THE Warilla-Lake South Gorillas have sounded a warning to all Group Seven rivals by ending Jamberoo Superoos unbeaten start to the season with a 20-16 win at Cec Glenholmes Oval on Sunday.
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After struggling at times this season, the Gorillas overcame the loss of inspirational forward Aaron Henry with a head injury in the opening minutes, to outstay the visitors in wet and breezy conditions, meaning they stay in touch with the top group of teams and gave them a big chance of climbing further up the table in coming weeks.
For the Superoos, who went into the game without a reshuffled combination through injuries, the loss will now mean that they will now face second-placed Gerringong Lions at Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday for the competition lead.
After the early loss of Henry, the home team were able to open a 4-nil lead early through two penalty goals to lock Daniel Burke as both sides battled to come to terms with the slippery conditions.
It wasn't until the 21st minute that the Superoos were able to level the scores when five-eighth Mark Asquith was able to brush off a couple of defenders in a great burst to score out wide.
Dean Watling was unable to convert and the scores remained at 4-all.
Both sides were putting pressure on their opposite defence and in the 33rd minute Gorillas backrower Jake Kinzett, who boasts probably the best hair-do in the competition, was able to stretch out from close range to score and Burke missed the conversion, however the Warilla aside had taken an 8-4 lead.
Just when it appeared that they had done enough to keep the lead until the break, the Superoos spread the ball wide and centre Dillon Capaan sliced through out wide two minutes from the break to score.
This time Watling was on target and the competition leaders went to half-time ahead 10-8.
The Gorillas probably won the game in the first 15 minutes of the second half when they muscled up in defence and turned away wave after wave of Jamberoo attacking raids.
It wasn't until the 62nd minute that Warilla levelled again when Burke landed his third penalty goal before they grabbed the lead when Watling was unable to handle a mid-field bomb in the wet conditions and the ball was scooped away to a flying Chad Lisch, who raced over out wide.
Burke missed the conversion and the home side were in front 14-10.
Kicking had become a vital part of both teams attack and Jamberoo went back to the lead just six minutes later when lock Luke Asquith won the race to a Brock Skelly grubber-kick inches from the dead-ball line and Watling converted to see the Superooos back in front again 16-14.
But it was Lisch who had the final say when he again showed his speed when he won the race against a rolling ball from a kick in the 72nd minute and Burke calmly landed the sideline conversion to wrap up a 20-16 victory.
The Warilla pack of man-of-the-match Hans Schuster, Lloyd Thomas, Jake Kinzett and Daniel Burke who led the way, well supported by Lisch and Kye Deane, while Mark Asquith, Kieran Pierce, in his 250th first grade appearance, Luke Asquith and Kyle Stone never stopped trying for the Superoos.