Titans win bruising derby clash

Gold Coast have prevailed in an entertaining rivalry round clash, 14 points to 10 over the Broncos in front of 20,067 fans at Skilled.

It was the second weekend of rivalry round and both teams embraced the spirit, with some bruising hits in an entertaining M1 derby.

Gold Coast were under the pump for the opening twenty minutes, conceding four penalties but they repelled Brisbane on each occasion, showing desperation to stay in the hunt for the top eight.

It was the Titans who scored first counter-attacking from a Norman chip kick where Zillman found Prince who in turn found Mead to streak away for the opening points in the 25th minute.

Brisbane got due reward for their persistence though, finally crossing the stripe five minutes before halftime. Peter Wallace put it onto the chest of Gillett who threw it inside to Norman to give us a deadlocked scoreline at halftime.

Both teams brought the effort from the first half into the second with the defense still prominent. Gold Coast though finally broke through for their second try of the evening.

Luke Bailey was on the spot, like all game to take a good pass to Prince to cross for a rare four pointer. He was interfered with as he scored when Josh Hoffman hit him high and was judged to be an eight point try.

Prince slotted both the conversions to stretch their lead to eight and leave a huge task for a sputtering Broncos line up who weren't converting their chances.

Broncos attacked the line repeated but were denied at each occasion despite keeping it alive. The Titans weren't going to be denied a deserved two points which is vital in their quest to make the top eight.

They got a consolation try through Te'o who was on the end of a silky set of passes to give a true reflection of the contest, at 14-10 at fulltime.

Match Details
Gold Coast Titans 14 defeated Brisbane Broncos 10
National Rugby League - Round 20 - Friday July 20, 2012 7:45pm
Venue: Skilled Park
Referee: Jared Maxwell and Alan Shortall
Video Referee: Paul Simpkins
Touch Judges: Russell Turner and Chris Butler
Crowd: 20,067
Halftime: Gold Coast Titans 6 Brisbane Broncos 6

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Luke Bailey (1 Try)
2 Points - Scott Prince (2 Conversions, 1 Penalty Goal)
1 Point - Matt Gillett

GOLD COAST TITANS (14)
Tries: Luke Bailey, David Mead
Conversions: Scott Prince (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Scott Prince (1/1)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (10)
Tries: Ben Te'o, Corey Norman
Conversions: Corey Parker (1/1), Peter Wallace (0/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome league fans, on the second weekend of Rivalry Round! We open up north of the border, with the M1derby between Gold Coast and Brisbane.
TEAM CHANGES:

Gold Coast - Ashley Harrison is out as reported earlier in the week, replaced by Luke O'Dwyer at lock. Dominque Peyroux takes his spot on the bench in jersey 20.

Brisbane - No changes for the visitors, they are 1 through to 17.
Earlier in the Toyota Cup curtain raiser, Gold Coast led by a Hymel Hunt hat-trick won 29 points to 16 over Brisbane.
Here come the Broncos onto Skilled Park to some boos followed by the home side who are greeted by huge cheers.
Broncos kick off and here we go!
4 min: Sloppy start by both sides, knocking it on in some good positions.
10 min: Brisbane have an attacking opportunity but they are held out by the Titans.
11 min: CHARGEDOWN! by Matt Gillett but he's unfortunately knocked it on. Titans will breathe a sigh of relief.
14 min: Prince puts it high on last and it's caught well by the Bronco's fullback but unfortunately offside by the Titans players. Titans compound it by giving away a strip penalty.
16 min: Brisbane try the short ball tactic but it was forward to McGuire.
20 min: A good tackle busting run by Zillman sets up the Titans set. Sezar tries to kick for his wingers but it goes dead.
25 min: TRY
What a great counter attack by the Titans. Corey Norman tries the chip and chase but it lands into the hands of Zillman who offloads to Gordon who is almost away. He gets to Mead who streaks away from a questionable pass. Prince from in front converts.
Gold Coast Titans 6-0
27 min: Penalty Brisbane, holding on too long from the Titans.
28 min: Broncos earn the first repeat set of the night, thanks to a grubber by Wallace.
30 min: Brisbane trying to keep it alive and hit their wingers, knock it on.
31 min: Titans have their first penalty! Ryan James was caught in an awkward position.
32 min: Will Zillman is cutting them up, he found another gap but the pass goes awry.
35 min: TRY
It was a pin-point kick from Wallace who landed it right in the breadbasket of Gillett who finds Norman to stroll in for the Bronco's opening TRY. Parker converts.
6 all
36 min: That hurts, Titans concede a penalty from the kick-off from Thaiday's first charge.
36 min: Lucky break for the Titans, loose carry by the Broncos.
38 min: Matt Gillett pokes his nose through the line and tries to offload but he's knocked it on.
40 min: HALFTIME in a tough but expansive game of football, just lacking some points which will come.
41 min: Kick-off from the Titans.
42 min: Titans have their second penalty when Mead succumbed to the tackle and was dragged.
45 min: Good hit on Te'o and the ball is forced loose.
49 min: There's some fisticuffs here but no punches thrown. Penalty against Brisbane for Thaiday running in.
50 min: Titans looked like a shambles in this set. They had a full set on the Broncos line but no direction.
52 min: ONE ON ONE STEAL! Ben Hannant picks the pocket of Matthew White.
52 min: Hannant's work is spoiled by a forward pass.
58 min: A nice hooking kick from Wallace traps Prince in goal. Dropout.
60 min: Broncos can't heap on the pressure, they knock it on.
61 min: Ow. Ben Te'o with a clumsy high tackle.
VIDEO REFEREE: Luke Bailey might have a TRY.. checking the contact.
62 min: TRY
Some nice offloading from the Titans finds Bailey in the gap and a TRY! The touch judge goes under the posts, so it's a possible eight point try. Prince converts the first conversion.
Gold Coast Titans 12-6
64 min: PENALTY GOAL
Prince lines up for the second kick, resulting from the high shot as Bailey scored the try. He nails it.
Gold Coast Titans 14-6
67 min: Luke Bailey caught offside. Brisbane will go on the attack.
69 min: Peyroux with a good read again, forcing a turnover.
75 min: Broncos try to create something from their own line and it's judged forward.
VIDEO REFEREE: Checking if Luke O'Dwyer has scored the match-winner.
76 min: NO TRY! Luke O'Dwyer has knocked it on from a magnificent Prince kick.
80 min: TRY
Broncos throw it around to get their second TRY and it succeeds with an inside out ball to Te'o. Wallace from the sideline misses. FULLTIME.
Gold Coast Titans 14-10