THE Gerringong Lions have made it four straight Group Seven wins after downing the Stingrays of Shellharbour 52-10 at Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday afternoon.
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The Lions ran in 10 tries in the win and ensured that stalwart Rixon Russell's 200th first grade game was a one to remember.
The win also keeps the Lions in the hunt for a top-two finish, while for the Stingrays the loss further dents their chances of a maiden Group Seven finals appearance.
The Lions wasted little time in opening the scoring when lock Corey Mullhall crashed over off a short ball from Russell.
Jake Taylor converted for a 6-nil lead after three minutes.
The Lions continued to find themselves on the Stingrays' line and kept making the most of the opportunities.
Fullback Denver Ford found some lazy defenders behind the ruck and strolled over on the fifth tackle.
Taylor added another conversion and the Lions led 12-nil.
The Lions soon had their third try when Russell's show and go put the halfback through the Stingrays line before he found prop Judd Collyer in support.
Taylor knocked over the conversion from in front for 18-nil.
It was then Russell's turn to get in on the act in his milestone game.
The Gerringong speedster won the race to an infield kick from Kayne Brennan and touched down out wide.
Taylor's conversion made it 24-nil after just 15 minutes.
The Stingrays then finally managed to open their account when some second-phase play caught the Lions short and Temana Temaaari crossed out wide.
Any thoughts of that sparking a fightback were soon extinguished though when a rampaging Hamish Holland crashed through multiple defenders to score in the corner.
Lions' winger Cooper Roberts then crossed on the stroke of half-time and Taylor converted for 34-nil at the break.
While points flowed in the first half, they dried up after the break as both sides lacked some composure when attacking the line in the opening of the second half.
With just under 20 minutes gone in the second half, the Lions finally added to their lead, in somewhat controversial circumstances.
Isaac Russell showed the wisdom in playing to the whistle and cut through the Stingrays defence before finding Denver Ford.
The fullback's offload was knocked down by the Stingrays and the Lions were awarded a penalty try after Nathan Ford was bought down early in the scramble for the ball.
Taylor knocked over the conversion and the Lions led 40-4.
They soon stretched the lead further when Toby Gumley-Quine linked up with Brennan and sent the Gerringong centre over untouched.
Brennan then repaid the favour when he found space and sent Gumley-Quine racing down the sideline for a 48-4 Gerringong lead.
Isaac Russell then sealed the win for the Lions when he swooped on a long ball from the Stingrays and raced 50 metres to score.
Jake Kamire put some respectability into the scoreline for the Stingrays when he burrowed over just before full time.
Jack Bostock slotted the conversion to round out the score at 52-10.
The Lions, who are now 6-1, have the bye next weekend, while the Rays, who drop to 2-1-5, host Albion Park-Oak Flats on Sunday.
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