Gorillas staring into the abyss

WARILLA-LAKE South are staring into the South Coast rugby league abyss after a 32-28 loss to Batemans Bay at Mackay Park on Sunday.

The Gorillas led 28-20 and held a one-man advantage midway through the second half before the Tigers scored two late tries to seal the vital two competition points.

It all unravelled for Warilla when winger Dale Chapman was sent off for a high shot on Batemans Bay's Mitch Kennedy.

Soon after Chapman's dismissal Batemans Bay's Kolo Fifita took a quick tap from a penalty and charged over to trim the score to 28-26 with ten minutes remaining.

Fifita then grabbed his hat-trick when he reeled in Aaron Brierley's grubber to score. Brierley added the extras to seal the win and threaten Warilla's finals hopes.

The Tigers were reduced to 12 men in the 14th minute when half Ben Ralston was sent off after an all-in brawl.

Warilla posted first points after Batemans Bay's kickoff to start the match went out on the full. Another penalty from the ensuing set gifted Chris Henry a penalty goal to make the score 2-nil.

It was 8-0 three minutes later when an inside ball from Dean Alaban found Aaron Henry. Chris Henry added the extras.

Five minutes later Batemans Bay trimmed the score to 8-6 when Ralston found Aaron Brierley, who stepped past a couple of defenders to score and convert.

Warilla skipped out to a 14-6 lead when Ben Harvey charged over after Ralston was dismissed.

The Gorillas looked like going further ahead when they were attacking the Bay line before Josh Elliott intercepted and ran 85m to score, making the score 14-10 to Warilla.

Warilla reasserted their dominance when Joel Murtin scored just before the break to make the score 18-10.

However, the Bay went to the break with the momentum after Steve Elliot chipped for Kolo Fifita to touch down on the stroke of halftime to make the score 18-14.

Murtin completed his hat-trick in the opening stages of the second stanza while Warren Potts scored for Batemans Bay.

Brierley, Fifita and Josh Elliott were the Tigers' best, while Murtin, had a big game for the Gorillas.

At Berry Showground, premiers Albion Park-Oak Flats kept their unbeaten record in tact with a 34-18 win over Berry-Shoalhaven Heads.

The Park dominated the first half, racing in four tries for an 18-nil half-time lead, before a superb individual try to Magpies five-eighth Jono McCormack opened Berry's account five minutes into the second half.

The Magpies looked gone when they lost skipper Trent Burns to injury but two quick tries to the Magpies, made the score 18-16 and an upset was on the cards.

Albion Park steadied and scored three late tries to seal the points.

Gerringong scored an invaluable 24-20 win over Kiama at Michael Cronin Oval while Milton-Ulladulla defeated Nowra 32-28 to complete the round.