Titans Juniors Go Down To Storm

A two-try effort to Hymel Hunt was not enough to save the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans NYC side from narrowly going down 22-20 to the Melbourne Storm at Skilled Park tonight.

In a shock for the top four placed Storm side, it was the Titans who took a 16-10 lead into the half-time, before both sides traded tries with the Titans taking a 20-16 lead into the final ten minutes.

But in cruel blow for the Titans, the Storm took the lead for the first time of the match in the 70th minute and managed to hold on to take the 22-20 win.

The loss continues an unlucky season for the Titans, who have showed plenty of potential in games but have failed to deliver the knock-out blow to the top teams and secure competition points.

After surviving an early attacking onslaught from the Storm it was the Titans who opened the scoring in the ninth minute, when Lausi?i Taliauli did well to score just inside the touch-line, and with Blake Anderson adding the extras the Titans took an early 6-0 lead.

The Storm hit-back in the 13th minute when Kirisome Auua?a made a break down the middle before scooting 50 metres to score in the corner, and with Matt McGahan adding the extras the game was tied up at 6-all.

The Titans took the lead back in the 20th minute when some crafty work resulted in Sam Saville crossing under the posts, giving Anderson an easy conversion and his side a 12-6 lead.

On the back of a penalty, the Storm were gifted a repeat set deep in the Titans half, and they capitalised when Sean Loxley slide across to score next to the posts, with McGahan?s conversion sailing wide the Titans lead 12-10 with 12 minutes remaining in the half.

The Titans extended their lead when Hunt beat three defenders to find his way across the line, but with Anderson failing to add the extras the Titans took a 16-10 lead into the half-time break.

The Storm wasted no time responding in the second half, crossing in the 43rd minute when Loxley managed to stretch out and plant the ball down to bag his double, with McGahan adding the extras the scores were tied up at 16-all.

On the back of a break down the wing the Titans took advantage of an overlap out-wide and Hunt crossed for his second try, with Anderson?s conversion unsuccessful the Titans lead 20-16 with 20 minutes to go.

The Storm tied the game up after Mahe Fonua pounced on a deft grubber kick to score out wide.

With McGahan?s conversion bouncing off the upright before going over, the Storm took the 22-20 win.

The Titans will look to hit-back next week when they take on the Canberra Raiders at Skilled Park.

Melbourne Storm 22 (S Loxley 2, K Auua?a, M Fonua; M McGahan 3 conversions) defeated Gold Coast Titans 20 (H Hunt 2, L Taliauli, S Saville; B Anderson 2 conversions)

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