A late, Teagan Levi-powered spurt pushed the Titans to a 26-10 victory over the Dragons in warm winter conditions at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Despite surrendering much of the possession and all of the territory in the opening stanza, the Dragons found themselves trailing by just four early in the second half.
They flirted with tying things up off a pair of crafty kicks, but were unable to move any closer keeping the door ajar for the home side to storm home to their sixth-consecutive win.
Several Dragons churned out big efforts – Ella Koster made a season-high 47 tackles in the back row whilst Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis tallied triple-digit run metres for the second match in a row to go along with a key four-pointer.
Dragons five-eighth Taliah Fuimaono left the field as time ticked away nursing a shoulder concern.
Match: Titans v Dragons
Round 7 -
home Team
Titans
2nd Position
away Team
Dragons
10th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
It took less than five minutes for the Gold Coast to open the scoring with Georgia Grey scurrying over in the left-hand corner off a Dragons yardage mistake to make it 4-0.
They moved out to a double-digit advantage shortly after with Laihka Clarke muscling her way through some meagre Dragons defence to slam the ball down under the sticks.
Aided by another penalty, the Titans edged further ahead 15 minutes in with Phoenix-Raine Hippi slicing through off a shift out right.
The Dragons managed their first points five minutes out from the half with Teagan Berry delivering a cut-out to Maria Paseka who did well to power her way to the chalk.
The Bunker was brought into the game on two occasions late in the half with Hippi and Jaime Chapman going close to scoring if not for some desperate Dragons scramble.
NRLW Match Highlights: Round 7 vs. Titans
The Dragons nabbed the first try of the second half via Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis who barged her way over off a deft Nita Maynard-Perrin delivery for her second try of the year.
The Titans were awarded a penalty soon after for a late challenge on the kicker but Lauren Brown's penalty goal attempt went wide.
Teagan Levi found a crucial try for the home side off her own grubber entering the final 15 minutes to push them back ahead beyond a converted try before Evania Isa’ako pushed her way over to seal it.
