The Tigers match saw the Titans produce a very good best completion rate of 85 per cent, a rare feat with an average of just 69 per cent before the match, but a good sign for coach Neil Henry considering halfback Kane Elgey was forced off the field with an ankle injury after 23 minutes.
It was a big improvement on the 62 per cent effort against Souths six days earlier which is what the team focussed on doing.
If not for the 12 minutes when winger Anthony Don made a misjudgement of just centimetres off the kick-off, forcing a line-drop out in the 58th minute which started an 18-point comeback from 19-2 down to 20-19 ahead after 67th minute, it was probably the team’ most complete effort of 2015.
The ability of the team to take control of the last 12 minutes and regroup despite Elgey being absent, was most pleasing considering the narrow losses this season when the Titans have been unable to close out the match.
It was disappointing though that the for-and-against sheet looked like getting a healthy injection before the Tigers flurry.
Daniel Mortimer’s performance was first class after starting at hooker and then going to the right side as halfback, with man of the match Aidan Sezer going to Elgey’s left. Mortimer topped the tackle count with 42 and was constructive in attack. With Elgey now sidelined and specialist hookers Beau Falloon and Matt Srama injured, along with Ryan Simpkins who played some hooker off the bench in two games, Mortimer is now a very valuable member of the squad.
Don, who scored a brilliant individual try after being put into the clear by James Roberts to seal the match in the 77th minute, goes to 11 tries for the season alongside Roberts and they are closing in on David Mead’s club record of 15 in a season.
KEY STATS
POSSESSION: Titans 50%, Tigers 50%
COMPLETIONS: Titans 85% (33/39), Tigers 62% (29/36)
METRES: Titans 1791m, Tigers 1736m.
TACKLES MADE: Titans 345 (22 missed), Tigers 364 (29)
PENALTIES: 8-all.
TOP TACKLERS: Mortimer 42, Myles 41, Moseley 40, Ridge 35, Douglas 32.
METRES GAINED: James 170 (19 runs), Roberts 161 (13), Douglas (16) 158, Mead 156 (16), Myles 149 (14), Don 141 (12).
MINUTES PLAYED (forwards): Mortimer 80 (57 at halfback), James 80, Ridge 67, Myles 57, Moseley 57, Douglas 52, Burr 52, Taylor 37, Pettybourne 36, Paasi 21.
