Griffins deny ball tampering allegations

Following the weekend of the first trial matches for season 2018, allegations have been thrown at the Newcastle Griffins RUFC for ball tampering.

Unlike the Australian Cricket team, there were no cameras in place to provide the required evidence to confirm the allegations. The game was held at Walters Park, which of course is an “away” venue for the Griffins.

During warmups, fullback John Gumb was having a smoke and sausage roll while his team mates were being put through their drills. John was witnessed by an opposition canteen operator, Beryl Bernstein, putting what she describes as an “extremely excessive “ amount of sauce on his sausage roll.

Beryl explains “...nobody eats that much sauce. So I watched the guy. He walked over to the game ball and started dropping the sauce onto the ball. Then he was rubbing the ball on his shorts as if he was polishing the ball. I didn’t understand what I was seeing.”

When question by The Griffins Gazette, Gumb denied having any interest in polishing a rugby ball. However, information from an unnamed source has revealed Gumb was nervous about his kicking ability at fullback and wanted the ball to travel further off the boot. The unnamed source went on to add that Gumb has a notoriously sketchy history of ball tampering when playing in the fullback position.

Griffins officials are refusing to comment on the matter but wish to pass on to anyone interested in playing their first game of rugby or making a return from an earlier career, they should text “play rugby” to 0421 305 663