Lee Stackhouse loses grip on a Wagga Waratahs player at the Cootamundra 10s tournament on Saturday
David Baxter takes down a Waratahs player at the Cootamundra 10s.
Rugby union
AN UNDEFEATED run at the Cootamundra 10s tournament has furthered Griffith's credentials as a potential Southern Inland Rugby Union darkhorse this season.
The Blacks claimed wins over the Wagga Waratahs (27-7), Rivcoll (24-7) and Young (29-12) on Saturday in the club's first competitive trial matches of the year.
New coach Lee Kimball let the side off the leash, asking them to simply show him what they could do with no structures or gameplan to adhere to.
What he got back a reflection of the natural talent and ability of his players, he said.
"It was exactly what I was looking for."
"It was more for the boys to go out and have some fun, run around and see what happens.
"The guys that I had pegged from seeing them at training like Tom Russell, Mathias Alard, Enoch Tia they all lived up to what I thought of them.
"There was some outstanding defence and it was that attitude that I really look a lot out of. To get that vibe from the guys so early in the season really impressed me."
And Kimball could yet have pulled off another big-name coup.
New Leeton Greens signing and former union prodigy Kolo Lomu made a surprise appearance in Cootamundra and it may not be his last in a Blacks jersey.
"Kolo's been at training, and training a lot. I didn't expect him to be around as much as he has been," Kimball said.
"He's obviously enjoying it. I'm not going to say if he's playing both it's up to him really.
"But if he comes to training and says he wants to play it doesn't worry me one bit.
"It's not up to us to stop him."
Griffith's three victories were not enough to earn qualification for the final, while a second Blacks side made up largely of fringe players went through winless on Saturday.
Attention now turns to the proper 15-a-side version of the game with trial matches against Cobar, Deniliquin and Hay lined up for this weekend in Goolgowi.