THE Kiama Knights cemented their spot in the Group Seven top-five by holding on to defeat the Stingrays of Shellharbour 22-16 at Flinders Field on Sunday.
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Marc Laird's visitors opened the scoring in the seventh minute when five-eighth Tom Atkins sliced through the line, following a sharp dummy, and reached over to score with his left hand.
Centre Brad Killmore converted and the Knights led 6-nil.
Kiama's lead was extended in the 22nd minute when a shift to the left involving Atkins, Jordan Morn and Ethan Ford put winger Jay Delaney into space down the wing - before the latter managed to get an offload back to centre Ford to crash over.
Killmore missed the conversion, as the visitors led by 10.
The Rays finally got on the board in the 30th minute when centre Bostock pounced on a Zaan Weatherall chip kick, to score untouched.
Jayden Harris missed the conversion attempt, as the score remained 10-4.
A penalty goal by Killmore just before the break gave the Knights a 12-4 lead at half-time.
Knowing they needed to be first to score in the second 40, the Rays took just eight minutes to record their second four-pointer of the afternoon.
Again it was the Weatherall and Bostock combination that got over the line for the hosts, with the half's sharp pass sending the latter across for his second.
Bostock missed the conversions attempt, as Kiama led 12-8 with just over 30 minutes to play.
The Rays drew level when a long cut-out pass from Jimmy Scott landed in the hands of NSW Country representative Chanse Perham before the centre did the rest.
Again youngster Bostock missed the conversion attempt, as the score was all tied up at 12-all with 26 minutes left.
The host's momentum was halted in the 57th minute when a Dylan Morris down-field kick took a wicked bounce and was toed through his brother Matt, before being picked up by Killmore, who touched down the Knights' third.
The latter converted his own try and it was 18-12.
The see-sawing affair continued as the Rays reduced the margin to just two points when lock matt Murray barged over in the 70th minute - with James Andraos missing the kick.
That was as close as the host got, as the Knights iced the game in the 75th minute when back-rower Cam Cornell burrowed his way over from close range.
Killmore missed the sideline conversion, as the Knights won 22-16.
The win, which moves the Knights into fifth with a 4-3 record, have the bye in round nine, while the Rays travel to Michael Cronin Oval on Sunday to take on second-placed Gerringong.
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