Rocky Roosters hang on against terrible Titans

The Sydney Roosters have narrowly survived a late fight back from the Gold Coast Titans to come away with an 18-12 victory in front of an 11748 crowd at Skilled Park this evening.

In a match riddled with errors, bombed opportunities and attacking plays not even worthy of park football, the standard of the game was made clear early with both sides failing to complete their opening sets.

The Roosters opened the scoring 14th minute with Shaun Kenny-Dowall scoring in the corner on the back of some clever footwork from Mitchell Pearce. Braith Anasta added the extras to give the Roosters a six-point lead.

Despite drawing first blood, the Roosters were not able to shake their early jitters, with Martin Kennedy spilling the ball from the kick off to allow the Titans to go on the attack. However, the Titans proved to be just as clueless with the ball in hand and surrendered the ball three plays later.

The home side finally made the Roosters pay for their mistakes in the 22nd minute when David Mead scored in the corner. Prince added the extras to level the score.

As the half progressed both teams continued to struggle to complete their sets, leaving the score unchanged going into the break.

After the break the Titans and the Roosters took off where they left, as both sides wasted their opportunities while creating plenty for their opposition.

It was the visitors who were the first draw blood again in the second half with Kenny-Dowall going over for his double after the Roosters made some great meters running the ball out from the half. Anasta added the extras. 

A break and a brilliant off load from Brad Takairangi saw the Roosters on the attack again in the following set, and this time they made no mistakes with Mitchell Pearce setting up Anthony Minichiello for a try. 

The next passage of play summed up the night, with the Roosters playing atrocious football while the Titans played worse. The Titans were finally able capitalise on back to back penalties in the 72nd minute with Mead crossing for his double. Prince nailed a sideline conversion to give the Titans a sniff of the lead.

The final minutes of the match saw the Titans gifted several opportunities to steal a victory as the Roosters repeatedly coughed up possession. However, poor execution by the Titans saw the score remain unchanged and the Roosters come away with the two. 

Match Details
Gold Coast Titans 12 were defeated by Sydney Roosters 18
National Rugby League - Round 6 - Saturday April 7, 2012 5:30pm
Venue: Skilled Park
Referee: Brett Suttor and Chris James
Video Referee: Pat Reynolds
Touch Judges: Jason Walsh and Michael Wise
Crowd: 11748
Halftime: Gold Coast Titans 6 Sydney Roosters 6

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Brad Takairangi
2 Points - Luke Bailey
1 Point - Justin Carney

GOLD COAST TITANS (12)
Tries: David Mead (2)
Conversions: Scott Prince (2/2)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (18)
Tries: Anthony Minichiello, Shaun Kenny-Dowall (2)
Field Goals: Braith Anasta (0/1), Mitchell Pearce (0/1)
Conversions: Braith Anasta (3/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Join the conversation! Our forums are open for discussion 24/7 on the greatest game of all!

