Roosters' second-half blitz does the job over Titans

NRL
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Sydney Roosters v Gold Coast Titans

The Sydney Roosters have kept their Gold Coast opponents scoreless in the second half, piling on 28 points themselves after the break for a 34-14 win at the picturesque Central Coast Stadium in Gosford on Saturday.

It was the Titans who started the game stronger, a fourth minute penalty goal to Michael Gordon backed up by a try to the same player within the opening ten minutes. The Tricolours wasted little time hitting back, however, with a James Tedesco pouncing on a Jake Friend grubber to ensure scores were level after 15.

Both sides traded possession for a while before the Titans struck next just after the half-hour mark. Anthony Don benefitted from a pin-point pass by Ash Taylor and dotted down in the corner for the visiting side's second.

The Titans added a further two points through a penalty goal prior to the break for an eight point lead, and nearly made it nine when Ash Taylor took a misguided stab at a field goal on the halftime siren.

That halftime siren might as well have been a brick wall for the Gold Coast - the Roosters came out firing in the second half, Isaac Liu wasting no time getting across the line, Latrell Mitchell's conversion shaving the margin back to two.

Two handy penalty goals for Mitchell first levelled scores then put the 'home' side in front, then the same man added a try of his own, exploding through the line in the 52nd minute and suddenly the Bondi boys had put on 16 points in twelve minutes.

Cooper Cronk has struggled to gel with his side so far this season, but he managed a try of his own around the hour mark to put any reasonable doubt on the result, extending the Roosters' lead to 28-14, the only further addition to the score a converted Mitch Aubusson try five minutes before the final siren.

Next weekend the Roosters host the Wests Tigers at Allianz, while the Titans enjoy the pre-Origin bye.

Sydney Roosters 34 - Gold Coast Titans 14

Venue: Industree Group Stadium, Gosford / Darkinjung
Crowd: 10194
Halftime Score: Sydney Roosters 6 Gold Coast Titans 14

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (34)
Tries: James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell, Isaac Liu, Cooper Cronk, Mitchell Aubusson
Field Goals:
Conversions: Latrell Mitchell (4/4), Blake Ferguson (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Latrell Mitchell (2/3)

GOLD COAST TITANS (14)
Tries: Michael Gordon, Anthony Don
Field Goals: Ashley Taylor (0/1)
Conversions: Michael Gordon (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Michael Gordon (2/2)


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