Rampaging Roosters roast Titans

Some scintillating attacking football and stout defence has seen the Sydney Roosters upset the Gold Coast Titans 30-16 in front of 13,235 fans at Skilled Park.

Both teams turned on the razzle-dazzle in the first half before a committed defensive effort from the Roosters held the Titans scoreless in the second stanza, the home team shot themselves in the foot with errors at crucial times.

Playmaker Mitchell Pearce claimed LeagueUnlimited's Man of the Match honour with a dominant display at halfback, while Frank-Paul Nuuausala had a big impact with some try saving defence and bullocking runs.

An enterprising first forty saw the Gold Coast come out of the blocks firing, with winger David Mead crossing for two four-pointers in the opening 8 minutes.

But the Roosters clicked into gear when Shaun Kenny-Dowall capitalised on a tap back from Sam Perrett to score out wide. They then went back-to-back thanks to Anthony Minichiello, before Frank-Paul Nuuausala snuck under the watch of Titans' fullback Preston Campbell to give his side a 12-10 advantage.

Braith Anasta then produced a great left foot step to touch down in the 35th minute. A pinpoint cross field kick from captain Scott Prince set up Mead on the stroke of halftime to reduce the deficit to 18-16 in what was one of the most entertaining halves of footy in 2010.

Kenny-Dowall grabbed his double off a Pearce inspired linebreak in the 50th minute and Sydney extended their lead to 30-16 when Nuuausala crashed over off a well disguised short ball from dummy half Nick Kouparitsas only eight minutes later.

The remaining quarter of the game was characterised by some great scrambling defence from the visitors as they held Gold Coast at bay.

The Roosters next assignment is against the Sharks at home, while the Titans face a tough road trip to Canberra - they take on the Raiders Sunday afternoon at 2:00pm.

Match Details
Gold Coast Titans 16 were defeated by Sydney Roosters 30
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 12 - Monday May 31, 2010 7:00pm
Venue: Skilled Park
Referee: Jared Maxwell and Steve Lyons
Video Referee: Paul Simpkins
Touch Judges: David Abood and Michael Wise
Crowd: 13,235
Halftime: Gold Coast Titans 16 Sydney Roosters 18

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Mitchell Pearce
2 Points - Frank-Paul Nuuausala (2 Tries)
1 Point - Nate Myles

Gold Coast Titans (16)
Tries: David Mead (3)
Conversions: Scott Prince (2/3)

