SHELLHARBOUR City Sharks secured the Group 7 Rugby League minor premiership after a 34-18 win over Gerringong at Ron Costello Oval on Saturday.
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After they fell behind in the first half, the Sharks took a 16-12 lead to the sheds at half-time before they ran away with the game in the second stanza.
Rookie fullback Jai Field put his stamp on the contest with a hat-trick.
An early shift to the right caught Gerringong short and Jai Field had the pace needed to touch down for a 4-0 lead.
Gerringong lifted after the Sharks' try.
Patrick Cronin and Nathan Ford were both held up before Rixon Russell had enough speed and strength to crash over under the posts. Joel Roberts converted for a 6-4 buffer.
A string of penalties helped Gerringong back into Shellharbour territory soon after, and the Lions extended the lead.
A decision to run the ball on the fifth caught the Sharks by surprise and prop Kal Collins stormed into a gap. Roberts converted to make it 12-4.
Just as it looked like Gerringong was taking control, the Sharks replied.
They again went to the right-hand side of the Lions' line and Ian Catania proved too much of a handful.
The ensuing kick-off after Catania's try went out on the full and the Sharks capitalised when Harold Snell barged over from close range and Carroll converted for a 16-12 scoreline at half-time.
The opening of the second half saw the physicality of the game increase.
The intensity took its toll on the Lions as Brad Davidson and Russell were assisted off the ground and didn't return.
Field showed a clean pair of heels to Lions' defenders as he raced 80 metres from a scrum win. Carroll's conversion put the Sharks' lead out to 22-12.
Gerringong hit back, Patrick Cronin sent Joel Roberts over and the fullback converted his own try for 22-18.
Shellharbour weren't about to let their lead slip though and Kurt Field found a clear path to the Lions line from 10 metres out and crossed.
Carroll's conversion put the lead back out to 10.
The Sharks sealed the win when Field nabbed his third.
It was a case of cometh the man, cometh the hour for Warilla-Lake South captain Aaron Henry in Sunday's grand final re-match with Nowra-Bomaderry at Cec Glenholmes Oval.
As time ticked away and the Gorillas down by two, Henry charged at the try-line, crashing through a wall of defenders to score under the posts to lift his side to a valuable 22-18 victory.
The result gave Warilla a share of fourth spot and guaranteed them a finals berth.
Kiama Knights made it four victories in a row via a 64-10 thrashing of the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles at Kiama Showground on Sunday.
Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs continued their late season resurgence with a third straight victory when they held on to down Jamberoo Superoos 38-30 at Kevin Walsh Oval on Sunday.
Berry Magpies added to cellar-dwellers Port Kembla's miserable 2015 season by beating the visitors 48-8 on Saturday.