The Goannas knew another loss could drop them down to fifth on the ladder so it was deemed as an early final and the game was never in doubt.

Kori Barber opened the scoring in the seventh minute after being denied what looked like a fair try minutes earlier.

The Goannas had all the momentum and it wasn't long before they were in again when Dan Metcalf strolled over virtually untouched.

The Lions were starting to look desperate and an attempted cut-out pass was intercepted by Joe Woodbury who raced 70 metres to score.

Willie Heta’s conversion made it 18-0 and a big score looked on the cards.

Cal Orchard extended the lead with a piece of individual brilliance when he caught a bomb on his own 20-metre line, broke through the defence and ran away to score under the posts; Heta again converted taking the score out to 24-0.

Souths then had the benefit of four straight penalties and managed to score two quick tries in the minutes leading up to half time making the score 24-12.

At half-time Goannas coach Craig Miller said he was pleased with the intensity shown early in the game but was disappointed the side had allowed their opponents a window of opportunity, and stressed the need to regain momentum early.

After the break the Goannas reasserted their authority and in the fifth minute Zeb Dunstan scored out wide, and Heta kicked a nice goal taking the score to 30-12.

Shaun Metcalf was the next to score after a good interchange of passes, and Heta converted for a 36-12 lead.

Souths managed to get a consolation try midway through the half, but Cessnock were far from finished and ran in another three tries late in the game.

The first went to Brett Stevens with some nice individual skills to dummy his way through the defence and score; then Shaun Metcalf scored his second when he received a nice pass from Liam Foran and strolled over untouched, and right on full-time Foran scored himself after some nice lead-up work from Woodbury.

Heta had his best kicking performance of the season with eight out of nine.

First grade debutant Brent Mendyk was voted players’ player and was involved all game and impressive under the high ball.

Others to play well were wingers Woodbury and Orchard while Stevens was close to best on the ground.

Cessnock’s reserve grade continued their great recent form to tough out a 16-8 win.

“The team is playing with plenty of confidence and belief and although not blowing opponents off the park, they continue to find ways to win,” club president David Woodbury said.

Players’ player went to Sam Russell with tries going to Mark White, Jake Russell and Sam Russell while Bailey Bromage kicked two goals.

Open grade were beaten 36-18 by the competition favourites in a game where they never stopped trying but their opponents were too good.

Mick Deacon was voted players’ player with tries scored by Deacon, Arch Dunstan and Josh Nitz, and goals kicked by Deacon and Joel Hafey.

The Goannas will travel to Belmont this Saturday to take on the highly-rated Lakes, who are one point ahead of Cessnock on the Real NRL ladder in second place with two rounds to go.

Cessnock’s final home game of the year will be against Kurri on Saturday, August 28. The players will be wearing special socks to raise money for breast cancer research, and a breakfast has been organised at the Australia Hotel that morning for any ladies interested. There will be guest speakers and prizes arranged; contact Kate Ninness for details.