IT WAS far from its best performance of the season but Griffith returned to winning ways at Cranfield Oval on Saturday.
The reigning premier came away with a scrappy 25-15 win over a struggling Young to score its first win for a month.
The Blacks haven’t enjoyed success since a 23-point win over Waratahs in May, and despite the lacklustre performance co-coach Nick Gleeson is looking to use the win to build momentum before the Southern Inland split.
“It was pretty disappointing I guess but I’m happy to get the win,” Gleeson said.
“In the first half the boys were too keen, giving away penalties going for the ball all the time instead of standing back and whacking them in defence.
“That’s what got them down their end of the field and any team in this competition if you give them field position like we did they will capitalise.”
Gleeson thought the team’s discipline was better in the second half which helped them overturn a 15-7 deficit at the break.
The fact they kept the Yabbies scoreless in the second half is another bonus but there’s plenty of room for improvement.
Missing a handful of key players including Chris Latu, Dan Dowson and Semisi Rogoyawa, Gleeson was happy with how so many stepped up in their absence.
Full-time
GRIFFITH 25 (L Lale, A de Meyer, V Mateo tries; V Mateo 2 cons, 2 pens) d YOUNG 15
