Injuries strike again for Lions

After going try for try in the first half, the Shellharbour City Sharks has outlasted an injury depleted Gerringong Lions to prevail 32-18 at Michael Cronin Oval.

The Lions opened the scoring in the fifth minute when a Pat Cronin short pass saw Greg Sharpe score beside the posts. Joel Roberts’ conversion took them to a 6-0 lead.

However their joy was short lived when in the next ten minutes, injuries to Gerringong centres Tim Poppett and Peter Cronin, saw their interchange bench reduced to two.

Shellharbour took full advantage when Nathan Cooper put Gary Breakspear over for a clever try to reduce the lead to 6-4.

Not long after they were in again when lock Brad Soper passed to Liam Morrissey who guided Matt Michalowski through a gap to score. Jai Dormer’s conversion took them to the lead 10-6.

Three minutes later Gerringong responded when half Brad Watters cleverly cross kicked for Greg Davis to score a spectacular try. Joel Roberts converted from the sideline to take them back to the lead 12-10.

Once again the Sharks replied when Matt Michalowski crossed for his second try. Jai Dormer again converted and Shellharbour were back in the lead 16-12.

Not to be outdone, the Lions stormed back with a Jason White converted try off another clever kick. Gerringong 18-16.

However, the scoring for the first half was not over, as Shellharbour replacement Robbie Byatt crossed two minutes before half time to see the Sharks lead 20-18 at the break.

The second half proved to be a dour affair with no further score until Shellharbour’s Nathan Cooper crossed in the 14th minute. The conversion saw them stretch their lead to 26-18.

The teams continued the battle for field position and were evenly matched until the Lions lost captain Greg Sharpe to injury.

With only one interchange player the extreme workload started to take it’s toll and Shellharbour centre Matt Michalowski scored his third try in the 30th minute. The conversion increased the lead to 32-18 and it remained that way until fulltime.

Shellharbour back rower Nathan Cooper, who was arguably the best player on the field, was sent off with five minutes remaining.

Captain Gary Breakspear was all class and Jai Dormer was inspirational at half.

For the Lions, the experienced Brad Watters return to half back provided them with the direction they needed and gave Pat Cronin the space on which he thrives. Forwards Greg Sharpe, Michael Brown, Matt Vaux and Justin O’Hare gave wholehearted performances under difficult circumstances.

In Saturday’s other game Warilla-Lake South’s hot streak continued with a 42-22 thrashing of Milton-Ulladulla at Cec Glenholmes Oval on Saturday.

Led by dynamic halfback Beau Henry who scored two tries and had a hand in several others- and the power of skipper Damien Paulissen upfront, the Gorillas were at times unstoppable.

Damien Paulissen, Beau Henry and Shane Withers were the standouts for the Gorillas, while Adam Stone, Greg Sherwin and Steine Lofts were the best for Milton.