Travelling Titans shock Sea Eagles

Preston Campbell has led a second half comeback for the Titans to defeat Manly at home 24-22 in a thriller.

Gold Coast started off with a length of the field try by Kevin Gordon who pounced on a loose carry. Manly didn't take long to respond through rookie halfback Trent Hodkinson to make it even. Manly dominated the rest of the half with Steve Matai scoring his first try and Ben Farrar crossed to show the dominance Manly had in the first half. Kevin Gordon kept the Titans close with another long range effort to finish out the half.

The second half started off with a tussle for space, with both teams using their kicking game for territory. Manly lifted a gear with a set of six, where they ran the ball out of their own half and Steve Matai finished off a nice movement, a few sets later to give Manly a ten point advantage.

Some individual brillance by Nathan Friend who ran it on the last and flicked it to Preston Campbell to score under the posts and kick the easy conversion to make it four. Anthony Laffranchi got the Titans to the lead after an inside ball again from Nathan Friend to slam home the match winner. Manly had one more set to go a 100 metres but the Titans held on for a memorable win in their short history.

Gold Coast have one concern with Anthony Laffranchi put on report for a high tackle but they head home to host the 2nd place Panthers in what shapes up to be a good contest. Manly meanwhile head west to ANZ Stadium to face another team who had a second half comeback South Sydney.

Match Details
Manly Sea Eagles 22 were defeated by Gold Coast Titans 24
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 7 - Monday April 26, 2010 7:00pm
Venue: Brookvale Oval
Referee: Jared Maxwell and Bernard Sutton
Video Referee: Sean Hampstead
Touch Judges: Paul Holland and Gavin Morris
Crowd: 15,195
Halftime: Manly Sea Eagles 16 Gold Coast Titans 12

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Preston Campbell (1 Try, 4 Conversions)
2 Points - Steve Matai (2 Tries)
1 Point - Kevin Gordon (2 Tries)

Manly Sea Eagles (22)
Tries: Steve Matai (2), Ben Farrar, Trent Hodkinson
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (3/4)

Gold Coast Titans (24)
Tries: Preston Campbell, Anthony Laffranchi, Kevin Gordon (2)
Conversions: Preston Campbell (4/4)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to a chilly Brookvale Oval for a match for two team's that have weathered the Storm, Manly and Gold Coast. Tonight's game will be entertaining to say the least.
Earlier today in the Toyota Cup, Manly ran riot on Gold Coast scoring ten tries to one, winning 50-6.
One change for Manly, with Matt Cross out and Jamie Buhrer coming in. For the Titans, Henderson will start, relegating Matthew White to the bench.
1 min: Gold Coast get us underway tonight.
2 min: Possible Titans try after Glenn Stewart drops the ball and Gordon runs it in.
3 min: TRY
Kevin Gordon has scored an amazing try after running 60 metres from a Manly knock on. Preston kicks the easy two.
Gold Coast Titans 6-0
4 min: Gordon follows up his try with an error to give Manly some great field position.
8 min: TRY
Manly get a penalty and on 5th chip it to the post, Bird knocks it on and Hodkinson grabs it and scores. Jamie Lyon brings the game back to even stevens.
6 all
14 min: A hard hit by Matai dislodges the ball giving Manly a set in the Titan's half.
16 min: Manly might have their second through Matai..
17 min: TRY
Hodkinson sets up the second try with a nice bomb tormenting Mead and Foran bats it back to Matai swoops and scores. Lyon kicks them six points ahead.
Manly Sea Eagles 12-6
19 min: A huuge bomb from Greg Bird has Farrar in trouble and he drops it. Titans scrum ten out.
21 min: Gold Coast waste the chance and then conceed a penalty, piggybacking Manly out of their own end.
23 min: Preston Campbell with a big play grubbering it for himself from the drop out and recovers!
24 min: Titans can't hold possession and allow Manly another easy passage out and conceed a second straight after playing at a grubber on the last.
25 min: Gordon knocks down a Manly pass and it's deemed six again while Gordon meanwhile practises his soccer skills downfield.
27 min: More pressure on the Coast after Bailey tackles Matai high to stop his run. Matai is clutching at his shoulder.
29 min: TRY
Ben Farrar makes good of Manly's dominance over the last few minutes and Lyon misses his first for the night.
Manly Sea Eagles 16-6
30 min: Important set here, as Matthew White fresh on the paddock gives away another cheap penalty, Manly on the attack again.
32 min: Anthony Laffranchi is on report after a high shot on Ballin and Titans given a general warning. Manly drop it early in the count and Titans try a counter attack downfield.
36 min: TRY
Kevin Gordon does it again, a Foran kick rebounds off Meyers and into Campbells hands who offloads to Gordon who goes the rest of the way. Preston with a nice conversion to make it four the difference.
Manly Sea Eagles 16-12
40 min: Preston tries a little grubber for himself again but this time it doesn't work and Tony Williams takes the final run of the half which Manly has dominanted.
41 min: Tony Williams kicks off for the second half.
43 min: Gold Coast run it on last but it's stopped short of the line. Hand over.
48 min: Josh Perry stops an attacking move by batting the ball down before it got to the man.
50 min: Titans throw several plays at Manly but they hold out and Watmough shows good hands recovering a kick.
51 min: Uh Oh! David Mead with an easy drop on his own ten metres.
54 min: TRY
A nice backline movement finished by Matai who scores untouched. Lyon kicks it from the sideline.
Manly Sea Eagles 22-12
56 min: Jamie Lyons pinged for being in front of the kicker. Penalty Titans.
62 min: Preston is manhandled by Watmough and he forces a knock on.
63 min: Tomane is back on for the Titans and Williams can't get to a kick before it rolls over the sideline.
66 min: Josh Perry with a sprint down the middle but couldn't find anyone and it's dropped a tackle later.
71 min: TRY Rochdale Hornets (NL2)
Nathan Friend runs it on the last and pops the miracle ball to Campbell who weaves his way over the tryline. Game On! Preston converts his own try.
Manly Sea Eagles 22-18
73 min: Titans have a repeat set after another long bomb from Bird and he drops it.
75 min: TRY
Friend shows it and passes inside to Laffranchi who slams the ball down. Preston kicks it and the Coast have the lead.
Gold Coast Titans 24-22
76 min: Manly recover the short kick off and throw it left but Mead touches the ball and it's another set for Manly.
78 min: Kite is hit and loses it! two minutes to hold on for the Titans.
79 min: Chargedown by Manly! but it's ruled six again and Titans regather.
80 min: Manly have one set to go 100m and win the game.
80 min: Lyon chips the ball and gets it to Ballin who throws it forward and that is the game.