THE Kiama Knights improved to 2-2 on the season on Sunday after downing the Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies 34-20 at the Kiama Showground.
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Continuing their stop-start premiership defence, Matt Clarke's men were again slow out of the blocks on Sunday, conceding the match's first try after just 24 seconds - on the back of a kick-off error.
Following a strong charge by lock Blake Phillips, hooker Blake Dryden poked his head through the Knights' defensive line and slammed it down.
Halfback Billy Hayburn converted, with the help of Jack Cross, to make it 6-nil.
A sharp pass by Dylan Morris put Tom Angel into a gap, who then offloaded to centre Jay Delaney to score - after juggling the ball in the in-goal.
Cam Vazzoler added the extras and it was 6-all.
That proved to be a sign of things to come, as the 2019 premiers scored the afternoon's next three four-pointers - which all heavily involved Vazzoler.
The first, in the 13th minute, was set-up by a one-on-one strip by Vazzoler, before two play later fullback Dylan Morris ducked and weaved his way through the Magpies' defence.
The half then put rampaging prop Josh Dowel into a yawning gap - before the latter steamrolled Berry fullback Fletcher Winning.
Finally, the 2018 Michael Cronin Medal winner kicked the ball back inside for centre Callan Thistlethwaite to score.
All three tries were converted by Vazzoler, as the Knights led 24-6 after 36 minutes.
Minutes before half-time, the visitors reduced the margin when a Dryden cut-out ball put centre Luke Ryder over to score.
Hayburn failed to convert and it was 24-10 at the break.
Berry closed the margin even further nine minutes after the resumption when Hayburn accelerated into a gap and dived over.
He couldn't convert his own try and it was 24-14.
That was as close as the visitors got, as the Knights then scored two tries in quick succession.
Coming out of their own end, a quick play the ball by skipper Kieran Poole created space for Dylan Morris down the left edge - which allowed the speedster to put Brad Kilmore into space to score in the 54th minute.
Vazzoler missed his first kick of the afternoon and it was 28-14.
Six minutes later, an excellent ball by Tom Atkins put a charging Thistlethwaite into a hole, before the latter stepped winning to score his second of the afternoon.
Vazzoler added the extras and it was 34-14.
The Magpies added a late consolation try to Jack McPherson to make it 34-20 at full-time, following Hayburn's conversion.
Next up for the Knights is a trip to Flinders Field to face the Stingrays, while the Magpies have the bye in round six.