The Brisbane Broncos record their first win of the NRLW season (Image: NRLonNine Twitter)
The Brisbane Broncos kept their finals hopes alive with a dominant 22-4 victory over the Gold Coast Titans in Round Three of the NRLW Premiership Season.
With the Broncos and Titans winless heading into this Round 3 clash at Moreton Daily Stadium in Redcliffe both teams were eager to make amends.
The Titans started strong with some solid defence on their own line to deny Brisbane early. However, on a damp and wet ground, Jaime Chapman slid over to score her first try in Broncos colours.
Brisbane missed the conversion attempt, as they took a 4-0 lead.
The Broncos took ascendancy in the match through high possession, as the Titans attempted to pile on the pressure.
Chelsea Lenarduzzi ensured that pressure would fold as she powered over the try line, despite five Titans attempting to take her down.
With fifteen minutes left in the first half, the Titans had a golden chance to score off a Julia Robinson mistake. They failed to score as Shenae Ciesiolka forced Karina Brown into touch out wide.
Gold Coast worked their way back into the match off some strong defence, as they looked to strike next. However, more poor ball control from the Titans halted any threat they held late in the first half.
Brisbane then capitalised, as Chapman used her strength and footwork to spin her way over and grab her second try of the match. Chapman then worked with Jasmine Fogavini to force Apii Nicholls over the sideline off a kick chase to pile on more pressure.
Off the resulting set of six, Brisbane received a penalty, the attempt missed by Ali Brigginshaw, as the Broncos led the Titans 12-0 at the break.
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The Titans struck back early in the second half, as Madison Bartlett crossed out wide.
The Titans missed the conversion as they reduced the deficit to eight points, as they trailed 12-4.
An unusual penalty against the Titans followed from the kickoff.
The Broncos kickoff didn’t go the required 10 metres; however, the Titans touched the ball before it was deemed dead. Brisbane were awarded a penalty and subsequently they attacked.
From the resulting set, the Broncos scored again through Shenae Ciesiolka, which Brianna Clark converted, as they made the score 18-4.
The result was all but secured for the Broncos, as Chapman again crossed out wide left to score a hat-trick.
She was big in defence as she pressured the Titans into a mistake, before making a break down the field.
Fogavini thought she had scored her first NRLW try shortly after, but the try was disallowed for a knock-on in the buildup.
The Broncos had another try disallowed, after a double-movement from Jada Ferguson on the goal-line.
The Broncos pushed to try to extend their winning margin, as point differential could be crucial for them to make the top four come the end of the regular season.
However, the full-time score remained at 22-4 in Redcliffe.
Poor discipline and ball control meant the Titans struggled to get a hold in this match. Meanwhile, the Broncos recorded their first win of the season.
The Broncos host the St. George Illawarra Dragons next weekend and will be hoping to continue their push toward the top four. Meanwhile, the Titans will look to win their first match of the season, against the Parramatta Eels.
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