iSelect Titans 50 d. Melbourne Storm 22 at AAMI Park
The iSelect Titans have recorded undoubtedly their best 60 minutes of the season to record a stunning comeback from 16-0 down to win 50-22 in the Holden Cup under-20s clash at AAMI Park, Melbourne.
The Titans conceded three tries in the first 16 minutes and looked headed for a fourth straight defeat. However, by half-time they led 18-16 and ran away with the second half, which would have greatly pleased coach Ben Woolf after his side squandered half-time leads in successive weeks against Canberra and North Queensland.
Five-eighth Christian Hazzard, who had been battling injury, scored two brilliant first half tries before right winger Zac Spring completed the incredible run of scoring with three tries in the final 15 minutes.
The comeback began when Deacon Fletcher scored from dummy-half in the 19th minute, converting for 16-6. Five minutes later Hazzard used his pace to split the defence from 15 metres five minutes later to narrow the deficit to 16-12. He repeated the effort eight minutes before half-time after interchange hooker Jenan Wedderburn-Parish broke through from dummy-half and found Rory Humphries in support, who in turn put Hazzard on a 30m run to the line. Fletcher’s goal made it 18-16.
It took just two minutes of the second half for fullback Jahrome Hughes to latch on to a Hazzard’ reverse grubber from 10m and continue the scoring spree. Kane Elgey converted this time for 24-16.
After the Storm had hit back to 24-22 with a converted try, Elgey picked up a double, converting both himself, for 36-22.
Spring then latched onto some good numbers work on the right side, one a brilliant no look cut out pass from Hughes, to get his triple-try-score in the final quarter for the Titans to stun the home crowd by scoring 50 points to six in 64 minutes.
There were several good performers from Hughes at the back, Hazzard, hookers Fletcher and Wedderburn-Parish and a much better group effort by the pack.
Titans 50 (Spring 3, Elgey 2, Hazzard 2, Fletcher, Hughes tries; Fletcher 4, Elgey 3 goals) beat Storm 22 (Rennie 2, Mwhinnick, Nelson tries; Munster 3 goals).
