Titans fend off bumbling Bulldogs

A spirited Gold Coast Titans have upset the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs tonight, coming out 25-14 winners at Suncorp Stadium in the second match of a double header in Round 10.

A quiet start to the game saw both sides scoreless for the first twenty minutes, errors and penalties punctuating a reasonably lifeless opening quarter. The Titans nearly scored the first try through returning centre Beau Champion (a knock on was ruled against them by the Video Referee), before the Bulldogs replied at the other end with a try to Ben Barba after 24 minutes on the back of a great Dene Halatau bust.

The Bulldogs held the Titans out until the halftime break, with Scott Prince reaping the rewards of an early return from injury, scoring just before the siren to get his side on the board. A confusing conversion attempt ended up being taken by Aidan Sezer, who missed. The Bulldogs kept a 6-4 lead at oranges.

It would be the Titans who came out stronger in the second half, with a lack of discipline costing the Bulldogs dearly. Repeated penalties and drop-balls gave the Titans far too much leeway and by the 58 minute mark a couple of tries put them 20-6 in front... the dreaded fourteen point margin by which they led with twenty left last week before losing 15-14.

Funnily enough, the Bulldogs managed back to back tries through Barba and Josh Morris to put a scare through the Gold Coast ranks, a clearly frustrated John Cartwright ordering more steely defence from his troops. It worked, and late penalty goals for Aidan Sezer following Prince's departure with a hamstring injury, combined with a field-goal on fulltime, put the result beyond any doubt.

Injury concerns for both sides come out of this one - David Stagg's knee bent awkwardly and he went up the tunnel in the second half, while Scott Prince's hamstring continue to be of issue for the 2011 wooden spooners, who have now won their third match of the 2012 season.

Next week the Titans enjoy the comfort of the bye, while the Bulldogs will host the Sharks in Monday night footy at ANZ Stadium - both sides to be without players selected for State of Origin the following Wednesday night.

Match Details
Canterbury Bulldogs 14 were defeated by Gold Coast Titans 25
National Rugby League - Round 10 - Friday May 11, 2012 8:45pm
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Referees: Jared Maxwell and Brett Suttor
Video Referee: Pat Reynolds
Touch Judges: Michael Wise and Chris Butler
Crowd: 41,273 (Double Header)
Halftime: Canterbury Bulldogs 6 Gold Coast Titans 4

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Aidan Sezer (2 Penalty Goals)
2 Points - David Mead
1 Point - Ben Barba (2 Tries)

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS (14)
Tries: Ben Barba (2), Josh Morris
Conversions: Bryson Goodwin (1/3)

