THE Gerringong Lions have added another win to their 2019 Group Seven record, downing the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles 44-18 at Centenary Field on Saturday.
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Spearheaded by first half four-try haul to Matt Winchester, Gerringong raced to a 28-6 lead in the first 40 minutes and the Eagles had little chance of clawing their way back.
It was Winchester who opened the scoring, as the Gerringong centre rose above the Park defence to pluck Rixon Russell's cross field kick from the air after just five minutes.
Gerringong's 4-nil lead didn't last long though, as a string of penalties against the visitors gave the Eagles a prime attacking chance.
Fullback Luke Patten won the race to a kick into the in-goal and Jake Brisbane's conversion saw Albion Park grab a 6-4 lead.
Again that lead was short lived, as the Lions wasted little time in adding their second.
Fullback Toby Gumley-Quine put the Lions on the attack with a blistering kick return and Winchester capitalised as he went over on the left fringe.
Jake Taylor slotted the conversion and the Lions were back in front at 10-6.
The visitors then had some luck as Winchester swooped on a loose ball and raced 60 metres to collect an early hat trick.
Taylor added another conversion and the Lions led 16-6.
That lead was soon extended further as Gerringong's other centre Alec Brookes got in on the act.
Backrower Beau Doosey popped a clever offload to Brookes and he dived over out wide.
Taylor knocked over another conversion and Gerringong's lead went out to 22-6.
Things then went from bad to worse for the Eagles as Brisbane was sin-binned for a professional foul with just under five remaining in the half.
Gerringong took quick advantage of the Park being a man short as Winchester crashed on to a ball close to the line and collected his fourth. Taylor knocked over the conversion for 28-6 score at half-time.
After a scrappy opening to the second half, it was the home side who opened their account first. Eagles' centre Kane Ball juggled a bouncing kick and touched down in the right-hand corner.
Brisbane knocked over the conversion to bring the score to 28-12.
Any chance of a Park comeback was short lived though, as the Lions posted another three tries to seal the win.
Corey Mulhall caught the Park short on the right fringe before popping a ball to Beau Doosey who burrowed over out wide.
Winchester then took a break from scoring tries to play provider, attracting the Park defence before offloading to Joel Doosey to score in the corner.
Gerringong skipper Nathan Ford then grabbed the Lions eighth and final try as he won the race to kick into the in-goal.
Taylor knocked over the conversion and the Lions were 42-12.
The Park put some respectability in to the score line with a converted try to Ben Scurr before Taylor added a late penalty goal to round out the score at 44-18.
Winchester, along with props Judd Collyer and Reece Hagan were the Lions best, while Josh Sainsbury, Brent Wake and Brisbane did all they could for the Park.