THE Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies showed they mean business in 2006 with a 40-22 win over the Batemans Bay Tigers at Berry Showground on Saturday.

The noticeably smaller Magpies outfit combined sharp passing with enthusiastic defence to score a solid win. They were hardly threatened by a disappointing Tigers team, who had impressed in defeating Milton in the opening round.

Batemans Bay scored first through Ben Ralston, but three quick tries to Berry gave the home side a 14-4 lead. The Tigers responded through Matt Schubert, but Berry went further ahead with tries to Kurt Simpson and Sam Burns, before an intercept on half time by Aaron Brierley kept the Tigers in the game at 26-16.

Berry kept their momentum in the second half with Buddy Braddick and Steve Butler extending the lead before winger Nathan Woods got one back for the Bay. A second try to front rower Michael Walker sealed the win for Berry.

Gerard Dennis and captain-coach Mick Elliott tried hard in a beaten Bay side.

Elliott said that his team did not pay its oppositon due respect.

"We were pretty ordinary," he said.

"The players thought they would go up there and have an easy win, but Berry played well."

Elliott added that the injuries to

second rowers John Ralston and Marcelo Loustau early in the match did not help.

"Everyone was positive after the game and realised we will have to train harder this week," he said.

Unfortunately the Magpies enjoyed a hat-trick of wins over the Tigers, winning 36-32 in reserve grade and 48-16 in under 18s.

First grade

Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies 40 (M Walker 2, L Sharpe, L Williamson, B Braddick, S Burns, K Simpson, S Butler tries, S Burns 2, D Siddons 2 goals) beat Batemans Bay Tigers 22 (B Ralston, M Schubert, A Brierley, N Wood tries, A Brierley 3 goals).

Reserve grade

Berry-Shoalhaven Heads 36 (B Kinlyside 3, L Harris, M Hinkley, D Siddons, J Dudgeon tries D Siddons 5 goals) beat Batemans Bay Tigers 32 (C Laffin 2, G Thors 2, M Brown, J Birkenshaw tries, J Arnold 4, C Pickett goals).

Under18

Berry-Shoalhaven Heads 48 (M Haddin 2, B Kinlyside 2, M Thompson, J Kerr, J McNamara, T Maher, N Benny tries, B Wilson 6 goals) beat Batemans Bay Tigers 16 (Jake Cowling, Justin Bell, Josh Stewart tries, Ronald Callaghan two goals).