Vale: Terry Hill
19 hours ago | National Rugby League
Titans take out battle of the cellar dwellers
The Gold Coast Titans have broken a six match losing streak at Skilled Park after defeating the Canberra Raiders 26-18 in front of a 10,230 crowd.
The Gold Coast Titans were able to fight off a late comeback from the Canberra Raiders to move off the bottom of the table for the first time since round 14.
In contrast to their efforts for much of the 2011 season, the Raiders defensive line appeared unbreakable in the opening 20 minutes of the match.
The visitors were able to deny the Titans a try after eight visits to the Raiders' 20 meters in the opening 20 minutes.
The Raiders were rewarded for their gallant defensive efforts in the 21st minute when Joel Thompson strolled over for a try.
The home side hit back nine minutes later when Dominque Peyuroux muscled his way over the line to score the first try of his NRL career.
Both sides were given an opportunity to take the lead in the final 10 minutes of the match but only the Titans were able to capitalise.
It was rookie Will Matthews who scored the first try of his NRL career on half time after Blake Ferguson could not take control of a Preston Campbell bomb.
The home side went over early in the second half, with David Mead scoring in only the 48th minute after he ran 90 meters to score.
The Titans were almost had their second of their half only two minutes later when Steve Michaels strolled over to score however the touch judge found a forward pass in the lead up.
Michaels was not denied three minutes later when he stole ball out of Blake Ferguson's arms to score in the 55th minute.
The home side continued to dominate the Raiders all over the field over the next passages of play.
The visitors were finally able to put something on in the 69th minute when David Milne scored after a break from Sam Williams.
The Raiders were over again four minutes later when video referee Phil Cooley awarded a try to David Shillington.
The Titans gave the Raiders a few final opportunities to equal the score but it was the Titans who put points on the board on full-time when Preston Campbell kicked a penalty goal.
The Raiders were over again four minutes later when video referee Phil Cooley awarded a try to David Shillington.
The Titans gave the Raiders a few final opportunities to equal the score but it was the Titans who put points on the board on full-time when Preston Campbell kicked a penalty goal.
Match Details
Gold Coast Titans 26 defeated Canberra Raiders 18
National Rugby League - Round 24 - Saturday August 20, 2011 5:30pm
Venue: Skilled Park
Referee: Tony De Las Heras and Alan Shortall
Video Referee: Phil Cooley
Touch Judges: Jason Walsh and Peter Gough
Crowd: 10,230
Halftime: Gold Coast Titans 12 Canberra Raiders 6
Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Preston Campbell (4 Conversions, 1 Penalty Goal)
2 Points - Matt Srama
1 Point - Steve Michaels (1 Try)
GOLD COAST TITANS (26)
Tries: Steve Michaels, Will Matthews, David Mead, Dominique Peyroux
Conversions: Preston Campbell (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Preston Campbell (1/1)
CANBERRA RAIDERS (18)
Tries: David Milne, Joel Thompson, David Shillington
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (3/3)
LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Good Evening folks and welcome to Skilled Park where the Gold Coast Titans will take on the Canberra Raiders.
The home side will be desperate for a win here tonight, as the two-points could see them move up from last on the competition ladder.
In the Toyota cup the Titans scored two tries in the final ten minutes of the match to win the 36-28.
Gold Coast coach John Cartwright has announced the changes to his side. Five-eighth Beau Henry is out, and William Zillman will shift from centre to five-eighth, with Esikeli Tonga coming into the centres. Luke Bailey is also out of the match, Anthony Laffranchi will cover him at prop, with Luke O'Dwyer coming off the bench and into the second row. Clinton Toopi comes onto the bench.
The Raiders have only announced the one late change, Alan Tongue moves onto the bench, with Michael Picker starting the match at hooker.
1 min: We have kick off.
1 min: McCrone kicks it from his own 30 on the last and it goes down the throat of Rankin.
