FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!

  
 Current LIVE TV Match : Hull Kingston Rovers - Hull FC LIVE ON SKY SPORTS Latest

Two sides from the wrong end of the fledgling table, the North Queensland Cowboys (14th) and St George Illawarra Dragons (11th) looked to get their season started by registering their first win as they met in Townsville.

Both coaches made a single change from last weeks losing sides, the Dragons had Corey Norman in for Clune while the Cowboys had Lachlan Burr in their seventeen, replacing Taumalolo.

The bookies went for home advantage in making the Cowboys slight favourites to pick up the win but with just seven points between the sides on the aggregate scores in 2020, there was very little to choose between them.

It was a sensational start for the Cowboys Jake Clifford kick picked out of the air by Coen Hess as the Dragons defence stood aside and let second rower take the ball and drop over the line. Valentine Holmes added the extras for a 6-0 lead after four minutes.

On eight minutes Mitch Dunn pushed his way to the line and appeared to score but referee Cummins sent to the decision to the bunker who ruled out the effort.

Rather than take a twelve-point lead it was the Dragons who scored next when Mikaele Ravalawa took a looping Ben Hunt pass to go over in the corner despite the attention of three Cowboys tacklers. Zac Lomax converted from the touchline to level the scores.

There were plenty of mistakes from both sides, both lacking confidence with the ball in hand.

The Dragons hit the front on twenty-eight thanks to a battering ram try from Andrew McCullough as the Cowboys defence couldn’t hold the big forward from five metres out. Lomax added the extras and from looking like they’d be twelve behind inside the first eight minutes, they were 12-6 to the good.

A thirty-eight metre field goal from Corey Norman on the final hooter extended the lead to seven points at the interval, but there was little to choose between the two sides.

Seven minutes after the restart, Holmes got the Cowboys right back into the game after taking a flick pass from Corey Jensen and stepping off the right foot to go under the sticks. The North Queensland winger added the conversion and the Dragons lead was back to a single point.

The Dragons answered on fifty-three with a ten metre Ben Hunt solo run from a standing start, dragging Hess over the line with him in scoring. Lomax smacked the conversion between the uprights for 19-12.

It was end to end stuff, and four minutes later Jake Granville scooted from acting-half to outpace a sleeping Dragons defence for the Cowboys third of the night from five metres out. Holmes added the conversion and once again it was a one-point game at 18-19.

In the ongoing tit-for-tat Lomax rose above the Cowboys defence to take a Hunt high kick to the corner and drop to the ground for a four-pointer. Lomax shaved the far upright, but the ball went through the target for 25-18.

Monumental Cowboys defence forced back-to-back-to-back dropouts from the Dragons but after weathering the intense storm the Dragons finally brought the ball away from their own line. Most of the pressure in the last ten minutes came from the Cowboys but they couldn’t find a way over the line and the Dragons held on for the win.

It was an entertaining, if somewhat scruffy, encounter between two sides who are unlikely to figure in the big games at the end of the season. It was the Dragons who opened their account and left the Cowboys at the bottom of the table, just above the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles.

North Queensland Cowboys: Drinkwater, Feldt, Marsters, Tabuai-Fidow, Holmes (T, 3G), Morgan, Clifford, Molo, Robson, McLean, Dunn, Hess (T), Cotter. Subs: Granville (T), McGuire, Jensen, Burr.

St George Illawarra Dragons: Dufty, Ramsey, Bird, Lomax (T, 4G), Ravalawa (T), Norman (DG), Hunt (T), Lawrie, McCullough (T), Vaughan, Kerr, Sims, Fuimaono. Subs: Faamausili, Merrin, Alvaro, Wiliame.

Half-Time: 6-13.

Full-Time: 18-25.

Referee: Ben Cummins.



facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
pinterest sharing button
email sharing button
sharethis sharing button


Posted by RLFANS News Hound on Sat 20th Mar 2021 10:28 AM | Views : 16253 | Replies : 0 | BACK TO STORIES
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
1m
Game - Song Titles
Shinedown
34328
2m
BORED The Band Name Game
Wanderer
56053
8m
Rd 6 I Cas A
KaeruJim
135
9m
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
33
13m
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
Marcus's Bic
156
26m
Investment
Bully_Boxer
32
29m
Squad for Cup Game
CW8
17
39m
York - 14th April
PopTart
23
53m
State of the Nation
UllFC
232
57m
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Catalans Home
WalterWizard
19
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
1m
Smith - should he stay or should he go
B0NES
369
1m
ALL NEW 49ERS ERA LEEDS UTD THREAD
tad rhino
1386
1m
Wigan/Saints
ratticusfinc
2
2m
Squad for Cup Game
CW8
17
2m
This weeks disciplinary
rubber ducki
1008
2m
State of the Nation
UllFC
232
2m
Fevround 2
The Phantom
92
2m
New Investors
BullRaider
2
2m
Surprise Surprise
Maccbull_Big
63
3m
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
WYSIWYG2
2
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
New Investors
BullRaider
2
TODAY
Wigan/Saints
ratticusfinc
2
TODAY
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhinos Go Level Top
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
York - 14th April
PopTart
23
TODAY
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
TODAY
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
WYSIWYG2
5
TODAY
Squad for Catalan
CW8
19
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
TODAY
Saints a
apollosghost
26
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
Deadcowboys1
9
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
33
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhino..
180
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
599
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
717
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
600
Warrington Demolish London For..
705
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
761
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
736
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
977
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
941
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1091
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1058
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1127
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1100
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3887
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1217
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Table 'boards.stats_fixtures' doesn't exist