SAM Murray didn't get the result he was after but the former Collingwood player was rapt to be playing again after almost two years out of the game.
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Murray was solid rather than spectacular in Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong's one-point loss to Wagga Tigers at Ganmain on Saturday.
It was his first appearance since returning a positive match-day drug test.
Murray and his teammates struggled to run the match out after leading by four goals with Wagga Tigers forward Luke Gestier kicking the winning goal from 40-metres only seconds before the final siren.
"I definitely knew that (last kick) was it really. It's not quite a boyhood dream because the siren hadn't gone, but I knew there wasn't much time left," Gestier said.
It was Gestier's fifth goal after he spent the first half in defence.
Murray's brother, Nick, was dominant with four goals while Matt Neagle provided plenty of run and carry further afield.
Louis Miller backed up last week's four goal haul against Turvey Park with another three.
The loss was compounded by an ankle injury to young forward Riley Corbett, who looks set to miss at least a couple of weeks.
Lions coach Christin Macri said the fundamentals let his team down late.
"Our boys maybe thought they had it won," Macri said.
"It was a disappointing way to finish."
The result has ensured a logjam in the six-team competition, with Wagga Tigers, Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong, Osborne and MCUE on one victory from two matches.
Leeton-Whitton is undefeated with Turvey Park yet to open their account after two big losses.