2 min: Campbell kicks it from 30 out on the last and Mead is able to get there but he loses it/
3 min: The Raiders run it on the last but Sam Williams is tackled on halfway.
4 min: The Raiders concede a penalty, the Titans will go right on the attack here.
5 min: Campbell grubbers it from 10 out on the last but Milne is there to clean it up.
5 min: McCrone kicks it from his own 40 on the last but Rankin is there to take it.
6 min: Danny Galea steals the ball from Bird 10 meters the Titans side of halfway.
7 min: Williams goes to the air on the last but Robinson is there to clean it up a meter from his own line.
8 min: Campbell kicks it deep into the Raiders half on the last.
8 min: Ferguson loses the ball only 30 meters out from his own try line.
9 min: The Titans will get six again after David Shillington is penalised a meter out from the Raiders' line.
10 min: Zillman kicks it from 8 meters out on the last but Milne bats it dead for the Raiders. Line drop out.
12 min: Greg Bird throws a forward pass only ten out from the Raiders' line and the Raiders are off the hook.
12 min: Raiders' get a penalty.
13 min: Picker loses the ball 20 out from the Titans' line in bone crunching tackle from Mark Minichiello.
14 min: The Titans will get a piggyback up the field after David Shillington concedes a penalty.
14 min: Zillman loses the ball only 15 out from the Raiders' line.
15 min: Sam Williams makes a nice line break and makes it to the Titans' 20 meter line before conceding the fourth tackle.
16 min: McCrone goes to the air on the last but Ferguson loses it.
16 min: Robinson pulls off a one on one strip on halfway. The Raiders will go on the attack again.
17 min: The Raiders lose the ball only 20 meters out from the Gold Coast line.
18 min: The Titans get six again only 10 out after Ferguson got his hand to the ball in an attempted intercept.
19 min: Possible try to the Titans here, but it looks like Lafranchi may have lost it over the line.
19 min: No try! Lafranchi lost it over the line.
20 min: Williams goes to the air on the last and a Titans player gets a hand to it before Williams regathers it.
21 min: TRY
The Raiders spread it out wide and Joel Thompson scoots over for a try. Crocker's conversion attempt is successful.
Canberra Raiders 6-0
23 min: Williams kicks it from 40 out on the last and it goes deep into the Titans' territory before Rankin gathers it and runs it back to 15 meters out from his line.
23 min: Campbell kicks a bomb from 40 out on the last but Milne does well to diffuse it cleanly a few meters out from his own line.
25 min: The Raiders finish the set 15 into the Titans territory, Williams goes to the air and Rankin diffuses the kick a few meters out from his line and does well to stay in the field off play.
26 min: Srama attempts a 40/20 but the Raiders' backs are there to clean it up.
27 min: Raiders lose the ball 40 out from their own line.
29 min: TRY
The Raiders couldn't hold the Titans out this time as Dominque Peyroux muscles his way over the try line for his first try. Campbell's conversion attempt is successful.
6 all
31 min: Raiders finish their set 5 meters into the Raiders' territory before Campbell kicks a bomb which goes dead in goal.
31 min: Raiders are 10 into Titans territory on the last, McCrone puts up a bomb and is there to bat it back to his team mates but Rankin is there to take it.
32 min: Good set by the Titans they make it to the Raiders 20 before Srama puts in a kick which goes dead in goal.
34 min: Raiders get 6 again 20 out from the Titans' last after a great set.
34 min: Raiders may have scored here.
34 min: No Try! McCrone put in a beautifully waited kick into the in goal, it bounces wickedly for Rankin and Picker bats it back to his team mates, Mead grounds the ball but only after Crocker got a hand to it an knocked it forward.
35 min: Thompson loses it for the Titans 10 meters into the Raiders' half.
37 min: Williams goes to the air 40 out from the Titans line, Crocker runs through, but is penalised for jumping to early and getting in Rankins' way when he leapt for the ball. Strange call there, looked like he just misjudged it.
