UP AGAINST a lacklustre Appin side, the Mittagong Lions first grade team ran rampant on Sunday afternoon.

The home crowd had plenty to cheer about as the Lions ran in 15 tries to beat Appin 70-4.

Mittagong scored from its first four sets and from then on everyone at the ground knew it was going to be a big margin.

Regan Economos was dangerous out wide, running in four tries while skipper Scott Borg scored three himself.

Justin Madden crossed for two tries with Jake Merceica, Ryan Borg, Robbie Payne, Mark Delamont, Sebastian Sell and Hayden Wallace all scoring a try each.

Goal kicking duties were left to the Borg brothers, with Ryan kicking four and Scott two.

While Mittagong finished with an easy victory, Borg said it was still a tough match.

"They've got good players and they were physical," he said.

"It's just that we picked it up a level where we are starting to put points on teams.

"We had a draw with them last time so it's a big improvement on that."

After missing nine conversions, Borg said goal kicking was still a major concern for the team.

"You're not going to score 15 tries against a tougher team so we need to be able to put kicks over," he said. "All the other teams have got good kickers."

Despite the margin, Borg was pleased the side stuck to its shape and had better discipline this week.

"We did throw the ball around a little bit too much at stages and when we tried to make up plays that's when we failed," he said.

"But sticking to our sets was good and not giving away too many penalties so we can get a bit more ball."

This weekend, the Lions will face The Oaks away on Saturday night.

Mittagong is fighting for the minor premiership.

"We're far from perfect and we want to win the comp," Borg said.

"To get to that stage we need to keep getting better."

Mittagong will welcome Warwick Carter back this weekend, but will be without Matt Thorpe.

Young Lions win

By Lauren Strode

Mittagong under-18s showed why they have title potential with a 50-0 victory over the Appin Dogs on Sunday.

While the Dogs started the match with just 12 players, Mittagong still played “a good brand of footy” too keep its opponents scoreless.

Sixteen-year-old Nick Eccleston picked up tow tries with Jordan Powell, Josh Rigby, Pat Sutton, Jerome Willis, Ash Carlon, Cameron Jewell and Sasha Brein all scoring for the Lions.

Jack Keeley kicked four conversions and Pat Sutton finished with three conversions.

With a full bench and 19 fresh players out on the field, Mittagong coach Robbie Payne said it was a good performance but the team still had plenty to work on.

“It could have been better. If we want to be competitive in the semis we need to be better,” he said.

“Just the main thing I want them to pick up on is ball security.

"When you start to rack up a score it’s easy to get complacent and throw the ball around.

"You need to stick to your structure and keep playing footy.

'We went away from that and dropped the ball.”

Mittagong will have the bye this weekend before taking on Picton in the final match of the year before finals.

The Lions will have a two week break before semi-finals which Payne said would give the side time to fine tune a few things.

“It’s a bit stop start but there’s nothing you can do about it," he said.

"It’ll give us time to have a couple of opposed sessions against reserve and first grade and get used to that fast speed.

"The boys are really starting to put it together.”