By Bryden Sharp
Mounties made it four wins from as many starts with a hard fought 20-18 win over North Sydney at a heavy Aubrey Keech Reserve.
Tries from Chris Grevsmuhl and Curtis Johnston gave the Bears a 10-0 lead before Jake Foster scored for Mounties to reduce the deficit to four points at half-time.
Norths had the first real opportunity of the second stanza only to see some desperate defence held Jason Clark up over the try line.
Mounties hit the lead for the first time in the match after Rodney Coates powered his way across adjacent to the posts. The field possession was set up after yet another 40/20 kick this time from the boot of Matt Place.
On the back of repeat sets Matt McIlwrick showed great determination to score under the sticks. Back to back penalties resulted in the Bears crossing the line through Aaron Gray.
From the kick off the Bears gave their traveling fans something to cheer about with Alex Johnston locking up the scores setting up a grandstand finish.
Mountes took the lead courtesy of a Cornish penalty goal with five minutes left to play. This proved to be the defining moment and the scores remained at 20-18 as the full time siren rang out.
This Saturday Mounties head west to face the Panthers at Sportingbet Stadium while the Bears head south to Wollongong to face the Cutters.
Mounties 20 (M McIllwrick, J Foster, R Coates tries; M Cornish 4 goals) def. North Sydney Bears 18 (C Johnston, A Johnston, C Grevsmuhl, A Gray tries; A Gray goal) at Aubrey Keech Reserve.
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