The perfect start to the season for the Griffith Swans A grade side has come to an end following their showdown with two-time premiers Mangoplah Cookardinia United-Eastlakes on Saturday at Exies Oval.
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The Mangoplah side made a good start to the match to get three straight goals before the game settled, and the sides started to go goal for goal.
The Swans went on a four-goal run with Markala Johnson leading the way with seven goals for the quarter, but the Goannas went on a run late in the opening term to take a 13-11 lead into the break.
It was a similar start to the second quarter with Mangoplah starting strong before the Swans, against lead by Johnson with eight goals for the quarter, clawed their way back into the game.
The Goannas got as far as a seven-goal lead, but three goals to the Swans late in the quarter saw Mangoplah leading 26-22 at the main break.
It was the third quarter where the pressure from the Goannas started to pay off as they got out to a 16-goal lead which would clinch them the game.
The Swans got a couple late in the quarter to see them trailing by 13 heading into the final term.
Griffith tried their hardest to get back into the match, but the huge swing in the third term saw them fall to a 56-40 defeat.
Due to the tightness of the battle for a place inside the top three, the defeat sees the Swans drop down to third, with Mangoplah rising to first while Coolamon site just ahead of the Griffith side in second.
There were some positive results in the lower grades, with the A reserve side pulling a bit of an upset to defeat the previously undefeated Goannas side in a one-point thriller which is a 32-point turnaround from the last time the two sides faced off.
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The B graders were also able to pick up the two points with a 44-33 win over Mangoplah, which sees them in a strong position to cement a place in the top three when finals roll around while the C Grade side fell to a 36-25 defeat which sees them fall four points behind fifth-placed Leeton.
The under 17s side stayed well and truly in the hunt for a finals position with a huge 55-22 win.
The Swans are currently two points behind the sides in the top five, which sees a three-way tie between Narrandera, Leeton-Whitton and Collingullie.
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