THE Gerringong Lions remain at the top of the Group Seven ladder after a rollercoaster 30-28 win over reigning premiers the Kiama Knights at Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday afternoon.
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The Lions fought back from a 20-12 half-time deficit to snatch the win but were made to sweat it out as Knights' halfback Cameron Vazzoler had the chance to lock the two sides up late in the game.
The win means Gerringong and Nowra-Bomaderry remain the competitions only two undefeated sides, while Kiama is again ruing one that got away after going down to Warilla-Lake South by two points in their previous match.
It was a dream start for the visitors who found themselves attacking the Lions' line in the opening stages.
Strong-running backrower Tom Angel hit a short-ball of Dylan Morris and powered over in the third minute.
Vazzoler slotted the conversion for a 6-nil lead.
Unlike the Knights, it took the Lions a little while to register their first points of the game.
After a period of pressure, the home side struck in the 16th minute, when a shift to the right saw Hamish Holland send rookie winger Denver Ford over for his first try.
Jake Taylor nailed the conversion from out wide to level the scores.
The Knights soon regained the lead when Morris layed on a perfect grubber for Tom Atkins who swooped on the ball under the posts.
Vazzoler's conversion gave the Knights a 12-6 lead.
That lead was soon out to eight when Vazzoler added a penalty goal.
Ill-discipline would continue to hurt the Lions as Kiama made the most of another Gerringong infringement.
Skipper Kieran Poole stormed into a yawning hole of Vazzoler, with the Knights' half converting for a 20-6 lead.
As the Knights looked well in control, the Lions found a way back into the game as their commitment to playing through the middle third put them on the attack.
Kayne Brennan continued his strong start to his time as a Lion, cannoning into the Knights' defence and over for the Lions' second try.
Taylor knocked over the conversion for a 20-12 scoreline that would stand until half-time.
It was Gerringong who came out full of running in the second half and wasted little time in pegging the visitors back.
Halves Tyran Wishart and Rixon Russell combined for some ad-lib play which on the Knights' line and gave fullback Matt Whinchester just enough space to force his way over.
Taylor's third conversion trimmed Kiama's lead to 20-16.
Both sides continued to play expansive football despite the heavy track underfoot and Kiama soon hit back.
A dummy by Morris put the Lions' defence on their heels and the livewire fullback crossed for his first try and a 24-16 Kiama lead.
The Knights would hold that lead for a further 10 minutes before the Lions came home with a wet sail and ran in three consecutive tries.
A bust by Wishart put the Lions on the attack and their second phase play bought the Knights undone again as a series of offloads on the ensuing play allowed Russell to dive over.
Taylor converted to bring the Lions to 24-22 with just under 20 to go.
It was then Taylor who gave Gerringong their first lead of the game after Wishart again cut the Knights' defence open.
Corey Mulhall turned the rangy backrower underneath and Taylor powered his way over to put the Lions ahead 26-24.
With just over five minutes remaining, the Lions extended that lead and looked to have sealed the game.
Brennan again proved too strong for the Kiama defence close to the line, this time shrugging off Kiama defenders to send Joel Doosey over in the corner for a 30-24 Gerringong lead.
Just as it looked like the Lions had the game wrapped up, Morris swooped on a Lions pass and raced 90 metres to score.
A committed chase by Nathan Ford kept the speedster from improving the position too much and that proved vital as Vazzoler couldn't add the conversion with three minutes remaining.
The Knights were handed a late chance to steal the win but the Gerringong defence proved resolute to snuff out the Knights' final attacking raid.
