GERRINGONG have returned to the Group Seven winner’s circle following a hard-fought 18-10 win over Jamberoo in cold and blustery conditions at Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday.
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Coming off back to back losses, the Lions were made to dig deep for the win as they clawed their way back after Jamberoo jumped out to an early lead a took a 10-4 advantage into half-time.
Running with the wind in the first half, the visitors looked the better of the two sides in the opening stages and soon had the Lions under pressure.
Jamberoo skipper Jono Dallas made the most of the early field position, as he raced through a yawning gap to cross after 10 minutes. Dean Watling converted for a 6-nil Jamberoo lead.
Jamberoo soon found themselves on the attack again and they had their second try in short order through Corey Grigg.
The Jamberoo centre chipped into the in-goal and winger Ben Barnard flew through to tap the ball back into Grigg’s hands.
Watling’s conversion was waved away and the score sat at 10- at the quarter-hour mark.
Momentum swung to the Lions after Grigg’s try, but despite spending a stretch of time on the Superoos’ line they couldn’t find a way over the line.
Jamberoo’s scrambling defence in particular proved strong, shutting down a number of Gerringong attacks as the home side looked to go around their opposition.
It took the Lions until the 33rd minute to break the Jamberoo line as some second phase play led to them opening their account.
Speedster Toby Gumley-Quine was given just enough space to create something and he sent winger Harry Phillips over in the corner to make it 10-4.
Despites both sides having promising attacking opportunities to end the half, that score line would stand until the break.
The start of the second half wasn’t what the visitors wanted, as they lost hooker Jayde Tooth early to injury and soon watched their lead disappear.
Gerringong fullback Matt Winchester grabbed the Lions’ second try six minutes into the second half as he skipped to the outside of the his defender and reached out to score in the right corner.
Prop Jake Taylor knocked over the tough conversion to level the scores at 10-all.
The score line would stand until the 60th minute as both sides turned in a period of strong defence.
It was Taylor who ultimately broke the deadlock as the Lions elected to take a shot at goal after a Jamberoo penalty.
Taylor put through the uprights and the Lions hit the front for the first time with 20 minutes remaining.
The final quarter of the game was a tough one, as Jamberoo did all they could to regain the leads while the Lions dug deep to hold on.
As conditions worsened, both sides threw everything they had at each other, but it was Gerringong who landed the knockout blow.
Half Rixon Russell exploited some tired Jamberoo defenders and crossed next to the posts with just over three minutes to go.
Taylor added the conversion to seal the win at 18-10.
Danny Wedd, Kall Collins and Nathan Ford all turned in strong performances for the Lions, while Matt Webster, Simon Maslanka and Joe Roqoko did all they could for Jamberoo.
