NRL round-24: Titans run past Roosters
The Jetstar Gold Coast Titans were able to defeat the Sydney Roosters on the road at Sydney Football Stadium in the Monday Night affair last week.
The Titans played a complete team game the whole way through to record another late season win. The Gold Coast side carried a narrow four-point lead into half time, and was able to add to it later in the second half. In the end the Titans claimed a 23-14 victory over the struggling Sydney-siders.
Recap
The Roosters opened the scoring with a try from Braith Anasta in the 5th minute, which was followed quickly by a Todd Carney conversion, to give the hosts a 6-0 lead.
The Titans did not take long to answer back, as Clinton Toopi crossed the whitewash in the 11th minute, and Scott Prince added the conversion to notch the game up at six.
The game then fell silent for over 20 minutes as neither side was able to capitalise on their chances at the offensive end. It was not until Kevin Gordon scampered his way across the line in the 36th minute that the deadlock was broken. The late try gave the Titans a 10-6 lead heading into the second half.
After the break, the Roosters were able to strike first, courtesy of Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who managed a try in the 46th minute. Carney missed the conversion and the Roosters were forced to settle for the 10-10 tie.
However, the Titans were the next on the board. Bodene Thompson clawed his way over the line in the 57th minute, and Prince hit his second conversion of the day, allowing the Titans to re-establish a 16-10 lead.
The visitors added to their lead with a second try from Toopi in the 66th minute, and after meeting with a conversion from Prince, made it 22-10 for the Titans.
The Roosters were able to cross the whitewash once more in the 77th minute, however it was too little too late, as the home side was forced to watch the Titans take two points.
The Titans played strong all the way through, getting a solid all-around team performance. However, the ability to limit the Roosters to only three tries and one conversion proved to be the difference.
The Roosters were once again stifled at the offensive end and seemed inept on the defensive side of the ball. The whole team was underwhelming, and a rare bad day from Carney, who missed two conversions and made seven errors, did not help their chances.
Analysis
The Titans continue to roll late in the season. Now sitting in second spot, they will be gunning for first place heading into the post-season.
The Roosters meanwhile sit in sixth place, but continue to make locking up a post-season spot difficult for themselves. Next week the Sydney-siders will need to pull out a victory if they hope to cement themselves in the play-offs.
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