THE Kiama Knights have continued their run to the Group Seven finals series with a hard fought 16-12 win over the Gerringong Lions at Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday.
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In front of a large crowd, the Knights set up the win over their neighbours in the first half when they jumped out to a 16-nil lead.
The visiting side then turned a determined defensive effort in the second half as the Lions threw everything they had at Kiama, in an effort to mount a comeback.
It was Kiama who started the game more enthusiastically and made the most of some early pressure through Cameron Vazzoler.
After finding themselves on the Lions' line following a penalty, the Kiama halfback stepped his way through the Gerringong defence and crossed to the right of the posts.
Vazzoler converted his own try and the Knights led 6-nil after eight minutes.
That lead would stand for another 15 minutes as both sides tightened up their defence until some more ill-discipline bought Gerringong undone.
A fifth-tackle penalty put Knights on the attack and they grabbed their second through Tom Angel.
A grubber in to the in-goal by Vazzoler wasn't cleaned up by the Lions and the Kiama backrower dived on a bouncing ball to score.
Vazzoler added the conversion and Kiama led 12-nil with around 15 remaining in the half.
The Knights then soon extended their lead thanks to some clever work by Ethan Ford.
The Kiama centre held off his opposite number before slipping a clever off load to Brad Killmore, who dived over in the corner and the Knights led 16-nil with just over 10 to play in the half.
While the Knights were making the most of their chances, the home side were guilty of letting try scoring opportunities go begging, as they found themselves making ground through the Knights' right edge but could get the ball over the line.
Tensions then boiled over a little and both sides were reduced to 12 men when Kiama's Matt Morris and Gerringong's Joel Roberts were sin-binned.
Gerringong then had their best chance of the half when Rixon Russell cut through the Knights' line but the Gerringong half was brought down close to the line and the 16-nil score stood at the break.
The Knights kept up the pressure in the second half and looked like they had extended their lead through Tom Atkins soon after play resumed, but Kiama fullback was denied a try following an obstruction in the lead up.
Possession swung to Gerringong following Atkins' no try, but the Kiama defence held solid and the Lions couldn't trim the Knights' lead.
The 16-nil scoreline would stand until just over 15 minutes to play, when the Lions finally opened their account.
Prop Alexander Weir popped a ball to Nathan Ford and the Gerringong hooker found Judd Collyer in support, who crossed under the posts.
Jake Taylor converted for 16-6.
It was then Taylor who clawed the Lions closer to a comeback, when the Gerringong lock crashed over on the left fringe following a string of Kiama penalties.
Taylor converted his own try and the Knights held a four-point lead at 16-12 with 10 to play.
The final 10 minutes saw the Lions throw all they had at Kiama, but the visitors' defence held firm and managed to escape with the win - seeing the visitors claim both the Danny Morse Shield and 2GB Cup.
For the Knights, Vazzoler, Angel and Daniel Martin had strong games, while Russell, Taylor and Reece Hagan did all they could for the Lions.