GROUP SEVEN
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Jamberoo Superoos were licking their wounds after Saturday's 70-10 thrashing by Gerringong at Michael Cronin Oval.
The signs were ominous in the opening minute when the Lions scored a try after a Jamberoo turnover.
The reigning premiers were well in control at half-time and showed the visitors no mercy in the second half.
"It was a very embarrassing day for our club. The boys are filthy about it," Jamberoo captain-coach Matt Coelho said.
"It was a lesson for us. That's all we can take out of it. We'll move on and look forward to next week."
The Roos went into the game intent on making a statement about their premiership aspirations but it was the Lions that did all the roaring.
"We dropped the ball on the first set of the game and it just went from bad to worse," Coelho said.
"There was just a lack of desire ... we didn't show up. Everything they touched [turned] to gold and nothing went right for us.
"The boys are hurting and they can't wait to play next week and make up for it," Coelho said.
"We're so much a better team than what we showed but Gerringong are the benchmark and it showed you have to turn up against the top teams or they'll put big scores on you."
Jamberoo will host Port Kembla this weekend.
Milton-Ulladulla chalked up their first win of the season with Saturday's come-from-behind 20-18 defeat of Berry-Shoalhaven Heads at Mollymook Oval.
The Bulldogs had been in danger of falling out of the premiership race before the timely victory.
"It wasn't a perfect performance but it was certainly gutsy," Milton coach Ross Warburton said.
"We had to have that win to gain some confidence. It could've been a tough season for us without that win.
"We've got seven new faces and it's taken us three or four games to get going.
"We've still got a way to go and we don't know what we're going to grow into, but we'll get better."
Paulissen and Pepper roadshow a highlight for Gorillas
A hat-trick of tries to prop Damien Paulissen and winger Jarryd Pepper highlighted Warilla’s 44-12 defeat of Port Kembla on Sunday at Cec Glenholmes Oval.
The Gorillas were made to work hard for almost 60 minutes before blowing out the margin with a flood of tries in the final 20 minutes.
Port Kembla were ahead 6-4 after 10 minutes but the home side hit back with two tries for a 14-6 half-time lead.
The Blacks grabbed the first points of the second half with captain-coach Mark Simon’s second try.
That sparked Warilla into action, particularly Paulissen, who scored all three of his tries in the second half.
‘‘It’s disheartening because you look at the game and it definitely wasn’t a 44-12 kind of game,’’ Simon said.
‘‘The bounce of the ball went their way, the 50-50 calls went their way. Next time around they might come our way and we’ll get the two points.
‘‘I told the boys we’d have to compete for 80 minutes. We didn’t give up but they’re a good side.
‘‘They’re the benchmark and we know where we have to be. We’ll take some positives out of that into next week.’’
Warilla remained unbeaten and alone at the top of the table.
Gorillas coach Peter Hooper tipped his hat to the Blacks.
‘‘The score didn’t indicate the closeness of the game at all,’’ he said.
‘‘They’ve got a good coach and good trainers, and they look like they want to have a go for one another, which you might’ve questioned if that was always the case last year. They’re only going to get better.’’
Simon believes the Blacks are capable of a top-five finish in their second season in Group Seven.
‘‘We’re a much stronger squad and we’ve shown in the first four games we can compete. If we get the bounce of the ball we’ll win more games,’’ he said.
‘‘The semis are our goal. There’s three sides up the top – Gerringong, Warilla and Shellharbour. We’re certainly good enough to grab one of those other two spots.’’
Kiama hammered Albion Park-Oak Flats 44-10 and Shellharbour beat Nowra-Bomaderry 26-22.