Mittagong Lions celebrated its first win of the 2017 season in first grade on April 22.
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The Lions claimed an 18-4 victory over The Oaks Tigers at Mittagong Sportsground.
Despite losing the first match of the season by two points and drawing last week against a Narellan Jets, the Lions were confident leading into the round three clash.
Mittagong played a strong defensive game that restricted the The Oaks to just one unconverted try.
The Oaks was first to find the try line in the first 10 minutes of the match.
Mittagong opened its scoring 15 minutes later with a try from PJ Thornton.
Lions coach Dan Beardshaw said Thornton was a standout in the round three match.
“PJ stood out in a brutal, defensive performance that inspired the Lions to get their first win of the season,” he said.
The game was tight and the well drilled Tigers side struggled to find room to play.
On the stroke of halftime, a left to right shift involving Aiden Menzies and Jake Mercieca created space for Jake Ngaia to score the first of his two tries.
Lions coach Dan Beardshaw praised the defensive efforts of Adam and Blake Jeffery, James King and Jack Webb in the second half.
Ngaia picked up a stray offload and ran 75 metres to claim his seventh try from three games this year.
PJ stood out in a brutal, defensive performance that inspired the Lions to get their first win of the season.
- Lions coach Dan Beardshaw
Dylan Palmer-Quigg converted the try to extend Mittagong’s lead to 18-4.
Beardshaw said it was a good win but the team still had plenty to work on.
“We had several more opportunities, but a little too much excitement and pushing the pass increased the error rate,” he said.
Reserve grade could only manage a 6-6 draw against the 2016 reserve grade runners up.
Neither side was able to find the try line in the first half.
It was not until early in the second half that The Oaks took the lead when it scored in the first five minutes of the half.
The game continued at a high intensity and 10 minutes before full time Jesse Bond put a kick though for Dylan Palmer-Quigg who capitalised on The Oaks tired defence and scored under the posts.
Geoff McKeown made the conversation in front of the very loud big and vocal Mittagong crowd.
With two minutess left on the clock, Mittagong had a chance to make it three wins from three starts.
The Lions were awarded a penalty but the kick was unsuccessful.
Beardshaw said Alex Stone and Dylan Menzies both put in a solid effort for Mittagong, while Jordan Powell, Simon Reid and Bo Lander never stopped trying.
The Lions will play at home again on April 29 against Thirlmere Roosters.
Under-18s will kick off at 3.30pm. Ladies league tag will commence at 5pm.
Reserve grade will kick off at 6pm and first grade at 7.30pm.