Round 1 - Saturday April 22, 2017
Riverina Football Netball League
Venue: Griffith Exies Oval 6.10pm
Umpires: Ryan Dedini and Andrew Jackman (RUA)
Griffith ...................... 2.1 .. 5.5 .. 6.9 .. 10.14 (74)
Leeton-Whitton ..... 7.3 .. 10.5 .. 11.7 .. 14.8 (92)
GRIFFITH: Daniel Peruzzi, Richard Malone, Jonathon Gastin; Guy Orton, James Toscan (c), Sam Daniel; Lucas Conlan*, Jordan Iudica, Sam Foley, Heath Northey*, Ash Verhagen*, Toby Blissett; Michael Duncan, Brent Arho*, Luke Shannon; Casey Moore, Will Griggs, Ben King; Tyler Bruns, Dean Crack, Angus Coldwell, Ben Tarr
LEETON-WHITTON: Jamieson Booth, Neil Irwin, Will Wakeman; Jayden Lehman, Sam Cooper, Tom Meline; Tyh Evans, Matt Rainbird, Brad Boots; Ryan Dunn, Ben Curley, Luke Potter; Daniel Muir, Jade Hodge (c-c), Jimmy Nancarrow; Mason Dryburgh, Bryce O'Garey, Toby Conroy; Isaac Houghton, Jake Wood, Hugh Collins, Alex Crelley
GOALS
Griffith: B Arho 2, A Coldwell, H Northey, S Foley, J Gastin, Crack, J Iudica, G Orton, L Conlan
Leeton-Whitton: D. Muir 3, R. Dunn 2, T. Conroy 2, L. Potter 2, J. Booth, B. Boots, T. Evans, B. O'Garey, J. Hodge
BEST PLAYERS
Griffith: B King, L Conlan, A Coldwell, M Duncan, C Moore, G Orton
Leeton-Whitton: T Evans, N Irwin, M Dryburgh, N Muir, M Rainbird, B Boots
SENIOR DEBUT: Brent Arho, Lucas Conlan, Heath Northey, Ash Verhagen
A summary of match report, with thanks
A 32-point first-quarter deficit was too big for the Griffith Swans to overcome as Leeton-Whitton came away with a 14.8 (92) to 10.14 (74) win at the Exies Oval on Saturday. That lead blew out to 38 points in the second quarter before the Swans kicked into gear. While Griffith director of coaching Adrian Pavese said Leeton was on fire, he also said the Swans didn't help themselves. "Full credit to Leeton, their first quarter was some of the best footy I've seen," Pavese said. "Their perceived pressure was just outstanding. We struggled early, it took us time to find a way but to our boy's credit, they dug deep and fought hard. "We learnt we certainly can't concede four goals through direct turnovers, that just killed us. "It's something we'll keep addressing to fix it." Pavese still managed to find positives from the loss.

 The biggest positive from the match was the playing group staying injury-free in the opener. "We'll only get better, we came through unscathed - that's always positive," Pavese. "Toby Blissett played his first game in 18 months and Richard Malone his first in 12 months. "We had two kids playing their first games, Angus Coldwell and Lucas Conlan, had an injection of new players like Brent Arho, Heath Northey and those guys. It's going to take a little bit to gel, and we got that in the third and fourth quarters.

Pavese also praised the performances of his young players along with a regular standout. "I thought Lucas Conlan in his first game went well." Pavese said. "He started on the wing and then we put him down back on Jade Hodge and he kept him really quiet. "Angus Coldwell was really strong and hard at the footy. "Then there's your usuals like Benny King, he was everywhere. "We didn't get the job done in first grade but the clubs in a good spot and hopefully we can sneak a win or two over the next couple of weeks."

(By Ben Jaffrey - The Area News, Monday April 24, 2017).

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OTHER MATCHES - SAT: Mangoplah-CUE 9.6 (60) def Coolamon 6.11 (47), Turvey Park 10.17 (77) def Narrandera 4.12 (36); SUN: Ganmain-GGM 8.11 (59) def by Collingullie-GP 21.7 (133); Wagga, bye.

Reserves: Griffith 12.5 (77) def Leeton-Whitton 5.8 (38)
Goals: K Duncan 3, D Villata 3, L Quade 2, A Scott 2, C Cunial 2, N Witherspoon, R Marando
Best Players: R Johns, N Witherspoon, R Perre, K Duncan, B Knagge, C Harrison
Under 17: Griffith 12.20 (92) def Leeton-Whitton 8.2 (50)
Goals: R Greenaway 3, S Witherspoon 2, C Bock 2, C Verri 2, R Townsend, L Killalea, D Schmetzer
Best Players: R Matheson, D Schmetzer, R Townsend, R Greenaway, R Marlow, M Agnew