Manly v Gold Coast - Brookvale Oval. Monday April 26, 2010.
1st minute - Kevin Gordon just scored a try that failed to grab the attention of everybody at Brookvale oval. It looked as though the ball was jolted loose from Glenn Stewart and Gordon has run 80m to score. Bizarre. Fans still filing into the stadium seem stunned as they are still thinking about how far away they have just parked. Those of you who have been to Brookvale Oval can sympathise. Titans 6-0.
4th minute - Titans defence looks willing early. They do have the talent to avoid getting blown off the park tonight as huge underdogs. Discipline is the key.
5th minute - Consecutive penalties against the Gold Coast does not bode well for their discipline.
6th minute - Another perfect kick from Trent Hodkinson into the in goal is batted back by Anthony Watmough to the Eagles number 7 who scores. 6-6
10th minute - Journeyman Shane Rodney shows great skill to pick up a grubber kick - a good sign for a side when their forwards turn up to defuse such attacking kicks.
11th minute - Steve Matai knocks the stuffing out of David Mead.
12th minute - This game does not have the same spice to it as last weeks match between the Eagles and Melbourne. 3 reasons for this:
1. These two teams have not yet established a rivalry.
2. The Titans away form is not inspiring
3. Manly and The Gold Coast are under the Salary Cap.
15th minute - Matai rocks Joseph Tomane with a beauty. Manly ball. The Sea Eagles defence has been impressive for many years now. They perhaps should have more silverware to show for it. We all know why they don't.
17th minute - Hodkinson kick is perfectly placed again - poorly defended by the Titans and Matai is over. Manly 12-6.
19th minute - Greg Bird takes a blind side hit up and we notice he hasn’t been seen much in the opening 20. He needs to perform well for the Titans to win, and the Eagles need to perform badly. They do as Ben Farrar drops a bomb to give the visitors a repeat set. The Titans give it right back with their own error and then give away a penalty. John Cartwright must be losing his mind.
21st minute - Kieran Foran gets into the act and drops a perfectly weighted grubber into the Titans in goal to force a drop out. Preston Campbell pulls out a beauty and kicks it 10m to recover possession for his side.
Thought - Is it just me or do touch judges have the easiest job in the world? What do they even do?
26th minute - Manly have all the ball right now. They still lead 12-6 as the Titans defence holds strong.
27th minute - Not strong enough though as weight of possession tells and an impressive sweeping play to the left sees Ben Farrar score. Bad signs now for the Gold Coast unless they start holding the ball. Manly lead 16-6.
30th minute - Sea Eagles lead penalty count 4-0. Can we bet on the next 4 penalties going to the Titans to even it up? I hate that NRL refs are made aware of this.
Laffranchi on report for high shot in front of the posts. Manly take the tap and turn it over on tackle 2. Titans must be the next to score.
32nd minute - rather than scoring next, they turn the ball over again. Their away form is at times Raiders like.
34th minute - A lucky break for the visitors as Preston Campbell charges down a Foran kick and shovels the ball to speedster Kevin Gordon who runs 70m to get his double. Manly 16-12.
38th minute - The Eagles interchange bench is impressive. Kite and Galuvao come onto the field and have been working hard.
Halftime - Manly lead 16-12.
43rd minute - PC has still got it. Makes a 40m bust to signify that the Titans are right in this.
Thought - The Titans might struggle to score points. Without Prince and both starting centres on the field (Tomane has been pulled and replaced by Sam Tagataese), their attack is struggling. They should expect more from William Zillman who showed promise whilst in Canberra but fair to say that he has not yet found his feet north of the Tweed.
50th minute - Speaking of the Titans attack, the Eagles are now under pressure. They show good character with Watmough defusing an attacking kick and then the Eagles go 70 metres from 3 dummy half runs. David Mead then drops a bomb to give Manly a repeat set. Huge momentum swing.
52nd minute - Momentum usually leads to points and does so here as Matai crosses. Good passing that sees the Kiwi international run untouched to the line. Lyon coverts. Manly lead 22-12.
59th minute - Manly defence turns it up a notch with 3 solid hits. 20 to go and the Titans need someone to create points. Bird seems as though he is attracting multiple defenders and Campbell is not very talkative at the moment.
61st minute - A Joseph Tomane sighting. Is he back?
62nd minute - PC smothered by Foran and Watmough. He drops the ball. Manly defence has given the visitors nothing tonight. Both Titans tries have come from broken play.
66th minute - Josh Perry busts the line and runs 40 metres before being chopped down by Will Zillman. One on one fullback tackles are always great to watch: especially when front rowers are doing the running.
69th minute - with 10 to go and a 10 point lead, the Eagles refuse to go into their shells. Coming off their own line they off-load twice and throw a risky inside ball. One of these off-loads was actually a behind-the-back flick pass from Brent Kite. Fantastic.
71st minute - Campbell over!! The Titans stick with it and get a reward. They have made a game out of this. Nathan Friend the destroyer as he draws 3 defenders and pops a beautiful pass inside to his halfback. Manly lead 22-18 and the home crowd is nervous.
73rd minute - The Titans best set of six of the entire match to follow up their try and the Eagles don't help themselves by allowing a Greg Bird bomb to bounce and give the visitors a repeat set.
74th minute - Laffranchi OVER!!! Huge try. Nathan Friend again the reason as he draws the defence close to the try line and pops an amazing ball to the Titans second rower. 22 all with a kick to come. This is an unbelievable score line after watching Manly control the entire match. Presto converts - Titans lead 24-22.
76th minute - Manly recover a short kick off. Here we go! The tempo is now frantic.
78th minute - Eagles attacking the line to create a miracle of their own but the pressure seems too much and they cough up possession. A charge down on the ensuing set gives the Titans another six and surely closes the door on Manly - they need a miracle.
80th minute - Nathan Friend turns up again to stop a possible chip and chase by the home side. He must be Man of the Match. Titans win 24-22.
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