Titans down Dragons despite Berry’s four-try heroics

Melissa Woods and Alex Mitchell | August 26, 2023

A last-minute field goal for Gold Coast’s Lauren Brown has won her side a thrilling NRLW encounter against St George Illawarra 23-22, despite a stunning four-try outing from Dragons fullback Teagan Berry.

Brown’s 30m effort – her second match-winning field goal of the season – sunk a brilliant Dragons fightback on Saturday, where Berry’s heroics carried them from 14-0 down into a grandstand finish.

Berry, who’s already the NRLW’s all-time leading try-scorer, grabbed a share of the all-time record for most tries in a match, her fourth a stunning effort three minutes from time to tie the scores at 22-22.

Brown, who had three try assists in an impressive display, slotted the single-pointer with precision, taking her side to 4-2 for the season in their fight for finals.

The Titans led 14-0 early behind tries for Jaime Chapman, Evania Pelite and Jessika Elliston, but three Berry efforts including a 95m kick return rubbed that advantage out.

Chapman’s second, a powerful surge through the middle of the field, and an easy finish for winger Karina Brown had them closing in on victory before Berry and Brown traded their late blows.

Earlier, Parramatta broke through for their first win of the season with winger Kimberley Hunt collecting a try double in a hard-fought 16-12 victory over North Queensland.

The Eels had to withstand a fightback from the Cowboys, who scored two late tries to roar back from 14-0 down.

Last year’s losing grand-finalists, Parramatta have had a miserable start to the season, winless through five rounds to sit at the bottom of the ladder.

But they held their nerve to hang on and secure the win at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.

Hunt overcame a shaky start to score a try in each half, with both tries coming off the boot of halfback Rachael Pearson.

The Cowboys looked down and out until debutante Libby Surha charged over the line in the 59th minute, followed by Tiana Raftstrand-Smith two minutes later to set up a thrilling finale.

Hunt’s first try came at the 32nd minute mark when Pearson produced a precision cross-field kick, with the winger diving across in the corner.

Straight after halftime the pair combined again with Pearson putting up a kick over the head of Cowboys winger Krystall Blackwell for Hunt to collect her second.

North Queensland, who sit one spot above the Eels in ninth spot, were denied an early try by China Polata after the bunker ruled obstruction.

Hunt missed out on another opportunity when a long pass from Mahalia Murphy to the waiting winger went forward.

Second-rower Murphy opened the scoring in the 20th minute with the Test rugby union star dragging three defenders over the line.