kurt Bullock, Dallas Scott, Brad Waters; Travis Irvin, Justin Davidson, Daniel Lumsden; Drew Dunscombe, Matthew Robertson, Travis Doyle; Kane Bullock, Simon Piltz, Brett Guest; Graeme Dale, Justin Greatz, Craig Curry
GRIFFITH: Trent Bradley, Ben Wade, Matt Bunn; Damien Scott, Simon Spiers, Simon McClure; Ben Ford, Matthew McDonald, Brett Owen; Shane Pound, Jeff Mickan, Jason Hampel; Jamie Bennett, Ashley Gardner, Michael Duncan; David Curran, Adrian Burns (c-c), Greg Tyack; Dominic Giorgi, Rick Frkovic, Mathew Crack
GOALS
Leeton-Whitton: D Dunscombe 5, M Robertson 2, T Doyle 2, D Lumsden 2, B Guest
Griffith: A Gardner 6, M Duncan 5, J Bennett, S Pound, D Curran, M McDonald
BEST PLAYERS
Leeton-Whitton: T Doyle, G Looby, D Dunscombe, Kane Bullock, M Robertson
Griffith: B Owen, A Burns, A Gardner, M McDonald, B Wade, D Curran
A summary of match report, with thanks
Griffith came home with a flurry against the tide after a strong six-goal final term helped hold off a feisty Leeton-Whitton by 13 points at Leeton Showgrounds. The Swans looked down and out at three-quarter time, as three goals in time-on seemingly gave the home side the ascendancy with a two-goal buffer going into the last term. But a low-risk, long possession game worked wonders in the final quarter, outscoring the Crows by four goals to win 101 to 88. The same long kicking approach set up a five-goal lead for Griffith at the first change.

They caught Leeton-Whitton off guard with several fast breaks in the midfield before taking the long option into their forward 50-metre arc. Full-forward Ashley Gardner capitalised on the open forward line, leading strongly to boot three of the Swans' opening five goals.

He found an ally in front of goals, as Michael Duncan proved too elusive for Crows defenders by adding a further two to their seven-goal first quarter. However, in one of the many ebbs and flows of the clash, Leeton-Whitton numbered up in defence and held the visitors goalless in the second term). But the Crows did squander several opportunities, making just four from 10 attempts on goal.

 Griffith though led by just two points after Leeton-Whitton goaled prior to half-time. Despite the Swans finding some drive throughout the midfield, the bulk of the third term proved a stalemate. Dave Curran's goal from just inside 50 metres, leading to a seven-point was cancelled out after the spirited Crows charged late in the third. However, the defending premiers' superior run in the legs began to kick in and defused any sign of an upset. The telling difference was Michael Duncan's exquisite skills, either by crumbing off spilled marks or by set shots from the boundary. Gardner's textbook leads somehow finding space along a congested half forward, also led to two goals.

It proved only fitting that Duncan's close to goal handball gave Gardner his sixth to ensure the Swans maintained second on the RFL ladder with their eight wins from 10 games. (By Andrew Mathieson - The Area News, Monday June 21, 2004).

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OTHER MATCHES - SAT: Eastern Hawks 4.6 (30) def by Ganmain-GGM 24.16 (160), Narrandera 8.6 (54) def by Mangoplah-CUE 9.10 (64); SUN: Turvey Park 2.10 (22) def by Coolamon 14.17 (101).

Reserves: Leeton-Whitton 13.13 (91) def Griffith 8.8 (56)
Goals: C Conlan 3, Reece Hill 2, N Hetherington, Ryan Hill, M Smith
Best players: C Conlan, G Ceccato, B Lanyon, G Dreyer, Reece Hill
Under 18: Griffith 9.11 (65) def Leeton-Whitton 4.10 (34)
Goals: D Crack 4, K Duncan 3, C Gillett, M Johnson
Best players: T Matheson, D Crack, C Munro, W Overs, K Duncan