Craig Cauchi reviews St George Illawarra Dragons’ victory over the Gold Coast Titans. Here’s how the game went.
MATCH TIMELINE
| Minute | Scoring Play | Score |
| 2nd | Goal Ashley Taylor (Titans) | Titans 2-0 |
| 17th | Try Zac Lomax (Dragons) | Dragons 4-2 |
| 18th | Goal Zac Lomax (Dragons) | Dragons 6-2 |
| 26th | Try Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons) | Dragons 10-2 |
| 27th | Goal Zac Lomax (Dragons) | Dragons 12-2 |
| 40th | Goal Zac Lomax (Dragons) | Dragons 14-2 |
| 40th | HALFTIME | Dragons 14-2 |
| 46th | Try Jordan Pereira (Dragons) | Dragons 18-2 |
| 48th | Goal Zac Lomax (Dragons) | Dragons 20-2 |
| 76th | Try Tanah Boyd (Titans) | Dragons 20-6 |
| 76th | Goal Tanah Boyd (Titans) | Dragons 20-8 |
| 80th | FULLTIME | Dragons 20-8 |
MATCH SUMMARY
1st Half
The Titans kicked for penalty goal after Josh Kerr tackled Ashley Taylor from a kick down field. The goal was successful and gave the Titans an early lead. The Dragons were slow to get into the match but used their high completion rate and deft kicking game to keep piling the pressure on the Titans. The Titans finally cracked after a nice pass from Dufty sent Lomax through, with the centre stepping back in field to give the Dragons their first try. The Dragons found their second try down the same side of the field after Corey Norman looped a ball over the top of the shape they had for Mikaele Ravalawa to stroll over. The Titans gave the Dragons plenty of opportunities to extend their lead through some errors but the Dragons were guilty of a few too many errors of their own. They ended the half with a penalty goal.
2nd Half
The Dragons opened the scoring in the second half in a similar circumstance to their second try. This time it was on the left side and it was Adam Clune with the long pass out to Jordan Pereira to get the ball down out wide. The Titans lost Tonumaipea and Sami to injuries and with thirty minutes to go were down to one player on the bench. The Dragons were unable to take advantage of their tired opponents and allowed the Titans to score a late try through Tanah Boyd.
GAME HIGHLIGHT
The Dragons will be disappointed with their second half but they will be pleased with their kicking game. The Titans weren’t at their best but it was made harder due to the Dragons accurate kicking game that had them coming out of their own end every set. Their kick chase backed up the kicks and endured throughout the entire 80-minutes.
SQUADS
GOLD COAST TITANS: 1.ย Corey Thompsonย 2.ย Anthony Donย 3.ย Brian Kellyย 4.ย Young Tonumaipeaย 5.ย Phillip Samiย 6.ย Ashley Taylorย 7.ย Jamal Fogartyย 8.ย Moeaki Fotuaikaย 9.ย Erin Clarkย 15. Jaimin Jolliffeย 11.ย Kevin Proctorย 12.ย Bryce Cartwrightย 13.ย Jai Arrowย ย 10. Sam Lisoneย 14. Tanah Boydย ย 16.ย Keegan Hipgraveย 17.ย Tyrone Peachey
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: 1.ย Matthew Duftyย 2.ย Jordan Pereiraย 3.ย Euan Aitkenย 4.ย Zac Lomaxย 5.ย Mikaele Ravalawaย 6.ย Corey Normanย 7.ย Adam Cluneย 8.ย Josh Kerrย 9.ย Cameron McInnesย 10.ย Paul Vaughanย 11.ย Tyson Frizellย 12.ย Tyrell Fuimaonoย 15. Trent Merrinย 13.ย James Grahamย 14. Ben Huntย ย 16.ย Blake Lawrieย 17.ย Jacob Host
