Round 5 - Saturday April 30, 2005
Riverina Football League
Venue: Griffith Exies Oval 5.00pm
Umpires: Rob Wilson, Tom McDonald and Sam Roberts (RUA)
Griffith ...................... 5.7 .. 11.9 .. 15.11 .. 21.15 (141)
Mangoplah-CUE .... 3.0 .. 10.2 .. 14.3 .. 15.3 (93)
GRIFFITH: Trent Bradley, Simon Spiers, Myles Bunn; Mathew Crack, Jeff Mickan, Matt Bunn; Ben Ford, Adrian Burns (c-c), Matthew Kenny; Nic Hetherington, Adam Brander, Rodney Simpkin; Craig Conlan, Ashley Gardner, Michael Duncan; Ryan Hill, Timason Birks, Jason Hampel; Graham Foley, Tim Matheson, Dean Catanzariti*
MANGOPLAH-COOKARDINIA UNITED-EASTLAKES: Richie Robinson, Stace Creasy, Adam Howard; Brett Howard, Dean Howard, Chris Higgins; Adam Stow, Neil Lawson, Tim Air; Peter Treloar, Rodney Smms (c-c), Xavier Higgins; Wayne Smith, Jai Warden, Craig Websdale; Sam Balding, Mitch Balding, Mitch Reberger; Damien Martin, Shaun Bennett, Ben Kendall
GOALS
Griffith: M Duncan 6, A Gardner 5, T Birks 3, Craig Conlan 3, Myles Bunn, A   Burns, J Hampel, R Simpkin
Mangoplah-CUE: R Simms 5, M Reberger 5, C Websdale 2, W Smith, P Treloar, T Air
BEST PLAYERS
Griffith: M Duncan, R Simpkin, Matt Bunn, A Gardner, S Spiers, Myles Bunn
Mangoplah-CUE: M Reberger, D Howard, S Balding, N Lawson, R Simms, C Higgins
SENIOR DEBUT: Dean Catanzariti

A summary of match report, with thanks
The Griffith Swans kept their unbeaten run at home intact on Saturday night with a hard-fought 48-point win over MCUE. A six goal to one last quarter from the Swans was enough to see off a gallant Goannas team that was behind from the outset but pressed the Swans all game.

The two-pronged attack of Ashley Gardner and Michael Duncan from the full-forward line hurt the Goannas when it counted, booting 11 goals between them. Swans coach Adrian Burns was pleased with the Swans' performance. "I's great to get the four points," Burns said.

"We had a lapse of concentration throughout the middle of the game, but we got back on track and fought the game out.  "We're getting close to the fitness level I want us to be at, but it has been hard due to an interrupted pre-season."

The Swans got off to a sizzling start but due to inaccurate licking led by 19 points at quarter time. MCUE fought back hard early in the second quarter, kicking consecutive goals but the Swans were equal to the task in what was turning into a shootout.

The Goannas seven goal second term was not enough to find the lead at the main break and trailed by 13 points.

The third quarter was a much tighter affair with the two teams going goal for goal and both sides were a chance the Swans in front by 14 points. But that was as close as MCUE was going to get as the Swans superior experience and fitness level ran over the top of the Goannas and dominated the last quarter six goals to one.

Burns said that with the grand final rematch looming this weekend against Ganmain-GGM things were looking good for the clash.

"We've still got a bit of work to do," he said. "It was good to see the return to form fully of blokes like Rod Simpkin and Jason Hampel.

"Mick Duncan brained them up forward tonight and Dean Catanzariti did okay." But it was the tackling and intensity of the Swans that impressed Burns the most. "I was happy with the tackling and pressure tonight," Burns said.

"And towards the end of every quarter we improved and lifted at the stage when teams can often kick a couple of late goals."

Burns said that he is hoping to have ruckman Dave Curran and midfielder Matt McDonald back for Sunday's game.

The win also capped off the milestone match for the Swans, something that capped off the night according to Burns.

"We made a point of it before the game," Burns said. "But these guys Jeff Mickan and Myles Bunn can now look back on the memories and in their 100th game they won. "And that's a feather in their cap."  (By Matt Malone - The Area News, Monday May 2, 2005). 

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OTHER MATCHES - SAT: Narrandera 17.19 (121) def Eastern Hawks 12.10 (82); SUN: Leeton-Whitton 13.15 (93) drew Ganmain-GGM 13.15 (93), Turvey Park 16.3 (99) def by Coolamon 33.25 (223) 

Reserves: Griffith 18.11 (119) def Mangoplah-CUE 11.12 (78)
Goals: G Argus 7, K Duncan 4, M Smith 2, G O'Connor, J Moat, D Graham, C Munro, G Dreyer
Best players: J Bennett, M Burke, K Duncan, T Wilson, G Argus, W Tyndall 
Under 18: Mangoplah-CUE 15.21 (111) def Griffith 7.7 (49)
Goals: D McGreal 2, P Dickens 2, N McGrath, J Poscoliero, J Gastin
Best players: J Ward, M Best, B Webster, D Crack, D McGreal, A Potroz