2022 Country Championships semi-final: Greater Northern Tigers loss 40-14 to Northern Rivers Titans

Down 12-0 early in the match and dwarfed by the Titans, Greater Northern scored three stunning tries in 10 minutes to lead 14-12 after 31 minutes.

However, the Titans took advantage of some bad errors by the Tigers to run out 26-point winners and book a spot in the final against the Illawarra South Coast Dragons in Woy Woy next weekend.

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The Tigers had two late player withdrawals and only had 15 players for the match.

"We just ran out of troops," Tigers coach Brad McManus said, adding: "That last 20 minutes, we just ran out of gas."

McManus had nothing but praise for his side as they hung in there and scrapped for every ball and tackle.

"They showed some character," he said. "They were just gassed at the end.

"With a couple more players, though, we might have made them nervous."

Gunnedah Bulldog Dylan Lake ignited the Tiger fightback in the first half.

The dashing winger gathered a Titans kick five metres out from his own tryline, found some room to move and then bamboozled the Titans defenders with a brilliant change of pace before racing 90m to score a wonderful try.

Four minutes later, the Tigers ran a planned move - with Lake spearing through the Titan defence at an angle to set up halfback Mitch Doring, who converted his try.

Six minutes later, Doring's little grubber was dived on by Gunnedah's Aiden Davis and the Tigers were in front at 14-12.

The euphoria lasted five minutes.

When the Tigers dropped an innocuous bomb, Titans winger Isaac Lee was on hand to scoop up the ball and score under the posts.

The Titans led 18-14 at half-time, and took control 20 minutes into the second half when the Tigers dropped another bomb. Titans No 1 Oliver Regan pounced on the loss ball and race over to score.

He converted the try for a 24-14 lead.

The home division then sealed the game with three more tries in the final 15 minutes.

Tigers captain Matt Hay and his front-row partner, Lincon Smith, had big games while Scott Blanch, Mitch Sheridan and Doring also worked tirelessly.

Lake provided the spark.

NORTHERN RIVERS TITANS 40 (Harry Siveright 2, Oliver Regan 2, Isaac Lee, Nick Morrissey, Lochlen Perren tries; Regan 6 goals) d GREATER NORTHERN TIGERS 14 (Dylan Lake, Mitch Doring, Aiden Davis tries; Doring goal).

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