Cover Photo: Game Face Photography

Tallon Smith

The Gerringong Lions will head into tomorrow’s clash against fellow unbeaten side Albion Park-Oak Flats with a 5-0 record of their own after escaping with a 21-20 win over Stingrays of Shellharbour thanks to a Jake Taylor field goal at Flinders Field on Sunday.

After the Lions took an 18-0 lead into the sheds at half time, a second half comeback from the Stingrays led by doubles to Dylan Hardy and co-coach Tommy Warner saw them take the lead 20-18 late, before the Lions drew level with a penalty goal, paving the way for Taylor’s matchwinner.

Following the victory, Gerringong coach Scott Stewart said that his side was lucky to emerge with their unbeaten record intact after their advantage from a dominant first half was washed away by a resilient Stingrays side.

“We dominated the first half 18-0, probably could have been up a little bit more, but then straight after half time from our first carry off the kick off they were running harder than us and we really were just clinging on,” he said.

“It was really two halves, we played well in the first half and were all over them, and in the second half they were probably unlucky not to score a few more tries and put us away, somehow we just scrambled in defence and hung on.”

“[We] tried to get a field goal in and it just got charged down, and about the second play after that, Jake Taylor [kicked one].

‘It wasn’t pretty, but they all count for the same points.”

Next up for the Lions this weekend is the aforementioned home bout with Albion Park-Oak Flats, which also has a perfect record through the opening five rounds of the season.

Heading into the clash, Stewart said it is just another step up for the Lions, who have been facing tougher opponents every week since starting their season with consecutive 46-0 and 60-0 victories over Warilla and Berry respectively.

“It will be a good test, it has sort of gone a bit like that, every week we have played a harder side and a harder side,” he said.

“We were really up for the Kiama game, we got that one, and the next week [against] Shellharbour, they’re obviously someone we battle with [every year], and then we had the Stingrays this week, who we knew are a good side, I’m surprised they haven’t won more, particularly the way they played in the second half today.

“Now we have to come up against the Park, which we know they’re going to be hard, they’ve got plenty of speed [and] they’ve got a good forward pack.”

One of the keys’ to the Eagles’ success this season has been the incredible form of halfback Drew Hutchison, with the former NRL playmaker coming up with several big plays in crucial moments in the opening five rounds.

When asked about how they will look to contain the 10-year NRL veteran, Stewart said the focus will be on presenting a strong defensive line across the field, with the aim of limiting his options.

“When you’ve got a good ball player like him, you’ve got to work hard and make sure you’re not just worrying about him, you’re worried about all his ball runners,” Stewart said.

“If you get lazy, he will catch you out, [I’ve] seen a couple of games this year where he’s just got a really good footy head on him and when he recognises someone is lazy he will punish them.

“It’s just a matter of working really hard and presenting a line.

“He is obviously a quality player, he has a great kicking game, so that is going to be our focus, really making sure that everyone all the way across the line doesn’t get lazy.”

Looking at other results around round five of Group 7, Berry-Shoalhaven Heads picked up its third win of the season 26-18 over an improved Warilla side, the Shellharbour Sharks bounced back with a 46-8 win over Nowra-Bomaderry, Albion Park-Oak Flats took bragging rights in a local derby with Jamberoo 44-8, and defending premiers Kiama defeated Milton-Ulladulla 32-0 at Bill Andriske Oval.

Round 6 games: Berry Shoalhaven Heads v Nowra-Bomaderry, Gerringong v Albion Park-Oak Flats (Saturday May 16); Jamberoo v Shellharbour Stingrays, Milton-Ulladulla v Warilla-Lake South, Kiama v Shellharbour Sharks (Sunday May 17).