THE Gerringong Lions have finished the 2020 Group Seven regular season as undefeated minor premiers after a scrappy 36-28 win over the Stingrays of Shellharbour at Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday.
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In blustery conditions, the Lions did just enough to finish over the top of the Stingrays, who did all they could as they looked to finish a much improved 2020 season with another win.
The Lions, who went into the game with first place already secured, will now enjoy a welcome week off before beginning their finals campaign against the winner of Jamberoo and Warilla-Lake South in two weeks' time.
It was the visitors who started strong on Saturday.
Prop Jake Kamire crashed over in the opening minutes and Hamish McLaurin's conversion put the Stingrays up 6-nil.
That lead was soon doubled when McLaurin caught the Gerringong defence hesitating and burrowed his way over under the post.
The fullback converted his own try and the lead was out to 12-nil.
It was then the Lions who finally clicked into gear and trimmed the lead to six when Jordan Chandler brushed through the defence to race away and score.
Tyran Wishart slotted the conversion for 12-6.
Centre Hamish Holland then proved too strong close to the line and crossed out wide to bring the score to 12-10 with just over 15 gone.
That score would stand until the 30-minute mark when Gerringong's Beau Doosey strolled across almost untouched to score under the posts.
Wishart converted for the Lions' first lead at 16-10.
It looked as if the Lions would hold that lead at the break until rookie Stingrays' pivot Jack Bostock caught them out with a kick in behind the line.
Centre Anthony Nabbe pounced on the ball and got it back to Bostock to score.
McLaurin converted and the scores were level at 16-all at the break.
Unlike the first half, the Lions came out firing to start the second and soon had the lead back.
Kayne Brennan crashed through the Stingrays defence and found Doosey in support who muscled his way over for his second.
Wishart converted and the Lions led 22-16.
Wishart then grabbed a try of his own, crashing on to a short ball off Rixon Russell to touch down under the posts and his fourth conversion gave the Lions 28-16 lead.
The Stingrays weren't about to let the Lions have it all their own way and momentum soon swung back to the visitors.
As he did in the first half, Kamire proved too big close to the line and barged over for his second.
McLaurin converted to bring the score to 28-22.
With 15 to play the Stingrays would level the scores thanks to Nabbe.
The centre grabbed another bouncing ball and this time raced away to score. McLaurin converted for 28-all.
With just over five to go, the Lions pinched back the lead thanks to a penalty goal by Wishart.
Despite their best efforts, the Stingrays couldn't keep up with Lions as time ticked on and the home side sealed the win when Doosey barrelled over late in the game for his third.
Wishart converted to round out the score at 36-28.
The win also sealed the Lions' sixth ever club championship, which they've previously claimed in 1990, 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
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