GOLD COAST TITANS (25)
Tries: Scott Prince, Mark Minichiello, Jamal Idris, Matt Srama
Field Goals: Aidan Sezer (1/1)
Conversions: Scott Prince (2/3), Aidan Sezer (0/1)
Penalty Goals: Aidan Sezer (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Double header game two... here are the Bulldogs and Titans for you - Canterbury are 1-17 as per program. The Titans welcome back Beau Champion, Scott Prince and Brenton Lawrence. Left out are Dominique Peyroux, Phil Graham, Bodene Thompson and Matthew White. Jordan Rankin goes to the bench. Check out the numbered team list on the team list tab above!
Make sure if you're talking about the game tonight on Twitter you follow us @LeagueUnlimited, and be sure to add the official match hashtag #NRLcbygld!
Bulldogs and Titans - underway, Gold Coast ball!
3 min: End to end, error-free sets by both sides so far.
4 min: As I say that, Bulldogs with a penalty, Titans lose the pill and an accidental offside is ruled. Bulldogs attack 10m out.
5 min: Barba for the line! No try though, he's spilled it and it's a Titans scrum 10m from their own line.
6 min: High last tackle kick by Prince is taken superbly on his own 20m by Barba.
7 min: Luke Bailey and Nate Myles penalised for hanging around too long on Josh Reynolds. Bulldogs to attack again now.
8 min: Good pressure sustained by the Bulldogs, Kevin Gordon takes it dead, line dropout Titans, repeat sets Canterbury.
8 min: Intercept Titans, too eager to offload.
10 min: Short early kick from Srama, silly really, Bulldogs now starting their set on halfway.
11 min: Two tackles in the Bulldogs throw a forward pass. Error count 3-1 against the 'Dogs.
13 min: Titans with some threatening attacking footy, Jono Wright knocks it on attempting an intercept and it's 6 more for Gold Coast.
14 min: Oops, Beau Champion runs the wrong line and spills the pass. Bulldogs scrum 10m from their own line.
16 min: Superb set from the Titans, Srama breaks then they keep making metres. Last tackle bomb from Prince is dropped and Canterbury come up with it.
19 min: James Graham and his vaseline legs onto the field. More end to end footy from each side.
21 min: Titans penalty on their own 20m. They'll get some footy inside Canterbury's half here.
22 min: Video referee for a possible Titans try to Beau Champion. Mead knock on is what's on review here...
23 min: NO TRY. Bulldogs 20m restart.
25 min: TRY
TRY Canterbury Bulldogs
Scored by Ben Barba. Conversion attempt by Bryson Goodwin successful.
Halatau into space off a superb Stagg offload, Barba backing up inside, and he's in under the posts! Goodwin converts and the Bulldogs take the lead by six.
Canterbury Bulldogs 6-0
27 min: Idris down injured in backplay. After a full set of six for Canterbury, the Titans come out of their own end and the referee calls time off.
28 min: Titans error on their own 40m line, Bulldogs scrum feed...
30 min: Terrible handling Ben Barba, he loses it and the Titans have it inside the Bulldogs 10m zone.
31 min: Titans get a penalty but they spill it with an ordinary play the ball. Bulldogs scrum on their own 10m.
34 min: The 'Dogs charge down a Prince kick inside the Titans' half and it goes into touch. Gold Coast scrumfeed.
35 min: Prince asks the question of Ben Barba under the high ball, young Barba takes it flawlessly in heavy traffic.
38 min: Bulldogs error, then one of the players gives the referee a gobful and it's a penalty to the Titans.
40 min: TRY
TRY Gold Coast Titans
Scored by Scott Prince. Conversion attempt by Aidan Sezer unsuccessful.
Some good second phase play see Scott Prince backing up to collect a four-pointer. Aidan Sezer ends up with the tee for the conversion attempt... and he's missed it. Bulldogs take a two point lead to halftime.
Canterbury Bulldogs 6-4
40 min: HALFTIME at Suncorp in game two of tonight's double header - Bulldogs leading Gold Coast 6-4.
41 min: Second half underway with Canterbury earning the first possession.
44 min: Titans penalty after they spill it - Kasiano has been put ON REPORT for a shoulder to the face of Luke O'Dwyer.
46 min: TRY
TRY Gold Coast Titans
Scored by Matt Srama. Conversion attempt by Scott Prince successful.
Matt Srama surprises everyone with a dummy half scoot. Video referee can't tell if he got it, so it's back to the on-field ref who says try. Prince converts.
Gold Coast Titans 10-6
50 min: Video referee to adjudicate on a Titans try to David Mead. Downward pressure the issue it seems.
50 min: NO TRY - Mead's effort wasn't enough, no downward pressure and it's a Bulldogs 20m restart.
51 min: David Stagg down with a leg or ankle injury.
52 min: Stagg coming from the field as the Titans get a piggyback penalty out of their own half. Danger signs for Canterbury here...
55 min: Another Titans penalty and they're all over the 'Dogs here. VIDEO REFEREE possible try...
56 min: TRY
TRY Gold Coast Titans
Scored by Jamal Idris. Conversion attempt by Scott Prince successful.
Jamal Idris pounces on a loose pass on the left and bursts through feeble defence to get it down. Prince extends the lead to ten with the conversion.
Gold Coast Titans 16-6
58 min: TRY
TRY Gold Coast Titans
Scored by Mark Minichiello. Conversion attempt by Scott Prince unsuccessful.
Goodwin error off a Titans kick, Minichiello (Mark, that is) picks up the scraps and extends the Titans' lead. Prince misses but the game looks lost for Canterbury.
Gold Coast Titans 20-6
59 min: Calming set from the Titans now, Prince finds touch inside the Bulldogs 20m.
60 min: TRY
TRY Canterbury Bulldogs
Scored by Ben Barba. Conversion attempt by Bryson Goodwin unsuccessful.
The Bulldogs bust up the centre with Greg Eastwood, like they did last week using the forward pack up the guts. Offloads eventually see Barba cross out wide. Goodwin misses, ten points in it.
Gold Coast Titans 20-10
61 min: Scott Prince is off for the Gold Coast and he's up the tunnel. Rankin on.
63 min: Barba breaks down the left off a Pritchard offload, then the Bulldogs play entertainers-style footy before Barba gets the ball back and is held on the last. Handover, Titans ball.
64 min: Bulldogs with six more tackles following an Idris tap on the ball.
65 min: Keating's last tackle bomb is fielded well by Gordon for the Titans.
69 min: TRY
TRY Canterbury Bulldogs
Scored by Josh Morris. Conversion attempt by Bryson Goodwin unsuccessful.
Keating runs it to the left on the last and Josh Morris busts through as a result. Goodwin from out wide... waved away again.
Gold Coast Titans 20-14
71 min: Audacious stuff from the 'Dogs, running it on the last again with Reynolds, out to Goodwin and he's spilled it.
72 min: Penalty Titans 40m out. Kicking for goal from a wide position...
73 min: PENALTY GOAL
PENALTY GOAL Gold Coast Titans
Penalty goal attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
He's done it from 40m out! Sezer puts the Titans in front by eight!
Gold Coast Titans 22-14
76 min: PENALTY GOAL
PENALTY GOAL Gold Coast Titans
Penalty goal attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
Sezer adds two more after the Bulldogs are nailed for an accidental offside in front of their own post. Young Aidan makes no mistake against his former club - Gold Coast in front by ten now.
Gold Coast Titans 24-14
78 min: Restart out on the full from Canterbury. Titans penalty halfway.
80 min: FIELD GOAL
FIELD GOAL Gold Coast Titans
Field goal attempt by Aidan Sezer successful.
Sezer picks it up from first receiver and nails a demon-exorcising one pointer. Titans win!
Gold Coast Titans 25-14