A late fight-back from the Gold Coast Titans has seen the Dyldam Parramatta Eels go down 36-26 in a tight Under 20s contest at Cbus Super Stadium.
Two tries in the final 10 minutes to the Titans saw them clinch an unassailable lead in Round 20 of the competition.
The Titans began the scoring early after some quick passing saw the ball out to the winger Anthony Colman, converted by Deacon Fletcher.
The Eels responded with Corey Makelim making a speedy line break, finishing things off with a quick inside pass to Joey Lussick who scored a try in the tenth minute.
Halfback Zach Dockar-Clay mounted some speed five minutes later, and crossed the line right next to the posts, with Davis on the money with the conversion.
The home side increased their pressure with back to back tries in return, with Jahrome Hughes on the wing and then Jaiden Hawkes on the Titans’ right edge after more fast passes.
Luck was on the Titans’ side to finish the half, with Kane Elgey picking up an intercept and racing 70 metres to score, putting the home team in front 22-12 at halftime.
The Eels didn’t take long to start the half in a more positive fashion, with centre John Folau scoring just 46 seconds after the siren to close the lead.
The Titans fumbled their kick-off immediately after, going out on the full, which saw Folau cross again in the corner for his second try just minutes apart.
Nathan Davis was again on the money with the conversion, adding the extras to tie the scores at 22-22.
The Blue and Gold kept up their momentum, with a big cut-out pass landing in the hands of winger Fabian Goodall, putting the Eels in front for the first time in the second half.
Shaun Hudson locked the scores again, returning fire two minutes later, before the late charge started for the Titans.
Brian Kelly first picked up an incredible high bomb to go over, and then with just four minutes remaining, plucked a pass out of nowhere to score in the corner.
Gold Coast Titans 36 (Kelly 2, Colman, Hughes, Hawkes, Elgey, Hudson tries, Elgey 4 goals)
def.
Parramatta Eels 26 (Folau 2, Lussick, Dockar-Clay, Goodall tries, Davis 3 goals)
