FELDT FOILS TITANS
LAST-SECOND TRY SAVER
A MIRACULOUS Kyle Feldt tackle on the last play of the game last night broke Gold Coast hearts as an undermanned North Queensland hung on for a gutsy 6-4 win at Cbus Super Stadium.
With Brian Kelly seemingly destined to score the matchwinning try for the hosts, Cowboys winger Feldt flung himself at the Titans centre as he dived for the left corner, preventing the try.
The defeat was the ninth in 12 games for the Titans, who missed two penalty goal attempts that would have levelled the scores at 6-6. They also failed to register a point in the second half against their undermanned opponents, who were without Origin stars Michael Morgan and Josh McGuire, and injured pair Justin O’Neill and Matt Scott.
The visitors then played the second half with 15 players after injuries to Gideon Gela-Mosby and Corey Jensen.
GOLD Coast coach Garth Brennan has staunchly defended out-of-form halfback Ash Taylor all season. Until now.
After a quiet game and two missed shots at goal, the muchmaligned Taylor had the opportunity to step up and take a penalty shot to drag his side level with North Queensland.
With the Titans down 6-4 and five minutes remaining, it could’ve been his moment to shine with an equaliser, force golden point and finally shake off doubters and critics of his million-dollar contract.
Instead, the 24-year-old passed on kicking duties to skipper Tyrone Roberts, whose effort slid past and ultimately condemned Gold Coast to a two-point loss at home.
Brennan had no answers as to why his star halfback didn’t step up to the plate.
“You’d have to ask Ash about that one, I’m not sure why he didn’t take it,” Brennan said. “He might’ve had an injury, he might’ve been down on confidence, he might not have been comfortable on that side of the field, I’m not sure.
“That question’s going to have to be asked of Ash as to why he didn’t take that shot.”
The halfback showed glimpses of his running potential in the first half and shouldered general kicking responsibilities but was largely outplayed by Cowboys halves John Asiata and Jake Clifford in front of 11,226 fans.
The Titans and Cowboys
opened the match with 12 consecutive sets and finished with completion rates of 85 and 89 per cent, respectively, with similar tackle efficiency.
In the end, only centimetres separated the sides.
With the Titans trailing by two points and time up, NSW Origin hopeful Tyrone Peachey launched a raid that split the Cowboys and unlocked Brian Kelly down the left.
But Kyle Feldt refused to say die and powered 10m to his right to bundle Kelly past the left cornerpost into touch and secure his side’s ninth consecutive win over the Titans.