LAST year's Group 7 grand final combatants, Gerringong Lions and Warilla-Lake South Gorillas showed they're still the competition's benchmark after both clubs racked up big wins over the weekend.
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Despite playing their home game against Jamberoo at Nowra Showground due to Michael Cronin Oval being ruled unusable, the change of venue proved no distraction to Gerringong as they trounced Jamberoo 70-10.
From the opening stages it looked to be the Lions' day when hooker Nathan Ford crashed over in their first set of six.
Ford was in the thick of things again soon after, racing down the blind-side to send winger Joel Doosey over to give Gerringong an early 12-0 lead.
It was then Doosey's turn to play provider, his cross-field kick bouncing perfectly for Brad Davidson to score and push the lead to 18-0.
The Lions blew the score out to 34-0 before Mark Asquith opened Jamberoo's account, but Gerringong had the game in the bag up 38-6 at half-time.
Gerringong ran in another six tries in the second stanza to complete the rout, Jamberoo's lone bright spot being a try to Jarrod Schodde.
At Cec Glenholmes Oval Warilla held out a spirited Port Kembla to win 44-12 and remain undefeated.
The Gorillas took a 14-6 lead into half time, but the gap was reduced to two when Blacks' captain Mark Simon scored a converted try early in the second half.
After looking like they would test the home side for the full 80 minutes, a blistering 20 minute period in the middle of the second-half saw Warilla run in four unanswered tries to put the game to bed.
Gorillas' prop Damien Paulissen and winger Jarryd Pepper both grabbed a hat-trick in the win.
At Ron Costello Oval, Shellharbour City got out of jail against the Nowra-Bomaderry Jets, with a late try to Ian Catania giving the Sharks a 26-22 win. With the scores locked at 22-all late in the game, it looked like the Jets had secured their first win of the season when Mark Brandon raced away, but the winger was called back for a forward pass.
Shellharbour made the most of the chance offered to them and in the ensuing set Catania crossed for what proved to be the match winner.
The game might have had a different outcome had the Jets scored any of their first four tries closer to the uprights, as all four went unconverted.
At Kiama Showground, Kiama continued their strong start to the season with a 44-10 win over Albion Park.
Five-eighth Keiran Poole was the chief tormenter for the Knights, running in three tries of his own and throwing the last pass for another two in a polished display.
At Bill Andriske Oval Milton-Ulladulla registered their first win of the year with a 20-18 win over the Berry Magpies.
