The Gerringong Lions continued their recent dominance over the Warilla-Lake South Gorillas on Saturday by recording a 32-18 win at Michael Cronin Oval.
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The win means the Lions remain sitting in the top-two, while the Gorillas stay part of the chasing pack.
How the top-five plays will be even more intriguing this year after the competition's COVID-19 forced hiatus.
With both sides oblivious to disruptions that were unfolding around them, it was the Lions who came roaring out the gates to jump to an early lead.
Skipper Nathan Ford jumped out of dummy-half close to the Warilla line and found a hard-running Kayne Brennan who crashed over out wide.
Jake Taylor converted for a 6-nil lead after three minutes.
Just minutes later there was a sense of deja-vu as Brennan crossed for his second in the same spot, this time the benefit of a shift on the last play and the Lions led 10-nil.
Gerringong continued to dominate possession, but the Gorillas' defence firmed up after Brennan's try and turned the Lions away.
Most notably shutting down an attacking raid after Hamish Holland and Isaac Russell combined to put the Lions deep into Gorilla's territory.
The next points would come from a Jake Taylor penalty goal after a late challenge by Guy Rosewarn on Rixon Russell.
Lions' prop Aaron Grigg took exception to the shot and he and Rosewarn exchanged a flurry of punches before each getting a stint in the sin-bin.
Taylor's penalty goal gave the Lions a 12-nil lead with 15 remaining in the first half.
As it looked like that score would stand until half-time, the Lions again chose to run the ball on the last and this time Denver Ford crashed over under the posts off an inside ball from Russell.
Taylor converted and the Lions took an 18-nil lead to the break.
While the first half was all Gerringong, roles were reversed in the second 40 as the Gorillas came out firing and ran in three straight tries.
In the opening minutes, Warilla half Cam Vazzoler chipped for himself and toed the ball through, winning the race to the ball and diving over to the left of the posts.
Vazzoler converted his own try for 18-6.
Soon after it was Vazzoler's boot that again bought the Lions undone.
This time a deft grubber sat up perfectly for fullback Darnell Walker to grab the Gorillas' second try.
Vazzoler converted and the Lions' lad was trimmed to six at 18-12.
With just under half an hour to play, the Gorillas then clawed level after some clever work by Sam Hooper out of dummy-half put Callum Gromek over the right of the posts.
Vazzoler's conversion locked things up at 18-all.
Unfortunately for the visitors, that lead was short-lived as the Lions got their noses back in front just minutes later via another Taylor penalty goal.
With 15 minutes remaining, the Lions then extended their lead when Rixon Rusell put Toby Gumley-Quine through the Warilla defence and the speedster dived over under the posts.
Taylor converted and the Lions led 26-18.
The home side then sealed the win through winger Joel Doosey who swooped on a Warilla pass on his own try line and showed a huge turn of speed, as he raced the length of the field to score in the corner.
Taylor converted from out wide to round the score out at 32-18 with just minutes remaining.
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