Match Details
Match Date	3rd Aug, 2002
Opponent	North Queensland
Result	Win 34-26
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Steve Price
Venue	Townsville (Dairy Farmers Stadium)
Crowd	12,231
Referee	Shayne Hayne

The dream winning run looked all over. The Cowboys had taken a 16-8 halftime deficit and turned it into a 26-16 lead and the Bulldogs were having major concerns coping with refereeing decisions, the cowboys brilliant play and also the Townsville heat.

But somehow - like they have done so many times in this winning streak - the Bulldogs found that something extra to pull themselves out of a hole and go on to win. The major boilover looked a certainty as the Bulldogs could find no way to turn around the Cowboys second half momentum but a couple of magic plays saw the Bulldogs escape with tries and they closed down the match in typical fashion.

It was never going to be your typical game.

The Cowboys had come to play and they showed that from the outset. They scored first through a penalty goal before the Bulldogs ominously posted points on their first opportunity in magical fashion when Brent Sherwin kicked wide to Hazem El Masri in trademark fashion. The leaping winger took the ball inches inside the touch in-goal line before passing it back to Vagana un-marked on the inside. El Masri did collect the ball over the tryline but was never a chance of getting the ball down before being tackled into touch - it all combined into a magical try. El Masri's wide conversion crashed into the upright to leave the score 4-2.

It became 10-2 when Brent Sherwin found Willie Mason on the fringe of the ruck and running hard. He powered passed a couple and crossed for the Bulldogs second. El Masri this time had no trouble with the conversion.

But from this moment on the Bulldogs didn't have it their own way. The Cowboys had all the ball in excellent position - while the Bulldogs relentlessly defended their own goalline. At least one certain opportunity was bombed with young winger Ty Williams elected to step infield towards defence rather than dive for a certain try in the corner after the Bulldogs were caught short in defence.

Eventually the Cowboys crossed for their first try in somewhat dubious circumstances when a short ball careered into the chest of Michael Luck - the ball went backwards into the hands of Morrison who crashed over. The video referee was called and despite having poor angles to work from the try was awarded, despite strong evidence that the ball may have gone forward into a Bulldogs player first which caused the deflection backwards. In other words the Cowboys player lost the ball forward into the Bulldogs first. Nonetheless the try was deemed fair and conversion brought the Cowboys within two.

After absorbing what seemed like a good 10-15 minutes in pressure on their own line, the Bulldogs took the ball upfield on the back of a penalty and struck back through youngster Jonathan Thurston. Sherwin and Vagana combined in the lead up to leave Thurston with space to step past one and score under the posts.

Down 16-8 at halftime the Cowboys would have been disappointed, but they came out in the second half just as determined.

They took control of the match and had the Bulldogs in panic mode. Paul Bowman playing in his 100th game for the Cowboys celebrated when he brushed through tacklers to score besides the posts to open the scoring in the second half just minutes in.

A key moment in the match came shortly afterwards when the Bulldogs had re-grouped with a completed set and a great kick downfield. THey followed this up with brilliant defence pinning the Cowboys deep inside their territory. But a charge down went horribly wrong for the Bulldogs when the Cowboys re-gained position and broke upfield. Then Shayne Hayne made a diabolical decision to send young Bulldog Jonathan Thurston to the sin-bin despite no obvious infringement. With the penalty the Cowboys saw their chance and only took a tackle or two to strike when Paul Dezolt crashed through to score besides the posts. THe Cowboys were now in front 20-16.

A penalty goal took the Cowboys 22-16 ahead as the Bulldogs were being slayed in the penalty count.

It continued when Hayne pulled out an offside penalty from the resulting kick off and Cowboys continued their roll. Paul Bowman claimed his 2nd try after the Cowboys kept the ball alive and found space outwide in rather lucky fashion when a pass hit the deck and drew in the Bulldogs outside defence.

Down 26-16, battling a massive penalty count, frustration and an onfire Cowboys side the Bulldogs looked gone. But there was still 22 minutes on the clock and that has always been enough for the Bulldogs to keep their compusure and come back again.

Once again it was Brent Sherwin to the fore for the Bulldogs. Desperately needing a try the young halfback kicked a 40/20 to give the Bulldogs their first chance of the 2nd half. Several tackles later Tony Grimaldi dummied and powered his way over in the corner. El Masri steered through the sideline conversion to put the Bulldogs back within four.

With just ten minutes left on the clock the Bulldogs got the lead back when Mason powered over to score under the posts.

Ahead by two the Bulldogs controlled the ball and with 4-5 minutes on the clock put the issue beyond doubt when Sherwin grubbered through for Thurston to score. The conversion put them clear by eight, 34-26.

That's how it remained and the Bulldogs collect their 17th straight victory.

They never thought it would be easy coming to Townsville and they had to use every bit of their talent to end up victorious. I don't think the Bulldogs were all that complacent, just that the Cowboys played very well, and had a lot of opportunities and field position. The only difference between the two sides was the Bulldogs took their limited chances with big players making the big plays. The Cowboys would have beaten plenty of sides tonight and they didn't lose any supporters with the effort. While the Bulldogs got what they were after and will put the game behind them but will have to improve on their completions and discipline to topple the Warriors in New Zealand next week.

Source: www.rleague.com

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