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6 hours ago | Rhys Sullivan
The Newcastle Knights have held on to win 20-18 against the Gold Coast Titans, in front of 6962 brave fans at a wet CBus Super Stadium tonight.
The Gold Coast side obviously had a point to prove, especially the returning cavalry of Beau Falloon, David Taylor and Greg Bird. Falloon and Bird in particular were great early, getting heavily involved and causing some headaches for the Knights, while Dave Taylor had some damaging hitups in the second half.
The Titans held most of the possession in the first half, and were rewarded early with a try to Anthony Don in the 6th minute. Newcastle hit back 5 minutes later with an easy try to Beau Scott, and it was the Knights who continued to make the most of their opportunities early in the game. A piece of Dane Gagai brilliance and a late penalty goal saw the Knights head to the break leading 14-6.
Both starting front rowers were huge for the Knights, with Kade Snowden making 130 metres and almost 20 tackles in the first half alone, and Korbin Sims also making some tough runs.
The Titans came out after the break and hit back quickly with a try to Aidan Sezer in the first few minutes of the half. Sezer converted his own try, making the difference 2 points.
The Knights looked to have extended their lead in the 56th minute when Kurt Gidley took advantage of some slow marker defence and crashed over, however upon closer inspection it was revealed he had dropped the ball before the line.
That seemed to be a turning point for the game, and for the next ten minutes everything went the Titans' way. The Titans forced the Knights into two line dropouts, before a line break from Anthony Don led to an Aidan Sezer try under the goal posts. Again Sezer had no issue with the conversion, and the Titans took the lead 18-14.
With 12 minutes left on the clock, Daniel Mortimer put a little bit too much on a kick in play, sending it out on the full, and the Knights were gifted an opportunity to hit back. On the first play of the set, Eddie Pettybourne hit a falling Korbin Sims high in the tackle, and the Knights were piggybacked downfield, but William Zillman took a high ball at the end of the set to give his side some relief.
In what seems to be a topical issue for the NRL at the moment, and with only 5 minutes remaining in the game, Jarrod Mullen was hit late and had to leave the field. Whether due to this, or purely by coincidence, the Knights lifted in the next set. Firstly a great run from Akuila Uate set the Knights in some great field position, and then drew a penalty. From the resulting set, a short ball from Adam Clydesdale saw Jeremy Smith score the easiest try of his career, directly under the posts. Tyrone Roberts converted the try, and the Knights took back the lead 20-18.
The Knights played the run-down-the-clock game in the last minute, with a couple of mystery injuries to players, a time wasting kick to the sideline from Kurt Gidley, and an absurd attempt from Jeremy Smith to pack into the second row for the Titans.
After the scrum was finally able to pack the Titans attempted a kick on the first tackle to snatch back the game. Unfortunately for the Titans the chase was a poor one, and James McManus easily tidied up the kick and sealed victory for his side.
The Knights will head back home to Newcastle next weekend, lifted by their three wins in a row, to take on the Penrith Panthers on Saturday afternoon in what should be a great game. The Titans will clash with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Remondis Stadium, and they don't look far from a win.
GOLD COAST TITANS (18)
Tries: Anthony Don, Aidan Sezer (2)
Field Goals:
Conversions: Aidan Sezer (3/3)
Penalty Goals:
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (20)
Tries: Beau Scott, Dane Gagai, Jeremy Smith
Field Goals:
Conversions: Tyrone Roberts (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Tyrone Roberts (1/1)
It's from a wet Robina Stadium that we welcome you this afternoon for this clash between the Gold Coast Titans and the Newcastle Knights.
The home side have an unchanged side from the one named on Tuesday afternoon, with the return of Greg Bird, Dave Taylor and Beau Falloon buoying the Titans.
For the Knights, Tyler Randell will drop off the extended bench, with Sione Mata'utia favoured for the bench spot in jersey #18.
1: Play is underway at CBUS Stadium - Titans have the first use
2: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Joseph Leilua makes an unforced error.
The Knights go 95m in a couple of plays but Joseph Leilua loses in a tackle
4: Knights on the attack straight after the Titans lose the ball on the scrum
6: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Anthony Don. Kick to come.
A beautful cut out ball from Aidan Sezer creates an overlap and Anthony Don scores
8: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
Aidan Sezer hooks it back from the left to the right and converts the kick from the sideline
12: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Beau Scott. Kick to come.
Beau Scott gets through a hole that the QE2 would fit in
13: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Tyrone Roberts as no problems converting from the right of the uprights
18: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Dane Gagai. Kick to come.
Well the try was given controversially despite an obvious knock on back on halfway
20: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Tyrone Roberts converts from in front
21: A massive forward pass from Nate Myles that goes 3m forward helps the Knights upfield
26: UNFORCED ERROR NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Adam Clydsdale makes an unforced error.
Adam Clydsdale tries to go from dummy-half but loses the ball 3m out
33: 8 minutes to the break and the Knights are dominating the possession but they do only lead by a converted try
36: PENALTY KNIGHTS: Matt White is penalised for a high tackle and the Knights go over halfway
37: The Knights catch the Titans napping but then Sione Mata'utia catches his own teammate napping with a ball that is dropped
40: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Penalty goal attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Tyrone Roberts converts the penalty goal from 30m out and they push the lead out
40: Half-time at Cbus Super Stadium and the Knights hold a 14-6 lead
52: Apologies for the break in updates - a few technical gremlins having some Sunday night fun
44: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Aidan Sezer. Kick to come.
Aidan Sezer scores under the posts after the Knights let the ball bounce at the back
44: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
Sezer converts his own try from infront
56: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Kurt Gidley try though its onfield NO TRY according to Adam Devich
58: Repeat set coming up for the Titans after Akila Uate was tackled ingoal
64: TRY GOLD COAST TITANS
Scored by Aidan Sezer. Kick to come.
Aidan Sezer gets a great ball and he takes off for the line and the Titans go to the lead
65: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION GOLD COAST TITANS
Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
Another easy conversion for Aidan Sezer and extends the lead to 4
66: Another penalty deep in their own end helps the Titans up the field
69: PENALTY TITANS: Eddy Pettybourne on report for a high tackle on Korbin Sims
74: Jarrod Mullen is going off after being taken out late
76: TRY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Scored by Jeremy Smith. Kick to come.
Another massive hole opens in the Titans defence and Jeremy Smith strolls through to score under the sticks
77: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Conversion attempt by Tyrone Roberts successful.
Tyrone Roberts slots the conversion from infront
77: Short kickoff and the Titans get the ball back
79: 60 seconds - Knight hold the ball and the lead by 2 points