FOR the first time in five years Gerringong will not feature in the Group 7 first grade grand final after the Lions went down 22-20 to the Nowra-Bomaderry Jets in a thrilling elimination final at Nowra Showground on Saturday.
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With only seconds remaining on the clock, the Lions held a 20-18 lead and looked as if they would survive a second half Jets’ fightback, but Nowra-Bomaderry winger Keiran Brandon pounced on a grubber in the right hand corner to end the defending premiers’ season.
The Jets, who have been the season’s surprise package, will now move into next week’s preliminary final but may have to do so with out the services of captain-coach Ben Wellington who took little part in the game due to a suspected rib injury.
While recent rain had left the ground a heavy track, both sides were willing to throw the ball around in what was an end-to-end affair.
It was the visitors who opened the scoring, gifted field position from a Jets’ penalty while in possession, the Lions took advantage and Nathan Ford crossed off a Lloyd Bowen off-load.
Joel Roberts’ conversion made it 6-nil.
Just over 10 minutes later the Lions extended the lead, Rixon Russell’s bomb earnt the his side a penalty right on the Jets’ line and Peter Cronin, who had been a headache for the Jets all day, crashed over out wide for 10-nil.
Tries for the Lions seemed to be coming at regular intervals and with just under 10 minutes remaining in the half the lead was extended when Cronin powered his way over for his second.
Roberts’ conversion pushed it to 16-nil.
Just as it looked like the Lions had taken complete control, the Jets hit back.
A bust by Zac Kershaw in the middle of the field put the home side on the attack and a towering Geoff Johnson bomb bought Gerringong undone.
Jets’ fullback Isaac Mumberson showed the importance of chasing every kick and touched down just inside the dead-ball line after the ball took a right-angled bounce.
Mark Brandon coverted to send the two sides to the sheds at 16-6.
Defence was the notable factor of the opening of the second half as both sides held firm against a number of attacking raids.
With just under 15 minutes gone in the half the Jets’ defence finally faltered and Ford and Russell’s gamble on the fifth paid off.
The hooker and halfback decided to run the ball on the fifth and combined to send Russell across the line for 20-6.
Like the first half, just as the Lions looked to be taking control of the game the Jets hit back.
A penalty in possession, this time against Gerringong gave the Jets the chance they needed and Johnson found some space out wide to cross and Mark Brandons’ conversion made it 20-12.
Sensing they were in with a sniff, the Jets lifted and started to move up the field with ease, hooker Kurt Quinlan often finding easy metres around the ruck.
As they dominated possession, the penalty count swung to the Jets and they found themselves camped on the Lions’ line and set up a thrilling closing stretch.
With eight minutes remaining Peter Cronin’s season came to a premature end, as he was sin-binned following repeated Gerringong infringements.
The Jets took almost immediate advantage of the situation and prop Mick Blattner crashed over off an inside ball close to the line.
Mark Brandon’s conversion cut the gap to two at 20-18.
As time ticked by it looked like the Lions would escape with the tight win, but a scrum in the final minute gave the Jets the final chance they needed.
Knowing it was their final shot, the Jets spread the ball wide and found some space before Nathan Deaves produced a perfectly weighted grubber for Keiran Brandon to pounce on and send the home supporters in to rapturous celebration.
In a thrilling game of football, Johnson, Quinlan and Deaves were the Jets’ best, while Cronin, Ford and Jackson Merritt had fine games for the Lions.