ID :
193747
Fri, 07/08/2011 - 14:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/193747
The shortlink copeid
Warriors end losing streak against Titans
SYDNEY (AAP) - July 08 - Not even Mat Rogers coming out of retirement could help the last-placed Gold Coast avoid a scrappy 22-6 NRL loss to the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday night.
The Warriors shattered their four-match losing streak, the visiting Titans never looking like adding to their embarrassing tally of just four wins this season.
The 10,780 fans who braved the cold and wet weren't treated to a quality encounter but they were satisfied enough with a win that boosted the Warriors playoff hopes after they'd slipped to ninth through a horror run in June.
It wasn't all good news for the Warriors, with centre Lewis Brown hobbling off after just two minutes with a lower ankle sprain.
Despite the blow of Kiwi representative Brown leaving the field, five-eighth James Maloney's dab kick provided the opening try of the match as Shaun Berrigan swooped in the eighth minute.
Titans backrower Anthony Laffranchi blew a certain four-pointer when he failed to collect a Scott Prince grubber and, soon after returning, Warriors fullback Kevin Locke put winger Bill Tupou over in the corner.
Prince has endured a rare indifferent season but he again displayed inch-perfect kick control in the 26th minute and this time it wasn't wasted.
William Zillman won the race to the ball in the only bright spark on a bleak night for Titans, who trailed 10-6 at the break.
It took a piece of Feleti Mateo brilliance to halt the initial second-half arm-wrestle.
The gifted backrower, who had another standout performance with 25 tackles and 126 metres, secured a Maloney bomb and his customary backdoor flick gave skipper Simon Mannering enough room to barge over.
When Locke chimed in the backline with an over-the-top ball that sent Manu Vatuvei in, it was game over.
Gold Coast were disrupted by centre Esi Tonga pulling out late with a groin injury and NSW secondrower Greg Bird failing to recover from State of Origin duty.
That meant Bodene Thompson was promoted to centre with 35-year-old dual international Rogers featuring in his 200th first-grade match after answering an SOS from Titans coach John Cartwright to come out of retirement.
The Warriors shattered their four-match losing streak, the visiting Titans never looking like adding to their embarrassing tally of just four wins this season.
The 10,780 fans who braved the cold and wet weren't treated to a quality encounter but they were satisfied enough with a win that boosted the Warriors playoff hopes after they'd slipped to ninth through a horror run in June.
It wasn't all good news for the Warriors, with centre Lewis Brown hobbling off after just two minutes with a lower ankle sprain.
Despite the blow of Kiwi representative Brown leaving the field, five-eighth James Maloney's dab kick provided the opening try of the match as Shaun Berrigan swooped in the eighth minute.
Titans backrower Anthony Laffranchi blew a certain four-pointer when he failed to collect a Scott Prince grubber and, soon after returning, Warriors fullback Kevin Locke put winger Bill Tupou over in the corner.
Prince has endured a rare indifferent season but he again displayed inch-perfect kick control in the 26th minute and this time it wasn't wasted.
William Zillman won the race to the ball in the only bright spark on a bleak night for Titans, who trailed 10-6 at the break.
It took a piece of Feleti Mateo brilliance to halt the initial second-half arm-wrestle.
The gifted backrower, who had another standout performance with 25 tackles and 126 metres, secured a Maloney bomb and his customary backdoor flick gave skipper Simon Mannering enough room to barge over.
When Locke chimed in the backline with an over-the-top ball that sent Manu Vatuvei in, it was game over.
Gold Coast were disrupted by centre Esi Tonga pulling out late with a groin injury and NSW secondrower Greg Bird failing to recover from State of Origin duty.
That meant Bodene Thompson was promoted to centre with 35-year-old dual international Rogers featuring in his 200th first-grade match after answering an SOS from Titans coach John Cartwright to come out of retirement.
