Round 7 - Sunday May 23, 2004
Riverina Football League
Venue: Kindra Park 2.10pm
Umpires: Duncan Potts, Brett McDonald and Tom McDonald (RUA)
Coolamon ...... 5.6 .. 7.8 .. 12.12 .. 16.19 (115)
Griffith ........... 4.4 .. 6.11 .. 10.15 .. 13.17 (95)
COOLAMON ROVERS: Jamie Hard, John Carroll, Brendan McPherson; Bryan Munro, Leigh Drum, Brett Garrett; Ryan Bartholomew, Matt Hard, Nigel Scott; Jamie Parr, Ryan Chamberlain, Jamie Maddox; Sam Roberts, Brendan McPherson, Matt Bradley; Ben Edyvean, Michael Suidgeest, Luke Maloney; Paul Thorneycroft, Adam McKenzie, Michael Goss
GRIFFITH: Trent Bradley, Simon Spiers, Daniel Best; Rodney Simpkin, Ben Wade, Simon McClure; Ben Ford, Matthew McDonald, Myles Bunn; Michael Duncan, Jeff Mickan, Rodney Duncan; Mathew Crack, Ashley Gardner, Jamie Bennett; David Curran, Matt Bunn, Shane Pound; Jason Hampel, Greg Tyack, Damien Scott.
GOALS
Coolamon: M Bradley 3, M Hard 3, R Bartholomew 2, J Carroll 2, M Goss 2, L Maloney, S Roberts, N Scott, R Chamberlain 
Griffith: M McDonald 3, R Duncan 3, J Mickan 2, J Bennett, G Tyack, S Pound, A Gardner, M Crack 
BEST PLAYERS
Coolamon: M Hard, B McKelvie, N Scott, J Parr, B Munro, R Chamberlain
Griffith: S McClure, R Duncan, D Curran, M McDonald, Myles Bunn, B Wade
Note: Daniel Best fractured his ankle. 
A summary of match report, with thanks
Coolamon ensured there will be no hard luck stories told after edging clear of Griffith in the final quarter to maintain equal top spot with a 20-point victory at Kindra Park yesterday. In one of the best games of the season, there was nothing between the teams as Coolamon triumphed 16.19 (115) to 13.17 (95). With four teams vying for a share of top spot yesterday, there was plenty at stake. In the end, Coolamon added the finishing touches a little better after leading by just nine points at the final change.

Both teams put on a terrific spectacle for the large crowd and the result establishes a highly anticipated second encounter between the Hoppers and arch-rival Ganmain-GGM next Sunday.  Inspirational captain-coach Matt Hard was his team's best player, while his assistant Nigel Scott, Brendan McKelvie and Jamie Parr also played well. Hard said the challenge now was to lift again against the Lions, who had a thumping win over Leeton-Whitton. "We now have to have to back-up against the Lions, but it's these big games you look forward to."

Griffith captain-coach Adrian Burns, who didn't play through injury, was far from dissatisfied. "We had a few players out and I was pretty happy with how the boys played," he said. Griffith could have been in front at the final change after two late kicks hit the goal post.

Coolamon came out charging in the final term with their first three shots resulting in behinds before the Hoppers kicked the first of four goals. The Swans were still within sight when youngster Mathew Crack kicked a goal for his team to trail by five points before four straight kicks and marks from defence to the forward zone gave Coolamon the buffer with another goal. Coolamon kicked another goal from a 50-metre penalty before Hard closed the game late with his third. (By Graeme White - The Area News, Monday May 24, 2004). 

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OTHER MATCHES - SAT: Eastern Hawks 6.9 (45) def by Mangoplah-CUE 16.14 (110); SUN: Ganmain-GGM 26.15 (171) def Leeton-Whitton 6.10 (46), Turvey Park 13.9 (87) def by Narrandera 17.14 (116)

Reserves: Coolamon 26.18 (174) def Griffith 6.6 (42)
Goals: W Armstrong 2, D Giorgi, J Moat, C Conlan, A Trotter
Best players: Chris Conlan, D Giorgi, R Frkovic, G Ceccato, B Lanyon
Under 18: Coolamon 18.19 (127) def Griffith 7.7 (49)
Goals: K Duncan 3, K Hicken 2, D Crack, A Baker
Best players: C Munro, R Newman, B Corbett, D Crack, K Hicken