The Titans have fought back from an early deficit to stroll home with a comfortable 36-18 victory over an ordinary looking Manly side at Brookvale tonight.
The game started vastly differently to how it ended. Manly were on top and looking strong from the outset.
In the fifth minute, the Titans kicked to the right corner on the last tackle, the ball was batted back and the Titans kept it alive, spreading to the left where Roberts attempted a flick pass, but it was intercepted by Elgey who ran 60 metres before passing to Parker who got tackled 30 metres inside the Titans half. A few tackles after the break downfield, Cust threw a brilliant long ball out to the unmarked Taufua and the big winger went over for an easy try in the left corner. Garrick converted.
Both sides were denied a try each by the bunker, but in the 21st minute and in the second tackle of a Titans set, they spilled the ball. Walker cleaned it up, stepped a defender, set off downfield before passing to Garrick who ran 60 metres to score untouched on the right side. Garrick again converted from out wide.
With 4 minutes to go in the first half, the Titans bagged back-to-back tries in quick succession to get right back into the game.
Their first try came when Kelly found himself in open space on the left short side, drew the defender and then sent it to Copley who scored an easy try in the corner. Taylor converted from touch.
Their second came when Brimson follows through a grubber from Roberts and got a hand on the ball first to score a good try which Taylor failed to convert.
7 minutes after the resumption of play and the Titans scored first to take the lead, when Roberts capitalised on the Manly defence rushing up way too early and he strolled over for a try. Taylor's conversion attempt was waved away.
In the 56th minute the Titans extended their lead when they kept the ball alive thanks to some good hands on the left side and Copley scored. Taylor converted.###>
3 minutes later and the Titans were in again, thanks to a great long ball from Taylor which found Copley, who did a great job to reel in the pass and stay in the field of play before scoring on the left side. Taylor added the extras.
In the 64th minute, Manly hit back to reduce the margin to 8 when they went on a run down the short side with some great short passing before Parker scored out wide. Garrick converted.###>
With 11 minutes left in the game, Gold Coast scored a fortunate try when a Roberts grubber for touch hit Walker in the back, Cartwright regathered and scored. Taylor again converted.
They visitors crossed once more when a kick by the Titans was tapped back by Kelly, Roberts cleaned up, drifted left, dummied and then fell over the line for his second try. Taylor failed to add the extras.