THE youthful Warilla-Lake South Gorillas are a step closer to their 2020 Group Seven premiership dream after scoring a thrilling 28-22 win over Jamberoo Superoos at Kevin Walsh Oval on Saturday.
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After almost withdrawing from the competition at the last minute over COVID-19 concerns, the Gorillas will now face the unbeaten Gerringong Lions in the grand final qualifier at Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday, while the Superoos face a sudden-death clash with Kiama Knights at Bomaderry Sports Complex on Sunday - in a 2019 grand final replay.
Saturday's game was played in warm conditions but this didn't take anything away from the quality of the play, with a total of nine tries scored in the game.
The first half started with Jamberoo supplying the early pressure and in the sixth minute, they took an early lead when classy prop Jayden Morgan stormed over close to the posts off a Jono Dallas pass.
Kurt Field converted for a handy 6-nil lead.
Unfortunately for Jamberoo they lost returning second-rower James Gilmore to an existing calf injury, which may keep him out for several more weeks.
Play fluctuated from one end of the field to the other as both sides tried to get the upper hand.
The Gorillas hit back in the 18th minute when a towering bomb out wide was spilled by Roos winger Nathan Gallestegui and his opposite number, rookie Liam Vane-Tempest, was on the spot to dive on the loose ball.
The conversion attempt was unsuccessful by Blair Grant, as the home side held a 6-4 lead - which they managed to hold until half-time.
The second half was a try-fest and started in just the second minute after the resumption when Gorillas skipper and half Blair Grant speared through a yawning gap.
He converted his own four-pointer, to give his side a 10-8 lead.
Just four minutes later, it was Jamberoo's turn when in form second-rower Simon Maslanka charged past the disorganised defence to score - with Field converting.
Just minutes later, the hosts went further ahead when five-eighth Mark Asquith went through similar poor defence to cross near the posts.
Fullback Field again converted to give the home side a handy 18-10 advantage.
That roll seemed likely to continue at the end of the next six tackles when Field landed a vital 40-20 kick but the game turned in its head when a poor Jamberoo pass was intercepted by Gorillas young centre Callum Gromek to release the pressure.
Unfortunately for Gromek, he was crunched in a tackle as he sped away and appears to have sustained a serious season-ending shoulder injury.
A huge charge by Gorillas front-rower Guy Rosewarn gave his side excellent field position in the 58th minute and this led to his fellow prop Blake Dowel charging over under the posts.
Just five minutes later, five-eighth Jake Brisbane split the Jamberoo defence on halfway and he found 'super-sub' Tyrone Roberts trailing through to race away and put the Gorillas back in front 22-18.
The Superoos weren't finished however and a great individual try by captain-coach Jono Dallas, who raced past several Warilla defenders to level the scores.
Field's conversion, however, was wide and with just over 10 minutes remaining the scores were locked at 22-all.
Read more: 2020 Group Seven team of the year revealed
Four minutes later, it was Blair Grant who produced the clutch play when he angled a grubber-kick towards the Jamberoo line and as he had done just four weeks ago, when the Gorillas scored an upset 28-24 win, Roberts was again on hand to touch down for his second try and Grant converted for a 28-22 win.
In the major semi-final win, Dowel, Blair and Duke Grant and Rosewarn led the way for the Gorillas, as Field, Luke and Mark Asquith and Maslanka did all they could for the hosts.
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