Sydney Roosters (30)
Tries: Anthony Minichiello, Braith Anasta, Shaun Kenny-Dowall (2), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (2)
Conversions: Todd Carney (3/6)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to Skilled Park for the clash between the Gold Coast Titans and Sydney Roosters. A win to the home team will see them jump in to second position on the ladder, while the Roosters should be firing for this encounter after a week off with the bye.
Sydney scored a thrilling 36-34 victory in the u20s thanks to a try to Ben Jones in the last minute.
Team changes tonight..
Titans: Centre Joseph Tomane has been ruled out with injury and is replaced by Josh Graham.
Roosters: On the bench, James Aubusson's spot is taken by EJ Leilua in jersey 18.
1 min: Roosters kick off at Robina!
1 min: Some strong defence by Sydney in the opening set gives them good field position.
3 min: TRY
The Roosters bomb high on the last tackle but the ball is batted back and picked up by Luke Bailey, who offloads smartly to David Mead. The speedy winger flashes away downfield and is in under the posts. Prince converts.
Gold Coast Titans 6-0
6 min: Titans working the ball off their own line after a nice kick to the corner from Anasta.
7 min: Campbell makes a break for the Coast but some last ditch defence from Shaun Kenny-Dowall drags down Toopi inches from the line.
8 min: TRY
David Mead is in for his second! Some brilliant dummy passes from Scott Prince has the Sydney defence running around like headless chooks before he fires a pass out to Mead in the corner. Prince fails to convert.
Gold Coast Titans 10-0
11 min: Ashley Harrison drops the ball on halfway, relieving the pressure.
12 min: Mead's in the action again with a great take but the Roosters get a penalty for a hit off the ball.
13 min: Video referee - possible Roosters try, just checking everything..
13 min: TRY
A last tackle bomb is tapped back by Sam Perrett, Braith Anasta then flicks it to Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who simply burrows over. Carney fails to convert.
Gold Coast Titans 10-4
15 min: Jason Ryles makes an error returning the ball from the kickoff, Titans hot on the attack again.
17 min: Prince banana kicks back to the posts but Mitchell Pearce fields it comfortably.
19 min: Preston Campbell gets picked up and driven over the sideline - Roosters get the scrum feed 20m out from the Titans line.
21 min: TRY
The Roosters spread the ball wide, the Titans defence doesn't push up off the line and Anthony Minichiello catches them on the back foot and barges over. Carney fails to convert.
Gold Coast Titans 10-8
24 min: Action packed at the moment! Roosters string some offloads together before a last tackle bomb hits the uprights and eventually goes dead.
26 min: Video referee - possible Sydney try..
26 min: TRY
Amazing try there to the Roosters. A chip from Anasta hits the turf and Preston Campbell stands over the ball waiting for it to trickle out but it doesn't and Frank-Paul Nuuausala sneaks in and plants it for a try. Carney fails to convert.
Sydney Roosters 12-10
29 min: Roosters go close to scoring again but Mead hits the ball dead in the nick of time.
30 min: Sydney look very dangerous at the moment but Gold Coast somehow hold them out for two sets in a row.
33 min: Titans show some enterprise now but they push the pass and Meyers knocks on.
34 min: Phil Graham is denied by some stout defence and the Roosters get another set thanks to a penalty.
35 min: TRY Dewsbury Rams (NL1)
The Titans' defence finally cracks. Braith Anasta runs the ball with a left foot step akin to the great Bread Fittler to score. Carney converts.
Sydney Roosters 18-10
38 min: Some offloading from the Titans sends Gordon away on a break.
39 min: TRY
Scott Prince runs to the line and sucks in the defence before kicking wide to the chest of David Mead - he has his hat trick! Prince's conversion hits the cross bar and bounces over.
Sydney Roosters 18-16
Halftime: Wow, what a thrilling first half at Skilled Park! It's been played at a remarkable pace and both teams are really throwing the ball around. The Titans got an early lead but then the Roosters surged ahead, however that late try to Mead has halted some of the visitor's momentum.
41 min: We're underway again!
42 min: Lucky break for the Titans - Harrison attempts a risky offload and the Roosters knock on trying to grab the ball.
44 min: Greg Bird tries to showcase his playmaking ability but his pass doesn't find the mark.
46 min: Gold Coast get back-to-back penalties and they're on the attack yet again.
48 min: Errors from both teams in consecutive sets trying to push the pass when it's not on.
50 min: TRY
Mitchell Pearce hits his namesake Mitchell Aubusson with a short ball, he then flings it back to Shaun Kenny-Dowall in support. Carney converts.
Sydney Roosters 24-16
52 min: Both Pearce and Prince are directing their teams around the park tonight - great to see two dominant halfbacks go head-to-head.
53 min: Todd Carney pulls out at the very last second from taking a bomb but still gets absolutely smashed by Bird.
56 min: Prince grubbers ahead, it rebounds off the goal posts and Meyers picks it up but can't get over.
58 min: TRY
The Roosters extend their lead! Nick Kouparitsas throws a well disguised short pass from dummy half to Frank-Paul Nuuasala, who crashes over. Carney converts.
Sydney Roosters 30-16
60 min: Nuuasala now with a big surge and offload - he's having a big impact.
61 min: Kouparitsas strides through but is cut down by Zillman in the last line of defence.
63 min: Preston Campbell throws a long pass that travels about 10m forward but replays show it was actually back out of the hands - should have been play on, technically.
64 min: Comedy of errors, Phil Graham flings a ball over the top looking for his winger but it turns out Minichiello had run back on his inside.
66 min: Mark Minichiello goes within inches of scoring - my fingers can't keep up at the moment!
67 min: Nate Myles stays down with a bit of an injury - hard to tell what it is though, he's been limping and grabbing his shoulder for a while now.
68 min: Titans on the attack but they drop the ball again.
71 min: Roosters return the favour with an error on halfway.
73 min: We've had four mistakes in the last four sets - no one can hold the ball.
75 min: Gold Coast have been off the pace in the second half, nothing's clicked for them in attack.
75 min: Greg Bird makes a break before finding Campbell. Carney takes the ball off the fullback after the tackle had been completed and is sent to the bin for a professional foul.
77 min: A Scott Prince grubber his the posts again and Sydney knock on.
79 min: The Roosters showing some great scrambling defence to hold out the Titans in the dying stages.
80 min: Luke Bailey drops the ball and that's game over.
80 min: Fulltime: Sydney have shocked the Titans at home here tonight, they showed some speed and brilliance in attack and their defence held the opposition scoreless in the second half.