THE Warilla-Lake South Gorillas bounced back in a big way on Sunday by downing fellow premiership hopefuls Albion Park-Oak Flats 28-20 at Cec Glenholmes Oval.
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The hosts shook off their disappointing last up loss to Jamberoo, to open the match's scoring in the fifth minute.
Following a sloppy penalty by the visitors, the Gorillas marched downfield and shift to the right, involving Aaron Henry and Jake Brisbane sent fullback Darnell Walker over.
Half Cam Vazzoler converted and it was 6-nil.
The 2018 Michael Cronin Medallist then slotted back-to-back penalty goals, to see the Gorillas race out to an early 10-nil lead.
Despite the introduction of Eagles spark-plug Paul Roberts, the Gorillas scored their second four-pointer of the afternoon in the 20th minute.
A dangerous grubber kick by Brisbane was spilled by Eagles fullback George Campbell into the arms of Walker, who scored his second of the afternoon.
Vazzoler missed the conversion attempt, as the hosts led by 14.
That lead was stretched even further when Vazzoler reached out with his right arm, following handy lead-up play from Lleyton Hughes and Henry.
The half converted his own try and it was 20-nil after 26 minutes.
Just before the break, the Eagles got on the board, to carry some momentum in half-time.
A shift from left to right involving Sam Clune, Ben Scurr, Paul Roberts and Jarrod King sent former New Zealand international Chase Stanley over in the right corner.
Roberts failed to convert and it was 20-4 at half-time.
A more determined Eagles outfit started the second half, seeing them score first through dangerous fullback Jack Walsh, who created a try out of nothing.
Roberts added the extras and the hosts' lead was 10.
But the Gorillas withstood the onslaught and responded with a four-pointer of their own.
Dean Hodgson, in his first match as starting hooker, spotted a hole in the Eagles' defensive line and dived over from close range, to extend his side's lead.
Vazzoler easily converted from next to the uprights and the score was 26-10 with 30 minutes to play.
The Eagles, despite losing Stanley to a hamstring injury, hit back 11 minutes later, when Tom Warner charged onto a Brent Wake pass.
Roberts nailed the kick and it was 26-16.
In the 70th minute, Vazzoler added a penalty goal, to take their advantage back out to two converted tries.
The Eagles kept coming though and in the 72nd minute, added their fourth try of the afternoon through King, following sharp play by Rodney Coates and Roberts.
The latter failed to convert the try, essentially ending the Park's hopes of a grandstand finishing - with the match ending at 28-20.
In the Group Seven win, which moves the Gorillas to 3-3 on the season, Jake Goody, Hodgson, Walker and Tyler Atkins were phenomenal, while Roberts, Walsh, Scurr and Dallas Harrison did all they could for the Park.
Next up for the Gorillas is a trip to Rugby Park to face Nowra-Bomaderry on Sunday, while the Eagles will look to rebound against the Bulldogs at Centenary Field.