Jarryd Hayne drop goal the difference as Titans pip Tigers

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Almost 17,000 fans packed into Campbelltown Stadium.
Almost 17,000 fans packed into Campbelltown Stadium for one of the biggest crowds in years but it wasn’t enough to get the Tigers home, with Jarryd Hayne proving the difference between the two teams.

Eight seconds to go, 20 metres from the Wests Tigers try line, the ball goes to Jarryd Hayne and no surprises there, he pops it straight over the black dot for a 19-18 win to the Gold Coast Titans.

Almost 17,000 people, 98 percent Wests Tigers fans, slumped in their seats knowing that was it.

Jarryd Hayne was pretty much the difference at a heaving Campbelltown Sport Stadium as two desperate sides clawed and scratched each other for the two premiership points.

The former Parramatta star spent most of the 80 minutes watching the proceedings, but when he got involved he was lethal.

Aided by swirling winds, his high kicks presented massive challenges to James Tedesco and the outside backs of the Tigers.

Hayne also perfectly timed his running and passing to cause the most damage possible to the home side.

The Tigers drew first blood after just two minutes and then had a ton of possession but just could not convert it to points on the board.

It’s fair to say the Titans defended their line incredibly well.

Not only that, they started to dominate the game from the 20th minute in the first half and looked set to coast to a comfortable win.

But when skipper Aaron Woods was injected back into the game with about 23 minutes to go the Tigers snatched the momentum back, scoring two tries in the last 10 minutes.

But both were scored in the right hand corner and Mitchel Moses was unable to convert.

Almost 17,000 fans packed into Campbelltown Stadium.
The sun sets on Campbelltown STadium moments after the Titans had beaten the Wests Tigers 19-18.

This left the scores locked at 18-18 with a few minutes to go.

Then Mitchell Moses had a drop goal opportunity but it was wide and long, giving the visitors a deadly seven tackles.

As Tigers fans braced themselves for the worst, the Titans got to the last tackle just 20 metres out from the home side’s try line.

The ball went to Jarryd Hayne, who positioned himself beautifully right in front of the uprights.

He calmly kicked the winner and that was the ball game.

The Tigers are not out of finals calculations, but the bad news is that they have to win two more games without James Tedesco, who was taken off late in the match with a suspected broken jaw. He was tackled after taking a bomb.

Their next game is on Friday at Penrith against the Panthers.

Almost 17,000 fans packed into Campbelltown Stadium.
The half time entertainment.

 

 

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