WARILLA-LAKE SOUTH Gorillas scored a late try and ran away with a 22–20 victory over the Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies at Berry Showground on Saturday.
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In a brilliant and hard hitting game of rugby league, the Gorillas cherished their first victory of the season.
The young Magpies put up a real fight, in front of a massive home crowd in attendance for the team’s first home game of 2016.
Berry did turnover plenty of possession in their own territory and were asked to defend on their own goal line, which proved to be too much in the end.
A minute silence took place before kick-off as both teams and the crowd paid respects to 1960s premiership winning player and Berry legend Allan Ryan.
Off the back of a penalty, Magpies front rower Matt Pollard threw a freakish offload to set up Blake Ryder under the posts.
Josh Coulter converted and Berry led 6-nil.
Warilla would hit back, through tries to centre Blake Colgan and Ben Cotter, who would sprint 30 metres after receiving a pass from Josh Kent.
Fullback Chad Lisch converted both tries as Warilla led 12-6.
The Magpies muscled up in defence and were rewarded for their hard work through two converted tries by Blake Dryden.
At the break, Berry led 18–12.
Both teams would have to bring their open brand of footy to a halt, as the rain started to tumble.
Warilla managed to gain penalties and regain possession in opposition territory, which led to hooker Ryan Hodgson to barge over from dummy-half.
Chad Lisch converted as both teams were locked up at 18-all with 20 minutes left.
Five minutes later ,Josh Coulter slotted an important penalty goal right between the sticks as the men in black and white led 20 – 18.
Warilla applied a lot of pressure to Berry’s defence, leading to centre Blake Colgan to setting up Jaryd Pepper on the western touchline, to seal a 22-20 victory over the Magpies.
Ben Cotter, Ryan Hodgson, Nick Nikitaras, Dan Scalan and Josh Kent were the stand outs for the Gorillas.
While Blake Dryden, Josh Coulter, Lachy Dresser, Jake Gould and Dylan Buchanan fought hard for Berry-Shoalhaven Heads.