The scoring at the Kiama Showground was started by the visitors, when prop Andrew Diomei barged over after five minutes.

Five-eighth Blair Grant failed to convert, as the Gorillas led 4-nil.

Off the the restart, the Gorillas worked the ball out of their own end before an errand pass ended in the hands of Cam Cornell, who raced to score under the sticks.

Half Cam Vazzoler converted, to give the hosts the lead 6-4.

Kiama’s lead was extended shortly after, following three straight penalties against the Gorillas – before Vazzoler linked up with fullback Tom Atkins, who beat three defenders and athletically reached over to score.

Vazzoler couldn’t convert and the lead remained at six.

The hosts had their tails up after their third try – off a scrum, a set play saw Vazzoler hit Matt Morris with a wrap around pass, who then passed to his younger brother Dylan, who stepped inside two defenders to score in the western corner.

Vazzoler again failed with his conversion and the score was 14-4.

A handling error by the hosts then gave the Gorillas handy field position, before a strong run by Kyle Stone led to Aaron Henry throwing a cut-out pass, which deflected off a team mate, into the hands of Ian Catania, who scored.

Grant failed to convert, as the score was 14-8.

Just before the break, the hosts’ two-try cushion was restored, when hooker Daniel Martin put Luke Sutton over from close range.

Vazzoler converted for 20-8 at the break.

In the opening 10 minutes, the hosts had two golden opportunities to extend their lead go begging.

First, Vaughan Thistlethwaite put Cornell into a hole, before the centre tried to find Hamish McLaurin on the inside, only for the pass to go to ground.

Minutes later, an attack down the left edge, saw Brad Scott put Dylan Morris into space, only for the pass to be called forward.

The game was then flipped on its head when Knights captain Kieran Poole was sin-binned for a ruck infringement – a 10 minute period which saw the Gorillas score 10 points.

First, the visitors were awarded a contentious try to Damien Paulissen, despite it appearing that the prop lost the ball in the tackle by Atkins.

Grant converted to make it 20-14.

Minutes later, following two separate intercepts – first by Cornell and then by Catania – Chad Lisch found space down the eastern touchline to score the Gorillas’ fourth.

Grant missed his kick, as the score was 20-18.

The return of Poole had an immediate impact, as the hosts stemmed the bleeding and scored the match winner – McLaurin stepped inside two defenders to score next to the posts.

Vazzoler converted for 26-18.

Despite the Gorillas’ best efforts, they couldn’t close the gap and in the final minute, Henry was sent to the bin for dissent, allowing Vazzoler to cap off the win with a penalty – making it 28-18.

In the win, Sutton, James Brown and Vazzoler starred, while Henry, Lisch and Doimei never gave up for the Gorillas.