Brave Sharks beaten in NYC
Gold Coast have kept their NYC season alive with a 28-21 come-from-behind win over a gallant Cronulla in an entertaining clash at Toyota Stadium.
http://www.sharks.com.au/?s=article-display&id=29647
Brave Sharks beaten in NYC
Steve Orme
28/08/2010 4:56:20 PM
Gold Coast have kept their NYC season alive with a 28-21 come-from-behind win over a gallant Cronulla in an entertaining clash at Toyota Stadium.
Having trailed 21-12 at the break, the Titans ran in three unanswered tries in the final quarter to steal victory from a Sharks side that kept fighting until the final siren.
Gold Coast winger Ryan Tongia scored twice for the visitors in the five-tries-to-four victory, while Jordan Rankin kicked four-from-five with the boot in windy conditions.
Luke Pickerd, Joe Rokoqo, Dane Snelson and Chad Townsend all crossed for the hosts, with Townsend also adding two conversions and a field-goal in an impressive all around display from the No.7.
It was a bright start for the Sharks who struck first blood in the ninth minute when Pickerd showed good pace and strength to complete a brilliant team try in the corner.
Townsend added the extras from out wide to take an early 6-0 lead.
Some stiff Sharks defence forced a Titans error from the re-start but the hosts were unable to take advantage of a golden attacking opportunity.
And the Titans made the home side pay with two tries in the space of three minutes to Joe Tomane and Ryan Tongia to take a 12-6 lead against the run of play after 19 minutes.
Rather than drop their heads, the Sharks showed tremendous fighting spirit to hit back with three unanswered tries before the break.
Rokoqo's try in the 24th minute sparked the hosts' fight back before Snelson carried three Titans defenders over the line to reclaim the lead three minutes later.
The Titans launched a late assault on the Sharks' line but the hosts held firm and increased their lead when Townsend potted a field goal with three minutes left in the half.
The onslaught continued two minutes later when Snelson burst out of dummy half and found Townsend supporting on his inside to sprint 40m for a converted try and a nine-point buffer at the break.
With their season on the line the Titans threw everything at the home side at the resumption, but the Sharks held firm under heavy fire.
While the visitors couldn't inflict any pain on the scoreboard, the Sharks suffered a double blow when props Jake Anlezark (knee) and Adam Goode (leg) both had to be helped from the field with injuries with 25 minutes still to play.
After a sustained period of attack the Titans finally found a way through the Cronulla defensive line in the 64th minute when Tongia sprinted 60m for his second try of the afternoon, with Jordan Rankin adding the extras to cut the deficit to three points.
Matt Srama finished off another long-range effort moments later to hand the Titans a 24-21 lead, before Tom Merritt crossed out wide in the 75th minute to seal victory for the visitors.
Gold Coast Titans 28
Tries: Tongia 2, Tomane, Srama, Merritt,
Goals: Rankin 4,
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 21
Tries: Pickerd, Rokoqo, Snelson, Townsend,
Goals: Townsend 2,
Field goals: Townsend,
@ Toyota Stadium, 28/08/10.
