Round 4 - Saturday April 23, 2005
Riverina Football League
Venue: Gumly Oval 2.10pm
Umpires: Greg Walsh and John Hilton (RUA)
Eastern Hawks ...... 5.4 .. 10.7 .. 15.8 .. 17.10 (112)
Griffith ..................... 3.3 .. 9.6 .. 12.8 .. 17.10 (112)
EASTERN HAWKS: Marc Adams, Damien Cheney, Jamie Keenan; Jay Peace, Glen Cole, Joel Grieve; Luke Adams, Darren Cuthbert, Clint Campbell; Daniel Purtill, Phillip Evans, Brenton Roberts; Ryan Campbell, Ben Perkins, Ken McPherson; Ken Vanderfeen, Kaine Malone, Danny Bromham; Levi Pollett, Kallen Griffiths, James Richards 
GRIFFITH: Myles Bunn, Adam Brander, Damien Scott; Mathew Crack, Roger Heenan, Jason Hampel; Tim Matheson, Matthew McDonald, Matthew Kenny; Craig Conlan, Rodney Simpkin, Nic Hetherington; Jeff Mickan, Ashley Gardner, Ben Ford; Ryan Hill, Adrian Burns (c-c), Michael Duncan; Graham Foley, Danny Graham*, Clinton Munro*
GOALS
Eastern Hawks: R Campbell 4, M McPherson 4, P Evans 3, D Bromham 2, D Cuthbert, L Adams, D Purtill, B Roberts
Griffith: A Gardner 5, M Duncan 4, Craig Conlan 3, N Hetherington 2, A Brander 2, B Ford
BEST PLAYERS
Eastern Hawks: G Cole, D Purtill, K Vanderfeen, J Grieve, P Evans, R Campbell
Griffith: M Duncan, A Brander, A Burns, R Heenan, J Mickan, B Ford
Reports: Matt McDonald for tripping - case dismissed
SENIOR DEBUT: Danny Graham, Clinton Munro
A summary of match report, with thanks
The Griffith Swans' troubles on the road continues after they drew with the winless Eastern Hawks at Harrison and Higgins Oval (Gumly Oval) yesterday. The Eastern Hawks managed to snare their first points of the season with a thrilling draw. After leading Griffith for the majority of the game, the Hawks fell over at the final hurdle, unable to contain the Swans with the team drawing 17.10 (112) to 17.10 (112).

The Hawks showed plenty of ticker throughout the duration of the game, to be in front at quarter, half-time and three-quarter time breaks. While Griffith hit back hard, they were unable to stop the dogged determination of the Hawks, who managed to gut's it out to take the lead. Last year's wooden spooners were solid in defence, led well by Glen Cole, Damien Cheney and James Keenan.

Except for a lapse in the opening 10 minutes of the final quarter when Griffith put on three quick goals, the Hawks proved themselves accountable. Eastern Hawks coach Michael McPherson was disappointed with the end result, however praised his team for the four-quarter effort. Where the Hawks of old would have dropped their heads at any Griffith fight back, the Hawks counter-attacked to win the football.

"We can take a lot of confidence out of this game," McPherson said. "We are a good team, but we aren't winning our games.

We wanted to win out there and that's why we went hard at the football. "Everyone's contribution during the game was excellent.

Now all we need is just a win. We have to look at the positives and take them from the game. (The Area News - Monday April 25, 2005).

 

OTHER MATCHES - SAT: Mangopah-CUE 14.12 (96) def by Leeton-Whitton 16.15 (111); SUN: Ganmain-GGM 26.22 (178) def by Turvey Park 4.6 (30), Coolamon 9.11 (65) def by Narrandera 14.19 (103)

Reserves: Griffith 16.14 (110) def Eastern Hawks 6.19 (55)
Goals: G Argus 7, W Tyndall 3, J Moat 3, M Smith, K Duncan, C Lugton
Best players: M Burke, W Tyndall, G Dreyer, A Cappello, K Duncan, D Catanzariti
Under 18: Eastern Hawks 17.10 (112) def Griffith 4.3 (27)
Goals: W Jaffery, D Crack, K Hicken, C Harrison
Best players: C Harrison, D McGreal, M Condon, J Geddes