The Gujarat Giants keep their playoff hopes alive by rallying late against the Telugu Titans.

The Gujarat Giants defeated the Telugu Titans 34-32 thanks to a 6-1 run in the final four minutes of the game. Gujarat’s victory narrowed the distance to the top six to two points.

The first several minutes were evenly contested, as the two sides matched each other blow for blow to keep the score line close. The Titans’ 3-1 run left the Giants with only three men on the mat, but Gujarat’s defence managed to turn the situation in their favour, Super Tackling Adarsh to help their team grab the lead.

The Giants had a four-point lead thanks to a 4-1 run, but Galla Raju’s stunning Super Raid trimmed the Titans’ deficit to one point. The Giants, on the other hand, went on another 3-1 run, reducing the Titans to only two men on the mat.

Surinder Singh’s Super Tackle and Rajnish’s successful extra try helped the Titans conclude the half with a 3-0 lead, tying the game at 14-14 at the interval.

Another Super Tackle early in the second half saw the Titans take the lead, but three unanswered points from the Giants left Telugu with a solitary man on the mat. Gujarat’s defence sat back and allowed Muhammed Shihas the opportunity to pick up the bonus before forcing an error from the Iranian to inflict an All Out on the Titans and helping the Giants take a two-point lead.

A sensational raid from Rakesh and an incredible Thigh Hold from Girish Ernak saw the Giants extend their lead to five points. An Adarsh inspired 6-3 run from the Titans saw them cut Gujarat’s lead to two points and reduce them to just three players on the mat. 

Surinder’s incredible Block took care of one Giants player and in the subsequent raid Adarsh tagged the remaining two before diving across the midline to inflict an All Out on Gujarat and help the Titans take a three-point lead.

Ajay Kumar and Pardeep Kumar helped the Giants bring parity to the scoreboard before the latter helped Gujarat reclaim the lead. In the game’s penultimate raid, Galla Raju went in hoping to level the scores, but the raider was instead met with an assured Dash from Girish Ernak, which pushed the Giants’ lead up to two.

In the game’s final raid, Pardeep saw the clock wind down to zero before crossing the baulk line to make the raid legal and returned to his team’s half to confirm the Giants’ victory.

Top Performers

Gujarat Giants

Best Raider – Rakesh (8 Raid Points)

Best Defender – Girish Ernak (5 Tackle Points)

Telugu Titans

Best Raider – Rajnish (10 Raid Points)

Best Defender – Surinder Singh (3 Tackle Points)