WOLLONGONG, NSW - It was ugly but effective as two late penalty goals saved St George Illawarra from a third straight defeat with a dour 8-6 NRL win over Gold Coast at Wollongong on Friday night.
With the Titans up 6-4 with just 12 minutes remaining, Gold Coasts Queensland Origin forward Nate Myles conceded two penalties in front of his sticks to ruin the visitors chances, Jamie Soward nailing both simple opportunities to secure the much-needed win.
But the Dragons nearly blew it when they failed to defuse a Scott Prince bomb five minutes from fulltime, with Aiden Sezer carelessly drifting offside before setting up fullback Phil Graham for what appeared the match-winning try.
The Dragons scored the only try of the opening half but it was their effort without the ball that characterised their play.
The home side somehow withstood eight consecutive sets on their own line, four Titans penalties, two Dragons line drop-outs and Jamie Soward failing to find touch from a penalty on his own ten-metre line allowing Gold Coast to set up camp on the southern tryline.