The Dragons have emerged 26-22 winners over the Gold Coast Titans in an entertaining game at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast tonight. The Titans led 14-12 at half time.

The Titans started early, Ben Jeffrey in the fourth minute caught his only kick all night, and a great Mat Rogers conversion had the Titans up 6-0. The Titans increased their lead by two points with a penalty goal in the 12th minute.

The Dragons claimed their first points in the 30th minute, Ben Hornby latching onto a great Setu offload. The Titans struck back almost instantly, Brett Delaney scoring off a rebounded grubber, before Brett Morris scored to complete the scoring the first half.

The Titans opened the second half scoring with Luke O'Dwyer dotting down. The Dragons stuck back with Chase Stanley benefitting from Ben Jeffrey being unable to clean up a bomb. The Dragons then edged in front with a penalty goal.

In the spirit of the match, the Gold Coast going into the lead again with a Mat Rogers intercept try, but with 12 minutes to go Jeffrey dropped another bomb and Lett scored. Despite frantic play in the final few minutes and the Dragons trying to throw the game away, the Titans were unable to score and the Dragons ran out 26-22 winners.

Match Details
St George Illawarra Dragons 26 def Gold Coast Titans 22
Round 16 - Saturday June 28th, 2008 5:30pm
Venue: Skilled Park, Robina
Referee: Bernard Sutton
Half time: Titans 14-12
Crowd: 26,453

Gold Coast Titans 22
Tries: Ben Jeffrey, Brett Delaney, Luke O'Dwyer, Mat Rogers
Goals: Mat Rogers (3/5)
St George Illawarra Dragons 26
Tries: Ben Hornby, Brett Morris, Chase Stanley, Michael Lett
Goals: Jamie Soward (5/5)

LeagueUnlimited.com Player of the Match
3 Points: Jamie Soward (Dragons)
2 Points: Ben Hornby (Dragons)
1 Point: Mat Rogers (Titans)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary
Touch Judges: Peter Kirby, Brett Suttor
Video Referee: Paul Simpkins

TITANS
1. Preston Campbell, 2. Ben Jeffery, 3. Luke O'Dwyer, 4. Brett Delaney, 5. Jordan Atkins, 6. Mat Rogers, 7. Brad Davis, 8. Michael Henderson, 9. Nathan Friend, 10. Michael Hodgson, 11. Brad Meyers, 12. Mark Minichiello, 13. Josh Graham.
Reserves: 14. James Stosic, 15. Will Mathews, 16. Gavin Cooper, 17. Luke Swain, 18. Clint Amos. (1 to be omitted).
DRAGONS
1. Brett Morris, 2. Jason Nightingale, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Chase Stanley, 5. Michael Lett, 6. Jamie Soward, 7. Ben Hornby, 8. Justin Poore, 9. Dean Young, 10. Jason Ryles, 11. Beau Scott, 12. Ben Creagh, 13. Stuart Webb.
Reserves: 14. Jarrod Saffy, 15. Dan Hunt, 16. Lagi Setu, 17. Rangi Chase, 18. Kirk Reynoldson. (1 to be omitted).

Both teams taking to the field now.

1 min: Underway on the Gold Coast!

4 min: TRY Gold Coast Titans
Davis puts in a great kick that is taken on the full by a diving Ben Jeffrey to score in the corner. Conversion attempt by Mat Rogers successful.
Gold Coast Titans 6-0

8 min: Two Titans players get into each others way, and O'Dwyer saves the Titans by running the ball dead, right into a camera. The Dragons end up with a repeat set.

9 min: The Dragons cough the ball up on attack, and then give away a penalty.

12 min: PENALTY GOAL Gold Coast Titans
Dean Young is offside after a Titans kick rebounds off a Dragons player. Rogers adds two more points.
Gold Coast Titans 8-0

13 min: The Titans spread the ball early in the set and make plenty of ground.

14 min: The Titans are penalised for an intentional forward pass and the Dragons get out of danger.

17 min: A great kick and chase from the Dragons earns them a drop out.

18 min: Dragons throw a forward pass on the second tackle.

19 min: Another very good set from the Titans, they're looking very good on attack.

28 min: Ben Jeffrey knocks on trying to defuse a bomb, and the Dragons will get a scrum 10 out.

29 min: After getting the count reset and a penalty the Dragons remain on attack.

30 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Great skills from the Dragons, Setu takes a hitup and sends a great offload to a flying Hornby who controls the ball with his fingertips and scores. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
Gold Coast Titans 8-6

34 min: TRY Gold Coast Titans
Friend puts in an attacking grubber, the ball deflects of Rangi Chase straight into the arms of Delaney who falls over to score in the corner. Conversion attempt by Mat Rogers successful.
Gold Coast Titans 14-6

38 min: The Titans put in a kick that is covered by the Dragons, and is nearly returned for a try only for Ben Jeffrey and Mat Rogers to save the runaway try.

38 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
The Titans can't hold out, the Dragons spread the ball to Brett Morris who scores. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
Gold Coast Titans 14-12

HALFTIME in an interesting game.

40 min: Back underway!

46 min: VIDEO REF - For a Dragons try...

46 min: NO TRY - A Dragons try is ruled out due to a clear obstruction.

47 min: TRY Gold Coast Titans
Rogers throws a cut-out ball to O'Dwyer who dummies and crosses out wide. Conversion attempt by Mat Rogers unsuccessful.
Gold Coast Titans 18-12

51 min: VIDEO REF - For a Dragons try...

51 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons put up a bomb, and again Ben Jeffrey can't take care of it. Stanley cleans up the scraps to score. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
18 all

55 min: Another great long kick chase from the Dragons gains them a line drop out.

57 min: PENALTY GOAL St George Illawarra Dragons
Dragons pick up a penalty 21 out, almost right in front.
St George Illawarra Dragons 20-18

60 min: TRY Gold Coast Titans
Setu pops the offload in the tackle, Rogers latches onto it and makes a great run to score. Conversion attempt by Mat Rogers unsuccessful.
Gold Coast Titans 22-20

67 min: Dragons get another line drop out.

68 min: VIDEO REF - For a Dragons try...

68 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons put up a bomb, again Jeffrey can't hold on and Lett scores. Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
St George Illawarra Dragons 26-22

71 min: Campbell loses the ball on a kick return, Dragons right on attack.

72 min: Dragons get a line drop out.

73 min: Titans hold out the Dragons attack.

78 min: Titans look threatening again.

78 min: Jeffrey can't take a bomb on attack, then he gives away a penalty with the Dragons facing plenty of pressure. But the Dragons lose the ball, only for Henderson to mess up the play the ball.

FULLTIME: The Dragons win an exciting contest.