Stephenson special helps Future Titans claim Laffranchi Cup with big win over Tigers
A Sam Stephenson hat-trick has helped the Future Titans Under 16s make a big statement against the Balmain Tigers, winning 40-8 to claim the Anthony Laffranchi Cup on Thursday night.
The young outside back was electrifying on the left edge, picking up a double in the first half before finishing off the treble late in the second half thanks to fantastic service from halves Ryder Williams and Zane Harrison.
Speaking post-match, the son of former Manly and Cronulla centre Paul Stephenson was ecstatic to get the win for the club that has such a special meaning to him and his family.
"It was a great clash. It was a good hit out for the boys and I’m really keen to get it started again next year," he said.
"This club means heaps to me and my family because dad works here at the Titans and I’d love to wear the NRL jersey one day because I’ve grown up on the Gold Coast and I’ve always loved the Titans and they've always been my favourite team."
The Coast wasted no time in getting underway with their pursuit to get one over their Sydney counterparts, scoring in only the second minute through a classy run from dummy-half Nayte Saaga, diving on a Zane Harrison grubber.
Following a number of tough carries from prop forward Jack Schmidt, the Titans were in again only four minutes later through a leaping effort from fullback Ray Puru.
The contest settled for the next eight minutes as both sides battled it out at the home of the Tweed Seagulls, before the No. 1 played a hand in the next try, linking up with halfback and captain Harrison to find Stephenson on the left for his opening try.
It didn't take long for the 16-year-old to score his first half double, running 50 metres to crossed untouched in the following set.
With their being no kicks for goal, the Titans had shot out to 16-0 lead in the opening 16 minutes of the contest.
More points followed in the home side's way in the 21st minute, courtesy of a quick play-the-ball from Jack Finigan, allowing bench No. 9 Cory Pearse to scoot out of dummy-half to put the game out to a margin of 20 points.
The orange and black crossed right on half-time to trail 20-4, but that didn't dint the confidence of the Coast, coming up with points in their first set of the second stanza with Harrison finding Izayah Petricevich on the right flank.
Stephenson completed his hat-trick in the 40th minute with yet another try assist to the skipper's name, before being cruelly denied from crossing for his fourth five minutes later, due to a forward pass.
It didn't worry the sky blue and gold too much with Williams breaking through in their next attacking set to put the game well beyond reach at 36-4 with 15 minutes to play.
Harrison scored a try of his own after the Titans motored up the field in the 50th minute to add the cherries on top, before a late consolation try to the Tigers with four minutes to play to finish the game at 40-8.
