NYC Round 14: DRAGONS vs TITANS

[DIEHARD]

TITANS NYC TEAM v DRAGONS

1 Jordan Rankin
2 Alec Jones
3 Japeth Vaoa
4 Hymel Hunt
5 Shaun Carney
6 Matt Beddow
7 Sam Irwin
8 Luke Page
9 Sam Meskell
10 Lain Windley
11 Dylan Hartin
12 Jackson Springer
13 Sam Martin

INTERCHANGE
14 Cale Hobday
15 Sam Ross
16 Nick Harold
17 Sam Saville
18 Lausii Taliauli

[DIEHARD]

Young Dragons Ready To Reignite Season

The St George Illawarra Dragons Toyota Cup squad will be looking to kick-start their march to the finals when they face off against the Gold Coast Titans at WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah on Friday.

Head Coach Adrian Lam has made several changes to his squad, looking to find a more potent attacking team that can use the match against the 15th placed Titans to launch up the NYC ladder.

?I was disappointed with the end result against the Parramatta Eels last Friday,? said Lam.

? I thought we were in the game for a long way there, we created a lot of opportunities but we just couldn?t finish it off.

?There have been a few changes because of that this week, so hopefully we can get the result we desire on Friday night.

?We?ve got a couple of young boys coming up in Kyle Martins and Kayne Brennan and hopefully, both guys can bring a lot of enthusiasm to the team and a better finishing result for us with a few tries.?

?I think we?ve unearthed a bit of talent in some of the players that we?ve brought in.

?We?ve got what?s considered a pretty good forward pack that?s doing the job week in week out, but we have rotated the outside positions a fair bit to try and find the right balance.?

While pleased with the development of his stalwarts over the first half of the season, Lam also recognises now is the time for the Young Dragons to overcome several injury woes and start delivering results.

?The injury situation was worse last year. We do have a lot of injuries at the moment but that?s no excuse,? said Lam.

?I think we?ve been unlucky in probably four or five games, we could be in the eight based on some of our performances, but our position is just where we?re at the moment.?

?We?re trying to educate or fast-track these players to where we want them to be, it?s an ongoing process but that's the exciting part about it.

?We?ve got a big squad and we?ve just about used every one of them. We?ve still got half the season to go but sooner or later we?ve got to get a couple of wins up, which is important for the end of season finals period.?

Lam also spoke on the first grade debut of Alex McKinnon, an NYC stalwart who will join the top flight Dragons in the centres on Friday night.

?All the boys in the 20?s are excited for him. Well done to him for being able to achieve that, it?s a great honour to play first grade and only be 19 this year,? said Lam.

?He?s been identified as having a future and he?s been going well for us, so it?s a reward for him.?

http://www.dragons.com.au/

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NYC: Dragons score off a kick to edge further ahead 36-6 with 25 mins remaining.

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NYC: Jordan Rankin scores his 6th try in three games for the Titans. Now trailing 36-12 with 13 mins remaining.

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NYC: Titans are in again. Rankin sets up try for winger Shaun Carney. Now trail Dragons 36-18 with 11 mins to go.

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NYC: Carney goes in for his second try. Titans trail 36-22 with 3 mins remaining.

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NYC: Titans' late charge continues with a try off the kick-off. Ran out of time in the end though. Full-time Dragons 36 Titans 28

[DIEHARD]

Wow looks like our youngster really came back into the game hell bent. Well done guys. Looking forward to reading further reports.

[gotitans101]

Sounds like a courageous fightback, a shame they fell just short. Cheers for keeping us updated.

[DIEHARD]

NYC Titans leave run too late against Dragons

A gutsy five-try second half fightback by the The Jetstar Gold Coast Titans NYC side proved too late in a 36-28 loss to the Dragons tonight.

The Titans finished strongly with four late tries but were made to pay for a tardy start as a 36-6 defecit with only 25 minutes remaining proved too much to reel in.

Winger Shaun Carney scored a second-half double while Jordan Rankin and Japeth Vaoa combined for a try each.

The damage was done in the opening 40 minutes though, with the Titans conceding four first half tries to trail 20-0 at the break.

http://www.titans.com.au