THE opening match of the 2015 Group 7 Rugby League season was a wet and dour affair, as Kiama overcame Jamberoo 10-4 at Kiama Showground on Friday night.
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Both sides could only manage a try apiece. Two penalty goals from Kiama's Vaughan Thistelthwaite proved to be the difference.
A Jamberoo defensive after the Knights spilled the kick-off backwards from the kick-off when and they failed to cover the rebound saw Keiran Poole pounced on the ball and race 60 metres. From the ensuing play, Knights Brent Wake dived over next to the posts. Thistlethwaite converted for a 6-0 lead.
As conditions deteriorated, Thistelthwaite pushed the lead to 8-0 via a penalty goal in the 20th minute.
Jamberoo wasted no time in trimming the Kiama buffer in the second half. Enterprising play sent the Superoos upfield and Matt Coehlo forced his way over. But that would be as close as Jamberoo would get.
Thistelthwaite's final goal sealed the Knights' win in the last soggy minute.
At Berry Showground, a four-try haul to Gerringong hooker Nathan Ford spearheaded the Lions' 36-20 win over Berry.
Berry struck first through Blake Dryden, before Ford and Peter Cronin went back-to-back for a 12-4 Gerringong lead. Ford grabbed his second, and Lloyd Bowen joined the fun for 24-4 at the break.
The second half saw Berry open with Mitch Liddicoat going over, but Ford put any thought of a comeback to bed when he bagged a second half double.
Late tries to Blake Harris-Davis and James Dinnie kept the score respectable for the Magpies.
At Noel Mulligan Oval, Albion Park knocked off Port Kembla 24-12, while Milton-Ulladulla upset reigning premiers Nowra-Bomaderry 30-28 at Bomaderry Sporting Complex.
In the remaining game Shellharbour City Sharks prevailed 38-10 in their local derby at Shellharbour against Warilla-Lake South after leading 26-0 at halftime.