THE Jamberoo Superoos have reinforced their position at the top of the Group Seven ladder with a strong 30-12 win over the Gerringong Lions at Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday.
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The Superoos win was set up by a commanding first half, as the visitors piled on four tries in the opening 40 minutes to lead 18-nil at half-time.
The Lions on the otherhand perhaps showed the effects of playing shorthanded in recent weeks, as they seemed unable to find their usual rhythm in attack.
It didn't take Jamberoo long to open the scoring, as they made the most of a repeat set on Gerringong's line in the opening five minutes.
Jono Dallas' grubber put his side in the attacking position and his fellow halves partner Mark Asquith made the most of the opportunity as he sliced through on the right fringe. Hooker Brock Skelly slotted the conversion for a 6-nil Jamberoo lead.
That lead was soon out to double digits when Dallas hit Kyle Stone with a short ball and the Jamberoo backrower powered his way over the line for a 10-nil lead.
Things then went from bad to worse for the home side as Jamberoo ran in another try in the ensuing set after Stone's four-pointer.
Skelly jumped out of dummy-half and caught out the Gerringong blindside defenders before linking up with fullback Kurt Field who raced away to score in the corner.
Skelly couldn't knock over the sideline conversion and the Superoos' lead was out to 14-nil.
Possession swung to the Lions after Field's try, but the Lions seemed flat footed in attack and couldn't generate any opportunities that seemed to threaten the Jamberoo defence.
The Superoos on the on the other hand kept making the most of their opportunities and had their fourth try of the day through James Gilmore.
The backrower stormed into a gap off an inside ball from Field to push his side's lead out to 18-nil.
Gerringong's horror first half then continued as skipper Nathan Ford limped off in the dying stages and ultimately played no further part in the match.
Again it took Jamberoo little time to open the scoring in the second half as the visitors took the two following an early penalty.
Field took over the kicking duties from Skelly and slotted a penalty goal to push Jamberoo's lead beyond three converted tries at 20-nil.
Dillon Capaan was the next Superoo to get in on the act as a shift to the right by the visitors opened up the Lions.
The Jamberoo centre found space and threw a dummy before crossing to right of the posts.
Field added the conversion and the visitors led 26-nil with half an hour to play.
Despite the scoreline, the Lions continued to give it their all and managed to find a way over the line soon after Capaan's try.
Jake Taylor came close crossing and fill-in hooker Isaac Russell hit Joel Roberts with a short ball on the ensuing play and the Gerringong veteran crashed over.
Taylor added conversion for a 28-6 Jamberoo lead.
The home side looked like they might make it back-to-back tries when Judd Collyer stormed into a hole, but some desperate Jamberoo defence bought the Lions' prop down just short of the line.
The Superoos on the other hand kept making the most of their opportunities and soon inflicted further pain as Capaan grabbed his second try in almost identical fashion to his first to bring the score to 30-6.
There was something to cheer about for the Lions' fans late in the piece as rookie centre Ben Grant produced a fine solo effort to claim his first try in the top grade and put some respectability into the score line.
Taylor converted to round out the score at 30-12.
In a strong display, Dallas, Asquith and Field were the Superoos' best, while Corey Mulhall, Rixon Russell and Matt Winchester gave it their all for the Lions.