Knights push the Titans all the way

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Gold Coast Titans v Newcastle Knights

The winless Knights closed out their maiden season in the NRLW with a very committed and determined outing against a confident Titans outfit, but came up short with the Gold Coast finishing 14-10 victors at Suncorp.

It wasn't until there was just 2 minutes left in the game before the Titans took a lead which they did not relinquish.

The scoring opened in the 4th minute when Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly put in a kick from dummy half which was allowed to bounce. The ball bounced over the head of Karina Brown and Paige Parker came through, collected the loose ball and scored. Kirra Dibb added the extras to get the Knights off to a perfect start.

The remainder of the first half saw both teams struggle with their last tackle options and regularly putting in attacking grubbers that went dead in-goal. Both sides forwards were very strong through the middle, as was the defences of both outfits.

At halftime the Knights were leading 6-0.

The Titans didn't get on the scoreboard until the 52nd minute when Brittany Breayley-Nahi from dummy half, threw a dummy and then grubbered into the Knights ingoal where Jessika Elliston bumped through the defensive line to collect the ball and score to the left of the uprights. Brianna Clark converted the try to level the scores.

Just six minutes later the Titans took the lead for the first time when they spread the ball quick to the left, helped along by a brilliant tap pass under pressure from Kimiora Breayley-Nahi, eventually finding Hailee-Jay Maunsell who dived over to score in the corner. Zara Canfield took over the goalkicking duties, but was unable to add the extras from the sideline.

The Knights refused to surrender though and in the 64th minute Annetta Nuuausala made a brilliant powerful charge through the middle before she was tackled. From the play the ball, the Knights sent the ball right to Parker who produced a neat draw and pass to send Katelyn Vaha'akolo over for a try to level the scores. Dibb narrowly failed to convert from the sideline.

With just 2 minutes remaining in the game, Brittany Breayley-Nahi very nearly crossed from a try, but was kept just short. From the play the ball, the Titans moved the ball right to Cobie-Jane Morgan who delivered a brilliant long ball to the unmarked Brown who scored in the corner. Canfield was unable to convert, but it didn't matter as the Titans had got the job done and scored a 14-10 victory.

The Titans' opponent in next week's semi finals will be confirmed later today after the Broncos and Eels match.