The Lions’ win was spearheaded by a four try performance from hooker Nathan Ford and the game was as good as won when the visitors took a 20-point lead to halftime.

It was Berry who opened the scoring though.

Magpies’ hooker Blake Dryden made the most of an early Gerringong error and burrowed over from dummy half for 4-0.

Berry didn’t hold the lead for long, Ford soon found some space near the line himself and darted over for his first TRYof the day, Peter Cronin converted to give Gerringong a 6-4 lead.

Berry soon had an ideal chance to retake the lead when Nathan Benney broke through the line, but his off-load went to ground and a four pointer went begging.

Despite the sloppy conditions, Gerringong were still wilLing to throw the ball around, and some second-phase play saw them move the ball up field before earning a repeat set.

They then made the most of the opportunity, shifting the ball to the left hand side to send Peter Cronin over virtually untouched.

The centre converted his own try for 12-4.

The Lions’ second try seemed to blow away any off season cobwebs and they started to take control of the game.

They soon found themselves on the Berry line again and Ford looked like he had his second, but was ruled to have lost the ball over the line.

He didn’t have to wait long for his second though.

Patrick Cronin stepped his way through the Berry defence before linking up with Rixon Russell who found Ford in support and he raced away to score under the posts and Peter Cronin’s conversion pushed the lead to 18-4.

Gerringong continued to control the ball and a penalty soon saw them with another prime attacking opportunity and Lloyd Bowen capitalised when he stormed through a gap in the Magpies’ defence.

Peter Cronin converted for a 24-4 Gerringong lead at halftime.

Despite Gerringong’s handy lead, Berry didn’t come out of sheds having given up and they again scored the first try of the half.

A clever set play near the line caught the Gerringong defence out and Mitch Liddicoat crashed over and Josh Coulter’s conversion made it 24-10.

The visitors weren’t about to let Berry back into the game and soon had their 20-point lead back when Ford grabbed his third and Peter Cronin continued his perfect day with the boot.

Things then went from bad to worse for Berry when Benney, who had been their best, was forced from the field due to injury.

The game then entered a period that is best to be forgotten, as both sides traded errors.

It was Gerringong who broke out of the funk first, Peter Cronin found space out wide and sent Joel Doosey downfield.

The winger found the seemingly ever present Ford and he grabbed his fourth and final try.

Peter Cronin kept his perfect record intact for the day and made it 36-10.

Berry then put some respectability into the score with late tries to Blake Harris-Davis and James Dinnie to round out the score at 36-20.

For Gerringong Ford, Bowen and Peter Cronin all had strong games, while Benney, Jack McPherson and Corey Stynes did all they could for Berry.