If you love Twitter, you'll love @LeagueUnlimited! Today's official NRL match hashtag is #NRLgldsyd Good evening chaps and ladies and welcome to Skilled Park where the Gold Coast Titans take on the Sydney Roosters.
We have sticky conditions on the Gold Coast tonight where the Roosters Under 20's side has just trounced the Titans 40-12 in the Toyota Cup.
Both John Cartright and Brian Smith have just announced the late changes to their side. For the Titans, Mark Minichiello is out and will be replaced by Michael Henderson. For the Roosters, Jake Friend and Boyd Cordner will start on the bench, with Anthony Mitchell starting at hooker and Brad Takairangi moving into the starting second row.
The Titans have a good record against the Roosters, winning five out of their eight encounters, including their most recent encounter in Round 8 last year.
1 min: Braith Anasta kicks off to bring the match under way.
1 min: Ashley Harrison knocks on only 35 meters out from his own line.
2 min: Frank-Paul Nuuasala knocks on in only the second tackle and the Titans are off the hook.
7 min: A good kick return by William Zillman sees the Titans 42 out from their own line after tackle one.
6 min: Roosters' counter attack after Mead throws a loose pass, 10 out from the line.
8 min: Luke Douglas loses the ball and the Roosters will get the ball on halfway.
9 min: The Roosters receive a penalty late in the tackle count.
10 min: Joeseph Leilua loses the ball and the Titans are off the hook.
14 min: The Roosters trap the the Titans in their own 25 on tackle five forcing Scott Prince to kick from deep in his own side and Minichiello makes a great kick return to get the ball to halfway.
16 min: TRY
TRY! Mitchell Pearce puts on a step to break through the defense, he passes to Minichiello who offloads to Mitchell who is tackled 15 out. Shaun Kenny-Dowall goes from dummy half and accelerates to beat the Titans defence and stretch out to score. Braith Anasta adds the extras.
Sydney Roosters 6-0
16 min: Martin Kennedy knocks on to give the Titans an opportunity to hit right back.
17 min: Nate Myles attempts a cheeky offload on tackle three and the ball goes loose and the Roosters have the ball.
18 min: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves knocks on to give the Titans another opportunity.
19 min: Matt Srama throws a loose pass and Pearce dives on the ball. The Roosters then receive a penalty.
20 min: Pearce goes for a chip bomb from ten out on the last, his teammates are there to contest it but Takairangi knocks it on.
21 min: Peanalty against the Roosters.
23 min: TRY
TRY! Mead scores in the corner after the Titans spread it out wide through Myles, and Luke O'Dwyer. Conversion attempt by Prince is successful.
6 all
25 min: The Titans will get another piggyback up the field after the Roosters are pinned for being offside on the third tackle.
26 min: The Titans tackle count restarts on the fourth tackle after a Roosters' player gets a hand to the ball.
27 min: Prince goes to the air on the last and Justin Carney successfully contests the ball to knock it on, however the referee rules that Jamal Idris put Carney in a dangerous position by driving his shoulder into Carney's hip.
28 min: The Roosters get a tackle count restart 20 out after a Titans' player is ruled to have played at a pass.
29 min: Carney is tackled into touch ten out and the Titans are off the hook.
31 min: The Titans will go right on the attack after the Roosters are pinned for being offside again.
32 min: Srama throws a forward pass from dummy half and the Chooks are off the hook.
34 min: Michael Henderson loses the ball 20 out from his own line.
35 min: Lama Tasi knocks on on the last.
35 min: The Roosters concede a penalty and the Titans will go on the attack.
36 min: Kenny-Dowall is tackled 35 out from the Titans line after taking an intercept.
37 min: Cordner loses the ball 20 out from the line.
38 min: Prince's grubber into the in-goal goes dead and the Roosters are off the hook.
40 min: Harrison loses the ball 15 out with 30 seconds left in the half.
40 min: Leilua is tackled into touch to bring a messy half to an end.
41 min: Lama Tasi makes a huge hit up to get the second half under way.
41 min: BJ Leilua is tackled into touch by Idris 45 out from the Roosters' line.
43 min: The Titans are caught with the ball on the last after Harrison's grubber fails to threaten the line.
45 min: The Titans are 30 out from the Roosters' line after three tackles after a good kick return to start the set.
45 min: The Titans will get a line drop out after Anasta is tackled over the dead ball line by Idris.
46 min: Possible try to the Titans.
47 min: NO TRY! The Titans are pinned for an obstruction.
49 min: The Roosters are 20 out on the last, but Kenny-Dowall spirals the ball into touch.
53 min: Possible try to the Roosters!
55 min: TRY
TRY! Kenny-Dowall scores in the corner of an Anasta grubber on the back of an explosive set from the Roosters. Anasta adds the extras.
Sydney Roosters 12-6
56 min: Roosters on the attack again after a break from Takairangi.
57 min: TRY
Pearce runs across field to attract the defense and throws an inside pass to Miniciello who scores under the posts. Anasta converts the try.
Sydney Roosters 18-6
57 min: The Titans will get a line dropout after the kick off bounces between Minichiello and Hargreaves before going dead.
58 min: Zilman knocks on and the Roosters are off the hook.
60 min: The Roosters force and error from the Titans with some strong defense.
61 min: Leilua loses the ball only a few meters from the line.
62 min: The Titans make a massive break down the right side through Mead who attempts to pass to Zillman 20 out from the Roosters line but Kenny-Dowall intercepts.
64 min: Harison affects a charge down but Jordan Rankin knocks it down trying to cliam the loose ball.
66 min: Anasta dives on a loose ball 30 out from the Titans' line and the Roosters will go on the attack again.
67 min: An average kick by Anasta is too much for Perrett and the Titans survive.
68 min: Carney is tackled on halfway on the first tackle after a Prince kick finds him on the fly.
69 min: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT Dewsbury Rams (NL1)
Anasta attempts a field goal from 10 meters out and misses!
Sydney Roosters 18-6
71 min: Roosters are on the attack again after Baily charges down an Anasta field goal attempt.
72 min: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT
Pearce attempts a field goal from 20 out and Srama charges it down and bounces on the loose ball. The Titans receive a penalty.
Sydney Roosters 18-6
73 min: The Titans receive another penalty 20 out.
74 min: TRY
TRY! Mead scores in the right corner after combining with Zilman. Conversion attempt by Prince is successful.
Sydney Roosters 18-12
76 min: The Titans will receive a line dropout after Prince puts up a spiraling bomb which Minichiello diffuses only to be pushed into the in goal from Bailey.
78 min: Rankin grubbers into the in goal but Carny is up to the task and is tackled a few meters into the field of play.
79 min: Kennedy knocks on after being crunched in a tackle by Myles. Titans scrum 15 out.
80 min: Scott Prince grubbers into the in goal on the fourth and Perrett has it covered and runs it to 15 out from the try line.
80 min: Mitchell loses the ball 40 out from the Titans line with 15 seconds left in the match.
80 min: The Titans receive a penalty as the full time siren sounds. Prince kicks on the first tackle but Minichiello diffuses it easily and that's the match.