KIAMA Knights have most likely wrapped up a VB South Coast Group 7 Rugby League semi-final spot after a convincing 60 minutes against premiers Nowra-Bomaderry Jets before they had to hold on for a 26-20 win at Kiama Showground on Sunday.
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The result ended the Jets' long winning run as the Knights out-enthused the visitors in an excellent performance.
However, they would probably have been disappointed that they seemed to lose focus which let in four late Jets tries and allowed them to gain some respectability.
The first half was undoubtedly the Knights' best of the season as they controlled the ball and frustrated the normally free-flowing Jets attack with great defence.
After early exchanges, the Knights grabbed the lead in the 15th minute when hooker Daniel Martin beat two lazy defenders at dummy-half to score under the posts.
Fullback Tom Atkins converted for a 6-0 lead.
The Knights' second try had an element of luck when a Kieran Poole grubber kick bounced off a Jets defender and replacement back-rower Vaughan Thistlethwaite scooped up the rebound to score under the posts for Atkins to add the extras.
There was no doubt about the quality of the third Knights' try, when lock Josh Toohey gave second-rower Cameron Whittaker a saloon passage to the line with a superb pass; with Atkins again adding the extras, the Knights had bolted to an 18-0 half-time lead.
It was vital for the visitors that they stemmed the flow of points but it was the Knights who came out better.
In the space of 10 minutes, they had increased their lead though tries to wingers Jay Delaney and replacement James Gilmore.
At 26-0 it looked like they were capable of really embarrassing the Jets. But it wasn't to be.
The visitors eventually got on the board when replacement back-rower Trent Waldren forced his way over with 15 minutes left.
They backed that up when they again attacked the Kiama right-side defence and centre Nathan Falzon crashed over.
They failed to add either conversion and Kiama led 26-8.
Fullback Glenn McCallum chimed in with seven minutes remaining and this time Kieran Brandon converted.
With the fulltime siren sounding, Zac Kershaw fell on a rebounded kick and Brandon converted well after the bell for a final scoreline of 26-20.
Toohey, Luke Sutton, Atkins, Cameron Whittaker and James Brown were the Knights' best while Ben Wellington, John Carey and Geoff Johnson tried hard to lift their side.
In other weekend games, Jamberoo Superoos produced a gutsy comeback from 34-6 only to lose 34-30 to the unbeaten Shellharbour City Sharks, Gerringong Lions and Warilla-Lake South Gorillas scored 70-18 and 66-6 wins over Albion Park-Oak Flats and Port Kembla respectively and Milton-Ulladulla scored their fourth win of the season to end Berry Magpies semi hopes with a 28-24 win at Mollymook.
