StephenP
ArnoldCowboys hold off determined Bulldogs
August 31st 2007 11:50
The North Queensland Cowboys withstood an explosive second half fight back by the Canterbury Bulldogs to register a 38-32 victory at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Friday night.
The Cowboys held a commanding 38-10 lead inside the closing twenty minutes, but it was four tries in 14 minutes to the Bulldogs that almost saw them snatch a remarkable victory.
North Queensland were always going to finish in third position regardless of the result, with the Bulldogs awaiting the rest of this weekends results to discover their final position inside the top eight.
After a fiery opening five minutes, it was Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston that opened the scoring with a sixth minute penalty goal for a Bulldogs ruck infringement.
The vision of Thurston extended the home sides lead in the 16th minute, with the crafty half charging down a short blindside and looping a three man cut out pass to winger Ty Williams to score.
Thurston’s sideline conversion pushed the home side out to an early 8-0 lead.
Williams was over for his second try just three minutes later, with quick hands putting the flashy winger over in the corner.
Canterbury finally got back into the match through some handy field position, and the visitors scored of their first foray through a barnstorming try to skipper Andrew Ryan.
Hazem El Masri easily converted to make it 14-6 after 26 minutes.
Successive penalties put the Bulldogs back on the attack, with a scintillating backline movement allowing centre Daryl Millard to cross unmarked.
El Masri failed to convert, leaving the score at 14-10 after 31 minutes.
A devastating Ray Cashmere charge just before the half time break extended the home sides lead, with elusive centre Ben Farrar making up for an earlier indiscretion by dotting down in the 39th minute.
Thurston’s fourth conversion of the night handed the Cowboys a 20-10 half-time lead.
A Justin Smith try in the 51st minute pushed the home side out to a 26-10 lead, with the Cowboys going even further ahead when they recorded back to back tries from the resulting kick off.
It was a breathtaking example of the up-tempo style of football the Cowboys have become renowned for, with North Queensland centre Ashley Graham bursting through some tiring Bulldogs defence and racing fifty metres before linking with Thurston to score in the corner.
Thurston’s seventh conversion of the night gave the Cowboys a commanding 38-10 lead.
The mood of the game changed however when Cowboys coach Graham Murray chose to rest chief playmaker Thurston, with the Bulldogs able to cross for converted tries to Willie Tonga, Luke Patten and Sonny Bill Williams to claw the scoreline back to 38-28 with 14 minutes remaining.
The scene was set for a grandstand finish when Patten crossed for his second of the night, but the home side held firm despite an avalanche of Bulldogs attack to secure a thrilling six point victory.
North QLD Cowboys 38
Tries: Ty Williams 2, Ben Farrar 2, Justin Smith, Johnathan Thurston
Goals: Johnathan Thurston 7
Canterbury Bulldogs 32
Tries: Andrew Ryan, Daryl Millard, Willie Tonga, Luke Patten 2, Sonny Bill Williams
Goals: Hazem El Masri 4
At Dairy Farmers Stadium
Referee – Shayne Hayne
The Cowboys held a commanding 38-10 lead inside the closing twenty minutes, but it was four tries in 14 minutes to the Bulldogs that almost saw them snatch a remarkable victory.
North Queensland were always going to finish in third position regardless of the result, with the Bulldogs awaiting the rest of this weekends results to discover their final position inside the top eight.
After a fiery opening five minutes, it was Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston that opened the scoring with a sixth minute penalty goal for a Bulldogs ruck infringement.
The vision of Thurston extended the home sides lead in the 16th minute, with the crafty half charging down a short blindside and looping a three man cut out pass to winger Ty Williams to score.
Thurston’s sideline conversion pushed the home side out to an early 8-0 lead.
Williams was over for his second try just three minutes later, with quick hands putting the flashy winger over in the corner.
Canterbury finally got back into the match through some handy field position, and the visitors scored of their first foray through a barnstorming try to skipper Andrew Ryan.
Hazem El Masri easily converted to make it 14-6 after 26 minutes.
Successive penalties put the Bulldogs back on the attack, with a scintillating backline movement allowing centre Daryl Millard to cross unmarked.
El Masri failed to convert, leaving the score at 14-10 after 31 minutes.
A devastating Ray Cashmere charge just before the half time break extended the home sides lead, with elusive centre Ben Farrar making up for an earlier indiscretion by dotting down in the 39th minute.
Thurston’s fourth conversion of the night handed the Cowboys a 20-10 half-time lead.
A Justin Smith try in the 51st minute pushed the home side out to a 26-10 lead, with the Cowboys going even further ahead when they recorded back to back tries from the resulting kick off.
It was a breathtaking example of the up-tempo style of football the Cowboys have become renowned for, with North Queensland centre Ashley Graham bursting through some tiring Bulldogs defence and racing fifty metres before linking with Thurston to score in the corner.
Thurston’s seventh conversion of the night gave the Cowboys a commanding 38-10 lead.
The mood of the game changed however when Cowboys coach Graham Murray chose to rest chief playmaker Thurston, with the Bulldogs able to cross for converted tries to Willie Tonga, Luke Patten and Sonny Bill Williams to claw the scoreline back to 38-28 with 14 minutes remaining.
The scene was set for a grandstand finish when Patten crossed for his second of the night, but the home side held firm despite an avalanche of Bulldogs attack to secure a thrilling six point victory.
North QLD Cowboys 38
Tries: Ty Williams 2, Ben Farrar 2, Justin Smith, Johnathan Thurston
Goals: Johnathan Thurston 7
Canterbury Bulldogs 32
Tries: Andrew Ryan, Daryl Millard, Willie Tonga, Luke Patten 2, Sonny Bill Williams
Goals: Hazem El Masri 4
At Dairy Farmers Stadium
Referee – Shayne Hayne
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