GERRINGONG have taken another step towards securing the 2013 Group 7 minor premiership after a 32-22 win over Jamberoo at Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday.
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The Lions set up the win with a blistering opening 10 minutes that saw them jump out to a 16-nil lead.
The Superoos tried valiantly to overcome the deficit and managed to claw their way to within four points of the Lions in the second half, but Gerringong did what they needed to do to remain undefeated on home soil.
Gerringong could not have got off to a better start, after two big hits by Jamberoo to start the game, Nathan Ford caught the Superoos looking for a third and the hooker darted out of dummy-half and raced away to score.
Joel Roberts converting to make it 6-nil.
There was more pain soon after for Jamberoo, the Lions moved the ball easily up-field and extended their lead to 10-0 when Brad Davidson crossed.
The Superoos seemingly had no answer to the Lions in the opening stanza and Gerringong made the most of another trip into Jamberoo territory when Peter Cronin crashed over, Roberts converting to make it 16-nil.
After Cronin’s try both sides seemed to lose their way somewhat, as handling errors from both sides became a common occurrence.
Aided by two quick penalties, Gerringong managed to regain some composure and found themselves attacking the Superoos’ line once again and the Lions struck gold again, shifting the ball wide to the right to allow Taylor Hudson to stroll over in the corner.
Roberts’ sideline conversion made it 22-nil.
While the Lions would have liked to keep the visitors scoreless before half-time, Jamberoo had other ideas and captain-coach Matt Coehlo got his side on the bord after scrambling over the line just before half-time, Jarrod Schodde converted for 22-6.
Coehlo’s try seemed to give Jamberoo some much needed momentum and they started the second half in stark contrast to the first.
An early penalty put them on the attack and they took advantage of the situation. Some second phase play allowed James Asquith to dive over, Schodde’s conversion making it 22-12.
The visitors then cut the gap even more, Coehlo found some space in the middle of the field and raced away to score his second, with Schodde’s conversion bringing it to 22-18.
Realising they were in danger of losing their comfortable lead, the Lions clicked into gear and the likes of Ford, Rixon Russell and Brad Davidson started to find space out of dummy half.
Constantly on the back foot, the Superoos conceded a string of penalties and the Lions made them pay, Tim Moore crashing over next to the uprights from a tap.
Roberts’ conversion pushing the lead to 10 at 28-18.
Jamberoo were again their own worst enemies shortly after, a penalty put the Lions on attack again and some quick hands put Ben Wiringi over in the corner to make it 32-18.
Jamberoo were not done yet and a bust by Gavin Jarrett put them in prime field position and they gave themselves some slim hope when Josh Saunders pounced on grubber to bring it 32-22.
It was too little too late though, as the Lions held on for the win.
For Gerringong, Ford continued his stellar second half of the season turning in another strong performance along with Moore and Cronin, while Asquith, Coehlo and Jarrett stood out for the Superoos.