THE two most consistent teams throughout the Group 7 Rugby League season will clash on Sunday in what is likely to be a classic grand final.
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Minor premiers Shellharbour City will meet second-placed Gerringong at Collegians Sporting Complex this Sunday.
The Lions qualified for the decider after overcoming an early 14-0 deficit to down Kiama 32-14 in Sunday's final.
Despite trailing early, the Lions' second half blitz silenced the home fans at Kiama Showground.
They also exacted revenge on their local arch-rivals; the previous occasion the two sides met was earlier in this year's finals series, when Kiama notched a hard-fought 8-6 win at Michael Cronin Oval.
Gerringong overcame the loss of skipper Brad Davidson due to injury during the first half, their big game experience telling amid a game played in warm conditions.
Knights fullback Tom Atkins opened the scoring in the ninth minute, slotting a penalty goal from nearly 40 metres out.
The home team repelled a Gerringong attacking raid and soon marched up-field on the back of a penalty.
Captain/co-coach Luke Muttdon barged over, thanks to classy lead-up work from Kieran Poole, and the ensuing conversion extended the buffer.
When prop Vaughan Thistlethwaite staved off a few defenders to score, the Knights had registered a shock 14-0 lead after little more than 20 minutes.
Unfortunately for the home team it was to be their final points of the day.
Joel Roberts' determined run from close range reduced the deficit, and the fullback converted his own four-pointer.
The visitors' attack threatened to split the Kiama defence on a few more occasions, but the Lions were unable to add to their tally headed into the sheds.
The second stanza featured a dramatic momentum shift, as Gerringong laid on three tries within the space of seven minutes.
The Knights were punished for an error, the visitors creating an overlap before Alec Brookes touched down in the corner.
Gerringong went back-to-back, this time attacking the opposite edge of the field and Reuben Garrick streaked away to cross out wide.
Roberts added the extras and the Lions were in front for the first time.
Gerringong's power game and speed out of dummy half had Kiama back-pedaling, and Peter Cronin's four-pointer extended the advantage.
Lions halfback Rixon Russell, a handful throughout the entire second half, went straight through and with Kiama's defensive line still in recovery mode Atkins was sin-binned for a professional foul.
Kiama displayed resolve to not concede any points while a man down, and actually managed to create a few promising attacking opportunities.
This included a try being disallowed due to an obstruction.
They were unable to capitalise, but the visitors made no such mistake.
Gerringong effectively sealed the win in the 72nd minute when Garrick reeled in Russell's cross-field bomb.
Jack Murchie scored for the Lions with just seconds remaining, sending the healthy contingent of away supporters into raptures.
Russell, Tim Moore, Nathan Ford and Garrick were standouts for Gerringong, while Luke Sutton, Thistlethwaite and Poole were Kiama's best.
Davidson said it would be “great to have another shot at Shellharbour”, but believed they would need to improve their discipline and maintain better ball control to win another premiership.
He was remaining positive about his prospects of being fit for the grand final.
“It was just a bit of a hammy twinge, so hopefully rest up this week, get a bit of physio and hopefully be right for next week,” he said.