THE Albion-Park Oak Flats Eagles have kept up their strong start to the 2021 season, grinding out 28-26 win over reigning premiers Gerringong Lions at Centenary Field on Saturday night.
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After notching up their first win over the Shellharbour Sharks in more than a decade in their last game, the Eagles snapped a home losing streak against the Lions that stretched back to 2014 with the win.
For the Lions, it was their first loss since 2019 and they will now look to bounce back against the Sharks at home next week.
It was Gerringong who opened the scoring after having the better of possession in the opening stages.
Skipper Nathan Ford turned Alexander Weir under near the line and the rangy lock-forward crashed over.
Jake Taylor converted for a 6-nil lead.
While both sides haven't struggled to score points this year, Saturday afternoon and its blustery conditions proved different and the next points didn't come until a Taylor penalty goal extended the Lions lead to 8-nil with more than 20 minutes gone.
The Eagles would be the next to score when the Lions couldn't field a Park kick.
Fullback George Campbell swooped on the loose ball and crossed to the left of the posts.
Campbell converted for an 8-6 scoreline.
The Lions hit back soon after through their fullback when Cooper Roberts notched a try in his first grade debut.
The rookie ducked under the Eagles defence close to the line and dived over under the posts.
Taylor converted and the Lions lead 14-6 with just under 10 minutes left in the half.
The Lions lead was soon extended again when Ford caught the Park defence out and crashed over from dummy-half.
Taylor added another conversion and the Lions held a 20-6 lead that would stand until the break.
Points were again hard to come by in the second half, with the score not changing until the game had just about ticked into the final quarter.
It was the home side who were the next to score, this time through new recruit Chase Stanley.
The former New Zealand international was on the end of long ball and got outside of the Lions' defence to cross out wide.
The Park wasted little time in going back to back and Stanley was again heavily involved.
The centre attracted the Lions' defence before producing a flick pass to send winger Dallas Harrison over in the corner.
Campbell knocked over the sideline conversion to bring the score to 20-14.
It was then three tries on the trot for the Eagles when kick left to bounce was toed ahead by Harrison.
Stanley plucked the ball out of the air and raced away to score under the posts.
Campbell converted and the Park had their first lead at 22-20 with 15 to play.
With 10 to play, it was again a kick that again bought the Lions undone.
A grubber from Jack Walsh wasn't cleaned up by the Lions and the utility regathered to score to the right of the posts.
Campbell stepped up to hand the Eagles what would prove to be a match-winning lead at 28-20.
The Lions did set up a grandstand finish when Isaac Russell sliced through to score under the posts.
Taylor's conversion bought the score to 28-26 with just under seven to play.
The final stages of the match proved frantic as the Lions looked for a way to steal a win, while the Eagles looked for the knockout blow.
Ultimately, the Eagles defence proved resolute and they managed to hold on for a stirring victory.
Both teams are now 3-1 after five rounds, with the Eagles hosting the Knights on Sunday and the Lions taking on the Sharks next Saturday.
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