FOR the first time in 2021, the Warilla-Lake South Gorillas have recorded back-to-back wins after downing the Nowra-Bomaderry Jets 42-20 at Rugby Park on Sunday.
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It was the hosts who opened the round nine fixture's scoring when speedy five-eighth Jake Gould stepped his way through the line, ran 40 metres and dived over.
Braydon Walsh failed to convert, as the hosts led 4-nil after 26 minutes.
This sparked the visitors into action and in the 31st-minute classy halfback Cam Vazzoler dummied at the line before slicing his way through to score.
He failed to convert his own try, as it was 4-all.
Five minutes later, the visitors had their second and their first lead of the match when in-form fullback Darnell Walker stepped his way towards the line before reaching over with his right hand.
Vazzoler landed his first kick of the afternoon and it was 10-4 to Warilla.
But just when it appeared the Gorillas were gaining momentum, the Jets grabbed their second four-pointer.
Debutant Jarrah McLeod burrowed his way over from dummy-half after Kurt Quinlan went agonisingly close the tackle before.
Walsh's boot then made it 10-all at half-time.
Three minutes after the resumption, the Gorillas were back in front when hooker Lleyton Hughes powered over from close range.
Vazzoler converted and their lead was six.
But the host wouldn't go away, as McLeod grabbed his second of the afternoon - following a shift to the right by the Jets.
Walsh's boot then levelled up the scores once again, making it 16-all with half an hour to play.
The outside back then landed back-to-back penalty goals for the hosts, to make it 20-16 heading into the final 25 minutes.
That proved to be the last time the hosts would lead as Vazzoler put the Gorillas on his back in the final quarter of the game - starting with an evasive second try for himself in the 63rd minute.
Vazzoler's conversion saw the visitors edged in front 22-22.
The half then dived over for his third soon after, following a sharp one-handed offload by prop Aaron Henry.
He once again converted his own try, to give the Gorillas an eight-point lead with 11 to play.
After Dwyane Connors knocked on an intercept attempt, the Gorillas' lead grew when Dean Hodgson strolled over from dummy-half.
Vazzoler landed his fifth conversion of the match, to make it 36-22.
In the final minutes, Vazzoler crossed for his fourth try of the afternoon before the game was iced by winger Dane Nelson - following strong play by Duke Grant and Kye Deane, as the game ended 42-20.
The Gorillas, who are now 4-3, next host Shellharbour on Sunday, while the Jets travel to Bill Andriske Oval to take on the Bulldogs.
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