Football
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GRIFFITH'S dominance in bush football continued over the Queen's Birthday long weekend with two local sides claiming the Football NSW Country Cup for their age divisions.
Representing the Riverina branch, Griffith's under 13 and under 14 boys outfits returned from their tournaments in Broulee and Mudgee on Monday with the coveted silverware in tow.
Anthony Vecchio's under 13s side continued its undefeated run in 2014, winning all bar the opening game on Saturday against the Southern Branch, which finished in a 1-1 draw.
"We started pretty slow first up, but we beat Southern the following day pretty convincingly, so that was a big turnaround," Vecchio said.
"After that first game, everything clicked and by the end of Sunday, they were playing really, really well."
Riverina went on to beat the Western Branch 3-0 in the other game on Saturday before a 7-0 rout of Southern.
But the team's unbeaten streak looked to be over at one stage during the final game, when Western opened up a shock 2-0 lead early in the match.
However, Vecchio's men showed great character to claw back and take a 3-2 triumph.
"We had it won already, but the boys came back and showed real heart in that game," Vecchio said.
"It just proved how much depth we've got in the side.
"I can't pick out anyone that played exceptionally - the whole 11 and all the substitutions did well.
"It was a whole team effort and a great performance - our boys played fantastic football in all four games."
The Riverina under 14s went one better, winning all four games in Mudgee and conceding just one goal all tournament.
They began in ominous fashion, crushing Southern 10-0 and Western 3-0 on Saturday before a huge 8-1 win over Southern clinched them the Country Cup.
"They all played really well - there weren't many individual standouts, but Torren Blanch and Josh DeRossi played most of the games and held the centre of the park for us extremely well," coach Ben Duggan said.
"The squad played very, very good football - the stadium itself in Mudgee is immaculate and it lends itself well to good football being played.
"We had a few boys that weren't in the squad that were involved in the Branch Titles, but we brought up two of the under 12s to replace them, Jake Serena and Liam Blanch."
Griffith teams were also in action on home soil, with the city's under 13 and under 15 girls representing the Riverina in the Country Cup at Hanwood Oval.
However, only the under 15s were able to pull through with a win, beating Southern 2-1 on Sunday.
The under 13s drew 2-2 in both their games on day one but their hopes of seizing the country crown were shattered with a 4-1 loss to Southern.