THE Gerringong Lions, who are the current reigning-premiers, have moved to the top of the Group 7 ladder, following a derby win against previous pace-setters, the Kiama Knights.
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Heading in to the match at the Kiama Showground, the Knights were yet to suffer defeat through the first six rounds of the competition, but that streak ended in dramatic fashion on Sunday, to close-town rivals Gerringong.
For a match where fireworks were expected, the match started flat, as both teams tried to settle in to the match.
The stalemate was ended after 10 minutes when Lions’ centre Lloyd Bowen barged over from close range, after running on to a bullet pass from half Rixon Russell.
Joel Roberts added the extras and the visitors led 6-nil.
But despite a slow start, the hosts equalled the score in the 20th minute, when fullback Tom Atkins found a hole in the defensive line, to run 15 metres and put the ball down next to the sticks.
The fullback converted his own try and the score was 5-all.
This was short-lived, as the Lions made the most of a repeat set on the hosts line, when five-eighth Pat Cronin dived over from dummy-half.
Roberts converted to make it 12-6.
The Knights then had two chances in two tackles to level the scores but were held up by the determined Lions’ defence both times.
Matters were made worse for the hosts when, off the back of a 40 metre Rixon Russell break, Nathan Ford dived over under the posts.
Roberts made it three from three, as the lead grew to 12, which was the half-time score.
If not for sensational cover defence by Marc Laird, who chopped down a flying Joel Doosey, the lead could have been extended early in the second half.
But moments later, winger Doosey had his try, out-jumping his opposite number to catch a Rixon Russell bomb, before converted, making it 24-6.
With 20 minutes to go, Roberts landed a penalty kick from 25 metres out, extending the lead to 26-6.
Kiama kept their faint chance alive when centre James Brown scored with 15 to go. Atkins converted and the score was 26-12.
But the Gerringong offloading proved the difference as the match was iced by Doosey, who scored his second try of the afternoon.
Roberts kept his radar-like performance going with the boot, to make the final score 32-12.
The Lions, who now sit on top of the ladder by one point after the first seven rounds, were led by Rixon Russell, Doosey, Tim Moore, Kal Collins and Brad Davidson.
While the Knights, who suffered their first loss of 2016, had strong games from Atkins, Kieran Poole, Vaughan Thistlethwaite and Josh Toohey.
