The Moruya Sharks jumped into the top five on Sunday afternoon with a gritty one-point victory over the improved Narooma Devils at Bill Smyth Oval.
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Only one point off the top five coming into the game, the Sharks needed a win to keep their season alive, particularly with tough home games against Bombala and Bega to end the season.
The visiting Sharks started like a bat out of hell, as centre Caine Brierley crossed inside the first five minutes.
Brierley was the beneficiary of brother Aaron's good work after he made a clean break down the left flank.
However, Narooma warmed into the game, and they were next to score through Ryan Norris' dart out of dummy half.
The Devils were in again shortly afterwards, as young gun Tully Wilton stepped through the defensive line to give his side a 10-6 lead.
The home side weren't done, as Ali Elmasri snagged his second try in two weeks 10 minutes before half time. Elmasri was first to a well-weighted grubber from Wilton, beating Sharks winger Kane Duncan to the footy.
Narooma held firm defensively for the rest of the half to take a 16-6 lead into the sheds.
The Sharks were down two rotations in the second half, as both Sean Deaves (ankle) and Gavin Olive (head) were ruled out for the remainder of the game, but that didn't seem to bother them as Jacob Hill darted over from dummy half in the 44th minute.
Aaron Brierley scored a bustling try under the posts just five minutes later to give the Sharks the lead.
That lead wouldn't last long, as Ryan Norris crossed for a try just four minutes later. Kane Ayers made a clean break up the middle of the ruck, before finding Norris in support for the hooker's second try of the day.
Norris converted his own try to give the home side a 22-18 lead with 25 minutes remaining.
Aaron Brierley made sure that lead wouldn't last, as he scored from dummy half just on the hour mark of the game. However, Koorin Campbell's missed conversion left the scores locked up at 22-22.
The match became an arm wrestle from that point, as both sides struggled to create scoring opportunities.
Unfortunately for the home side, the deadlock was broken seven minutes from time as Koorin Campbell nailed a field goal from directly in front.
Tully Wilton gave the Sharks some nervous moments in the final minute with a clean line break, but the visitors did enough to hold on for a 23-22 victory.
In the earlier League Tag match, the Narooma She Devils continued their recent good form with a 14-6 win over the Moruya Sharkettes.
Summa Shears crossed for two tries in the win, which sees the She Devils with a chance of playing finals. However, they finish with two tough games against the Bega Chicks and the Eden Tigerettes.