Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong Lions went head to head with the Narrandera Eagles over the weekend in a tough Riverina Football League round 14 game, which was also the Wiradjuri round.
The Lions won by a whopping 137 points made up of 22 goals and 11 behinds, bringing the final score to 22.11 (143).
Lions president Jason Hamblin said the Eagles played a persistent game and managed to give their best in the final quarter.
“Unfortunately, it was a really long day for Narrandera,” he said said.
“We played a really good brand of footy and unfortunately Narrandera weren’t overly competitive for three quarters but in the last quarter they threw the magnets around and ended up winning the last quarter.
“Credits to them, they didn’t throw in the towel and they kept working to get the win in the last quarter.”
With the Lions win against the Eagles this week, they are now sitting at the top of the ladder, separated from Turvey Park by only their percentages.
However, it is still no time to relax for the Lions as they face the Griffith Swans this weekend – they lost by 10 goals to the Swans earlier in the season.
Hamblin is keen for the game and is hoping it will be able to give an indication on how far the Lions have come this season.
“We’re very excited to take the trip to Griffith especially after last time we played them there and they beat us rather comprehensively by ten goals,” he said.
“We’ve played everyone once now and we thought Griffith was the best side we’ve played. We’d like to have another crack at it and see how much we’ve improved… we’re just hoping to go out there and be competitive against them.”
The competition aside, the round 14 game was a special day for GGGM and the Narrandera teams as they were able to celebrate the Indigenous Round together.
The aim of the Indigenous Round is to recognise the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to the game especially all the past, present and future players and members of the club.
Everyone was welcome to attend the celebration which included a ceremony hosted by Dinawan’s Connection and a gift exchange between the two clubs.
This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 27 July 2023.
