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Titans break drought with late win over Knights
The Gold Coast Titans kept their cool in crunch time to claim a pulsating 33-26 victory over the Newcastle Knights on Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium.
In one of the most topsy-turvy games of the season, the Titans came from behind twice in the second half to notch their fourth win of the 2018 Telstra Premiership.
Scores were locked at 26-26 when Titans five-eighth AJ Brimson dived over in the corner for a match-winning try with just under five minutes remaining.
Ash Taylor, who assumed the goal-kicking duties from an ailing Michael Gordon in the second half, steered the sideline conversion over before sealing the win with a 78th-minute field goal.
The Knights will be kicking themselves after leading by eight with 20 minutes to play. Newcastle have lost three in a row and slipped to 5-6 for the season.
The Titans opened their account first with winger Phil Sami scoring the first of two tries. Gordon's sideline conversion gave the home side a 6-0 lead after nine minutes.
A Gordon penalty goal stretched the lead to 8-0 after 23 minutes before the Knights got on the board with Sione Matautia's try. Brock Lamb's conversion trimmed the gap to two and he locked it up at 8-8 with a penalty goal three minutes later.
Gold Coast went to the half-time break on a positive note, with centre Dale Copley scoring out wide for a 12-8 lead. Gordon was off target with the conversion attempt.
The Titans hit a hurdle in the first two minutes of the second half Moeaki Fotuaika sin-binned for a professional foul. Newcastle took advantage of the extra man in attack with prop Herman Ese'ese charging over for a try. Lamb made no mistake with the kick and the visitors had their first lead.
But it didn't last long, as Sami scored his second try. Taylor took over the goal-kicking duties and duly converted for an 18-14 lead with 33 minutes remaining.
Winger Ken Sio put the Knights back in front with a try in the corner, with Lamb drilling the sideline conversion over the black dot.
Kalyn Ponga then put his stamp on the game with a breathtaking 90-metre try, which Lamb converted for a 26-18 lead.
The Titans hit back again with winger Anthony Don's converted try, cutting the deficit to two with 16 minutes to play. Taylor then locked it up at 26-26 with a 68th-minute penalty goal, setting the stage for a thrilling climax.
Taylor missed a chance to put his side ahead when he sliced a relatively easy penalty goal, but the Titans made the most of their next opportunity, with Brimson crossing out wide.
https://www.nrl.com/
The Gold Coast Titans kept their cool in crunch time to claim a pulsating 33-26 victory over the Newcastle Knights on Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium.
In one of the most topsy-turvy games of the season, the Titans came from behind twice in the second half to notch their fourth win of the 2018 Telstra Premiership.
Scores were locked at 26-26 when Titans five-eighth AJ Brimson dived over in the corner for a match-winning try with just under five minutes remaining.
Ash Taylor, who assumed the goal-kicking duties from an ailing Michael Gordon in the second half, steered the sideline conversion over before sealing the win with a 78th-minute field goal.
The Knights will be kicking themselves after leading by eight with 20 minutes to play. Newcastle have lost three in a row and slipped to 5-6 for the season.
The Titans opened their account first with winger Phil Sami scoring the first of two tries. Gordon's sideline conversion gave the home side a 6-0 lead after nine minutes.
A Gordon penalty goal stretched the lead to 8-0 after 23 minutes before the Knights got on the board with Sione Matautia's try. Brock Lamb's conversion trimmed the gap to two and he locked it up at 8-8 with a penalty goal three minutes later.
Gold Coast went to the half-time break on a positive note, with centre Dale Copley scoring out wide for a 12-8 lead. Gordon was off target with the conversion attempt.
The Titans hit a hurdle in the first two minutes of the second half Moeaki Fotuaika sin-binned for a professional foul. Newcastle took advantage of the extra man in attack with prop Herman Ese'ese charging over for a try. Lamb made no mistake with the kick and the visitors had their first lead.
But it didn't last long, as Sami scored his second try. Taylor took over the goal-kicking duties and duly converted for an 18-14 lead with 33 minutes remaining.
Winger Ken Sio put the Knights back in front with a try in the corner, with Lamb drilling the sideline conversion over the black dot.
Kalyn Ponga then put his stamp on the game with a breathtaking 90-metre try, which Lamb converted for a 26-18 lead.
The Titans hit back again with winger Anthony Don's converted try, cutting the deficit to two with 16 minutes to play. Taylor then locked it up at 26-26 with a 68th-minute penalty goal, setting the stage for a thrilling climax.
Taylor missed a chance to put his side ahead when he sliced a relatively easy penalty goal, but the Titans made the most of their next opportunity, with Brimson crossing out wide.
https://www.nrl.com/