38 min: The Titans get their sixth penalty of the line, 40 out from the Raiders line after Shillington is penalised again.
39 min: Greg Bird may have scored for the Titans here, just checking the grounding.
39 min: Cooley says "ref's call" and De La Harres rules held up.
40 min: TRY
Campbell goes to the air on the last and Blake Ferguson makes a mess of trying to diffuse it and Matthews is there to stroll over for a try. Campbell's conversion on half time is successful.
Gold Coast Titans 12-6
41 min: Crocker kicks off to bring the second half under way.
41 min: Rankin kicks the ball on the last 5 meters into the Raiders' half.
42 min: Titans will get a scrum 10 meters out from their line after Williams kicked the ball from five meters his side of halfway on the fourth.
44 min: McCrone chips for himself on halfway but Zillman beats him to the ball.
45 min: Titans lose the ball on halfway and the Raiders should go on the attack here.
46 min: Picker can't handle a pass 15 out from the Titans' line.
47 min: Possible try to Mead here after he ran 90 meters to score, just checking a possible obstruction.
48 min: TRY
Mead scores his 14th try of the season after Matthews offloads the ball to him 10 out from his own line and Mead runs 90 meters to score. Campbell's conversion from right in front is successful.
Gold Coast Titans 18-6
49 min: Robinson is tackled into touch 20 out from his own line after diffusing Preston Campbell's kick down the field.
50 min: Michaels strolls over the tryline after the Titans spread it out wide, but there was a forward pass there.
52 min: Tongue loses the ball from the play the ball 10 meters into the Titans' half.
55 min: TRY
William Zillman kicks into the in goal on the last and Ferguson is there to diffuse it but Steve Michael flies above him to take the ball and score for the Titans. Campbell's conversion attempt is successful.
Gold Coast Titans 24-6
58 min: Raiders finish their set 20 out from the Raiders line before Williams goes to the air, Ferguson bats it back towards his team mates, but the Raiders' attack is too disjointed and Tongue kicks it dead.
59 min: Bird kicks it out on the full 40 out from his own line.
60 min: Steve Michaels comes up with the ball after McCrone lost the ball 20 out from the Raiders' line.
61 min: Minichiello loses the ball 40 out from the Raiders' line.
61 min: Titans are penalised 40 out from their own try line, let's see if the Raiders can do something this time.
62 min: McCrone goes to the air on the last but it's way too deep.
64 min: Zillman runs it on the last and is tackled, he then throws the ball and is penalised.
67 min: Raiders are all over the place at the moment, running everywhere but forwards.
69 min: TRY
After a terrible build up Williams makes a break down the right touch line and passes to Milne who scores, Crocker converts the try.
Gold Coast Titans 24-12
70 min: McCrone goes to the air 40 out on the last and Ferguson is there to bat it back, it goes through the hands before going back to Ferguson who grubbers it into the in goal, but it goes dead.
71 min: Raiders are pinned inside their own ten after a good kick by Rankin down the field.
72 min: Raiders get six again in their own half after the Titans played at the ball.
72 min: Raiders get a penalty on halfway after Zillman is pinned for a dangerous tackle.
73 min: Possible try to Shillington for the Raiders.
73 min: TRY
Cooley awards the try, David Shillington muscled his way over after a clever inside pass from McCrone, it looked like a double movement. Crocker converts the try.
Gold Coast Titans 24-18
75 min: McCrone grubbers it from 30 out on the last but the bounce is favourable for the Titans.
76 min: Titans are denied another try after Michael's pass to Rankin is ruled forward.
78 min: Papalii knocks the ball on 30 from his own line after diving on a loose pass from Campbell.
79 min: Shillington knocks the ball out of Campbell's hand ten out and the Titans will go for the two.
80 min: PENALTY GOAL Rochdale Hornets (NL2)
Campbell kicks the penalty on full time.
Gold Coast Titans 26-18