THE Warilla-Lake South Gorillas have moved back into the all-important Group Seven top five following a tough 24-14 win against the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles at Centenary Field.
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First to score on Sunday were the hosts when hooker Brent Wake scooted out from dummy-half and burrowed his way under the sticks in the seventh minute.
Blake Jones converted for 6-nil.
The scores were then tied in the 25th minute when Guy Rosewarn powered his way across the line, despite the attentions of three defenders.
Daniel Burke's conversion levelled the scores before both side's kicked a penalty goal before half-time to make it 8-all at the break.
The visitors hit in the 43rd minute when Hamish McLaurin, in his first game in Gorillas colours following a mid-week transfer from Kiama, won the race to a Burke grubber kick.
The latter added the extras and the score was 14-8.
Burke's boot was again involved in the Gorillas third when he, following an offload by Aaron Henry, kicked through a grubber which was pounced on by Chad Lisch.
Burke failed to convert and it was 18-8.
But the hosts weren't done yet, as courageous skipper Josh Sainsbury dived over in the 66th minute.
Jones' boot closed the gap to just four points, with 14 minutes left on the clock.
In the final minute of the game, the Gorillas determinedly defended their own line, as the Eagles chased a match winning four-pointer.
But after spreading the ball to the right, an Eagles pass went to ground, which was scooped up by Lisch, before the centre sprinted 80 metres to score under the black dot.
Burke's conversions from right in front made it 24-14 at full-time.
Next up for the victors is a clash with Shellharbour at Cec Glenholmes Oval on Sunday, while the Park travel to Flinders Field to face the Stingrays on the same day.