GERRINGONG Lions have moved into the top three on the Group 7 competition table after their 64-4 win over Berry at Michael Cronin Oval on Sunday in the postponed round one clash.
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Missing a host of regular starters the Magpies were simply outclassed by the home side and the game was well and truly decided at half-time when Gerringong led 34-4.
It was the home side who opened the scoring, Brad Davidson put Peter Cronin into a hole and he brushed off the cover defender on his way to making it 4-0.
It was a short-lived lead however, Berry five-eighth Josh Ingold evened the scores when he raced 70 metres after taking an intercept.
That would be the last time the scores were level, Gerringong retaking the lead soon after when Peter Cronin dived on a spilt bomb to grab his second try. Joel Roberts's side-line conversion made it 10-4.
It was soon 14-4, a Davidson break put the Lions on the attack and a deft flick-pass from Kal Collins sent Nathan Ford over.
It was Collins's turn next, Patrick Cronin cutting through the defence and sending the back-rower over under the posts, Roberts's conversion made it 20-4.
The Lions were on a roll and Patrick Cronin extended the Gerringong lead when an off-load from Roberts allowed him to cross, the full-back then converted the try for 26-4.
Berry weren't helping their cause - an error deep in their half put the Lions on the attack and Davidson managed to force his way over the line, Roberts's conversion pushed it out to 32-4.
A Roberts's penalty goal on the half-time siren made it a 30-point Gerringong lead at the break.
It wasn't long after the break before the Lions extended their lead, Corey Mulhall exploited some lazy defenders and dived over from dummy-half for 38-4.
Any hope Berry had of a come-back was soon extinguished, as the Lions ran in three quick-fire tries.
Patrick Cronin broke through and found Ford who raced away for his second, Cronin then grabbed his double when he crashed over before Rixon Russell did the same.
Roberts knocked over all three conversions to make it 54-4.
Even with their unassailable lead the Lions didn't show any mercy and seemed to enjoy exacting their revenge after Magpies emerged victorious last time the two sides met.
Collins was the next to make it two tries for the day, as he proved too strong near the line to make it 58-4.
Not wanting be left out, Russell then did the same when he touched down under the posts, Roberts's conversion rounded out the score at 64-4.
For Gerringong, Patrick Cronin, Davidson and Adam Moore all played well, while Ingold, Trent Burns and Nick Schilko did all they could for the Magpies.