EIGHTEEN unanswered points by the Gerringong Lions on Sunday has ended the finals hopes of the Nowra-Bomaderry Jets, as Michael Cronin's men ran out winners 18-10.
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Needing a win to guarantee their spot in the finals, the hosts at the Nowra Showground scored the match's first two tries.
The first came in the 26th minute, when Dwyane Connors put fullback PJ Ardler through a hole, off a scrum on the Lions' 40 metre line - with the latter just getting the ball down despite pressure from his opposite number Toby Gumley-Quine.
Dylan Farrell made amends for his earlier missed kick by converting from near the western touchline, to make it six-nil to the hosts.
Four minutes, the Jets had their second, when a Farrell flick pass put centre Ryan James into space down the right edge, before the latter stood up Gumley-Quine to score.
Farrell failed to convert and it was 10-nil after 31 minutes.
Despite the Jets dominating for most of the half, just before the break the Lions had their first -when Gumley-Quine used his speed to get outside Josh Coulter top score.
Jake Taylor made no mistake with the conversion, to make it 10-6 at the break.
The Jets held this four-point advantage until they handed the Lions their second try in the 59th minute.
Off a scrum on their 10 metre line, a Rhys Fagerlund pass was grounded by Elliot Stewart, which saw Lions' Hamish Holland pick up the ball and score under the sticks.
Taylor's conversion gave the visitors their first lead (12-10) of the match, with 20 minutes to play.
This moment proved pivotal, as the Jets downward spiral started.
Firstly inspiration captain/coach Farrell was forced from the field with a hamstring injury, before the match was iced by a dummy-half run by Beau Doosey in the 73rd minute.
Taylor's third straight kick made it 18-10, which is how it ended.
In the win, Rixon Russell, Taylor, Gumley-Quine and Joel Doosey were fantastic, while James, Zac Kershaw, Farrell and Ardler did all they could in the loss.
This loss, combined with Warilla-Lake South's win against Albion Park-Oak Flats, sees the Jets miss out on semi-final football.
The Lions, who locked up third with the win, will now play Jamberoo in Saturday's qualifying final at Kevin Walsh Oval.
This means Kiama will host Warilla in the elimination final on Sunday, with minor premiers Shellharbour having the weekend off.